smile makeover 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!

My porcelain veneers are messing up my speech.

September 3, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I had a pretty significant smile makeover, which included 10 porcelain veneers. I also had two crowns done at the same time. After the permanent veneers were placed, I noticed that I am having some difficulty speaking. My tongue isn’t happy. It just doesn’t feel comfortable. The best way to describe it is that it feels like my tongue is too big and it kind of lays on the back of the bottom of my front teeth. Does that make sense? When I went in, my dentist seemed stumped. He can’t figure it out. Does it have something to do with the crowns on the back molars? Please tell me you have some advice. I feel silly!

-Jana in Florida

Jana,

Sorry to hear that you are having some issues with your porcelain veneers. Unfortunately, it is always difficult to give specific recommendations without having seen your case in person. That said, here is some information regarding smile makeovers and speech patterns that you may find helpful.

When porcelain veneers are placed properly, they shouldn’t be affecting your tongue or your speech. Porcelain veneers are tiny shells of porcelain veneers that are placed on the front surfaces of your teeth. So, the correct placement of porcelain veneers shouldn’t bother your tongue. The crowns you mentioned cover the entire tooth and not just the surface. So, if your smile makeover consisted of all crowns, there is a possibility that your speech could be impacted. But, you mentioned that you only had two crowns done. That said, this may be the culprit or a combination of them both.

Another thing that you may not realize is that any dentist can claim to be a cosmetic dentist without any additional cosmetic dentistry training. This means the dentist may not actually have the ability or advanced training and experience to deliver results. The thickness of the inside surface of the crowns, may alter the pronunciation of certain letter sounds. An excellent cosmetic dentist will be trained in how to place crowns in a way that they will not agitate or affect the tongue.

The length of the front teeth and back teeth may also affect certain letter pronunciation. So, the main question to figure out is which of these precise measurements is affecting your tongue and speech patterns. Most expert cosmetic dentists will test the placement of the provisional veneers or porcelain crowns prior to placing them permanently. Then, they can be adjusted at that stage before they are permanently bonded into place.

As you very well know, there is something wrong here and it sounds like it occurred during the placement of permanent restorations. It is possible your dentist didn’t actually send the impressions into the dental laboratory. Usually that is the best course of action. But it is possible your dentist chose to use photographs instead of the impressions. Or it is of course possible that the ceramist has messed up or misunderstood the specifications.

Sometimes it takes awhile to adjust to a smile makeover. But if you are still having problems after a couple months, you should adamantly request that they be corrected or even redone. It is possible that you may be better served by another cosmetic dentist. Your original dentist should make every effort to make this right. But, if you are met with resistance for whatever reason, it may be in your best interest to see a new cosmetic dentist. Sometimes, the new cosmetic dentist will be able to attest to the issues you’re having and help you pursue getting a refund at some level. Good luck and thank you for sharing your story. Hopefully, it helps others realize that not every dentist can do beautiful, functional cosmetic dentistry.

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.

Is CEREC as good as porcelain veneers?

August 19, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I’m about to turn the big 5-0! I’ve always told myself that I should get my smile redone for my birthday because my teeth aren’t so great. They have chips and cracks, and all around look lackluster. So I have been talking to my dentist about getting porcelain veneers done. He is telling me that CEREC is the way to go because he has the machine in-house. I have had a CEREC crown by him and it is okay, but I want my smile to be beautiful. I am wondering the difference between using CEREC or getting porcelain veneers done by a cosmetic dentist. I don’t want to spend a ton of money and just feel like they look okay. Do you think I should see someone else?

-Janie in Minnesota

Janie,

Some dentists swear by CEREC machines. They are convinced that the CEREC technology delivers results that are just as great as sending them out to a master ceramist. You need to understand something about cosmetic dentistry. It is an art. But it is not considered a specialty area within dentistry so any general dentist can do porcelain veneers. But the result may not be what you are after. A cosmetic dentist is passionate about creating beauty and less than 2% of dentists actually possess the high skill level required to give amazing results. It takes extensive training beyond dental school and a real passion for creating beauty.

Try this. Google CEREC veneers. See what comes up. Look closely at the gumline and examine the shape of the teeth. Do they look natural? The before and after comparison may show an improved smile, but it’s unlikely it is breath-taking.

Porcelain veneers are probably the best solution for your situation. And it sounds like you may want to explore your options beyond your dentist if he is swearing by the CEREC machine. Ask to see examples of his work, especially for cases similar to yours. Ask about his or her credentials, training, and if they have any kind of satisfaction guarantee.

You may discuss porcelain veneers with your dentist now, but don’t force him to do them. You never want to force a dentist to do something out of their comfort zone. If you don’t like his gallery, then it is confirming what is sounds like you may already know. Talk to an expert cosmetic dentist in your area to see for yourself. Don’t settle with such a life-changing treatment. You deserve it!

Can new Lumineers be put over top of old ones?

August 17, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I have Lumineers and have for years. They don’t look that great anymore. Have you ever heard of placing new Lumineers over old ones to freshen up a smile? I understand teeth whitening won’t work on Lumineers. So, I was wondering if adding a new layer of Lumineers would improve how they look? When I originally had them done, my dentist knew I wanted them whiter but he was told that wasn’t an option. He’s a nice guy and I’ve been happy with him for most of my treatment, but I don’t think I need to keep my “dingy” teeth when I’m sure there is a way they can be better? Do you have any insight?

-Lisa in Michigan

Lisa,

Technically, it is possible to place new Lumineers over old Lumineers. But that’s just silly.

Just for clarification and for any other web viewers reading this response, it is important to realize the Lumineers are just another brand of porcelain veneers. Lumineers are popular, mainly because of the huge advertising campaign behind them. At one time, several years ago, the Lumineers brand was promoting the option to place Lumineers on top of crowns. So, it is possible you saw something about that. But, the truth is that most patients didn’t like them. There was no shortage of reader complaints and the company no longer promotes this approach. Placing new Lumineers over old ones is similar to the concept of covering crowns with them.

If a dentist was to place new porcelain veneers (Lumineers) over old ones, he or she would essentially be doing them over anyway. For example, the old veneers would require preparation and you would get a much better result if they were simply redone. You also would run the risk of the final product being too thick and not looking natural.

This idea of placing new ones on top of the old ones, really wouldn’t have the staying power of having the smile makeover redone either. When porcelain is bonded onto porcelain, the bond isn’t as strong or successful as if the tooth bonding was done to a natural tooth. Think about this possibility as well, what happens when the veneer underneath has issues? Again, it is in your best interest to have them redone. Otherwise you run the risk of them looking funny and they may stain more easily along the margin.

Also, going back to your original question about your dentist claiming that a whiter color wasn’t available, that is just not right. It sounds like your dentist may be a great general or family dentist. But cosmetic dentistry isn’t his thing. In order to do beautiful cosmetic dentistry, a dentist must undergo extensive training beyond dental school. It also takes a passion for aesthetics and an artistic eye to deliver truly beautiful results. You may not realize that less than two percent of dentists will create a stunning smile makeover. So, maybe it’s time to consult with an expert cosmetic dentist that can give you the smile you have always wanted.

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.

Will porcelain veneers give my teeth a new shape?

August 16, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I am unhappy with the porcelain veneers that my dentist did. They ended up looking short. Honestly, I was shocked because he spent so much time explaining the look I wanted and looking at photographs. I thought my teeth would be re-shaped. The best way to explain what I feel they are lacking is that I wish they were fuller. I even expressed my dissatisfaction at the try-on appointment and he kept telling me that they look a lot better than my teeth did before. Well, that should be obvious – right? That was the point! Anyway, now I’m starting to wonder if porcelain veneers weren’t the right fit for me. Did I push him into this because I was so set on achieving a certain look that just wasn’t possible. Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Camille in Indiana

Camille,

When porcelain veneers are done by an excellent cosmetic dentist, they will reshape and transform your smile into a flawless, beautiful look. Although, porcelain veneers do have some limitations. But based on what you have described, the dentist should have been able to achieve fuller coverage with porcelain veneers and create the smile design you were after. Therefore, the possibility exists that your dentist may not have had the amount of training and artistic ability required to give stunning results. Even if you were set on getting porcelain veneers, it is your dentist’s job to explain if or why they aren’t right for you, for some reason.

Gum recontouring sounds like it would have been beneficial in your case, as well. Sometimes, different offices refer to it as laser recontouring or a gingivectomy. The reshaping of your gums can do a lot for the overall look of your smile. It will allow more of your natural teeth to show. Again, an experienced cosmetic dentist would have taken this technique into consideration and would have implemented it before the porcelain veneers were placed.

If you wanted to explore the recontouring at this point, the porcelain veneers would need to be redone. And you really should consider seeking a second opinion from an excellent cosmetic dentist. Since your current dentist was unable to achieve a beautiful smile for you, it may be time to move on. Sorry about the inconvenience. It is possible he will correct or reimburse some of his work. But, that is always a difficult road to travel. Best of luck!

If there is a lesson to be learned here, it is to take the extra time to research your dentist’s credentials, similar cases to yours, as well as any kind of satisfaction guarantee.