Tetracycline Stains

Question: I am 54 years and I have tetracycline stained teeth - they look gray!
I am a coffee drinker as well. Short of porcelain veneers, is there ANYTHING that will help these teeth?

Treating Tetracycline Stains

The antibiotic tetracycline can be a life-saver. It kills a wide spectrum of bacteria. But if it's taken while the teeth are forming, it deposits in the dentin of the teeth and gives them a permanent gray or brown stain. Sometimes the teeth will be darkened in horizontal bands. Sometimes the darkening is moderate. While bleaching will lighten this stain, it has only a mild effect on it and won't eliminate it. And bleaching will never get rid of the banding. The best treatment is porcelain veneers.

The photo below shows a very dark color, and you can see the horizontal banding:


Dark tetracycline stains	Beautiful porcelain veneers completely mask the dark color

Covering these stains with porcelain veneers isn't easy. It requires extensive experience with cosmetic dentistry, with a strong understanding of color and the use of opaquers and translucent materials. Dr. Cohen is one of a handful of accredited cosmetic dentists in the Chicago area, and has the necessary training and artistic ability to treat tetracycline stains with beautiful results.

Dental Excellence through the Comfortable Care Approach
Glenview Cosmetic Dentistry
2222 Chestnut Avenue, Suite #200
Glenview, Illinois 60026

Dr. William Cohen is licensed in Illinois as a general dentist. He is proud to serve the Chicago, Illinois area, including Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Evanston, Glenview, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Lake Forest, Niles, Northbrook, Schaumburg, and Skokie, IL