How do I get rid of white spots?

I have always had white spots on my teeth ever since I was a kid. When I was a teenager, I also had braces to fix the alignment of my teeth. I think the braces actually made the white spots worse on my front teeth. My family dentist that I have been going to for quite some time said there is nothing wrong with my teeth and that they are perfectly healthy for my age. The problem is that the white spots make me want to hide my smile.

I have been looking into teeth whitening and porcelain veneers as a possibility to correct this problem. What I’m wondering is, would over the counter white strips, professional whitening, or Zoom whitening make the spots stand out more? This is my thought since they may end up whiter than the teeth that do not have marks? Or would you recommend porcelain veneers or Lumineers for this issue?

– Karen in Michigan

Karen,

Dentists are trained to fix things, bottom line. So, this mentality of “don’t fix what isn’t broken” is not surprising. It sounds like your dentist is offering an honest opinion and truly believes that your teeth are fine. To treat the white spots, you need to seek out the expertise of a true cosmetic dentist.

Teeth whitening will likely not do the trick, even though many dentists may go this route. You are correct that when you have spots on your teeth, the whitening may actually make them to end up looking worse.

Depending on how big the spots are, tooth bonding may be the way to go. Or porcelain veneers would remedy your problem giving you the beautiful smile that you are after.

You need to have a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist. They may recommend a combination of treatments. For example, it may make sense to whiten first and then have the spots fixed. There are many simple, long-lasting solutions that when performed by an expert cosmetic dentist will transform the way your teeth look.

Stick to your regular dentist for your routine dental care, but seek the talents of a cosmetic dentist for your white spots.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Less expensive porcelain veneers

I am in search of inexpensive porcelain veneers. I have had veneers for over 10 years now and I think my teeth have shifted a bit. Also, I never had veneers on my bottom teeth and I would like to have them done too. Unfortunately, this would not be covered by my dental insurance so I am in search of a less expensive way to have this done. Have you heard of graduate students performing this type of work at a discounted price? I’d be willing to travel if the price is right.

Thanks!

– Tanya in Oregon

Tanya,

It may be a possibility to find lower cost porcelain veneers if you are willing to travel. Fees change in different states and sometimes you can find less expensive services in smaller cities. That said, I would not compromise on the quality. Cosmetic dentistry truly is an art form and to be done well should be performed by an expert. Therefore, I would not recommend soliciting a dental school to have this type of work done.

Cosmetic dentistry and dentistry are two different things. For example, a general dentist is trained to fix things whereas a cosmetic dentist must possess an artistic ability to do them well. I would encourage you to wait until you can afford to have them done correctly and beautifully. An alternative route may leave you unhappy and requiring to have them fixed or redone down the road.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Other links you may be interested in: affordable dentistry; Lumineers