Dr. Hall
I recently had Lumineers applied to my 2 front teeth for cosmetic reasons to brighten my teeth. The surrounding teeth are naturally very “bright white” and the cosmetic dentist and hygenist told me that I had the lightest shade. What is the lightest shade?? They appear darker than the other teeth. He said to stop using the at home tooth whitening. He said, “Don’t whiten your teeth anymore and they will match up.” How true is that? My teeth are still going to be darker in the front. They will never match I don’t believe. What am I to do?
– Toni from Tennessee
Dear Toni,
I’m not sure why you are referring to a cosmetic dentist that you went to. What makes you say he is a “cosmetic dentist?” Just because he said so?
I am suspicious and wondering if he is really what I would call a cosmetic dentist, because you are telling me he and his hygienist said they gave you the lightest shade. When they use terminology like that, that sounds to me like it’s coming from a general dentist, not a cosmetic dentist.
To a general dentist, B1 is considered “the lightest shade” because that is the whitest color that teeth tend to ever be without bleaching. But when you bleach your teeth, you can usually get them whiter than “the lightest shade.” So I don’t usually hear expert cosmetic dentists talking about “the lightest shade.” Most expert cosmetic dentists, when they do a smile makeover with porcelain veneers, will encourage their patients to go beyond the lightest natural shade, because almost everyone wants a bright, sparkling smile, and usually B1 simply isn’t white enough.
Read about the difference between a general dentist and an expert cosmetic dentist, and this will help you understand better what is going on with the advice you’re getting.
– Dr. Hall
Click here to find a cosmetic dentist.
About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
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