Are crowns or veneers better for tetracycline stains?

I hate my ugly tetracycline stained teeth. I want to know what the best solution is to cover them once and for all. Would crowns or porcelain veneers make the most sense? I should probably mention that I have recently learned that I also grind my teeth. So, I’m not sure if that will be a factor. Any advice that you could give me would be greatly appreciated, since this is such a large investment.

Thanks,

Sharon in Michigan

Sharon,

Thank you for your question. Night grinding is called bruxism and it is a pretty big factor in which treatment option is best for you. You likely need to stay away from porcelain crowns because constant night grinding can cause the crowns to break. In fact, it isn’t unheard of for the crown to be so damaged, that the patient is left with dental implants as the only option. This is mainly due to the fact that when a crown is done, most of the natural tooth is ground down, to the height of a approximately one millimeter. The risk is there for the tooth to break off at the gumline. The lower teeth are at an even higher risk of breaking when they’ve been prepared for crowns.

Therefore, porcelain veneers would be the better treatment option because your natural teeth will hold up better to the grinding. You may also want to discuss the possibility of a mouth guard to protect the cosmetic dentistry.

You need to ensure that the cosmetic dentist you select is highly experienced in treating tetracycline stains. Not just any dentist that does porcelain veneers or says he or she does is going to cut it. Tetracycline staining is a complex issue and requires the artistry and expertise of an expert cosmetic dentist. Here are some feasible options to consider moving forward.

One option you may be interested in is getting porcelain veneers done on the top teeth. This will cover the heavy stains. Then, on the bottom you can have Kör Whitening done. This is one of the most powerful teeth whitening systems on the market today. And it has been proven to significantly whiten tetracycline staining. So, for the lower teeth, Kör may be feasible. But on top, since the teeth show when you smile, you will want the porcelain veneers to give you beautiful results.

Or if you can afford to have porcelain veneers on your full mouth, it will absolutely transform the way you look and feel about yourself. Ultimately, the single most important thing is trust when selecting the right cosmetic dentist, especially since you are considering a full smile makeover. Check their credentials, ask to see similar cases to yours and be sure to specifically ask about their treatment plan and experience in treating tetracycline stains.

This post is sponsored by Lexington cosmetic dentist Hamburg Expressions.