Teeth Whitening Archives

How Can I Get My Porcelain Veneers White Again?

Posted on October 11, 2023 by writeradmin.

When I first got my porcelain veneers they were really white. Lately, they’ve been picking up my coffee stains. I don’t want to give up coffee, but I’d like to get them as white as they were again. I know that over the counter whitening won’t work, because I tried it, but would the whitening from my dentist work?

Greta

Dear Greta,

I am glad you wrote. How you handle this will depend on the reason for the stains. The glaze on your porcelain veneers is extremely stain resistant. In fact, they are more stain resistant than even your natural teeth. This would repel even coffee stains, except maybe for temporary surface stains. The solution to that would be to get Supersmile toothpaste. This uses a chemical enzyme which safely removes surface stains from both natural teeth and cosmetic dental work. Never use the type of whitening toothpastes that are commonly sold. Most of them contain abrasives that will damage both your natural teeth and your dental work.

However, if the glaze has been removed from your porcelain veneers, this will not work. Unfortnately, neither will teeth whitening, which only works on natural tooth structure. There are a few things that can damage the glazing on your porcelain veneers. Two of them can happen at your dentist’s office, so I will start with those.
1. The use of a Power Prophy Jet. Don’t allow your hygienist to use this on your cosmetic work, or even dental crowns. This will completely remove the glazing on your dental work and it will not take long for the veneers to pick up stains.
2. Acidulated fluoride. This won’t completely remove the glaze, but will etch it, giving you pockets of stains.

One thing you can do that will damage the veneers is using the type of whitening toothpastes that are commonly sold. Most of them contain abrasives that will damage both your natural teeth and your dental work.

If the glazing has been removed or damaged you have a couple of options. The first is to replace them. If your dentist damaged them because of one of the things mentioned above they should help with that cost. A second option is to see an expert cosmetic dentist who has the skills and equipment to polish them back to their original shine. It will not be the same as the glaze, but it will remove the stains as well as help them to avoid stains a bit better. From there, Supersmile toothpaste will really help keep the stains off.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Did Crest Whitestrips Damage This Woman’s Tooth?

Posted on August 14, 2023 by writeradmin.

I had a tooth that had been recessed for years due to an accident. That had caused it to be darker than the other teeth. I was looking for a cheap way to fix this and my dentist suggested Crest Whitestrips. I wore it for a little over a week with no problems, but then started having pain in the recessed tooth. It began to have sensitivity to hot and cold. I stopped using the whitestrips but the pain didn’t stop. I went to see my dentist and he believes I need a root canal treatment. Could Crest Whitestrips have caused this? If so, should my dentist have warned me that this would be a possibility?

Caroline

Dear Caroline,

Professional Teeth Whitening Trays

When I first heard this question, I was surprised because, generally, Crest Whitestrips are so weak that it would be hard for them to do much damage. However, as I’ve thought about your situation and the damaged tooth, it is possible. If the tooth is recessed it is likely already irritated or has some exposed dentin. The whitening strips could have pushed that tooth over the edge.

I am a little surprised your dentist suggested the Crest Whitestrips for a couple of reasons. One, it is dangerous for a patient to have teeth whitening done without supervision from a professional who can keep an eye on things. Second, the type of discoloration you have is not from stains so teeth whitening is not the solution. Those two things combined make me wonder if your dentist has a clear understanding of how teeth whitening works.

As for whether or not you need a root canal treatment, that would be hard to diagnose over blog post. The sensitivity to cold doesn’t bother me too much, but the sensitivity to hot tells me that it may not be able to heal on its own. You are perfectly within your rights to get a second opinion from another dentist who can examine you. If you do, I would suggest getting it done by an endodontist. They are root canal specialists. After the pain in the tooth is taken care of, you will want to see an expert cosmetic dentist in order to get the discoloration dealt with. They can give you all your options after examining the tooth.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Whitening Teeth With Lemons

Posted on April 17, 2023 by writeradmin.

I’m looking for a way to whiten my teeth at home instead of having to go to the dental office for Zoom. I want more control over the whitening and someone told me Zoom can be painful. They also told me that using lemons on my teeth could whiten them. Is that true?

Brooke

Dear Brooke,

Lemons

I’m glad you wrote. While it is possible you could get some temporary whitening out of lemons, it will cause damage to your teeth and make them look darker in the long run. This is because lemons contain citric acid. When you place them on your teeth, the acid will etch the teeth. This may remove some surface stains, but the etching means the teeth will now pick up stains more rapidly because you no longer have the enamel to protect you from the stains. Additionally, long term use can thin out your enamel which will make your teeth sensitive.

There is a way to get your teeth professionally whitened at home. There are teeth whitening trays your dentist can custom fit to your bite. Then, he or she will provide you with professional strength teeth whitening gel. You have control over the level of whitening because if you reach the shade you want, you simply stop whitening.

Will it be painful? Not really. Zoom has been known to cause some “zings” for people with sensitive teeth. At-home whitening gives you more control. You determine how long it is on your teeth. If you wear it overnight and your teeth are sensitive in the morning, then just wear it for an hour a day. If that is too much, half that. The procedure is completely in your hands.

I hope this helps you. DIY procedures are great for home improvement projects, but rarely work for dental care.
This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Teeth Whitening for White Spots

Posted on December 7, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have had white spots on the bottoms of my front teeth since I was a child. They have always bothered me and I am finally in a position to do something about them. However, my dentist insists because my teeth are healthy I should leave them alone. Her exact words were, “Why mess with something that is not broken?” But, the teeth make me embarrassed. I was thinking about teeth whitening as an option but I need an opinion as to whether that will work or not.

Christine

Dear Christine,

Teeth Whitening Trays

I am glad you wrote. While your dentist meant well, the don’t fix what isn’t broke attitude is more the engineering mindset of a general dentist than what you would get from a cosmetic dentist. If it bothers you, then it is worth fixing. However, teeth whitening is not the solution.

Whitening is a great way to give yourself an inexpensive smile makeover. It can make you look years younger. However, it is not the solution for the white spots you are dealing with. Because teeth whitening whitens your teeth evenly, it will only serve to make the white spots even more noticeable.

What you will need is to have some dental bonding done. This procedure is remarkable at fixing chipped teeth, gaps in teeth, as well as evening out color, such what you are dealing with. The dentist will gently remove the surface where the white spots are and then fill in the area with composite bonding material that can blend in naturally with the remainder of the tooth surface.

The one catch here is that you need a skilled cosmetic dentist to do the work, which is done freehand. Your dentist will not be qualified to do this. I would go to another dentist for that procedure. Once your dental bonding is done, you can return to her for all your general dental work.

To make sure you get a dentist that can do this well, I recommend you look at their smile gallery. This is an online brag book of sorts with before and after pictures of cases they’ve actually done. If they don’t have a smile gallery, they do not do quality cosmetic work.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Whitening or Filling First?

Posted on October 25, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have amalgam fillings and I want to get rid of them and replace them with the nice mercury-free fillings. I’m excited to finally have white fillings, but I’d also like to whiten my teeth. Is there a particular order to getting this done? Do I get the fillings first and then whiten my teeth or the other way around?

Milo

Dear Milo,

Sanitary Amalgam Removal

There are actually two things to consider here. The first is who will replace your amalgam fillings. It requires a special procedure in order to be done safely. You will need to go to a dentist who has the equipment and understands the procedure. This is because the mercury will liquify during the procedure unless handled properly. As it is a known neurotoxin you don’t want to swallow or even inhale the mercury vapors. I would look for a mercury-free dentist. They only do white fillings and will be much more likely to know how to do a sanitary amalgam removal.

Matching Your Composite Fillings

As for the whitening versus the fillings. I would do the teeth whitening procedure first, especially if you have visible fillings. You can’t quite predict a perfect match with teeth whitening, but a dentist with some cosmetic skill can match the composite fillings to the color of your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.
Click here to read about our free virtual smile makeover consultation.

Tetracycline Stains and No Money

Posted on August 15, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I have had tetracycline stains on my teeth since childhood. All the research says to put porcelain veneers on your teeth to cover them but my dentist doesn’t do porcelain veneers. He does do crowns, which he has suggested we use. Even that, however, is out of my reach. Are there any other alternatives?

Callie

Dear Callie,

I am very glad you wrote. For the benefit of others reading, who may not know what tetracycline stains are (pictured above), I am going to give a brief explanation. Tetracycline is a prescription medication. If you take it before your permanent teeth are formed, which generally happens at the age of twelve, it will deposit in the dentin of your teeth and show up as a dark brown or gray stains.

The best solution to this is porcelain veneers, which would need to be done in the hands of an expert cosmetic dentist. Covering tetracycline stains is one of the most advanced and tricky procedures dentists have to do. They have to make the cover opaque enough to cover the dark stains, but still translucent enough to look sparkling and natural.

Some family dentists who are not skilled in cosmetic dentistry try to make up for this by doing porcelain crowns. I will be honest with you, any dentist that suggests dental crowns for this is a big red flag. They are telling you, “I can’t do porcelain veneers, but I’m totally willing to grind down healthy tooth structure to rake in money for what I do know.” If they don’t do porcelain veneers, they are not skilled enough in cosmetic work to make these crowns look good. Even most dentists who do porcelain veneers don’t have the skills for tetracycline stains.

Tetraycycline Stains and No Money

You have a few options. First, you can leave the teeth as they are while saving up for the high-end (and higher priced) procedure. This obviously would depend on how long it would take you to reach your goal.

Second, you can have teeth whitening done. When you do this, know that it won’t be done in one tube of gel. In fact, you will have to be persistent, but if you are, it will work. One thing to note is I don’t recommend Zoom Whitening for this. It is more expensive than the take-home trays whitening. It is a fantastic whitener, but you will need too many sessions for it to be financially do-able for you. Of course, you could do one zoom appointment to get a jump start and then do the rest with trays. As far as tray teeth whittening goes, see if your dentist offers or is willing to purchase kör whitening for you. This is the most potent gel available.

Your final option is to have the teeth whitening done while saving up. This allows you to make some progress if it is going to take you a long time to get to the cost goal. If you choose this, you may even find you are happy enough with your whitening results that you no longer feel the need for porcelain veneers. Just bear in mind it will take a while for the whitening to really make a difference.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr.Cristi Cheek.

How Long is Whitening Gel Viable?

Posted on July 30, 2022 by writeradmin.

I received a free teeth whitening kit with custom trays and some gel when I started with a new dentist. I was so busy with my move, that I completely forgot about them. I was going through an old purse and found the gel. Is that still good? I’m assuming the trays are good forever. It’s been about a year since I moved and had the appointment. I’d like to use it if it is still good, but don’t want to put anything dangerous in my mouth.

Kelli

Dear Kelli,

Life sure does get busy sometimes, doesn’t it? This is especially true after you’ve moved. I have to say I am impressed that you got a new dentist so quickly. That shows you really do care about the health of your teeth. Let’s start with the trays. These can stay fine for many, many years. The most important thing is that they are kept in a temperate climate. If it is left in the heat, it will warp and that will not be good for your teeth’ alignment. You also don’t want it to have any cracks and such. Other than that, you should be fine.

As for the gel, that is a bit of a different story. Typically, they are good for one year. If your dentist gave them to you immediately after they were manufactured, you should be fine. This is especially true if they were refrigerated which will prolong its life span. I don’t think there will be an expiration date on the tube itself. Generally, that will be stamped on the box that carries the lot. However, you can check. If it is there, go by that.

The good news is most dentists will give you refills on the gel as long as you are keeping up with your cleaning and checkup appointments. So, even if the gel is expired, you can still get your teeth whitened. You would not want to whiten them without having a cleaning first anyway because the results would be spotty.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Can Teeth Be Bleached to Match My Eyeballs

Posted on May 2, 2022 by writeradmin.

I want to whiten my teeth to where they are as white as my eyeballs. Is that possible or am I being unrealistic?

Percy

Dear Percy,

I find some of the questions I get to be fascinating. This is one of them. The answer would depend on how white your eyeballs are. At some point, whitening hits a wall. Additionally, it is hard to pinpoint a specific color with teeth whitening. When you think you have reached the level of whitening you want and stop whitening, there is always some oxygen released that changes the color a bit.

The best way to get a specific color and match your teeth to something is with porcelain veneers. These are more expensive than teeth whitening. I will caution you against price shopping on them though. Porcelain veneers are used for complete smile makeovers. This skill is not taught in dental school. Because of that, dentists have to invest in post-doctoral training to learn to do them well. To make it even more challenging, there is a need for artistry in order for the results to look both natural and beautiful. Artistic skill takes time. Not all dentists are created equally in this. You will often find that those dentists who are significantly cheaper than the standard, there is a reason. You don’t want to end up as a cosmetic dentistry horror story.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.
Click here to learn about our free virtual smile makeover consultation.

Tooth Mousse and Teeth Whitening for White Spots

Posted on March 1, 2022 by writeradmin.

I’ve developed some white spots on my teeth. I went to see my dentist and he prescribed me to use some tooth mousse. After that, he says I will need to do some teeth whitening. Will I need anything else after this or will this take care of the white spots?

Emily

Dear Emily,

Teeth whitening trays

If I were grading your dentist, I would give him about a 45%. The white spots you are dealing with are precursors to decay. They show spots where your teeth are demineralized. If not dealt with, these will become cavities. Tooth Mousse will help with the remineralization and should prevent the decay. However, the company doesn’t make any claims about the appearance of the tooth.

As for the teeth whitening, that is way off base. One basic fact about teeth whitening is that it whitens your teeth evenly. That means the white spots will get whiter along with the remainder of your teeth. There will be no evenness of color.

The only way to get the color the same would be with microabrasion and dental bonding. I would not have your dentist do this. Teeth whitening is the most basic of the cosmetic dentistry procedures. He has a profound lack of understanding with how this works. Microabrasion and dental bonding are much more advanced. I would look for a skilled cosmetic dentist to do this for you.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Is Taking Tetracycline as An Adult Bad for Your Teeth?

Posted on December 21, 2021 by writeradmin.

My doctor has me on tetracycline for acne. My dentist recently noticed the brownish lines on the back of my teeth. My mother thinks these might be from the tetracycline. Is this medicine bad for my teeth? Is there a way to get rid of the stains?

Maggie

Dear Maggie,

You did not mention how old you are, so I am not going to make any assumptions. Generally, tetracycline only stains your teeth if they are still forming. So, if you are over thirteen years of age (and your writing certainly indicates that) then it is unlikely that tetracycline is the culprit. That being said, there is one study that did indicate a specific variety of tetracycline, called minocycline, can stain adult teeth after they are formed. That would be the first thing I would check.

A great toothpaste to help remove surface stains is Supersmile toothpaste. Please don’t try and use any other over-the-counter whitening toothpaste that you can get. They use abrasives to scrub off stains. While it will make your teeth temporarily whiter, the abrasives damage your enamel and make it much easier for them to pick up stains.

If these are true tetracycline stains, and you are in the early stages, you can try teeth whitening, but you will have to be persistent with it. Other than that, you would have to fix them by covering them with porcelain veneers, though veneers do not go on the back of teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.
Click here to learn how to get a free virtual smile makeover consultation.