Tag Archives: acidulated fluoride

Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain Crowns Turning Yellow

I had porcelain crowns made a little over six months ago. They were so beautiful and shiny when I first got them. Now, they are dull and turning yellow. Do you know what could have happened? I do everything I am supposed to. I brush. I floss. I don’t even drink coffee. I’d really like them to look like they looked six months ago.

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

I want you to know this is not your fault. Porcelain crowns should last you several years. I can think of a couple of things that happened here, but you are going to need to have another dentist look at them to determine which one it is.

The first thing that comes to mind is an error on the part of the hygienist. You mentioned this happened a little after six months ago. That is long enough for you to go in for a cleaning appointment. If your hygienist used something like a power prophy jet, then it would have removed the glazing off the porcelain. This is what protects the crown from picking up stains and gives it that shiny look.

Another thing your hygienist could have used is acidulated fluoride which will also damage the glazing by etching it.

A second possibility is that your dentist told you that you were getting porcelain crowns, but actually gave you a different type of material that wears down and stains more quickly. It is not ethical, but there are dentists who do it.

Getting an Unbiased Second Opinion

Go to another dentist to get eyes on the dental crowns in order to find out the real problem. The key to getting a true, unbiased second opinion is to not tell the second opinion dentist who originally did the work. The dental world is a small world. It is very likely the two dentists know each other.

You don’t want the second opinion dentist to feel conflicted about saying something negative regarding a colleague’s work. If he asks who did the work, just tell him you want his unbiased opinion so you will keep the name of the dentist to yourself. He or she should understand that.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Hillary Peck.

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What Dental Treatments Do I Need as an Adult?

Hi there,

I keep on top of my dental appointments, going every six months. However, every time I go, my dentist insists on giving me x-rays and bitewings each time I go. I was wondering how often I needed these? My dentist also wants me to get fluoride treatments, but I thought only kids needed those. Do I still need them? I’m on a tight budget and only want to get what is absolutely necessary.

Hannah, from Leeds, United Kingdom

 

Hi Hannah,

There is no negative affect for receiving fluoride treatments as an adult. However if you have had porcelain work done to your teeth, you should be wary of using acidulated fluoride. This strong type of fluoride can damage your veneers or crowns, and make your teeth more susceptible to staining. Be sure to inform your hygienist of any work you’ve had done prior to your cleaning.

Your dentist would recommend these treatments for you if your teeth are in an advanced state of decay. You are correct, mostly children receive fluoride treatments until the age of 14, but some continue longer.

The ADA guidelines recommend a full-mouth x-ray every that show the roots every one to five years. You need bitewings (a set of two to four x-rays taken while you bite down on some film) at least once a year.

Your dentist may have recommended additional x-rays if your teeth have advanced stages of decay. If not, then you can ask your dentist to follow the ADA guidelines. Receiving fewer x-rays will save you some money.

This blog post is brought to you by affordable Scottsdale dentist, Dr. Hillary Peck, of Peck Family Dentistry.