In January, I received six porcelain veneers. Two of them are turning dark. I am originally from Indiana, and I’ve been with my dentist for a little more than a year now. I asked him about the veneers, and his response was, “Hmm. I am not sure what’s going on.”  This is making me nervous. Why would my veneers be turning dark in just a few months? – Vivian

Vivian – Dr. Weiss would need to examine your porcelain veneers for us to identify the exact problem. We can tell you that porcelain is stain resistant and very hard—much more so than natural teeth. So why might they turn dark?

Reasons Porcelain Veneers Might Turn Dark

1. A gap between the veneer and your tooth – If your dentist left a small gap between the two porcelain veneers and your teeth, bacteria can leak in and attract stain. Correcting the issue can be tricky, and only a highly skilled cosmetic dentist should attempt it.
2. Excess composite – If your dentist didn’t polish away any excess dental composite when bonding on your porcelain veneers, it could cause them to look dark. Excess composite can easily be polished away by a cosmetic dentist who regularly creates beautiful smile makeovers.
3. Power-polishing equipment – If a dentist or dental hygienist uses power-polishing equipment on your porcelain veneers, the glaze on them can be quickly destroyed. It only takes a few weeks for the damaged glaze to attract stains and make your teeth look darker. Trained cosmetic dentists and hygienists understand which tools to use on porcelain veneers and which tools to avoid. Ultra-fine polishing strips and ultra-fine aluminum oxide polishing paste help in several ways:

• Keeps the area smooth
• Helps it resist stain
• Helps prevent plaque accumulation
• Helps prolong the life of your porcelain veneers

Although your dentist or hygienist might have been negligent in the placement or maintenance of your porcelain veneers, we recommend that you only let a skilled cosmetic dentist correct the issue.  An expert cosmetic dentist has the tools needed to correct the problem. He or she also knows the techniques required to polish your veneers properly. Find an experienced cosmetic dentist to examine your veneers and recommend the options for lightening them.

Philadelphia, PA accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Weiss, DDS sponsors this blog post.