I am almost 45 and have severe tetracycline stains. I’d really like to improve my smile so I won’t feel embarrassed to smile. However, I’ve been to three dentists and they all want to give me a mouth full of dental crowns. My teeth are very healthy so I hate the idea of grinding them down. Are there other options for my situation or should I resign myself to crowns?

Brenda

Dear Brenda,

Tetracycline stains are some of the most difficult type of cosmetic cases there are. If a dentist is suggesting a dental crown for your smile makeover and you do not have a clinical need for them, that is a hint that they are not a skilled cosmetic dentist.

One of the trickiest parts of a tetracycline case is getting the dental work opaque enough to cover the stains themselves, but still translucent enough to look natural.

Inexperienced cosmetic dentists try to get around this by using dental crowns. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really help. Given your unique situation, I would say you need an expert cosmetic dentist. They will be able to cover your tetracycline stains with porcelain veneers, which will give you the gorgeous smile you want without grinding healthy tooth structure down the way your current dentist wants to do.

While there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, the top 1-3% of cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recognized the dilemma both patients and dentist’s faced. Patients needed a way to find good cosmetic dentists. Dentists needed a way to get the skills needed to do excellent cosmetic work that is not offered in dental school. As a result, they created their accreditation program.

It takes YEARS to get accredited. There are superb cosmetic dentists out there who have not yet received their accreditation, but your situation is quite challenging. I am going to recommend you look for a dentist who is accredited.

While not all dentists in our office are accredited, we do have one dentist in our office who comes in just for those challenging cases.  There is probably a dental practice in your area who has a credentialed  dentist. If there is not, it will be worth it for you to travel to a nearby state if you want to be assured of a gorgeous result.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.