Category Archives: Cosmetic Dentistry

Is This Crack in my Crown an Emergency?

Hi,

When I got several porcelain crowns placed on my  front teeth, one of them had a defect that the others did not. There has always been this horizontal line towards the bottom of one of my crowns; it’s difficult to see unless you’re looking for it, so it never bothered me before. However, now I can see the fracture line clearly and I can feel it when I run my tongue over it. I’m afraid of it breaking while I’m talking. I’ve had the crowns for over fifteen years, so I’m open to replacing them. Do I need to be seen immediately at an emergency dentist? Or can this wait until my general dentist can see me?

Ross, from Calvin, North Dakota

 

Hi Ross,

This sounds like a cosmetic emergency, but unless you’re in pain or have lost the crown, you don’t necessarily need to see an emergency dentist for this problem. However, instead of going to your general dentist, you should go see a cosmetic dentist. An expert cosmetic dentist can replace the crown. You should try to do this before it breaks completely, because it most likely will in the future. If this happens, you should see an emergency dentist for a temporary crown.

Porcelain crowns often have horizontal “craze” lines, and they are usually undetectable and nothing to worry about. However, since you can now feel the defect, it means your crown has shifted and is in need of replacing.

Depending on the cosmetic dentist you see, they may recommend replacing all of your porcelain crowns due to their age. There is no rush to do this if there are no problems with your crowns. Be aware that it is difficult to color-match a new crown to the older ones unless you go see an expert ceramist.

This blog post is brought to you Gilbert emergency dentist, Dr. Matthew Roper. Please note that cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the ADA, but dentists like Dr. Roper have received additional post-graduate training in restorative dentistry, and have the experience to help their patients with their aesthetic concerns.

My front teeth are too big.

I really don’t like my smile because I have two really big front teeth. They are long too and actually stick out a bit from my other teeth.

Is there anything I can do to fix them? I’ve been looking into the different options with cosmetic dentistry, but I can’t seem to find something that I think will work. Whatever the case, I don’t want to end up doing something that makes my teeth look bigger.

Do you think I should have them extracted and replaced with dental implants? From what I can tell, implants seem like a good option.

– Jade in New Jersey

Jade,

There are many things that can be done for your case based on what you have described. That said, dental implants is not the way to go. Please don’t have your otherwise perfectly healthy teeth removed. That would be a bit extreme.

The first thing you should do is find an excellent cosmetic dentist. They will be able to evaluate your specific situation and make recommendations to give you a beautiful smile. They are the experts, so you don’t have to take the matter into your own hands.

Some possibilities that may work to make your teeth smaller may be done using diamond burs or strips. This will carefully file them down to make them more narrow and shorter. Then a retainer is a possibility to gently return them into alignment with your other teeth.

After they have been shaped and trimmed, Invisalign is also an option that may work to reposition them. These invisible braces straighten teeth in half the time as conventional braces. And no one will ever know you are wearing them.

Or if they are very large and need to be trimmed down significantly, they can be covered with porcelain veneers. This will give you a beautiful smile and you can work with the exact shape and color so you love your new smile.

Again, I can’t stress the importance of seeking the talents of a true cosmetic dentist. Not just any family dentist will be able to do this type of work well.

Best of luck to you.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Will Snap-On Smile work for my son?

Hello,

My son is eight years old and he has chipped his tooth pretty badly. It’s almost broken in half. The dentist filled it, but it broke within a week. It doesn’t seem to hurt him since the roots are unharmed. We’ve been told that he isn’t old enough to have his tooth capped. Will the Snap-On Smile work for him?

– Maya from Indiana

Maya,
Snap-On Smile works well to temporarily give the appearance of a straight, white smile. In the particular case of your son, I’m not sure this is the way to go.

If his tooth is broken, then placing this Snap-On Smile appliance over his tooth is doing nothing to address the real problem. Direct dental bonding with porcelain or composite materials can fix this problem for your son. And it needs to be done correctly so that it does not interfere with his biting or chewing. Although, you will need to seek the talents of a true cosmetic dentist. Not just any family dentist will be able to do this kind of work well.

There are some other issues to choosing Snap-On Smile for your son. Not only will it feel bulky, a boy his age may lose it. Also, he has a combination of permanent and baby teeth. This means that fitting the appliance correctly will be difficult since his bite is changing so rapidly. The appliance itself may also get in the way of new teeth that are erupting.

The reason the repair you mentioned failed is likely due to the fact that it got in the way of his bite. When he is a bit older, he will have all his permanent teeth and this will be less of an issue. It is difficult to make anymore recommendations without actually seeing this particular case. Therefore, I highly recommend consulting with an expert cosmetic dentist to present your options to you.

The tooth will look and function normally if it is done correctly.

Best of luck to you.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Related link: emergency dentist

Will my daughter’s splotched teeth be covered with insurance?

Hello,

My daughter recently had her braces off and now her teeth have splotches on them. She was born with less than normal tooth enamel. So I was wondering if my dental insurance will pay for this?

Thanks,

– Teri in Nebraska

Teri,

If her teeth didn’t have the splotches before braces, then the damage is probably due to a lack of good brushing while the braces were in place. When you wear braces it is good to keep a toothbrush with you at all times because of the importance of keeping your teeth clean after every meal. Otherwise, the enamel can become damaged.

Since you mentioned that your daughter’s tooth enamel was damaged before braces then your dental insurance should be under some obligation.

Although, the insurance carrier is only liable to repair physical damage to the teeth. So I wouldn’t think of it as them covering it, because that usually means they will pay for the whole procedure. It is much more likely that they will help you pay for the repair to your daughter’s teeth. Your insurance is only committed to making the repair functionally sound. And my guess is you want the teeth to look beautiful in addition to being functional.

For beautiful results, you need an expert cosmetic dentist. Not just any family, general dentist will be able to do this kind of cosmetic work well. Cosmetic dentistry requires extensive training beyond dental school. It may be more expensive to get the results you want but when done well, it will be well worth it.

Dental bonding or porcelain veneers are options that would work to repair the splotches.

I hope this information was helpful.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Related link: Lumineers, Invisalign

I want to fix my teeth spacing

There is some spacing between my teeth that I have never liked it. The truth is that I cannot afford cosmetic dentistry. It is just too expensive for me. Do you know of anything that can be done that is a quick fix to make my teeth look straight?

– Billy from Iowa

Billy,

There is an appliance called the Snap-On Smile that may work for your situation. This is an inexpensive way to temporarily fix your tooth spacing.

All that is required is for the dentist to take a simple impression of your teeth and select the shade and smile design you want. Then it’s sent off to the lab for them to create it.

It simply snaps into place over your existing teeth giving the illusion of straight, white teeth. You can expect it to last for approximately three to five years if you take care of it and the cost is in the $1000-$1500 range. This is significantly less expensive than porcelain veneers which run about that same amount for the cost of one veneer.

You may also be interested in dental bonding, which is another less expensive way to fix your tooth spacing. This all depends on how many and how large your spaces are. With this treatment, a tooth-colored composite is applied to the ends of your teeth and then it is shaped to mimic the natural look of your tooth to fill in the gaps. It is important that you visit an expert cosmetic dentist for this type of work. Lastly, tooth bonding will last much longer than a Snap-On Smile.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

My crowns are ugly

Quite awhile ago, like 20 years or so, I had porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns placed on my front teeth. I hate the dark line that is evident when I smile. Do you know if anything can be done to improve their appearance or change this? I have a big smile and it really bothers me. Would Lumineers work? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

– Carolyn in California

Carolyn,

It is possible to get that beautiful smile you are hoping for without the dark lines. For an expert cosmetic dentist, the treatment is relatively simple. A general dentist does not have the artistic ability required to make this transformation beautiful. An experienced cosmetic dentist can place crowns made of all porcelain. There is no metal in them, so they will look just like your natural teeth.

I hope this information was helpful.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada dental.

Related links: porcelain veneers, CEREC crowns

Lumineers and tooth sensitivity

I was wondering if getting Lumineers will help with how sensitive my teeth are? I have struggled with my general physical health because my teeth have affected what I can eat and drink. I feel like Lumineers are my last chance to get my body back on track. I have tried many different things but my teeth hinder me in so many ways. I have high Ph and my teeth are very sensitive.

– Bryce in Nebraska

Dear Bryce,

The good news is that many tooth sensitivities can be treated with Lumineers or other brands of porcelain veneers. First thing is first, you need to find an expert cosmetic dentist that truly understands these types of sensitivities. Your situation needs to be adequately analyzed so that the source or sources of your irritation are pin-pointed.

Sometimes a root canal may be needed to address sensitivity prior to placing porcelain veneers. An experienced cosmetic dentist will be able to perform root canals on your front teeth safely and simply. You can have the beautiful smile you deserve without the pain.

There are many reasons you could be victim to tooth sensitivity including fillings that are leaking or have not been sealed properly; a sensitive spot on the gum line; a misalignment in your bite; tooth decay; tooth grinding; or other reasons.

That is why it is important to have a thorough exam by a cosmetic dentist that knows what they are doing. You won’t want to go ahead with your smile makeover until you are confident that you know exactly what is causing your tooth sensitivity.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Related links: mercury-free dentist, sedation dentistry

How do I get rid of white spots?

I have always had white spots on my teeth ever since I was a kid. When I was a teenager, I also had braces to fix the alignment of my teeth. I think the braces actually made the white spots worse on my front teeth. My family dentist that I have been going to for quite some time said there is nothing wrong with my teeth and that they are perfectly healthy for my age. The problem is that the white spots make me want to hide my smile.

I have been looking into teeth whitening and porcelain veneers as a possibility to correct this problem. What I’m wondering is, would over the counter white strips, professional whitening, or Zoom whitening make the spots stand out more? This is my thought since they may end up whiter than the teeth that do not have marks? Or would you recommend porcelain veneers or Lumineers for this issue?

– Karen in Michigan

Karen,

Dentists are trained to fix things, bottom line. So, this mentality of “don’t fix what isn’t broken” is not surprising. It sounds like your dentist is offering an honest opinion and truly believes that your teeth are fine. To treat the white spots, you need to seek out the expertise of a true cosmetic dentist.

Teeth whitening will likely not do the trick, even though many dentists may go this route. You are correct that when you have spots on your teeth, the whitening may actually make them to end up looking worse.

Depending on how big the spots are, tooth bonding may be the way to go. Or porcelain veneers would remedy your problem giving you the beautiful smile that you are after.

You need to have a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist. They may recommend a combination of treatments. For example, it may make sense to whiten first and then have the spots fixed. There are many simple, long-lasting solutions that when performed by an expert cosmetic dentist will transform the way your teeth look.

Stick to your regular dentist for your routine dental care, but seek the talents of a cosmetic dentist for your white spots.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Less expensive porcelain veneers

I am in search of inexpensive porcelain veneers. I have had veneers for over 10 years now and I think my teeth have shifted a bit. Also, I never had veneers on my bottom teeth and I would like to have them done too. Unfortunately, this would not be covered by my dental insurance so I am in search of a less expensive way to have this done. Have you heard of graduate students performing this type of work at a discounted price? I’d be willing to travel if the price is right.

Thanks!

– Tanya in Oregon

Tanya,

It may be a possibility to find lower cost porcelain veneers if you are willing to travel. Fees change in different states and sometimes you can find less expensive services in smaller cities. That said, I would not compromise on the quality. Cosmetic dentistry truly is an art form and to be done well should be performed by an expert. Therefore, I would not recommend soliciting a dental school to have this type of work done.

Cosmetic dentistry and dentistry are two different things. For example, a general dentist is trained to fix things whereas a cosmetic dentist must possess an artistic ability to do them well. I would encourage you to wait until you can afford to have them done correctly and beautifully. An alternative route may leave you unhappy and requiring to have them fixed or redone down the road.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.

Other links you may be interested in: affordable dentistry; Lumineers

Flouride stains on teeth

My little boy has spots on his teeth. They are brown in color and are from fluoride. He has had his teeth bleached by a local dentist to try and get rid of them. But it did not work. The brown stains are still there. Now the dentist is recommending porcelain veneers. Can you tell me how much more expensive veneers are than dental bonding?

– Laura from Florida

Laura,

Unfortunately, I think it’s time to find a new dentist. Brown fluoride stains will not be remedied by teeth whitening or bleaching, which you are now aware of.

Dental bonding is a possibility. But it all depends on how bad the staining is. It is imperative that you research an expert cosmetic dentist. Tooth bonding takes artistic talent and not every dentist can do it well.

Porcelain veneers tend to be a more expensive treatment but will give the best results. Pricing varies from dentist to dentist, so you will have to discuss cost comparison with the dentist you choose. Again, I would urge you to have a consultation with a cosmetic dentist that has trained with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. An AACD dentist should be able to provide you with the best recommendation and cost based on your specific circumstance.

This post is sponsored by Gilbert dentist Vista Dorada Dental.