Last month, I got porcelain veneers on my 4 top front teeth. One veneer is much whiter than the others and looks slightly thicker. Also, all the Lumineers are lighter than my natural teeth. It’s so embarrassing.  My dentist and I talked for a long time about this, but she says the veneer will darken with time. Aren’t they supposed to match now? Should I insist on a new veneer or ask for a refund? Thank you.

Gayle – Yes, your new Lumineers and natural teeth should match. Veneers should blend in with your natural teeth’s size and shape.

Porcelain is colorfast, which means your veneers can’t be made lighter or darker after they have been crafted. You and your dentist should agree upon the shade of your veneers before crafting a wax model.

Speak with your dentist about correcting the color and thickness of the too-white veneer and whitening your teeth to match the porcelain veneers closer. If your dentist hesitates, we recommend scheduling a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist for the following services:

• Whiten your natural teeth – It is possible a skilled cosmetic dentist can whiten your natural teeth to match the color of your porcelain veneers closely. A cosmetic dentist will need to examine your teeth to determine if you are a candidate for teeth bleaching. If you are, the dentist will explain the results you can expect with whitening and how closely your natural teeth will match the veneers. Ordinarily, you should get teeth whitening before veneers.
• Get a new porcelain veneer – Your dentist and ceramist can collaborate to replace the veneer that is whiter than the others.

We strongly suggest taking the time to find an experienced cosmetic dentist. You may want to find a few cosmetic dentists experienced with porcelain veneers and have a consultation with each to compare the options and costs. After you get a second opinion, you can consider speaking with your dentist about fair compensation for having the extra work done by another dentist.

Metairie, Louisiana, dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post.