Although porcelain veneers, including Lumineers, are stain resistant, there are some conditions that can cause them to attract stains. At the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, our cosmetic dentists use ultra-thin Pearls porcelain veneers. Pearls help our dentists create beautiful smiles with minimal tooth preparation. They prefer Pearls to other brands of porcelain veneers, including Lumineers because of the personalized, lifelike results they achieve with them. Our dentists have advanced training in cosmetic dentistry to ensure your veneers are properly placed and bonded.
Pearls ultra-thin veneers produce long-lasting beautiful results.
If you received Lumineers from another dental practice and are experiencing staining with them, what could be the problem? A few possibilities are discussed below.
- Gaps between the Lumineers and Your Teeth
- Microleakage – If there is a gap between a Lumineer and a natural tooth, food and liquid can leak behind the veneer and cause stains. It is possible that the veneer wasn’t bonded properly.
- A Problem with the Glaze
- Damage or application – Properly glazed porcelain is very color stable. If the stains are an even gray color, the glaze on the surface of the veneers was either damaged over time or incorrectly applied when you received the veneers.
- Bonding Composite Needs Polishing
- Repolishing needed – Porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth with composite. The area where the bonding is applied was polished when you first received Lumineers and may need to be polished again. Regularly polishing the area with ultra-fine polishing strips and ultra-fine aluminum oxide polishing paste keeps it smooth and limits stains. If you smoke regularly, the stains can be more noticeable.
- Abrasive Cleaning
- At-home whitening treatment -Teeth whitening kits and whitening toothpaste can create tiny scratches in your Lumineers. The scratches will attract debris from food and beverages and cause stains.
- Dental cleaning – Lumineers and all porcelain veneers require special care during your regularly scheduled dental exams and cleanings. Some dental cleaning and polishing tools that are used on natural teeth cannot be used on veneers. You should only have your teeth cleaned and maintained by a cosmetic dentist and hygienist who have been trained to care for porcelain veneers.
What’s the Solution?
Regardless of the cause of the stains on your Lumineers or another brand of porcelain veneers, you should receive an examination from a skilled cosmetic dentist. One of our cosmetic dentists at the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry can examine your teeth and veneers, identify the cause of the stains, and let you know your treatment options.