Houston Cosmetic Dentist Archives

Can Dental Bonding Fix Black Triangles?

September 14, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I have what my dentist is calling black triangles. Would dental bonding fix them?

Sam W. – Kansas

Sam,

Black Triangles are often caused by receding gums. The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure there is not gum disease. If that’s dealt with and you just have the cosmetics issue, then dental bonding is a possibility, but please bear in mind it is a tricky procedure. You’ll need an expert cosmetic dentist.

Black triangles are a hole left by the abandoned gum structure. It’s essentially a food trap, leaving plaque and calculus a nice little home. The dental bonding has to be shaped in such a way that it doesn’t perpetuate the problem. You’ll want to be able to floss the area smoothly, without any resistance. Then you’ve got the technical issues with gum fluid and the aesthetic issues that require artistry.

If I were in your place, I’d look for a dentist who’s reached accreditation status with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). They’ll have the skill and artistry to do it properly.

Can A Screw Retained Implant Crown Protect from Dental Implant Failure?

September 6, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I had a consultation with a dental implant specialist. He told me that he has the highest success rate of all the specialists in his area because he uses screw retained crowns. I just wanted to check that with another dentist about it’s legitimacy. He’s kind of pricey, but it will be worth it if it gives the procedure the best chance of success. Something about the dentist makes me uncomfortable.

Meagan L. – Florida

Meagan,

I want to clear something up. Though some dentists have invested more time in dental implant training, there isn’t a recognized dental implant specialist. If he’s trying to pass himself off as one, then I’d be careful. Now, it might be true that he’s done a lot of training and has a great success rate. Don’t be shy about asking him what type of training he’s received. For instance, Dr. Coleman has reached fellowship status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI).

There are many things that can factor into dental implant failure. It’s helpful if you can get a dentist who’s able to do both the surgery and cosmetic portion. That way there’s less chance of communication issues causing a problem. You’ll also want to make sure you’re not a smoker. Smoking greatly reduces your chances of a successful procedure.

You specifically asked about a screw-retained crown. The biggest benefit to the screw is the elimination of cement. Even the most careful dentists have some cement seep out. They’ll remove the remaining cement with hand tools, but if any gets left behind it will trap bacteria and could lead to infection, which is a leading cause of implant failure.

There are a couple of instances where a screw-retained crown won’t work. The first is if the patient has a hard time keeping their mouth open for an extended period of time. The other is a cosmetic issue. It could negatively impact how the crown looks. An expert cosmetic dentist will be able to tell you which one is best for your particular case.

If you’ve got misgivings about a dentist, it wouldn’t hurt to check their reviews, just to make sure there aren’t too many complaints about his work.

Is It Possible To Switch From Braces to Invisalign?

August 28, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I’m pretty sure my mom convinced my orthodontist to just say you can’t switch from braces to invisalign to shut me up. I wanted Invisalign to begin with, but my mom says I lose things too often. She’s right. I do lose things, but this is something that was important to me and I would have taken care of them. So, is he telling the truth? Is it impossible to switch? I HATE braces.

Amara C. – Minn.

Amara,

Well, technically, you can switch from braces to Invisalign, but only if you’re a candidate for Invisalign to begin with. You wouldn’t want to remove your braces only to find out that you’re not a candidate.

If I were in your place, I’d talk to your mom about how you feel. I know you mentioned your mom was worried about your losing the aligners. I wonder if she knows about Invisalign Teen? They factor into the cost extra aligners on the assumption a couple will get lost.

She might be more willing to switch if she knows the aligners are covered.

Can I Whiten My Lumineers?

August 20, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I was so excited to get my Lumineers. I do like their shape, but they’re not as white as I was hoping. When I mentioned it to my dentist he said that’s because he didn’t want me to have a fake looking smile, so he put a slight stainer on them. They don’t look stained, just a little less bright than I’d dreamed about. Can I whiten them?

Melissa A. – Seattle

Melissa,

I hate it when I hear stories like yours. This is the problem with having your family dentist do your cosmetic work, without knowing his credentials. Lumineers, especially, are heavily marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. The problem is they haven’t studied all they need to about aesthetics, so they do things like stain the veneers.

Unfortunately, once your Lumineers have been permanently bonded on, there’s no way to change them. If you want them whiter, they’ll have to be re-done.

The key to any type of cosmetic dentistry is choosing an experienced, highly trained and artistic dentist. Ideally, you’d want a dentist that is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). If that’s not possible, at the very least look at some photographs of cases they’ve done to see if you like the results that dentist gets.

Can I Go Forward with My Zoom Treatment If I’m on Cipro?

August 18, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I’m scheduled to have Zoom in about four days. Today my doctor put my on Cipro for 14 days. Both the doc and pharmacist warned me of the importance of staying out of the sun until my medicine is completed. I called the dentist’s office to double check because of the lights. They said it’s fine and would just give me extra sunscreen, but I’m not feeling comfortable with it. What are your thoughts? Should I just stop taking it before the treatment?

Olivia B. – Colorado

Olivia,

I would definitely NOT stop taking your medicine. A normal course of Cipro is 10 days, the fact that your doctor gave you a 14-day course makes me think your infection was significant. However, your concerns are valid. I’m not sure the receptionist you spoke to knew what she was talking about and should have consulted the dentist.

We’re not just talking about a sunburn. The reactions can give an exceptionally painful hive rash, even blisters. The lights they use in Zoom mimic the sun and are pretty strong. It’s definitely not worth the risk. I’d just have them move your appointment to a minimum of 48 hours after your final dose.

You’ll love the Zoom results, but you’ll love them a lot more if you’re not in a ton of pain.