My dentist has been trying to help me whiten the brown spots on my teeth because she knows they are a source of embarrassment for me. They’ve been there since my adult teeth came in when I was much younger. We started with over the counter whitening and that didn’t work. It actually made the spots worse. Now she is offering to grind off the brown spots, but she isn’t sure how much surface will have to come off. If that does work, would the next step be dental crowns or would professional teeth whitening be more effective than what I used over the counter, which honestly was about every brand out there. I’m not sure what to do.

Malorie

Dear Malorie,

Your dentist certainly seems well-intentioned, but she has no idea what she is doing with this. In fact, she’s experimenting on you without the knowledge she needs in cosmetic work, including teeth whitening which is one of the most basic procedures in that aspect of dental care.

Any teeth whitening, including professional teeth whitening, will not work for your situation. Instead, because it whitens your teeth evenly, it will make the brown spots more obvious.

The type of treatment you need for the situation you are in will be either dental bonding or porcelain veneers. Both of these are advanced cosmetic procedures that will require a dentist with advanced training. Porcelain veneers and more expensive than dental bonding but will last significantly longer and can do more. They are the go-to procedure for complete smile makeovers.

Where do You Find a Dentist who is Qualified to do Advanced Cosmetic Work?

Because there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, it is difficult for patients to know who is qualified. Sadly, they do not teach how to do smile makeovers in dental school. For a dentist to learn how to do these procedures they have to invest in post-doctoral training. You want a dentist who has made this investment. But how do you find one?

My suggestion is to look for a dentist who has attained accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). AACD accredited dentists have passed stringent exams as well as had to prove their artistry with before and after photos of a large and specific number of cases they have performed.

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