Archive for the ‘Porcelain Veneers’ Category

« Older Entries

Can I bleach my teeth after getting Lumineers?

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

Two years ago, I got Lumineers on my top teeth. At the time, I did not have the money to fix my bottom teeth. Now I would like to try bleaching my bottom teeth, but I am concerned that it might damage my Lumineers.

Is it safe to use over the counter whitening products on porcelain veneers? Will it damage the finish, or change their color at all?

Thanks,

Will in San Diego

Dear Will,

First, over the counter teeth whitening products will not cause any harm to your Lumineers, but it won’t change the color of them, either. I hope you got the color you wanted when you had them done, rather than trying to match them to your lower teeth.

Cosmetically speaking, you can get away with having upper teeth that are whiter than the lower ones, but having whiter lower teeth does not look good.

If you are unsure at all about whether or not you should bleach the lower teeth, consult with a cosmetic dentist. You may also want to consider having an in-office teeth whitening, such as the Zoom whitening  we offer in our Cleveland office.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Lumineers, Porcelain Veneers, teeth whitening | Comments Off

Is there anything faster than braces to fix my teeth?

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

I am writing to see if you can give me any suggestions for the fastest method to straighten teeth. My teeth are crooked and crowded, and I am finally in a position to do something about it. My 25 year class reunion is coming up, and I’d really like to have a beautiful smile to share with my old classmates.

I went for a consultation with an orthodontist, but he said treatment with braces would take about two years. The reunion is less than a year away, so braces are simply not an option. No way am I showing up with a mouthful of metal. Is there anything faster?

Thanks,

Eric from Hanover, NH

Dear Eric,

I can tell you about two different ways to get beautiful, straight teeth in just a few months. Rather than going back to an orthodontist, you’ll need to locate a cosmetic dentist who is fully trained, experienced and expert.

Invisaligninvisible braces could straighten your teeth in as little as 6 to 9 months, if your teeth are not too crowded. If they are very crowded, it could take as long as a year, but it doesn’t often take any longer than that. If you decide to go with Invisalign and are not quite finished with your treatment at the time of the reunion, you could always remove the aligner for the party, then put it back in place when the festivities are over.

Another option would be porcelain veneers. This could be a great choice if your teeth are also discolored or misshapen. Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are placed over your teeth to create the appearance of perfectly straight, even, white teeth.

The most important choice you will make in this situation is which dentist to go to. It is very important that you go to an expert cosmetic dentist with training and experience in both porcelain veneer placement and Invisalign treatment. That way the dentist will help you make an educated decision about which treatment will work best for your individual needs.

Treatment with Invisalign requires certification, so that should be fairly easy to determine. But any dentist can say they do porcelain veneers. Be very careful to review credentials, and ask to see examples of their work. Technically, porcelain veneers are not that difficult to place, but getting a beautiful, appropriate, realistic result requires a high degree of artistic skill. Very few dentists possess this level of aesthetic sensibility.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Invisalign, Porcelain Veneers | Comments Off

Teeth bleaching is making my teeth look worse.

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

I am in a really frustrating position. I am 24 years old, and ever since my adult teeth came in, they have had brown spots on them. I take really, really good care of my teeth, but my dentist said that they are like that because I had a very high fever as a young child, and that episode caused the discoloration.

I just graduated from college, and am trying to start my new professional life. I feel like these ugly teeth are really making a bad impression, but don’t know what to do about them. Under the guidance of my dentist, I have tried just about every over the counter teeth whitening product there is. I don’t have very much money, and though the kits are not individually expensive, they are starting to add up. So far, all that has accomplished is to make my teeth look even worse. The spots seem even darker than they did before.

Now my dentist wants to “try an experiment” (her words). She wants to use a grinder to wear away the front of my tooth until the discoloration is gone. I do not claim to be any kind of dental expert, but this sounds like a really bad idea! She admits that she does not know how much she might have to take off, and I am having horrible visions of what the end result of this might look like.

There has to be another way. What about professional whitening? I am tired of making a bad first impression. I am hard-working, well educated and meticulous, but my teeth send exactly the opposite message! Please help me get this figured out.

Thanks a lot,

Gretta in Belhaven, North Carolina

Dear Gretta,

You are smart to be cautious, especially when your dentist uses a phrase like “try an experiment”. From the sounds of things, you need to seek a new dentist. Your dentist clearly does not understand the basic principles behind teeth bleaching, and letting her conduct her “experiment” with grinding could lead to catastrophe.

I strongly suggest you seek the services of an experienced, expert cosmetic dentist, even if you have to drive a fair distance to do so. Please trust me that it will be very worth your time and effort to put this matter in the right hands.

As you have noticed, your smile is a huge part of the first impression you make on people, and you are at a point in your life where that first impression is incredibly important. If at all possible, I would advise you to invest in porcelain veneers. You do not mention any issues with any of the rest of your teeth, so it is possible that getting veneers for only those teeth that are discolored could make a dramatic difference in your smile.

If porcelain veneers are not a possibility, dental bonding may work just as effectively to deal with the discolored spots on your teeth.

You need the advise and guidance of an expert cosmetic dentist to make the decision about which course of treatment to pursue. Use caution, and ask about the dentist’s training and credentials. A truly expert cosmetic dentist will be a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists at the very least, and preferably accredited through them.

Tags: ,
Posted in Find a Cosmetic Dentist, Porcelain Veneers, Uncategorized | Comments Off

What can be done about fluorosis stains?

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

I am looking for guidance. My 12-year old son has severe fluorosis stains on his permanent teeth, and he is very self-conscious. His bottom teeth are extremely blotchy and yellowish, and his top front teeth (central and lateral incisors) have very dark stains. His left lateral incisor is quite jagged on the outside edge. He has braces right now, so we do not plan on doing anything for a while, but our dentist doesn’t seem as concerned as we are about the staining and has not given us a satisfactory plan of action for dealing with the stains when the braces come off.

Am I overly concerned with these stains? My son is so embarrassed by his teeth. He almost never smiles. I want to do something about that.

Annette in Colorado Springs

Dear Annette,

Many general dentists are not well-equipped to be sensitive about self-esteem issues. If your son’s teeth are physically sound and functioning properly, then your dentist may not be concerned with what they look like. After his braces come off, I strongly suggest you seek the help of an accredited cosmetic dentistto help you address the staining. If the staining was uniform, I would suspect some other cause of staining and recommend bleaching, but the blotchiness you describe does sound like fluorosis.

If your son’s teeth have not fully erupted, it might be possible and prudent to do some direct tooth bonding to provide a short-term fix for the staining. If his front teeth have fully erupted, porcelain veneersare probably the best choice for dealing with fluorosis stains as severe as those you describe. There is no minimum age for placing porcelain veneers, so if you are working with a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist who can factor in the degree of current and future tooth eruption, your son could have veneers placed right away.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Find a Cosmetic Dentist, Porcelain Veneers | Comments Off

Should I get porcelain crowns or veneers?

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Hi,
A few years ago I saw one of those extreme makeover shows and it really inspired me to do something about my awful teeth. I’ve been self-conscious about my smile for most of my life. My teeth are stained and crooked and shaped wrong, and I am missing one of my lateral incisors (it just never came in).

I’ve been saving for a long time for this, and I want to make sure I get what I really want. I’ve been looking for information on the Internet about different treatments, and I am kind of confused about when you would use porcelain crowns, and when you would use veneers. Based on what I told you, what do you think would be best for me? I don’t want to ask my dentist for the wrong thing and then regret it forever.

Thanks very much for your help,
–Alex in Santa Fe

Dear Alex,

First of all, congratulations to you on deciding to take this very important, life-changing step, and on your determination in working towards making your dream a reality. You really deserve to have an amazing smile!

The most important advice I can offer you for your future dental care is to find an expert cosmetic dentist that you can really trust. The decision to go with porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers should be made with the guidance of an experienced, preferably accredited cosmetic dentist. Many factors will help determine which option—or combination of options—is best for you.

To answer your question about using crowns or veneers, it will really depend on the condition of your existing teeth. In most cases, a dentist will strive to maintain as much of your natural tooth structure as possible. Porcelain veneers require just a small amount of preparation on the front of the teeth, while porcelain crowns generally require more of the tooth structure to be removed all the way around the tooth.

If one or several of your teeth are structurally weak or have large existing fillings, your dentist might chose to protect what remains with a crown.

Another consideration for you is that missing lateral incisor. You should seek an expert cosmetic dentist who also does dental implants.

The most important decision you have to make in this situation is who is going to do the work for you. Anyone can say they do cosmetic dentistry. It is up to you to check their credentials and education, and to view their case studies to make sure you really believe they have both the technical skills and the artistic sense to make your smile everything you could hope for.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Porcelain Veneers, Porcelain crowns | Comments Off

Care of porcelain veneers

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Will whitening toothpaste damage porcelain veneers?
- Sandi from Pennsylvania

Sandi,
Most toothpastes will not damage porcelain veneers. You do need to be careful about especially abrasive toothpastes, though, like Topol or other smokers’ toothpastes.

There is an excellent web page on care of porcelain veneers if you have other questions.

Posted in Porcelain Veneers | Comments Off

Can a porcelain veneer be re-cemented?

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

I wonder if you could help me. I have porcelain veneers and a couple of days ago one of them fell off. The veneer is intact and has no signs of wear. It was made and fitted nearly 15 years ago by an excellent dentist who is now retired. I could not find any authoritative information on whether it is possible to recement old veneers. My local cosmetic dentists seem to be reluctant to perform this operation. I would be very much obliged if you could tell me whether my veneer can be recemented, how many visits it might require and how much it could cost.

Yours sincerely
- George from the U.K.

George,
Yes, definitely, your porcelain veneer can be re-cemented, and if it is done right, it will be as good as new. But don’t go to any of these dentists who aren’t too sure it can be done, because it requires special procedures that are very strict, and they need special training. You need to find a real cosmetic dentist. The inside of the veneer needs to be properly etched and primed with very specific materials that most dentists don’t have in stock. The tooth also needs to be properly prepared.

I don’t know who to refer you to there in the UK. What you might do is call one of these offices where they claim to be a cosmetic dentist and ask them who is the most expert cosmetic dentist they know. Then if that dentist doesn’t know how to do it, ask them for another name.

For more information about veneers, see our Cleveland porcelain veneers page.

Cleveland cosmetic dentist Dr. Jay Goldstein

Posted in Porcelain Veneers | Comments Off

Why are my porcelain veneers cracking?

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

How long should porcelain veneers last? Is there any type of warranty? What are reasons they would crack and what can you do if they are cracking independently but all with in one year’s time?

If you can give me any answers or a clue on what I can do I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
- Sherri from Texas

Sherri,
There is no set lifespan on porcelain veneers. They should last for a number of years. Some last as long as twenty years. But dentists typically don’t put a warranty on them because so much depends on how well you take care of them.

If you have a number of them that are cracking within a year’s time, I would suspect that they weren’t bonded properly. Since porcelain veneers are fairly thin, they are also fairly fragile. They get their strength from bonding to the tooth. When properly bonded, they are quite strong and will resist all normal forces that occur in the mouth.

If you are having them crack within a year of putting them on, it would be reasonable for the dentist to replace the cracked veneers for no charge. This isn’t normal wear and tear–this is a flaw in the bonding process.

Links to related information:
Cleveland cosmetic dentist
Porcelain veneers to cover tetracycline stains
Cleveland Lumineers

Posted in Porcelain Veneers | Comments Off

My teeth are worn down from grinding

Friday, September 26th, 2008

My teeth are worn down from grinding. I have some teeth worn down and the enamel is worn thin. What procedure do you suggest? Could I wear a mouth guard after this. I have one missing tooth on the side.
- Carol from Texas

Carol,
A lot of people have a grinding problem, and it does cause your teeth to get worn down. What we would do in a situation like that depends on how badly they’re worn and what effects you’re having from it. It’s good that you’re aware of your grinding problem. Since most grinding occurs at night, many patients who grind their teeth aren’t even aware of it. But it can cause a variety of problems.

If the wearing down just affects the front teeth, then they can be lengthened with porcelain veneers. But that has to be done very carefully because if the teeth are lengthened and you are still grinding, you could grind away the new teeth or break them off. So a careful analysis has to be done of your bite. And then after the teeth are restored, there needs to be some protection provided, such as a mouthguard.

In extreme cases, all the teeth may need to be built up again. Sometimes the grinding is such a problem that all the teeth are worn down, causing what is called bite collapse or facial collapse, and this can lead to headaches or other problems that are characterized as TMJ problems. Building up the teeth is usually done with crowns. And while this is expensive to fix, it provides great relief to some patients who experience pain every day.

About the mouthguard, this may be an important part of your treatment. And if the grinding hasn’t caused too much damage to your teeth, this could be all that you need.

Related links:
See Dr. Goldstein’s blog posting answering a question about how to fix short teeth.
Read about the cost of Lumineers.
Cleveland Lumineers.

Posted in Porcelain Veneers, TMJ | Comments Off

Can you seal a gap in a porcelain veneer?

Monday, February 4th, 2008

I had porcelain veneers placed four years ago. All of them look great except one which started leaking and became slightly senstive every now and then. I went to my dentist who told me there’s no cavity and the gap is around 30 microns. My question is could this gap be fixed? The fact that it gets sensitive bothers me a lot. Thank you for kind reply.
- Al in Massachusetts

Dear Al,
Yes, you can fill and seal this gap, but it requires special porcelain bonding techniques that most dentists aren’t familiar with. To be properly sealed, the porcelain has to be etched and primed, and the enamel does, also. Then a clear sealant can be bonded into the gap and it should be taken care of.

If you go to someone who is a sustaining member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, like Dr. Goldstein is, that insures that they will have the knowledge they need to do something like this.

Related information on Dr. Goldstein’s web site:
Porcelain veneers
A list of Dr. Goldstein’s credentials in cosmetic dentistry
Tooth bonding

Posted in Find a Cosmetic Dentist, Porcelain Veneers | Comments Off

« Older Entries