I had ten porcelain veneers placed on my upper teeth about 7 months ago. I have tried to take very good care of them by brushing thoroughly with a hard toothbrush and using Listerine to keep the bacteria away. Now my porcelain veneers have turned gray over the entire surface. Could the Listerine have done this? They never really gave me any instructions on how to take care of them so now I wonder if I did something wrong without knowing it. If I damaged them, is there any way to fix it?
Mary Ellen
Dear Mary Ellen,
I am sorry that your porcelain veneers have turned gray. I am disappointed that your dentist never gave you instructions on how to care for these. While Listerine can damage your porcelain veneers because of the alchohol content in it, the damage would be more to the margins, not the surface. There are a couple of things that could be the cause of them turning gray.
The first is that you do not actually have porcelain veneers. Some unethical dentists tell their patients they are getting porcelain veneers, when in reality they are only giving them composite bonding. This will deteriorate and stain much sooner than veneers.
A second possibility is that your dentist or hygienist did something to damage the surface of the porcelain veneers at your last cleaning. If they used something like a Power Prophy Jet or acidulated fluoride, it will destroy the glazing on your porcelain veneers.
Either way, it is your dentist’s fault that this happened. My recommendation is that you go to see an expert cosmetic dentist. Don’t tell them who did the work, just ask them if they are actually porcelain or composite and whether or not they can tell what is wrong with them. Look for someone who is AACD accredited. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country and can give you some good feedback.
Caring For Your Porcelain Veneers
- Mouthwash is not really necessary, but if you feel you need it, make sure you look at the ingredients and only get some that is alchohol free.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. These are actually better for your natural teeth too.
- Most over-the-counter toothpastes are fine, with the exception of whitening toothpastes. Whitening toothpastes tend to have abrasives in them, which you do not want. However, if you are looking for the best toothpaste for porcelain veneers, I would look into SuperSmile toothpaste. This brand is specifically designed for cosmetic dental work.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.