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What is the lightest shade?

Hi, I just got two Lumineers to fix some chips and other problems with those two teeth.  The problem is they are darker than my other natural teeth. My dentist keeps telling me he gave me the lightest shade and if I’d just stop whitening my other teeth (which I don’t anyway) they would match up.  I see people with teeth whiter than even mine, so what exactly does he mean by the whitest shade?

Breanna N. from Wisconsin

Breanna,

The problem is your dentist is a general dentist who does cosmetic dentistry and not an expert in the field. It takes significant post-graduate training to become really skilled with cosmetic dentistry.

Here is what is happening. It dental school we are taught the whitest “natural” shade for most teeth is a B1. I suspect that is what he ordered from the lab. We can get teeth much whiter than that, but the lab has to be instructed properly.  I’m surprised the only thing you didn’t like about your Lumineers was the color. Many people find that brand of porcelain veneers to be a little bulky.

There is no way to change any brand of veneers once they are permanently bonded on. You can, however, get them removed and have another brand of porcelain veneers placed. However, don’t go to your family dentist again. Look for someone in your area who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, Louisiana dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

Porcelain Veneers

Problems with my smile makeover

I just spend an unbelievable amount of money on my smile makeover. I got ten porcelain veneers. I know most people get six or eight, but I have a really wide smile, so I wanted to make sure that everything visible was covered. We talked for a long time about what kind of smile I wanted. But, when he put it in, I thought it looked ridiculous. It seems too cloudy. I had some stains on my teeth from some medicine I took when I was a child. My dentist said he had to make it that way to cover the stains and insists it looks better than I think, but I just don’t like it. Plus, my jaw hurts and the veneers feel loose so I’m afraid to bite down too much. I don’t even smile anymore. Is there any way to fix this?

Cindy- Mississippi

Cindy,

I can’t tell you how often we hear these type of stories.  There are very few dentists that can do a beautiful smile makeover, especially in a situation like yours. I’m assuming the stains on your teeth are from tetracycline.  These take a very skilled cosmetic dentist to get right.  For the beginning cosmetic dentist there is generally one of two mistakes. Either they are made normally, which allows the tetracycline stains to show through, or they make them too opaque to cover the stains and they don’t look natural.

If you had gone to an expert cosmetic dentist he would be appalled to hear you don’t want to smile anymore. True cosmetic dentists take steps to insure their patient is thrilled with their new smile. First, they make an acrylic smile for them to try on and see how they like it.  If they don’t like it, then they would go right back to designing the smile. Then, after the smile arrives, your dentist will put it in with a try-in paste.  You would get to look at them in different lights. You could even have a friend or family member come in to look at them and give their opinion. Only when the dentist was sure that you were pleased would they be permanently bonded on. You would never be pressured into liking them.

Generally, if you received a bad smile makeover, there isn’t much recourse. The standard for judging cosmetic dentistry for refunds is whether or not it is functional. Now, here is where you are at an advantage. Your veneers are not loose. I know that because if the veneers were loose they would just fall off. I suspect, based on your jaw pain that your teeth are loose because your bite has been thrown off. This could cause some serious problems for you, including TMJ Disorder. That entitles you to to compensation for getting this repaired.

Here is what I suggest you do. First, go to the AACD (The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) website to see if there is a dentist in your area that is AACD accredited. That is different than just being a member. Any one of them could give you an opinion on the work that has been done and help you get the compensation you need to repair the damage if the porcelain veneers are what threw off your bite.  Then, you can get the smile makeover you had dreamed of.

If there is not an AACD accredited dentist in your area, then you can also find an expert cosmetic dentist by going to the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend expert cosmetic dentists by state. Anyone on their list will be safe. It will be worth it to travel if you have to.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette Lousiana Cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.