Polishing a Porcelain Veneer

I received four porcelain veneers. One of them I noticed had a small divot. I asked my dentist about it and he said he could fix it. I went back the next day. He used some kind of tool to even out the tooth. Now though, the parts that he evened out look matte instead of shiny. Will that be a problem? I think I am the only one who notices it, but I do notice it. Is there a way to get this shiny again?

Penny

Dear Penny,

Yes, this will be a problem. Your dentist will need to fix it. Whatever he did, if the glaze is gone, this means your porcelain veneer is susceptible to staining. Where there once was a divot will be discoloration. I’m not sure how much training your dentist actually has in cosmetic dentistry, but whatever it was, I do not think it was enough. He should have known not to do this.

The polish needs to be restored. However, I am not convinced your dentist will know the correct procedure to do this. Your dentist will need some specialized materials. He’ll need diamond polishing instruments and two polishing pastes, one of which needs to be an ultra-fine diamond polishing paste. Tell him I suggest Brasseler’s Dialite porcelain polishing system.

If he doesn’t agree, I suggest you go to another cosmetic dentist who can do it properly. My suggestion is you use a dentist on the mynewsmile.com website. These dentists are prescreened for their skill and artistry and will already know the procedure.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Warren Krutchick.