Will Porcelain Veneers Help Fluorosis Stains in My Teen’s Teeth?

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Will porcelain veneers help fluorosis stains on my teen daughter’s teeth? I talked to my daughter’s pediatric dentist about the fluorosis stains on your teeth. Her upper and lower front six teeth are yellow and blotchy. My daughter is 14 and wearing braces, and the pediatric dentist is asking us to wait until her braces are off to begin treatment. I asked the dentist what she could do about the stains, but she seemed unsure. My daughter is so self-conscious about her smile. I don’t want her to feel insecure at school and social events. What are our options after braces? Thank you. Tammi

Tammi,

Depending on the extent of the stains in your teeth, several cosmetic dentistry options are available. However, a cosmetic dentist—not a pediatric dentist—can beautifully restore your daughter’s smile.

What Causes Fluorosis Stains in Teeth?

Fluorosis stains occur when a child has consumed too much fluoride while permanent teeth are still developing. Community water with too much fluoride or taking fluoride supplements can lead to fluorosis stains.

How Are Fluorosis Stains Treated?

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Porcelain veneer

A skilled cosmetic dentist can conceal fluorosis stains with dental bonding, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, or a combination of treatments.

  • Mild fluorosis – Chariside dental bonding can cover the affected brown or white spots on teeth. A dentist may use teeth whitening along with the bonding.
  • Moderate fluorosis — If your daughter has extensive fluorosis stains on her teeth, a skilled cosmetic dentist may recommend porcelain veneers.
  • Severe fluorosis – Porcelain veneers are the treatment of choice for severe stains.

Should You Treat Fluorosis Stains with Braces?

Braces put pressure on teeth as they move. And braces can add to tooth discoloration. Wait until your daughter completes orthodontic treatment before beginning cosmetic dentistry. Consult with a cosmetic dentist.

Although there is no minimum age for porcelain veneers, if a child’s teeth, jawbone, and face are not fully developed, you will eventually need to replace the veneers. Meanwhile, a cosmetic dentist may recommend a less expensive alternative like dental bonding to improve your daughter’s teeth until you and she are ready for porcelain veneers.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

My Dental Bonding Makes Fluorosis Stains Look Worse

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It might be hard to believe, but my dentist’s dental bonding job worsened my fluorosis stains. The bonding color is uneven, the stains still show through, and the bonding is peeling off. The day I got the bonding, it fell off two teeth the same evening. I returned to my dentist to replace the bonding and told him that the color is off. He added another layer of bonding that fell off. Unfortunately, my dentist implies that I must grind my teeth or have a habit of weakening the bonding. He recommended that I wear a night guard. I tried it, but the bonding will not stay on. This situation is more stressful and embarrassing than my fluorosis stains. Bonding should not fall off, but how long should it last? Is it unrealistic to expect bonding to stay on fluorosis-stained teeth? I will try again with another dentist if my dentist gives me a refund. Thank you. Alicia

 

Alicia

We are sorry to hear about your experience. It is frustrating when you are excited about a solution for your teeth, but the results worsen things. Without cosmetic dentistry training, fluorosis stains can be challenging to conceal.

What Is Fluorosis?

Dental fluorosis is a condition that results from consuming too much fluoride as a child—while permanent teeth are still developing. Although fluorosis does not affect the health of your teeth, it can spot and discolor them. The stains are usually limited to the tooth enamel and do not affect the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel). See the Center for Disease Control’s website for information on fluoride supplements and toothpaste use.

Types of Fluorosis Stains

Fluorosis stains can be mild, moderate, or severe.

 

  • Mild fluorosis – White specks, spots, edges, or lines randomly appear on teeth. The stains may be limited or extensive.
  • Moderate fluorosis – Moderate stains cover a wider area of your teeth. The stains are often brown.
  • Severe fluorosis – Brown spots or streaks dominate your teeth. Fluorosis can make the tooth surface feel rough.

Concealing Fluorosis Stains

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Porcelain veneer

An expert cosmetic dentist can conceal fluorosis stains. After a thorough examination and x-rays, the dentist will let you know the results you can expect from dental bonding vs. porcelain veneers for fluorosis stains.

Most general or family dentists do not stock the tools and composites to achieve beautiful results. But a cosmetic dentist can get beautiful results with steps like these:

  • Grind out the discoloration
  • Bond high-quality composite to replicate your tooth enamel
  • Apply a base layer that has some opacity
  • Overlay the base with translucent composite

Whiten Your Teeth Before Dental Bonding

If you want to whiten your teeth overall, ask your dentist for teeth whitening treatment before composite is applied. Afterward, your dentist will apply bonding that matches your whitened teeth.

Why Does Dental Bonding Fall Off?

Dental bonding requires specific steps to keep it intact:

  • Etch, rinse, and dry the tooth enamel
  • When fluorosis stains are severe, increase the etching time
  • Apply a liquid bonding agent and cure it with a curing light
  • Place composite over the cured bonding agent

Your dentist must ensure that your bonding is so firmly in place that the only way to remove it is by grinding it off. If your cosmetic dentist does bonding correctly, it will not fall off.

Asking Your Dentist for a Refund on Bad Bonding

You paid for a service that you did not receive. That is the basis for asking your dentist for a refund. Depending on your dentist’s response, you have these options:

  • Reporting the issue to your dental insurance company
  • Asking your new dentist for help in requesting a refund
  • Filing a complaint with the state dental board
  • Leaving negative online reviews
  • Hiring an attorney

Schedule a Consultation

Consult an advanced cosmetic dentist if you want your fluorosis stains concealed without anyone noticing your dental work.

 

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post.

 

My Dental Bonding Is Peeling

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My dentist whitened my teeth and later placed bonding on them last February to hide fluorosis stains. The color still wasn’t right after three tries, so I let it go. I figured I would keep the bonding because my dentist said it would last five years. After that, I planned to find another dentist to replace it. But within the past week, the bonding started peeling off like old paint. This is so embarrassing. I called my dentist, who said bonding on fluorosis sometimes doesn’t stick to your teeth. He never mentioned that the bonding might peel before he placed it. Now, I am concerned that I must live with these stains. If my dentist cannot get this right, what are my options? Thank you. Jay

Jay,

We are sorry to hear about your experience with dental bonding from your dentist. Fortunately, you have options for concealing fluorosis stains, but you cannot rely on your dentist for them.

Types of Fluorosis Stains

Fluorosis stains occur from consuming too much fluoride as a child while your teeth are still developing. Tooth stains are white in mild to moderate cases and brown in severe cases. The stains usually affect the tooth enamel only.

How Do You Conceal Fluorosis Stains?

Concealing fluorosis stains in teeth is one of the most challenging aspects of cosmetic dentistry. Depending on the stains and condition of your teeth, an advanced cosmetic dentist may recommend dental bonding or porcelain veneers.

Dental bonding

  • Applying dental bonding to tooth enamel securely requires these steps:
  • Etch the tooth enamel
  • Rinse and dry the enamel
  • Apply a liquid bonding agent to the tooth and use a curing light to cure it
  • Place the composite over the cured bonding

At least your dentist bleached your teeth before applying bonding, even though the color did not stay on. Bleaching teeth first is essential to matching bonding to your natural teeth. Whitening is an effective way to refresh your smile.

Porcelain veneers

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Porcelain veneer

After removing a conservative amount of tooth enamel, a cosmetic dentist will complete these steps:

  • Take impressions of your teeth
  • Provide a wax-up of your veneers
  • Make temporary veneers for you to wear
  • After you approve the temporary veneers, send pictures and instructions to a dental ceramist to make the final product
  • Try the veneers on your teeth to ensure you are delighted with your smile makeover

What Are the Options for Hiding Fluorosis Stains in Teeth?

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I have dark fluorosis stains on six upper front and side teeth. I know the stains are permanent and that I can get veneers for my teeth to hide the stains. But what are my other options? – Nikki from Charlotte, NC

For our readers- Fluorosis stains can occur when a child’s teeth develop. Too much fluoride can cause irregularities, discoloration, or spots on teeth. If a child consumes too much fluoride, white or brown spots develop on the tooth enamel. Also, pits can form in the teeth.

Nikki –

Thank you for contacting Dr. Brooksher’s office in Baton Rouge.

What Are the Options for Fluorosis Stains in Teeth?

The options for fluorosis stains in teeth include porcelain veneers and dental bonding. A cosmetic dentist will recommend treatment based on these factors:

  • The condition of your teeth
  • The extent of the fluorosis stains
  • Your budget
Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers. Although porcelain veneers are the most expensive option for concealing fluorosis stains, an expert cosmetic dentist can make the veneers look like your natural teeth. People cannot tell the difference between them and your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers can last up to 20 years.

Composite dental resin (dental bonding). Cosmetic dentists use this tooth-colored material to cover imperfections and discoloration in teeth. Cosmetic dentists know how to manipulate the color and translucency of the resin to match your teeth perfectly. But the composite is less durable and stain resistant than porcelain veneers, lasting about five to eight years.

Teeth bleaching.

Schedule a Fluorosis Stains Consultation

Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist to examine your teeth and explain your options for concealing fluorosis stains in your teeth. In addition to discussing the pros and cons of the treatment, the dentist can explain a cost estimate. You may prefer porcelain veneers over dental bonding if you can afford a longer-lasting result.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post. Request a consultation with Dr. Brooksher today.