Archive for June, 2010

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.

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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.

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