Can You Make Dental Veneers Whiter?

Dental veneers are a great and cost-effective way to correct minor dental imperfections and improve the appearance of your smile. A veneer can effectively correct dental flaws, such as teeth stains, cracks, chips, gaps, and minor misalignments. Similarly, unlike natural teeth, a veneer is made from artificial and non-porous materials like porcelain and composite resin, making it highly resistant to staining.

In this article, you’ll learn what veneers are, why they can get discolored, and what you can do to make them whiter.

What are dental veneers?

A veneer is a thin tooth-colored shell placed on the front of a damaged tooth to improve its physical appearance. Commonly, a veneer contains composite resin or porcelain. Veneers are customized to match the color and size of your natural teeth to ensure a natural smile. We offer dental veneers in Quincy, MA.

Do veneers get discolored?

Like your natural teeth, a veneer can get stained. However, because they are non-porous, they resist staining better than natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are more durable and resist staining better than composite veneers. Avoiding staining habits and caring for your veneers ensure they last longer and maintain their bright shade.

If you’re wondering what can cause your veneers to get stained, below are common reasons:

• Continuous daily exposure to highly pigmented food items like sauces, red wine, coffee, and tea can cause your veneers to turn dull or stained. Brushing or rinsing after taking these items can help minimize staining.
• Due to many years of exposure to staining agents, old veneers are likely to turn darker. That might be a sign that you need to replace them sooner.
• Significant dental damage can expose your tooth dentin, causing the tooth to discolor. It can make the veneers appear discolored.
• Over time, the dental cement to attach the veneer to the tooth can get stained, causing the veneer to appear darker.

How can you make your Veneers Whiter?

If your veneers have turned dull or dark stains or spots, you might wonder how to brighten them. You can consider the following options:

• Use non-abrasive polishing toothpaste

Several kinds of toothpaste can lighten or remove stains on veneers to restore their whiter appearance. This option is especially ideal if you only have minor or mild stains around the edges of the veneers. Consult your dentist about quality whitening toothpaste that you can use to brighten your veneers. It’s worth noting that home-based whitening techniques such as bleach and baking soda won’t do the trick. They will only work on your natural teeth, leaving the veneers stained and making your smile less uniform.

• Try teeth whitening on the back of your teeth

Stains at the back of your teeth can make translucent or light veneers appear dull or discolored. Whitening or bleaching the back of the teeth with the veneers can lighten the teeth. It will also be reflected through your veneers. Consult your dentist about a safe whitening system that you can use without damaging your veneers.

• Speak with your dentist

The last and best option to whiten your stained or dull veneers is to speak to your dentist. They will examine your veneers and determine the cause of the staining. They can recommend a workable solution and save time and resources.

If the natural teeth cause discoloration, they can clean or whiten them professionally, making them and the veneer appear brighter. Suppose the veneers are severely stained and can’t be polished. In that case, our cosmetic dentist in Quincy, MA, can recommend replacing them with a new veneer or alternative cosmetic options like dental crowns. A dental crown may only be necessary if the tooth is extremely weak and can’t sufficiently support a veneer.

Schedule an appointment today with our dentist in Quincy, MA

Do you need more information about dental veneers in Quincy? Or perhaps your veneers are discolored, and you’d like them whitened? Contact Quincy Dental Associates to book your dentist appointment today.