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Beverly Hills Institute of Dental Esthetics
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Brian LeSage, DDS, FAGD, FAACD

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Category: Porcelain Veneers posts

What’s Causing Stains Between My Porcelain Veneers?

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I got porcelain veneers in November 2025, and I’m starting to notice some staining between my teeth. I do smoke, but I thought veneers were stain-resistant.

Should I make an appointment with the cosmetic dentist who did them? I’m still paying for the veneers and am almost finished, so I’m concerned the staining could get worse. – Thanks. Gilberto

 

Gilberto,

A photo would help, since there are a couple of possible reasons for the staining. Without seeing your veneers, we can only guess their condition based on where you’re noticing the discoloration.

Can Porcelain Veneers Stain?

A porcelain veneer

Porcelain veneer

The porcelain itself is highly stain-resistant as long as its glazed surface remains intact. Porcelain veneers generally don’t stain easily, though smoking can cause more noticeable staining around them.

The porcelain surface can become more susceptible to stain if the glaze is damaged. For example, certain abrasive polishing methods, such as a Prophy-Jet, or acidulated fluoride treatments can affect the glazed surface. If that had happened, we would expect staining across more of the veneer rather than primarily between the teeth.

Why Would Staining Appear Between the Veneers?

Staining between the veneered teeth often comes from the area where the veneer meets the natural tooth. This area can attract stain for a few reasons, and a close examination can help determine which applies.

Possibilities include:

  • A small gap at the margin between the porcelain and tooth
  • Exposed bonding composite that has picked up stain
  • A bonding area that simply needs to be polished again

A gap at the margin could be more complicated to address. However, if some bonding composite is exposed between the teeth, polishing may be all that is needed.

Should You Return to Your Cosmetic Dentist?

Yes, we would return to the cosmetic dentist who placed the veneers. Polishing around veneers requires an understanding of the porcelain, bonding material, and veneer margins, so it makes sense to have the dentist who placed them evaluate the staining.

This area was most likely polished when your veneers were initially bonded. It may simply need to be re-polished now.

Is Polishing Part of Normal Veneer Maintenance?

Yes, periodic polishing can be an important part of maintaining porcelain veneers. In our practice, we encourage veneer patients to have these areas polished regularly.

Our hygienist uses ultra-fine polishing strips between the veneers, along with a special ultra-fine aluminum oxide polishing paste. Keeping the margins smooth helps them resist stain and plaque buildup and can help prolong the life of the veneers.

Needing this type of maintenance does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your veneers. For that reason, we may charge for the appointment. Most patients develop only minor staining, but smoking can make accumulated stain much more noticeable.

Brian LeSage, DDS, an accredited fellow of cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, sponsors this post. Read why his patients say he is the best cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills.

How Many Veneers Do I Really Need?

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I had braces in my teens, 20s, and 30s, plus jaw surgery in the early 90s. Everything looked great for many years, but my teeth have slowly crowded again, and my two front teeth are more noticeable now. I only want veneers on the two upper teeth beside my front teeth to improve my smile. A dentist advised me that I would need veneers on all six front teeth, which feels excessive for what I want and is too expensive. Since this is only cosmetic, I don’t want to go through orthodontic treatment again. I’m also unsure how to share a photo with you. How many veneers might I need? I know it would probably help to see a picture. Thanks. Korry from NY

Korry,

Without seeing your smile in person, we cannot determine whether two or six porcelain veneers would be the better choice.

There are generally two possible explanations for your dentist’s recommendation. One is that two veneers may be enough and additional treatment may not be necessary. The other is that your dentist is trying to achieve the most natural, balanced result possible and believes that porcelain veneers on only two teeth could compromise the final appearance.

Why Might a Cosmetic Dentist Recommend More Veneers?

A porcelain veneer

A porcelain veneer covers the front of a tooth

A recommendation for additional veneers is not always about doing more treatment. It may be about creating a smile that looks balanced and natural.

Dentists who focus on cosmetic dentistry often have high standards for their work. They want patients to be happy with their smiles for years to come, and they also want the result with veneers to reflect the quality of their craftsmanship. If treating only two teeth would leave noticeable differences in color, shape, or symmetry, recommending additional veneers will help produce an attractive result for your entire smile.

Could Your Teeth Continue to Move After Treatment?

Teeth can continue to shift throughout adulthood, even years after orthodontic treatment. One patient in her 50s had a gap between her front teeth that was closed with dental bonding. Within a couple of years, the gap returned because her teeth continued to move. After the bonding was replaced, she was provided with an orthodontic retainer and instructed to wear it every night to help maintain the result.

Your situation may be similar. If your teeth have continued to crowd over the years, long-term retainer wear may be an important part of protecting any cosmetic treatment.

How Can You Tell Whether You Still Need a Retainer?

Reduce retainer wear gradually rather than stopping suddenly. Every patient’s teeth respond differently, and your orthodontist can help guide the process. As you decrease wear, pay attention to how the retainer fits.

After your orthodontist recommends transitioning away from full-time wear, you can generally follow this progression:

  • Wear the retainer nightly.
  • Gradually switch to every other night.
  • Increase the interval if the retainer continues to fit comfortably.
  • If you feel pressure when placing it back in, your teeth have likely shifted, and you should wear it more frequently.

Would a Permanent Retainer Help?

Some orthodontists bond a thin wire behind the front teeth so it remains in place permanently. This type of fixed retainer helps prevent teeth from shifting and can be especially beneficial for patients whose teeth continue to move throughout adulthood. Based on your history, that may have been a reasonable option to consider.

 

Brian LeSage, DDS, an accredited fellow of cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, sponsors this post. Read why his patients say he is the best cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills.

 

Am I Old Enough for Porcelain Veneers?

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My teeth are stained and blotchy from wearing braces. Some of them look corroded. I’ve had several cavities that my dentist filled earlier this year. I’m tired of having stained teeth. I just graduated from high school. Am I old enough for porcelain veneers? Thanks. Leighya

Leighya,

Porcelain veneers preserve much more tooth structure than crowns. Most require only minimal preparation—about 0.3 millimeters—and some can be placed without drilling.

Conservative tooth preparation is beneficial for younger anterior teeth that contain large pulp chambers. Crowns can endanger the pulp, but veneers do not. From a structural perspective, veneers do not present an age-related risk to healthy teeth.

The limitation for veneers involves tooth eruption, not the patient’s age. If the front teeth are still erupting, placing veneers too early can leave part of the tooth uncovered, with visible enamel later. However, eruptions are usually completed by age 18.

Addressing Your Oral Health Before Getting Porcelain Veneers

A porcelain veneer

A porcelain veneer covers the front of a tooth

You describe significant prior dental work and attribute staining to braces, which often points to decalcification during orthodontic treatment.

Staining around braces usually starts as chalky white areas caused by plaque sitting around brackets. Over time, those areas darken. The outline of the bracket often becomes visible because the enamel around it has weakened.

Before getting veneers to conceal teeth stains and blotches, your teeth and gums must be healthy.

How can you protect your teeth?

  • Avoid frequent snacking because it promotes decay regardless of your brushing habits.
  • Stabilize your hygiene routine and diet to prevent future damage and protect long-term results.

Once those issues are under control, you can discuss cosmetic treatment with a cosmetic dentist.

 

Brian LeSage, DDS, an accredited fellow of cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, sponsors this post.

What’s the Minimum Age for Porcelain Veneers?

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I had braces twice and have had a lot of dental work done. Most of my teeth are stained and worn out. My smile looks 20 years older than I am. What’s the youngest age for being eligible to get porcelain veneers? Thanks. Bethany from TX

 

Bethany,

Porcelain veneers protect tooth structure when a dentist prepares them correctly. Traditional veneers require about 0.3 mm of enamel reduction—roughly the thickness of a fingernail. Because this preparation is limited to the enamel, veneers don’t reach the pulp, even in young adults with larger pulp chambers. Some cases allow for no-prep veneers, so age rarely limits whether veneers can safely protect your teeth.

What’s the Minimum Age for Porcelain Veneers?

Rather than establishing a minimum age for porcelain veneers, the concern is the condition of your front teeth have fully erupted. In younger teens, getting porcelain veneers while teeth are still developing can leave a visible line where the veneer ends. By age 18, this typically isn’t an issue. However, after an examination and X-rays, a cosmetic dentist can determine whether your tooth development is complete.

Why Do Oral Health Habits Matter Before Getting Veneers?

A porcelain veneer

A porcelain veneer covers the front of a tooth

Veneers rely on healthy enamel and gums for long-term success. Before porcelain veneers treatment, a responsible cosmetic dentist will want you to have consistently good oral hygiene.

When staining appears around orthodontic brackets, it often comes from weakened enamel (decalcification). This can occur if plaque accumulates around the brackets for extended periods, resulting in frosty white areas that may darken over time.

Factors That Contribute to Enamel Weakening

Healthy daily habits protect your teeth before and after cosmetic treatment. Some factors increase the risk of future decay:

  • Frequent snacking or sipping sugary drinks throughout the day
  • Inconsistent brushing and flossing around orthodontic brackets
  • Not using fluoride toothpaste or recommended remineralizing products

When plaque accumulates on the teeth, even thorough brushing at night can’t fully offset the constant acid attacks that occur during the day.

How to Stabilize Your Oral Health Before Getting Porcelain Veneers

Before veneers, your dentist may recommend improving the foundation of your oral health. These steps help support stronger enamel:

  • Consistent brushing and flossing, especially after meals
  • Reducing between-meal snacking
  • Fluoride treatments or products that support remineralization

With healthier enamel and gums, you’ll contribute to the success of porcelain veneers that look natural and last.

 

What’s the Rank of Porcelain Veneer Materials from Best to Worst?

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I’ve had three consultations with dentists about porcelain veneers. Two of them recommend feldspathic porcelain, and the other recommended e.max. However, I’ve seen several before-and-after pictures on social media of dentists who used zirconia for veneers. Can you rank the materials from best to worst for me so that I know what to ask for and what to avoid? Thanks. Serenity from NV

Serenity,

It’s easy to think of porcelain veneers as a simple fix, but they’re not. Veneers are as much art as they are dentistry. The material matters, but not as much as the dentist’s training, skill, and experience. Choosing a cosmetic dentist is like choosing an artist—you wouldn’t ask whether watercolor or oil is best without asking about the painter.

It is best to review before-and-after photos, research the dentist’s credentials, and learn about their reputation. Accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) is a strong indicator of skill, though there are also highly talented dentists without that credential.

What’s Wrong with Replacing Porcelain Veneers with Dental Crowns?

Porcelain veneers before-and-after photos, for info on dental insurance and veneers

Dr. LeSage achieves stunning smile makeovers with porcelain veneers

If a dentist is recommending replacing veneers with crowns, that’s a red flag. Veneers typically require little to no removal of healthy tooth structure, while crowns mean grinding down the front teeth to stubs. A dentist suggesting crowns instead of veneers may not be comfortable with veneers.

What Is the Best Material for Porcelain Veneers?

The best material for porcelain veneers depends largely on the artist using it. That said, there are meaningful differences:

  • Zirconia: Very strong but not usually chosen by top cosmetic dentists. It comes in blocks and lacks the subtle color layering needed for a natural look.
  • Feldspathic porcelain: Delicate but capable of highly natural, lifelike results when used by an experienced dentist.
  • e.max (lithium disilicate): Stronger than feldspathic porcelain and capable of excellent esthetics.

An artistic cosmetic dentist can achieve beautiful results with feldspathic porcelain or e.max.

Brian LeSage, DDS, an accredited fellow of cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, sponsors this post.

 

I Agreed to Porcelain Veneers, But My Dentist Placed Crowns

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My dentist and I agreed that he would place six veneers on my upper front teeth. He spent a lot of time shaving my teeth before placing the temporary crowns. I thought it was an extensive amount of time and should have asked about it. Two teeth had root canals over six years ago. I felt pain in a root canal canine tooth, but my dentist said it was temporary discomfort. After seeing an endodontist, I learned that the tooth was infected and required removal. The endodontist did a repeat root canal on the other tooth. The endodontist confirmed that I had crowns, not porcelain veneers. My insurance company confirmed that the dentist submitted a claim for crowns, not porcelain veneers.  I am hurt by the lies my dentist told, but I’ve had so much discomfort and expense with the damage to my teeth. I want to report the dentist, but I don’t know where to start. Thanks. Owen from GA

Owen,

If your dentist led you to believe you were receiving porcelain veneers but instead placed crowns, they may argue for flexibility in the definition of “veneers.” However, if their website accurately describes veneers in a way that contradicts the treatment you received, it indicates a lack of informed consent on their part. Performing a treatment without proper consent or complete information about the procedure can legally be considered assault, for which the dentist could be held accountable.

Porcelain veneers patient photos from Beverly Hills accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Brian LeSage

Porcelain veneers photos of Dr. LeSage’s patient. The procedure requires minimal tooth preparation.


Porcelain veneer procedures are more technically demanding than crown placement, leading some dentists to avoid them. Some dentists may offer excuses for why veneers aren’t suitable for a patient’s case, while others resort to deceptive practices. For example, some may use the term “360-degree veneers” to misrepresent crowns as veneers. Hopefully, your dentist did not use this tactic, which could have complicated your case.

It appears that the aggressive tooth preparation damaged your two root canal teeth. The complications are unlikely to have occurred if your dentist had conservatively prepared your teeth for porcelain veneers.

You may want to consider consulting a medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your options and report your concerns to the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

I Agreed to Porcelain Veneers, But My Dentist Placed Crowns

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