What’s better – new dental bonding or porcelain veneers?

You need to know that I have tetracycline stains. Many years ago, I had dental bonding done to cover it up. It was okay at first. Now, my teeth look uneven and mismatched. When I was at a recent appointment, the dentist told me I needed porcelain veneers to cover the stains. Is he just trying to make money or is it really the best solution to cover the stains? I don’t have a lot of extra money. When I asked about getting the dental bonding replaced, he said he wouldn’t do it. So, I asked about teeth whitening. He said that wouldn’t work either. What are my options?

-Cindy in Texas

Cindy,

Based on what you have described, it sounds like your dentist may not be experienced in cosmetic dentistry. Although porcelain veneers are the ideal solution to cover tetracycline stains, they aren’t the only option. It may not be that the dentist is trying to get you to purchase the most expensive option, it is likely a case they he may not be comfortable with other alternatives.

Unless there is an issue with the structure of your teeth, the dental bonding can be redone. And since he is recommending porcelain veneers, there likely aren’t any structural issues going on. In order to successfully cover tetracycline stains, the dentist must be an expert though. Don’t just go to the next dentist and find someone that says they do tooth bonding. Tetracycline stains are highly complex. You need to find a cosmetic dentist that has specific experience in treating this type of condition if you decide to move forward with bonding. Also, it wouldn’t be in your best interest to try teeth whitening. This is because it would take many rounds of extremely strong whitening formulations to achieve the results you are after.That said, Kor whitening is a deep whitening treatment that is a possibility. It is an extremely powerful formulation that has proven successful on tetracycline stains.

So, it sounds like you need to find a reputable cosmetic dentist in your area. Look for a dentist with credentials that demonstrate advanced training and coursework in cosmetic dentistry. Ask to see photographs of cases similar to yours that he or she has done. And don’t go in asking about bonding. Let the cosmetic dentist make the recommendations and go from there.

As mentioned earlier, porcelain veneers are the way to go if you wanted to save up for them. Maybe you could consider dental bonding in the short term and veneers as a future treatment option.

Thank you for reaching out. Hopefully this helps give you a better understanding of your options.

This post is sponsored by Lexington cosmetic dentist Hamburg Expressions.