how to find the best cosmetic dentist Archives

I was told I’m not a porcelain veneers candidate. Is that true?

August 28, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I am so disappointed to hear my cosmetic dentist tell me I’m not a candidate for porcelain veneers. He blamed it on my overbite because my top teeth come down over my bottom teeth when me mouth is closed. So, his solution is six porcelain crowns on my top teeth. He also mentioned that crowns were the way to go because of tetracycline stains on my front teeth. Does this sounds like an appropriate treatment plan? I really was hoping to get porcelain veneers because I don’t want to have my front teeth all shaved down to stubs, unless it’s the only way to fix my smile. Also, can my bottom teeth be whitened to match the top ones after the cosmetic dentistry is complete?

Please let me know your thoughts?

Thanks,

Tami in Nevada

Tami,

It’s a good thing you reached out. Your intuition is right. You don’t want crowns on all your teeth because there are other options where you don’t have to have them ground down. And the overbite concern the dentist provided is also inaccurate. Porcelain veneers are applied to the front of the teeth, so no work needs to be done on the back of the front teeth. For individuals with an overbite, porcelain veneers are the better choice.

Here is what is likely happening. Not every dentist is experienced in doing cosmetic dentistry. It actually takes extensive training beyond dental school. It sounds like porcelain crowns are within your dentist’s comfort zone and porcelain veneers are not. So, first of all, you never want to push a dentist out of their comfort zone. But your overbite is not an issue that should exclude you from porcelain veneers.

Also, not every dentist is experienced in treating tetracycline stains. This kind of stains requires an expert cosmetic dentist. t sounds like it’s time to find an excellent cosmetic dentist in your area. You can still see your general dentist for routine exams, cleaning and maintenance. If you can find a cosmetic dentist that is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) that would be a great starting point.

Then, during the consultation, listen to their recommendations. Find out about their training and experience, specifically with tetracycline cases and an overbite. Porcelain veneers can be used to successfully treat your case, but ask to see before and after photos of cases similar to yours.

In regard to whitening your lower teeth, it takes a powerful formulation of teeth whitening agents to treat tetracycline stains. Kor whitening may be the best choice to address that. But an excellent cosmetic dentist will be able to present you with all the options and will absolutely be able to match the new porcelain veneers to your bottom teeth.

A beautiful smile can be yours, when you find the right cosmetic dentist. Thank you for your question. Hopefully, this was helpful.

My porcelain veneers horror story. What do I do?

August 28, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I am living my very own porcelain veneers nightmare. A couple days ago I had two porcelain veneers placed on my two front teeth. The main reason for the cosmetic dentistry in the first place was because I had a chip in my tooth. It had dental bonding on it that eventually came off. When I went into the dentist, I was originally thinking that I’d get the dental bonding redone. But the dentist basically said it wasn’t an option. Then he proceeded to tell me I would need a crown, since the 1/5 of the tooth was chipped. I felt like that was pretty invasive and told them I preferred porcelain veneers.

So, when I went back in for the final fitting, I decided I wanted the tooth to be a little whiter than my natural tooth because I was hoping to get teeth whitening on the others done later. I liked the way it looked during that appointment and so he had me sign a consent form. After it was cemented on, I didn’t have the chance to see it again until I got int he car.

They told me it looked great but I didn’t see it until I got to my car. I was instantly in tears when I saw it. It was more than a millimeter out of position and now it looks like it protrudes. It’s almost like the hygienist put too much cement on it and it kind of sticks out further than the others. It feels so funny on the backside, like there is a gap between the bottom edge of the tooth and the veneer. Biting just doesn’t feel right either.

When I called in to explain my issues, they told me that the gap on the back may be able to remedied but I was stuck with the length. She said it’s possible that the tooth moved. Are you kidding? I noticed the protrusion and length problem in their parking lot. It didn’t move in three minutes.

I don’t know what to do? I don’t feel like they want to help me or make it right. And I’m embarrassed to go see another dentist. Do you have any advice?

-Sherry in Florida

Sherry,

Sadly, your porcelain veneers horror story is not uncommon. It’s difficult to give you exact recommendations without seeing your case in person and my response is largely based on some general assumptions from other similar mishaps. But here is what it sounds like based on what you have shared.

Cosmetic dentistry is not a separate specialty area within dentistry. This means that any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist without any extra training. Cosmetic dentistry is like an art. It takes a passion for aesthetics and a thorough understanding of dental bonding materials and techniques used to create natural-looking, beautiful work. A dentist without this mindset, skill set or understanding comes from a functional mindset. They are more focused on fixing a problem versus creating beauty.

From what you have explained, your dentist doesn’t sound like an expert cosmetic dentist. First, there is no reason that dental bonding should have been off the table. If the chip is as you explained, dental bonding would have been an ideal choice for an experienced cosmetic dentist. It is quite possible that your dentist doesn’t have that experience. He may be used to doing porcelain crowns and therefore recommended what he is better at, not what was best for your specific needs.

It also needs to be said that your instincts were correct. A porcelain crown in this situation is not necessary and it is an invasive treatment. In hindsight, you never want to ask a dentist to do a treatment (like porcelain veneers) that they aren’t comfortable with or that they didn’t recommend.

You also mentioned that you selected the shading based on the fact that you were interested in teeth whitening down the road. An expert cosmetic dentist wouldn’t have had you picking the color or shading. They would have insisted that you have the bleaching done first and then after the color stabilized, the porcelain veneers could have been matched perfectly to your surrounding teeth. This is just another indicator that cosmetic dentistry may be out of your dentist’s comfort zone.

It’s good that you had a look at the veneer prior to it being permanently cemented in place. But it is very strange that you weren’t aloud to see it after it was bonded. Most cosmetic dentists would be so excited for you to see the final product. They live for your positive reaction because they would want you to love the work. It’s frustrating that you didn’t see it until you were in the car.

Regarding the positioning of the restoration, it sounds like the veneer wasn’t seated correctly. Properly placing a veneer is an entirely different process than it is with a crown. This isn’t the end of the world, but it isn’t right or fair to you. Patients trust their dentist, which is the key to a successful patient-doctor relationship. It doesn’t sound like this dentist had the proper technique or experience, but did the porcelain veneers anyway.

When you called back in and they told you that the length and positioning cannot be addressed, that is not correct. A porcelain veneer can be trimmed and honestly if it isn’t right – it should be redone. Your tooth didn’t move from the time you walked to your car and it is absurd that this is the response you were given.

The porcelain veneer sounds like it needs to be fixed and completely redone. At this point, based on what you have shared, you probably don’t want this dentist to do it. That said, you have every right to request a refund. The dentist has to realize that he messed up and should be embarrassed. You can state that you are going to a new dentist to have it fixed. If they give you any grief, the new cosmetic dentist may be able to help you out by confirming the mistake. Document everything and take photos. If it doesn’t go well, you have every right to file a complaint with the dental board. Hopefully it doesn’t’ get to that point though.

On behalf of cosmetic dentists that truly care about creating beauty, please accept our apology. I’m sorry you have to go through this.

Are there any other options to fix the gap in my teeth?

August 22, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I have been living with this annoying gap in my teeth my whole life. No that I’m an adult, I’d like to have it fixed. When the dentist told me I needed braces, my heart sank. A 40 year old woman with braces just isn’t what I had in mind. Do I have any other options? I keep envisioning my little brother taunting me and calling me brace face and metal mouth. Please tell me there is hope.

– Sandra in California

Well, there is good news. You don’t necessarily need have a mouth full of metal. There are other options. The next step would be to set up a consultation with an excellent cosmetic dentist. This type of dentist cares about the aesthetics just as much as the function of your smile. A cosmetic dentist is passionate about creating beauty.

Although, it is important to note that each case is different. So, it all depends on how severe the gap in your front teeth is and how they are positioned.

Assuming it isn’t too bad, here are some other options you may be a candidate for:

Porcelain veneers are a viable option if the gap is relatively small. It will give the illusion of straight teeth, without having to endure the inconvenience of orthodontics. This cosmetic dentistry treatment requires a high sill level to deliver beautiful, natural-looking results. So be sure you research the cosmetic dentist’s credentials and ask to see cases similar to yours. Porcelain veneers require a tiny portion of the natural tooth to be removed to allow for a seamless fit.
Dental bonding is another option. This treatment involves bonding composite directly to the tooth. It will require that the tooth bonding be redone regularly to keep it looking beautiful. Although, it may not be the best fit if the gap is quite large. Yet, it is worth a discussion with your cosmetic dentist.
Invisalign is another alternative to traditional braces. It uses sophisticated computer technology to create clear plastic aligners that gradually re-position teeth to the correct positions. Patients love Invisalign.

Hopefully this gives you some hope that you do have options beyond metal braces. Just be sure to select a cosmetic dentist with extensive training and credentials and that you feel you can trust.

Thank you for your question.

Do CEREC Crowns Fall Off Because They’re Cheap?

August 17, 2021 by Brian Sartin

My dentist recommended me that I should get crowns on a few of my teeth. I did some googling and thought CEREC crowns are the best choice for me. However, I did have a few questions about it. I never have had crowns before, and I remember a lot of my friends were complaining how their crowns keep falling off and how they have to go and get it installed, sometimes even having to pay a hefty bill. Are CEREC crowns less prone to falling off than regular crowns? Also, one of my friends was constantly talking how he can’t eat certain foods because he’s scared that they will fall off again. Will that happen to me if I use CEREC? I assume I’m going to be wearing them for a long time and don’t want to be restricted from certain foods because of it. This certainly can all be just because my friend, who complained the most about crowns, was having a really cheap dentist and wasn’t spending a lot of money on his teeth. I am willing to pay the price so that my teeth look pretty while wearing the crowns, meaning I don’t want them to be seen, and that I basically don’t even know about them while wearing them. I am in a particular line of business where smile and looks are very important and, as I said, the price is not the problem. However, if you think something else is better for me, I’m willing to listen to your suggestion?

Thank you,

Patrice in Arizona

Dear Patrice,

CEREC crowns, when done by an expert cosmetic dentist, can be an excellent choice. Many people love the convenience of CEREC, because they can be done in only one appointment. This also means that you do not need a temporary crown while the permanent crown is being fabricated. CEREC technology enables the dentist to prepare, fit and place the crown all in one day. They are very popular for busy professionals or anyone that doesn’t want to be inconvenienced by a temporary crown that may be at risk for falling off.

To go into more details about the mechanics of a crown, there are several factors in whether a crown stays on or not. Whether the dentist shapes them right or not is the primary concern. When one has the proper shape, it can literally stay in place based on suction alone, though this wouldn’t be enough to withstand “extreme” pressures, like eating a caramel apple. In that case, the caramel would adhere to the restoration and would pull it off regardless. It really doesn’t matter what dental material it’s made of. The science behind it and the hold would be the same. Obviously, restorations aren’t just left in the mouth. They are permanently cemented, which adds another layer of protection and seals the edges. This can sometimes be problematic, though. If, for instance, the dentist doesn’t do a good job of mixing the cement or doesn’t dry the tooth all the way, the dental bonding is not going to be strong. Using cheap, old, or poorly-kept cement will weaken the bond as well. These issues are universal for all types of crowns, no matter what brand they are or what material they’re made of. To be clear, this is talking about new porcelain crowns. In other words, the dentist is the problem if your friend is losing new restorations.

If they’re older, it’s probably due to “natural” causes. They won’t last forever. You may have even a well-made restoration last as few as seven years, though some people manage to hold onto them for 20 years or more with proper care. Usually, receding gums and recurrent decay are the culprits for older ones.

The shortened version is that you shouldn’t feel like you’re restricting yourself, but you’ll need to find a reputable cosmetic dentist to do the work, so you get the longest lifespan possible from it.