tetracycline stains Archives - Susan M. Dennis, D.D.S

Trying to Find Best Cosmetic Dentist for My Tetracycline Stains

Posted on September 27, 2025 by writeradmin.

I have tetracycline stains. I want to improve my smile. I’ve been looking to find a great cosmetic dentist using Yelp! I have narrowed it down to two. Both are nearby and have 5 star ratings from almost every patient. Is there a way I can check something else that will help me pick one of the other?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

I want you to be very careful here. While I use Yelp! myself for things like finding a good plumber or other type of repairman, it is not a good idea to do that for a dentist. The reason for that is because of the way their algorithm works. The people rating the dentists are doing it based on their experiences. However, Yelp! does not differentiate between the type of services they received. So, someone could have given a dentist a five star rating for a friendly staff, while another because they liked their dental crown. There is no way to get a true rating on their cosmetic dentistry skill.

Cosmetic dentistry is unfortunately, not a recognized specialty. That means any general dentist can do the work regardless of the amount of cosmetic training they have. Some procedures, such as teeth whitening, are easy and straight forward. Others, such as porcelain veneers, are extremely advanced. A dentist would need extensive post-doctoral training in order to do this properly. This is especially true of tetracycline stains. These are the toughest of cosmetic cases.

You have a couple of options. The best treatment of this is porcelain veneers. However, this is such an advanced procedure that you would need one of the top cosmetic dentists in the country. I would start by looking at what type of post-doctoral training they have. Dental school is not enough. Next, ask to see before and after pictures of tetracycline cases they have done with porcelain veneers. Make sure of the type of results they can get before you let them touch your teeth. I will be honest that these are quite expensive.

A second option is to get your teeth whitened. I will be up front with you that these will not give you the same stunning results, but it will improve them significantly. It will take a LOT of whitening to get real results, but if you’re patient you can make a big difference. A couple of upsides to this are it will cost significantly less than the veneers. Also, you will not need an expert cosmetic dentist. Any cosmetic dentist can do it. If you can find a dentist that offers Kor Whitening, that would be even better. It’s got a slight edge when it comes to cosmetic work.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Porcelain Veneer Came Off

Posted on April 7, 2025 by writeradmin.

I had porcelain veneers placed several years ago to cover my tetracycline stains. This week, I had one on a front tooth that split into two pieces and fell off. My new dentist glued it back on temporarily and is planning on replacing it with a crown. I moved to a new state since getting the veneers. However, this dentist says he can’t even get to the temporary tooth for a couple of weeks. The repair is not well done, is uncomfortable and looks fake. First, do I have to have a crown because the veneer broke? Second, would this not be considered a dental emergency?

Allie

Dear Allie,

A single porcelain veneer being held up o a tooth

First, do not let this dentist put a dental crown on your tooth if it is still healthy. That would grind it down and is completely unnecessary. Plus, a crown on a front tooth will weaken the tooth. This may be a sign that your new dentist is not a skilled cosmetic dentist. When a dentist suggests crowns in place of porcelain veneers, it generally means they don’t know how to do veneers well enough to feel comfortable with them.

Don’t force his hand to do a veneer. You won’t like the results. This is especially true because yours are covering tetracycline stains. This is one of the more advanced cosmetic procedures and requires a great deal of post-doctoral cosmetic training, along with some natural artistry on the part of the dentist. I recommend either returning to the original dentist to get this replaced or seeing someone else closer to you. Because he or she is out of state and you’re wanting to hurry, you can look for a skilled cosmetic dentist in your area. Make sure they have advanced cosmetic training and also ask to see example cases they’ve done with tetracycline stains. They should have a smile gallery that showcases their work.

While technically not a dental emergency, most cosmetic dentists understand an aesthetic emergency and will make room in their schedule for you. It should not take several weeks.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Bonding, Whitening, and Tetracycline Stains

Posted on April 4, 2024 by writeradmin.

I had tetracycline stains because of some medication when I was a child. I had dental bonding done quite a few years ago. Now the bonding is chipped and discolored. I can’t get porcelain veneers at this time because of finances. I was hoping that there have been advances in teeth whitening that will take care of my tetracycline stains and then I can just take off the dental bonding and whiten the teeth. Can you advise me?

Pearl

Dear Pearl,

Tooth bleaching trays

A lot of what you can do from here depends on how your dental bonding was placed. If your dentist placed the dental bonding on top of intact tooth enamel, than the aging bonding can be removed. However, if your dentist removed the enamel before placing the bonding, then your options are limited.

If your bonding is removable, then teeth whitening is a solution. My suggestion would be to have your dentist set you up with teeth bleaching trays and whiten your teeth with the strongest gel that you are able to tolerate. If your dentist has KöR Whitening available, that has some additional strength benefits. If you are persistent, the whitening can make a huge difference. I would bleach your teeth every night for at least a couple of months. You will find your teeth look much better.

Don’t do something like Zoom or laser treatments, even though they are stronger. It is also much more expensive and you will need quite a few treatments. Stick with the good old bleach take home trays. You’ll get the same results, though it will take a little longer, at a fraction of the cost. One type of take home whitening that is stronger than others is KöR Whitening. You could see if your dentist offers that.

Of course, they won’t have the same exact beauty you could get with porcelain veneers if you went to an expert cosmetic dentist, but you will be much happier with your smile.

If the enamel was removed, however, your only real option is to get porcelain veneers. I would not just go to any cosmetic dentist, and definitely not the cheapest. Porcelain veneers are an advanced cosmetic procedure and tetracycline stains are the most challenging type of those cases. Save up and go to the best you can find.

Hopefully, you can at least start with the teeth whitening option and then eventually get porcelain veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Cheap Fix for Tetracycline Stains

Posted on August 24, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I don’t have a lot of money but do have a lot of tetracycline stains. Someone said that porcelain veneers are the best way to fix this. Are there dental schools that do this at a discount? If not, is there another solution that will work?

Melody

Dear Melody,

Yes, when porcelain veneers are done correctly, they are the ideal solution for tetracycline stains. However, I wouldn’t go bargain hunting for them. You will not like the results. Under the best of circumstances, this cosmetic procedure is very advanced. Tetracycline stains are one of the most difficult cases around and would require one of the best cosmetic dentists.

I’d also ask them what type of experience they have with tetracycline stains and ask to see some before and after pictures. You don’t want someone to practice or gain experience on you with this procedure.

Can Teeth Whitening Fix Tetracycline Stains?

If you can’t afford porcelain veneers, teeth whitening can do some good if you are persistent enough. You would need to use take-home whitening, with custom-fitted trays. Wear them for as long as you can each day, without sensitivity, and you would likely need to use them for several months.

This can lighten up your teeth quite a bit. It won’t be as stunning as porcelain veneers done well, but you will be much happier with your smile.

I recommend seeing a dentist who offers KöR Whitening Thus far, it is the most effective method of teeth whitening on tetracycline stains.

If you do decide you want to try porcelain veneers at a discount anyway, make certain they agree to not permanently bond them on until you are completely satisfied with them. They can place them on with a temporary try-in paste and let you get a good look at them in several different types of lighting. If you’re not thrilled, then they should be back to the lab and try again.

This blog is brought to you by Teeth Whitening Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.