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dentistry

What Materials Should I Get for My Dental Implants?

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I am getting a smile makeover, but that will also include a dental implant. I know I’m getting porcelain veneers for most of the teeth, but I need some advice about the implant. Which brand is the best implant? Should I get a porcelain crown or a zirconia crown? What color would look best for someone who is fair skinned and in her 50s?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

An image of metal and zirconia dental implants

I love that you are trying to do research and have some preparation going into your appointment. What I want to do, however, is shift your thinking. There is no way you are going to be able to learn enough about the nuances of both restorative and cosmetic dentistry to get these questions settled yourself. In fact, you could pick the best of all of these materials and still end up with a subpar smile makeover. That is because the success of your dental implant, as well as your smile makeover, will depend on the skill and artistry of the dentist doing it.

Think about it like art. If you gave both Michelangelo and me the same brand of clay and told us to create a sculpture of a woman’s face, I guarantee you that one of them would be better than the other…and it wouldn’t be mine.

What you need is a dentist who has invested in post doctoral training for both smile makeovers and dental implants. Both of these are advanced procedures. I would start by looking for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Once you have a list of those, look for one who also invested in dental implant training. For instance, Dr. Weiss studied at the Dawson Academy. Some other reputable implant training centers are the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and the Spear Institute. There are others as well, but these three are a good start.

As for the color and type of crown for your skin tone, a great cosmetic dentist will work with you by first understanding the type of smile you want to portray to the world, then they will know the right coloring and materials to give you the smile of your dreams. So, pick the artist and let them pick the materials they’ll use to create the beauty.

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

Is It Possible to Save Some Money on a Nice Smile Makeover?

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When I was younger I wore braces, but didn’t wear the retainer afterward like I was supposed to. Now my teeth are shifted and not centered. I also have chips and dings and some teeth are worn down from grinding. I know you have to go to an expert cosmetic dentist for this. My neighbor recently had a smile makeover and his dentist did a fantastic job, but the cost was $35,000. I can’t afford that. Is there a way to get an attractive smile makeover without it costing quite so much?

Aaron

Dear Aaron,

a porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

A smile makeover is generally done with porcelain veneers, though because of your teeth grinding you may need some porcelain crowns as well. The most important aspect of any smile makeover is the skill and artistry of the dentist who does it. Each dentist’s prices vary depending on a great deal of factors including property and salary costs in their area.

There are two resources I can give you where you can safely price shop. Do NOT just call around to random cosmetic dentists looking for a cheap price. You will end up with a cosmetic dentistry horror story. Just use the dentists on these two lists I’m going to provide. The reason I say that is each of these cosmetic dentists have been screened for their training, technical knowledge and skill, as well as their artistry. Any one of them can provide you with a beautiful smile makeover. In these cases, you can go with the most affordable.

The first resource has a list of AACD accredited dentists. You will go to AACD.com and click on “find a cosmetic dentist”. Make certain you check the box for AACD accredited. Accreditation is completely different from membership, so that is vital. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country.

The second resource is mynewsmile.com. The dentist that runs this website is a retired accredited dentist. He prescreens dentists who want to be listed. They can’t get on there without massive skills. While many are accredited on his list, some are still in the process of accreditation, which takes years, but have the skills necessary now.

I hope this helps!

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

Can No-Prep Veneers Work for any Patient?

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I am considering getting a smile makeover and really like the idea of no-prep veneers, like Lumineers. I see that some people warn against them and say they end up bulky, but I saw on another blog a picture of a woman who had no-prep veneers and had gorgeous results. Can this happen with any patient or was that specific to her type of teeth, like maybe her teeth were smaller than other people’s? I also noticed he (the dentist) said that he used his own personal ceramist. Does that make a difference?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

a porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

 

What a great question. Let’s start with the ceramist issue. Having his own ceramist works well if the ceramist is skilled, but the dentist will also need to be skilled. You can have a great cook who follows the instructions to a terrible recipe and guess what? The dish will not taste good. In the same vein, you can have a great recipe but a cook who does not have the skill to follow through well. You will still end up with a yucky meal.

It is the same with a ceramist. You need a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist as well as a skilled, artistic ceramist in order to produce beautiful results. If the dentist whose blog you read used his own ceramist, then he did not use Lumineers. This is one of the drawbacks to that particular brand. They insist you use their lab. Unfortunately, their lab is notorious for creating bulky, and sometimes even chalky-looking results. The dentist you read about probably used a different brand of no-prep porcelain veneers.

Your Best Strategy for a Beautiful Smile Makeover

When it comes to smile makeovers, it is better to focus on choosing the right dentist and not the particular brand of porcelain veneers. Finding the right dentist means, he or she has the skill to create a beautiful recipe and he understands which ingredients (ie. the brand) will bring the flavor you want to your smile. In addition, he will know which ceramists are able to put his recipe together to perfection.

So where do you find such a celebrity chef? I would look for a dentist who has reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have proven technical skill and artistry. You will love the results they get.

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

 

Discolored Dental Bonding

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I’ve got dental bonding that is seeing the end of its lifespan. It is picking up stains and isn’t nearly as bright as it once used to be. I honestly don’t know if I should whiten them or replace them. If whitening would work then I’d like to do that. I’ve moved since then and don’t feel confident my new dentist can do the job. He said he’s willing to learn but I’d be his first case. Is there a specific type of teeth whitening that would work better with dental bonding?

Eliza

Dear Eliza,

before and after dental bonding to repair a chipped tooth

There isn’t a teeth whitening that will remove the stains from your dental bonding, unfortunately. In fact, because it only works on natural tooth structure, your teeth would whiten but not the dental bonding, making the disparity even worse. That being said, I am glad you are not just going to let your new dentist try his hand at dental bonding on you.

This requires some expertise because it is a procedure that is done freehand. A dentist needs training as well as artistry. However, you do need to have the bonding replaced. If you are happy with your dentist in every other aspect, you don’t have to switch practitioners. Cosmetic dentists are used to patients coming to them just for specific advanced procedures and then returning to their regular family dentist for the bread and butter type of care.

With that in mind, how do you go about finding a dentist to replace your worn out work? The easiest way would be to find an AACD accredited dentist in your area. These are dentists who have proven their technical knowledge and artistry to an examination board. They are more than qualified.

Should You Whiten Anyway?

Because the bonding color is permanent during its healthy lifespan, if you have any plans to whiten your teeth, the time to do that would be before you have the bonding re-done. This way when they replace the bonding, it can be done to the color you will want to keep for some time.

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

Do Dental Crowns Cause Dry Mouth?

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I’m having a really hard time with dry mouth ever since getting all my teeth crowned. I know it was a cosmetic procedure, and while the teeth look okay, I have to really focus on keeping my mouth closed. Never in my life did I think I’d be what my kids call a “Mouth Breather.” Is there a way to fix this or is it normal and I’m just not used to a wider smile?

Kathy

Dear Kathy,

A woman pointing at her smile

No this isn’t normal. Was there a particular reason your dentist did dental crowns instead of porcelain veneers. You mentioned it was cosmetic work. Generally, when someone is getting a smile makeover, porcelain veneers are the go-to. It removes less tooth structure.

Some inexperienced cosmetic dentists will do porcelain crowns for smile makeovers because that is what they’re familiar with, but it unnecessarily grinds down healthy tooth structure. It’s water under the bridge at this point as it is already done. I just wondered if there was a functional/mechanics reason for doing something so drastic. That leads me to my next question.
Why every tooth? Most smiles are about eight to ten teeth wide. Doing every tooth is excessive, not to mention expensive.

What your dentist did is known in dentistry as a full-mouth reconstruction. It’s an advanced procedure that isn’t typically taught in-depth, if at all, in dental school. Instead, dentists would seek out post-doctoral training.

Lip Incompetence is Dangerous

When you can’t close your lips naturally and are having to consciously force it, we call that lip incompetence. It is going to rain havoc on your teeth and oral health. While many people think brushing is our biggest defense against decay, the reality is our saliva has an even greater impact. It contains bacteria-fighting minerals that protect your teeth. Dry mouth deters saliva and allows that bacteria to multiply unhindered.

In creating this problem, y our dentist made a serious mistake. He (or she) needs to pay to get this fixed. Don’t just ask for a refund because the fix will likely be more expensive than the original procedure. If he complains about this, you may want to hint to him that another dentist told you that you have a valid case for malpractice damages. That should get his attention.

A Word about Smile Makeovers

You said the smile was “okay”. An okay smile would not be what you were stuck with when it came to a true cosmetic dentist. When you go to get this full mouth reconstruction done correctly, I want you to look for a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

AACD accredited dentists are in the top 1% in their field. Not only will you be able to close your mouth naturally and comfortably, but you’ll also have a stunning smile you will be thrilled to show off to the world.

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

Will Dentures be Ugly

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I’m losing my teeth. It’s too late to do anything about that, but I’m in a tough spot. I can’t yet afford dental implants, though I am saving up. I need teeth so told my dentist to go ahead and start the process for dentures. He told me I am going not going to be happy with dentures. I”m in tears. Does this mean my smile will be ugly? I know that’s better than no teeth, but I just want to be prepared.

Sylvia

Dear Sylvia,

The way your smile looks depends more on the cosmetic skills of your dentist more than it does on whether you get dentures or dental implants. In reality, when you lose all your teeth, what you get is implant-supported dentures. Your dentist would know that, so this tells me he meant something else when he told you that you wouldn’t be happy with dentures.

The Problem with Dentures

Two profile photos of a woman who experienced jawbone shrinkage and facial collapse, which can be prevented with implant overdentures, available from Philadelphia cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

The results in facial collapse

Even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. Additionally, there isn’t anything keeping them in so they will move around. The top arch is held in by suction, but also requires a plate to do that. Some people find that difficult to deal with. Those with a sensitive gag reflex find it almost impossible.

The bottom arch simply rests on top of the jawbone. Therein lies the biggest problem with dentures. When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes that. As a result, it begins to slowly resorb the minerals in your jawbone. This shrinks your jawbone. After around ten years, you no longer have enough jawbone left to support your denture. This is known as facial collapse.

If you place dental implants in your jawbone, the prosthetic roots signal to your brain that you need your jawbone to sustain the roots.

I do know you said you couldn’t afford dental implants. As you’re saving up for them, you should be fine. You could start with snap-on dentures which use as few as two dental implants and then work your way up to more. However, there are some options you can use for paying for this you may be unaware of.

Generally, the procedure is paid for in two installments. The first when you have the implants placed. The second, after a period of healing, when they place the dentures. In addition, most dentists are willing to work through Care Credit which is a medical payment plan. This can break up the payments even further for you.

Getting a Beautiful Smile with Dentures

before and after smile makeover

A case done by Dr. Weiss

A great cosmetic dentist can give you a beautiful smile, even with dentures. I would do your research on the dentist before deciding. Your family dentist may not be one who is capable of the artistry and skill necessary to give you a smile you’ll be proud of.

The top of the line cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. You’ll want one who is also highly trained in dental implants. This way he can plan ahead for when you are able to get the implants you want.

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