I have four porcelain veneers that look great, but my adjacent teeth are yellow compared to them. I wasn’t thinking about the difference in color when I got my veneers, I just made them the color I want them. Is there an over-the-counter product I can use to whiten the non-veneered teeth? Is there a way to do this without damaging the porcelain veneers?
Eva
Dear Eva,
First, let me point out it wasn’t your job to think of the color difference on your teeth. Very few smiles are only four teeth wide. Most are 8-10 teeth wide. It was your dentist’s job to discuss the color difference. You could still have your porcelain veneers as white as you’d like. However, your dentist should have suggested you whiten your teeth before having the veneers placed. That is standard practice.
Fortunately, it is not too late. You can still get those teeth whitened. If you have your heart set on an over-the-counter product, the only one I would recommend is Crest Whitening strips. Whatever you do, don’t use any over-the-counter whitening toothpaste. These use an abrasive to get rid of stains. They will damage not only your veneers, but your natural teeth as well.
Crest Whitestrips will work, though you will have to do some manipulating. They only cover the front six teeth. Four of yours are already covered with veneers, so I would use two strips and put them on each side of your veneers. Be aware that these are much weaker than what you’d get with your dentist.
If you want this done more efficiently, have your dentist make you custom-fitted teeth whitening trays and provide you with professional-strength gel. Initially, it is more expensive than the Whitestrips, but the number of kits you’d have to purchase to get the same results over a longer period of time eventually ends up costing you more.
This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis. An AACD accredited cosmetic dentist.