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Archives for September 2020

3 Reasons Porcelain Veneers Might Turn Dark and What You Can Do About It

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In January, I received six porcelain veneers. Two of them are turning dark. I am originally from Indiana, and I’ve been with my dentist for a little more than a year now. I asked him about the veneers, and his response was, “Hmm. I am not sure what’s going on.”  This is making me nervous. Why would my veneers be turning dark in just a few months? – Vivian

Photo of a single porcelain veneers being held by the tip of dental forceps.

Porcelain veneers can rejuvenate your smile

Vivian – Dr. Weiss would need to examine your porcelain veneers for us to identify the exact problem. We can tell you that porcelain is stain resistant and very hard—much more so than natural teeth. So why might they turn dark?

Reasons Porcelain Veneers Might Turn Dark

  1. A gap between the veneer and your tooth – If your dentist left a small gap between the two porcelain veneers and your teeth, bacteria can leak in and attract stain. Correcting the issue can be tricky, and only a highly skilled cosmetic dentist should attempt it.
  2. Excess composite – If your dentist didn’t polish away any excess dental composite when bonding on your porcelain veneers, it could cause them to look dark. Excess composite can easily be polished away by a cosmetic dentist who regularly creates beautiful smile makeovers.
  3. Power-polishing equipment – If a dentist or dental hygienist uses power-polishing equipment on your porcelain veneers, the glaze on them can be quickly destroyed. It only takes a few weeks for the damaged glaze to attract stains and make your teeth look darker. Trained cosmetic dentists and hygienists understand which tools to use on porcelain veneers and which tools to avoid. Ultra-fine polishing strips and ultra-fine aluminum oxide polishing paste help in several ways:
  • Keeps the area smooth
  • Helps it resist stain
  • Helps prevent plaque accumulation
  • Helps prolong the life of your porcelain veneers

Although your dentist or hygienist might have been negligent in the placement or maintenance of your porcelain veneers, we recommend that you only let a skilled cosmetic dentist correct the issue.  An expert cosmetic dentist has the tools needed to correct the problem. He or she also knows the techniques required to polish your veneers properly. Find an experienced cosmetic dentist to examine your veneers and recommend the options for lightening them.

Philadelphia, PA accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Weiss, DDS sponsors this blog post.

How Long Does TMJ Last?

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Since late April, my TMJ pain has increased. Whenever I eat or open my mouth too wide, the pain is intense, and my jaw clicks. My ears are clogged most of the day. Although I take ibuprofen, I know it’s not a permanent solution. My dentist told me to give it some time, but I’m not feeling any real relief yet.  Will the pain eventually go away? – Thanks. Kenji

Kenji – TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain and discomfort can be treated in a variety of ways, including:

  • TMJ exercises
  • Alternately applying heat and cold packs to the side of your face where you are feeling symptoms
  • Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication

But self-care isn’t always the solution.

How Long Will Your TMJ Symptoms Last?

TMJ symptoms can last a few days or a few weeks. If left untreated, your symptoms might not go away at all. At-home care can provide temporary relief for a few days. Depending on the cause and complexity of your symptoms, a long-term solution might be needed.

What Will a TMJ Dentist Do?

Examination

A dentist who is trained in diagnosing and treating TMJ issues will first examine your teeth and jaw joint. The exam will help determine if your symptoms are TMJ related.

Diagnosis

Your dentist will let you know if the problem is related to your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), your bite (the way your teeth fit together), or another issue.

Treatment

  • Night guard – A night guard might be prescribed for you to wear while you’re asleep. The appliance repositions your lower jaw and helps prevent teeth grinding (bruxism), which can contribute to TMJ symptoms.
  • Orthodontic treatment – At times, orthodontic treatment is needed to correctly align your teeth and prevent pain and discomfort associated with a misaligned bite.
  • Therapy – Your dentist might recommend at-home exercises or physical therapy to relieve your pain and discomfort. Treatment can include learning how to correctly position your tongue, teeth, and jaw when at rest because some postures increase discomfort.

 

Schedule an appointment with a dentist who has advanced training and experience in treating TMJ disorders. After an examination, he or she will let you know your treatment options.

This post is sponsored by Philadelphia, PA dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Collapsing Mouth

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I have an almost non-existent smile. Over the years, it seems my teeth have become less and less visible. It’s almost impossible to see my teeth, even when I smile. My jaw also aches all the time. I’ve noticed I feel the most comfortable at night when I’m wearing my night guard. When I talked to my dentist about my concerns, he suggested I get porcelain veneers. Before moving forward, I just wanted to get a second opinion.

Melanie

Dear Melanie,

Woman Holding her jaw in pain

I haven’t examined you so bear in mind I am only going based on your description. It sounds like you may be someone who struggles with either teeth grinding or clenching. This may be why your dentist has a night guard. The grinding can wear down your teeth to little nubs. It sounds like you’ve worn down your teeth to the point your mouth has become over closed.

Three things you mentioned lend credence to this. First, your teeth are less visible; second, your jaw aches; and third, you feel best when wearing the night guard.

What porcelain veneers will do is improve the appearance of your teeth. They will not solve the root issue of your mouth being over closed or the jaw pain.

My suggestion is for you to see a TMJ Dentist. This is a potentially serious issue that may need a totally different solution using dental crowns to build your bite back up.

One of the problems you will face is there isn’t a recognized TMJ Specialty, so any dentist can call themselves a TMJ Dentist. To make sure you are seeing a dentist who has the right training to help you, look for one who has done post-doctoral training at one of the following institutes:

  • The Pankey Institute
  • The Dawson Academy
  • The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies

A dentist with training from one of these reputable schools will be able to help.

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

$100k for a Smile Makeover?

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I’m so frustrated. I’m having trouble getting the right cosmetic dentist for my smile makeover. The first go-round I used my normal dentist. It turned out a complete disaster. He was gracious about it and completely refunded my money. Next, I went to someone who is supposed to be the top cosmetic dentist in our city. He said my bite is off and quoted me close to $100,000. There is no way in the world I can afford that. Is that the right amount for a top cosmetic dentist?

Jane

Dear Jane,

Woman with a beautiful smile

You are running into two problems when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. First, it isn’t a recognized specialty. This means any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the amount of post-doctoral training they received. Unfortunately, creating smile makeovers isn’t taught in dental school. If a dentist wants to develop the skills needed to do it well, they need to invest in the training on their own. This is the issue you ran into with your family dentist. He obviously meant well and wanted to try to give you what you wanted. When he couldn’t, he had the integrity to return your money when he couldn’t.

The second dentist had a completely separate issue. The cost he quoted is quite high for porcelain veneers. He mentioned your bite was off. It’s possible what he was recommending was actually a full-mouth reconstruction, which is a completely different and much more involved procedure as well.

I would get a second opinion before moving forward. To be safe, I’d like to make certain you are seeing a qualified cosmetic dentist and not just someone trying to bring in a large fee. My suggestion is you look for an AACD accredited cosmetic dentist. These dentists have proven themselves by passing stringent exams as well as demonstrating the artistry to a committee.

If it turns out that you do need a full-mouth reconstruction, I think you should verify his qualifications. You need a TMJ Dentist with advanced training. Take a look at Dr. Weiss’ qualifications to get an idea of what type of dentist you would need for this type of procedure. Even then, I don’t think it would cost you $100K.

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