Using dental crowns and porcelain veneers to hide tooth staining caused by the antibiotic tetracycline.
About this cosmetic dentistry makeover:
This is the same cosmetic dentistry smile makeover case that we discussed on our previous page.
On this page however we have taken a different approach towards providing a cosmetic transformation.
This person had written to us explaining that their teeth had been stained from the use of the antibiotic tetracycline.
If tetracycline is taken during that time period when a child's teeth are developing it can cause
a permanent yellow-brown to blue-gray tooth staining. This is why using tetracycline should
be avoided with pregnant women and children eight years and younger.
Masking tetracycline tooth staining with dental crowns and porcelain veneers:
Regarding the approach taken with this cosmetic dentistry makeover simulation...
The cosmetic dentistry solution we simulated on our previous page relied heavily on the use of teeth whitening treatments
as a way to reduce the degree of staining that had been caused by the tetracycline. As we discussed on that page
staining from tetracycline can be one of the most difficult types of staining to improve with
teeth whitening methods. While it seems reasonable to us that the teeth whitening approach
should be attempted first, the level of whitening achieved may not be enough to satisfy the cosmetic needs of the patient.
If that is the case then the
solution illustrated on this page would probably be the only other way of
making a cosmetic change.
The approach shown here involves placing of some combination of porcelain veneers
and dental crowns. These types of restorations cover over the front side of teeth and therefore can be
used to mask dark tooth staining.
Dental crowns are typically considered to be the stronger type of restoration and they can more predictably
mask the coloration of the tooth structure underneath. Porcelain veneers however offer the benefit that less tooth
structure needs to be ground away when they are made.
The dentist performing this work would need to decide which type of restoration would be best for which teeth.
As mentioned on our previous page,
one of the greatest difficulties encountered with placing several dental crowns and porcelain veneers is their
expense. Many people who might desire this type of change simply may
not be able to afford it, or at least not all at one time.
The simulation illustrated on this page tries to reflect this. It shows how dental crowns and porcelain veneers
could be placed on just the front teeth. We'd agree that this cosmetic solution does not provide complete uniformity or
harmony for this smile. But for some people this change might be a significant and very satisfactory
improvement. Of course this person could always have crowns and porcelain veneers placed on the other
teeth at any time because each tooth is treated independently of all other teeth. This person could choose to
have the limited work we have simulated done to get things started and then other crowns and veneers
placed as finances permit.