smile design Archives - Coleman Dental

Fake-looking porcelain veneers.

September 14, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I have been saving up for years to have my smile improved with beautiful porcelain veneers. I feel conned and am so frustrated at how they turned out. I think they look huge when I smile and unnaturally gleaming white. Ugh! In fact, I saw myself in a photo and I think they honestly resemble Chicklets. Will I get used to them? Or do you have any advice? Please help, I’m feeling desperate.

– Rebecca in Idaho

Rebecca,

Sorry to hear that your expectations have fallen short. Porcelain veneers are a large investment and you should in no way have to settle or try to get used to them. Based on your description, it sounds as if you went with no preparation veneers or very little preparation for the teeth. These no prep veneers are appealing but sometimes just don’t work well on everyone. One popular brand of ultra-thin, no prep veneers is Lumineers and sadly, the comments you have made are not uncommon among Lumineer patients.

The bottom line is that porcelain veneers, really any type of cosmetic dentistry, truly is an art. The cosmetic dentist must have the right experience and advanced training in order to do beautiful work. The lab is also a very important competent in achieving beautiful veneers. Have you talked to the dentist? If he or she is a skilled cosmetic dentist, they will not rest until you are satisfied with your smile design. By nature, true cosmetic dentists tend to be perfectionists, so they consider your smile a failure unless you absolutely love it. Hopefully your cosmetic dentist will work with you to make them right. Otherwise, it may be wise to find an expect cosmetic dentist that can address these issues you are unhappy with. Best of luck!

Can I get some bling on my teeth, like Beyonce?

September 9, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I am admittedly kind of obsessed with Beyonce. Well, she had an awesome spread I saw in a recent magazine where she had something that looked like bling or glitter on her upper teeth. It was wicked looking and I cannot get that hot look out of my mind. It almost had the appearance of a French tip manicure. I have been looking into porcelain veneers and want to know if I can get “glitter” veneers? Is this possible? I will pay whatever it takes.

– Aliyah in Georgia

Aliyah,

Stars do set trends, but this one may not have the staying power. Remember, porcelain veneers are a permanent cosmetic dentistry treatment. Glitter teeth for celebrities aren’t far fetched, but think how this kind of look would go over at your next job interview or picking your kids up from school. There is no way to know if the treatment she had on her teeth was indeed porcelain veneers, but it is unlikely. Let’s remember, it may not even be real. Did you ever consider it was edited onto the photo after the fact?

Celebs jazz up their looks everyday and these smile fads come and go. But, keep in mind the “go” part. It would not be advised that you move forward with blinging up your teeth. That said, a cosmetic dentist does have the capability to customize porcelain veneers. An expert cosmetic dentist can create virtually any kind of smile design from sexy and sophisticated, to playful or sultry, you name it. But most cosmetic dentists will encourage you to think long term with your new look. Mess around and play up your makeup or outfit, but it would likely be advised that you keep your smile all-natural to the greatest extent possible.

There are some appliques that are called removable grills that can jazz up your smile. But please strongly consider if this is worth it or not? We see patients into see us that have broken, chipped, or otherwise permanently damaged teeth with these sort of temporary treatments.

Is a digital smile makeover legit?

September 2, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I am very intrigued by the ad I saw on television for a digital smile makeover. I know we live in the digital age and all, but how can they pull off something so individualized? I would love to fix my smile. My teeth are discolored and oddly shaped. I’d love to hear you thoughts? Is it too good to be true?

-Sharon in Nevada

Sharon,

A digital smile makeover is a real thing. There is software that has been around for over 20 years now that enables the cosmetic dentist to take a photograph of you and then digitally enhance it to show you exactly how our new smile will look. It is a fabulous tool that simplifies the smile design process.

That said, you make it sound as if the television ad you saw will enable you to do this independently. Unfortunately, I have never heard of any company that offers digital smile makeovers to the patient directly. You need to find a talented cosmetic dentist to make the digital image process a reality. Most cosmetic dentists that utilize this software in their practice will offer it as part of the smile design process at no extra charge. Typically, it is just another step in the smile design and consultation process.

It is a powerful tool that can realistically show you exactly how your porcelain veneers will look on your face and complexion. And more often than not, the patient will move forward with the services once they visualize it.

But you have to realize that not every dentist can create a beautiful smile makeover, whether they have this software of not. Only two percent of dentists have the extensive training and experience to deliver lifelike, stunning results. Cosmetic dentistry is truly like an art.

Many excellent cosmetic dentists that do not have the digital software available in their office will use provisional veneers. It is a temporary set made out of plastic that mimics what your porcelain veneers will look like. Then you can snap them onto your teeth to see exactly how they look on you. Then, if any changes are required, they can be done before the permanent porcelain veneers are done. Most expert cosmetic dentists will have multiple opportunities for you to see exactly what your smile looks like before it is cemented. They may call this process their beautiful smile guarantee.

So, the best piece of advice I can give you is to focus on the dentist’s experience with similar cases, training and credentials. The tools they choose to deliver beautiful results vary. But the most important piece of the puzzle is selecting the right cosmetic dentist that you can trust.

Thank you for your question.

I want a Hollywood smile with Lumineers. Not generic knock-off veneers!

August 28, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I have decided to go with Lumineers because from everything I have seen they are the best option to give me a glamorous Hollywood smile. My dentist is telling me he doesn’t offer Lumineers, but he can give me a beautiful smile makeover with other brands. But I really want the brand name Lumineers, not some cheap knock-off veneers. Do you think if I offer to pay him more he will give me the real deal?

– Serena in Tennessee

Serena,

Lumineers are very heavily marketing by Den-Mat Corporation, the company that manufactures them. Many people are attracted to Lumineers due to all the advertising hype associated with the brand.

You may be shocked to learn that many dentists don’t like Lumineers. They come with strict laboratory restrictions and often times the end result is not what you are envisioning. There is another factor to consider in that you may not be a Lumineers candidates. You also may not realize that there are many brands of porcelain veneers. And also many brands of no-prep ultra-thin porcelain veneers. So there are many options when it comes to getting that stunning Hollywood smile design.

What is much more important than any brand name, is finding the best cosmetic dentist in your area to place them. To do beautiful cosmetic dentistry requires extensive training after dental school. And just because a dentist says they do porcelain veneers or Lumineers, there is no guarantee you will end up with a beautiful smile.

You would be wise to listen to this dentist and learn more about his or her opinion of Lumineers. Now if you absolutely have your mind made up, you can call around and find a dentist that will place Lumineers. But hopefully this has you considering what you really want? If your end goal is a Hollywood smile but because of the way your teeth are aligned, they end up looking bulky and longer than normal, than it doesn’t matter what brand they are. Right? Think it through. Who wants ugly “brand name” veneers?

When selecting the right cosmetic dentist, you also want to be sure that you check out their credentials and ask to see examples of their work similar to yours. Offering more money to this dentist likely isn’t going to change the opinion of this current dentist. Why would you want a dentist to place Lumineers if they don’t like them and have no experience placing them?

Far too many people get lured in by the appeal of Lumineers. The reality is, it’s all about the skill of the cosmetic dentist that places them!

Lip stuck on Lumineers. Is this a scare tactic by my dentist?

August 17, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I went into my dentist because I have heard about how Lumineers can give a Hollywood smile, without a Hollywood price tag. Well, my dentist went on and on about how many unsatisfied Lumineers patients he has seen. He was telling me about all these problems, including that some girl’s lip kept getting stuck on them. Is he just trying to scare me and talk me into more expensive porcelain veneers?

– Angela in Nevada

Angela,

Thank you for your question. Lumineers are a particular brand of ultra-thin porcelain veneers. The big selling point that the company promotes is that they don’t require any tooth preparation. Traditional veneers require a tiny portion of the enamel to be shaved down, ever so slightly. This step is important for traditional veneers because it creates a seamless, undetectable look.

Your dentist may have approached the topic in a way that feels like you are being talked out of it. But the truth is that many excellent cosmetic dentists do not like Lumineers. This particular brand of veneers is required to be created in Den-Mat’s (the manufacturer) laboratory. So this requirement limits the creativity and artistry of a skilled cosmetic dentist. Also, he is correct that many Lumineers patients are not happy. Since the tooth preparation step is skipped, Lumineers can sometimes make your teeth look bulky and longer than normal, and it isn’t unheard of to cause difficulty speaking or getting the lip stuck on them. So instead of going to your dentist and telling him you want a certain treatment, you’d be much better off to seek the talents of a true cosmetic dentist that is passionate about creating beauty. And let him or her recommend the best cosmetic dentistry treatment for your unique facial features, complexion, personality, and smile design goals. Even though Lumineers may be less expensive, if you are going to invest in this kind of money in cosmetic dentistry, you want to love your new smile. Don’t settle for anything less than absolutely loving it.

Hopefully, this information is helpful.

I think my porcelain crowns are cracking.

August 16, 2021 by Brian Sartin

Many years ago, I decided to have a smile makeover done. I ended up with porcelain crowns on all my front teeth. They looked great, I was always very happy with the way they made me look and feel. Recently, I have been noticing some rough patches on them. My tongue can’t seem to leave them alone. When I was in for my regular appointment, I told the dentist about it and he smoothed it down. That seemed to help for awhile. Now, I feel like the roughness is worse and it is picking up stains. I am starting to wonder if the crowns are cracking or may be getting ready to fail? Should I get into an emergency dentist before my next business trip that will take me out of the country? Or am I worrying for nothing?

-Jack in Washington, DC

Jack,

Thank you for your question. Although, it sounds like the rough patches are annoying, they probably aren’t something you would need to schedule an emergency dentist appointment for. That said, the porcelain crowns need to be checked out soon. Sometimes crowns will get defects over the years, but since the roughness has returned and you are now mentioning some discoloration, there may indeed be some cracking. If the crowns are picking up stains as well, the cracks may compromise the strength of the restoration and they may be susceptible to breaking.

So, hold off on the emergency dentist appointment. But do find a cosmetic dentist in your area that is highly skilled. Get in for a consultation and examination and have him or her evaluate what the next steps might be. Over the years, crowns do endure regular wear and tear. An excellent cosmetic dentist will be able to tell you if it’s time to consider replacement. Also, they will have recommendations to help them all match and be uniform in appearance which is important if they are on your front teeth. A skilled cosmetic dentist will be able to blend them in perfectly and may not require replacing all of them.

Thank you for your question.