21-year-old porcelain veneers are turning dark.

Dr. Hall,
I got porcelain veneers in my two front teeth like 21 years ago because of white calcium deposits on my teeth, but it seems like my teeth are getting darker and darker……it is very apparent in pictures. It really bothers me. What are my options?

Thank you,
Shayna from Georgia

Shayna,
I wouldn’t know for sure what the problem is with your porcelain veneers and your two front teeth without seeing them, but maybe I can be helpful.

Porcelain is very hard and stain resistant. It is actually more stain resistant than enamel, as long as its glaze is intact. But enamel has a certain capacity for self-repair by drawing minerals from your saliva. Porcelain doesn’t do that. This leads me to wonder if the glazed surface of the porcelain has been damaged.

The easiest way to damage them like this is for a dental hygienist to use power polishing equipment such as a Prophy Jet on them – that will destroy the glaze in one short appointment. They’ll look bright and clean when you’re through with your appointment, but within a couple of weeks afterward they’ll begin to attract stain and start to become darker. Or the glaze could be damaged with acidulated fluoride treatments or other means.

If they are darkening because the surface has been damaged, it may be possible to restore the beauty of your smile with sophisticated polishing techniques using diamond grit polishers. I would advise contacting one of our Georgia cosmetic dentists and getting an opinion about it. This is beyond the ability of a family dentist.

The other possibility is that your teeth are darkening under the veneers and the darker color is showing through.

Dr. Hall

Related links:
Read our page: How long do porcelain veneers last?
Read basic information about post-operative care of porcelain veneers.