Archives for July 2023

Can I Bleach My Non-Veneered Teeth?

Posted on July 28, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have four porcelain veneers placed on my teeth. I asked for them to be really white, which they are, but wasn’t thinking about how dark the teeth next to them would look. Is there a way for me to whiten them with something like Crest Whitestrips?

Evie

Dear Evie,

Professional Teeth Whitening Trays

I have a solution for you but I want to address your smile makeover first. Most smiles are eight to ten teeth wide, so four porcelain veneers will make your non-veneered teeth quite obvious. Because of the difference in color, it can even make the veneered teeth look fake. Don’t beat yourself up about not knowing this. It was your dentist’s job to point this out. When a patient cannot get enough teeth to cover their smile, teeth whitening is recommended before the veneers are placed. That is too late for you now, but that doesn’t mean this can be worked around.

Though, Crest Whitestrips will whiten teeth, I do not recommend them in this situation. First, the gel that they use are much weaker because they are over-the-counter. Second, they are only designed to cover your front four to six teeth, depending on the size of your teeth. Those are the veneered teeth and not what you want to whiten. It won’t damage them, but it is pretty useless.

My suggestion is that you go to your dentist and have him custom design teeth whitening trays to fit around your porcelain veneers. This will allow you to whiten your teeth much more quickly while protecting your gums and avoiding your veneers.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

30K Cosmetic Dentistry Disaster

Posted on July 15, 2023 by writeradmin.

Can you help me find a different dentist. I just had a total smile makeover that included both dental crowns and porcelain veneers. This was done to fix both the damage done from my teeth grinding as well as cover my tetracycline stains. They look really opaque, which does give them a fake appearance. However, the thing I’m worried about is my jaw has been hurting. It didn’t hurt like this before the crowns and veneers were placed. I did have some low level aching because of the teeth grinding. However, now my jaw really hurts all the time. So much so that it is distracting. My dentist insists not only does everything look great but that he has passed all the check marks for proper placement. I’m at my wits end and have already spent $30,000 on this.

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

Woman Holding her jaw in pain

Under normal circumstances, it would be very hard for you to get this repaired without paying for the whole thing all over again. If the only problem is the appearance it is nearly impossible for you to get a refund. You’d think that wouldn’t be the case when you are talking about cosmetic work, but that is currently where it stands. However, you seem to be dealing with some functional issues. I don’t know how he thinks the markers for proper placement would not include your patient not being in pain.

It sounds like your bite may be thrown off a bit, which could be leading to complicating issues such as TMJ Disorder. This can work in your favor because it means that the case isn’t truly functional. We’ll go over how to get this diagnosed in a moment. First, I want to go over the difference between a general dentist and a true cosmetic dentist. Even though there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, there are some distinct differences.

One of those differences is the amount of training they get. Smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. In order for a dentist to truly learn the techniques and artistry required, they would need post doctoral training. Another important difference is how they treat the patient. A true cosmetic dentist would not be satisfied with the work if you weren’t. They would first do a temporary try in and allow you to look at it in several different lights and make sure you are completely thrilled with the results. Even a little hesitation would cause them to ask, “What do you wish was different?” and it would go back to the lab to make the changes.

The easiest way for you to find one of these dentists would be to go to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s (AACD) website. They have a “find a cosmetic dentist” link. Make sure you check the box that says you want an Accredited Cosmetic Dentist. These are among the top 1% of cosmetic dentist’s in the country. Have one of them examine your case. It will be helpful if they also have TMJ training. They can tell you if your current dentist’s work threw off your bite. If that is the case, then they can help you secure a refund so you can get this done properly by a qualified dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

A Single Porcelain Veneer Turning Dark

Posted on July 8, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have eight porcelain veneers on the top arch and six on the bottom. A few months after they were placed, I chipped one in a fall. The dentist buffed the tooth down so it would be even. Then he had to buffer down the partner tooth on the other side so they would be even. Fast forward a few months and now one of her teeth has turned bluish and has a darker spot underneath. I went back to the dentist and he said that he had no idea what I was talking about. He was pretty put out and said he was “excellent with color design.” His professional opinion is that I’m being too picky. However, I assure you that the color has changed. I don’t know what to do and I am worried that this veneer will fall off. Do you have any recommendations?

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

a porcelain veneer being placed on teeth

First, I am going to tell you that your dentist does not sound like a true cosmetic dentist. A dentist who has done a significant amount of post-doctoral training would never tell a patient they are being too picky. Their goal is to make sure the patient has the smile of their dreams.

Bear in mind that I haven’t examined you or even seen images. However, going solely on your description it sounds like you have a leaky veneer. This means that the bond between your tooth and your porcelain veneer is failing. The changing color is debris getting caught between your porcelain veneer and your tooth.

This needs to be fixed or you can end up with severe decay on that tooth. My suggestion is to go back to your dentist and have him fix this tooth. You may need to show him this blog post. If that doesn’t work, get a second opinion from an expert cosmetic dentist that examines you. One way to find an expert cosmetic dentist is to go to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Website (aacd.com). In their “Find a Dentist” link make sure you check that you want a dentist who is accredited. AACD accredited dentists are among the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country with proven skill and artistry.

When you get that second opinion, make sure it is a blind one. They should not know who your dentist is or what he said about the veneer that you are concerned about. If it turns out that it is a leaky veneer and needs to be replaced/rebonded, then he or she can give that recommendation to your dentist. Peer pressure is a thing, even in professional circles.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.