Archives for April 2022

Smile Makeover Disaster with Tetracycline Stains

Posted on April 18, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have tetracycline-stained teeth. I went to my dentist who is very reputable and has done a great job for me over the years. I was considering porcelain veneers, but my dentist talked me into porcelain crowns saying that they would help cover the stains better. This did not turn out to be the case. The gray is visible with each of the crowned teeth AND the crowns look fake, so it’s obvious I have fake teeth. But, not even pretty fake teeth. He said he can send them back to the lab. I’m so confused. I looked online and there is a woman from a different dentist who has beautiful teeth after getting her tetracycline teeth made over and she used porcelain veneers! What has gone wrong with my teeth? Will doing them again with crowns make a difference? I don’t think I can get porcelain veneers after I have crowns, right?

Leslie

Dear Leslie,

You are correct that you will always have to have crowns now that you have them. This is because the teeth have been ground down to little nubs. That tooth structure is gone. In a way you have answered your other question already. You said, “…a woman from a different dentist.” The key to any smile makeover is the dentist who does it. One warning sign is when a dentist suggests porcelain crowns over porcelain veneers when the tooth is healthy and does not need a crown. These dentists are either not comfortable doing porcelain veneers to begin with or do not have enough skill in them and think that the added structure of dental crowns will make it easier to cover the stains.

Sending it back to the lab will only help if he can give them good directions. A lab is more like a pharmacy who fills the prescription of the doctor. It is the doctor that has to come up with the right diagnosis and the appropriate medicine for it. I am not convinced he can write the correct directions. However, there is no harm in allowing him to try. If you do that, do it on the condition that he uses a temporary try-in paste and if you don’t love them the second time then you get a refund. You should get to see them in several lights before making a decision.

If you end up needing a refund, you will want to look for an expert cosmetic dentist. The easiest way for you to do this is to look for a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have proven skill and artistry. They can give you a beautiful smile whether using porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.

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

Can’t Floss My Porcelain Veneers

Posted on April 10, 2022 by writeradmin.

I recently had porcelain veneers placed a week and a half ago. I have a couple of questions because they were a huge investment for me and I want to take good care of them. First, is Oral B Pro Expert Toothpaste good for them? Second, I’m having trouble flossing the porcelain veneers. Is there some special tool for them?

Carol

Dear Carol,

Let’s start with the easy one. There is nothing unique or special about the Oral B toothpaste. However, there is nothing harmful in it either. One of the things I do warn against is most whitening toothpastes. This is because they use an abrasive to remove your tooth stains. The big problem with that is that it will scratch your porcelain veneers, which in turn will damage the surface and cause them to pick up stains.

There are exceptions. In fact, there is a toothpaste I specifically recommend to use with porcelain veneers because it is designed to be used with cosmetic dental work called Supersmile Toothpaste. While this is whitening toothpaste, it is not made with abrasives. Instead, it uses a chemical ingredient that causes your tooth stains to attach to a protein pellicle that the chemical breaks down.

The flossing is a more complicated issue. It is important that you should be able to floss your teeth with your porcelain veneers. The fact that you can’t means either the lab did something wrong in designing them or your dentist did by not cleaning off the excess cement. This could lead to you developing gum disease. Your dentist needs to look at this to repair it.

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

How Long Do Composite Veneers Last?

Posted on April 9, 2022 by writeradmin.

I’ve been looking at options for smile makeovers. Most people suggest getting porcelain veneers, but I am just curious about composite veneers. Would they be less expensive? How long will they last?

Carol

Dear Carol,

In most cases, composite bonding is better used for small repairs, like a tooth gap or chipped tooth. The procedure has to be done freehand, which would take much longer in the dental chair than porcelain veneers will. In fact, many dentists will not do a smile makeover with composite resin for that reason. It would end up costing you more because of the tedious nature of the smile development. On top of that, the composite bonding will only keep their luster a few years before they begin to pick up stains. On the other hand, well-cared for porcelain veneers can last upwards of twenty years.

My suggestion would be to look for an excellent cosmetic dentist. This is not a skill taught in dental school, nor is it a recognized specialty. If a dentist wants to become skilled, they would need to invest in post-doctoral training. It would be easiest for you to just look for an AACD accredited dentist. These dentists have proven skill and artistry. It will keep you from having to investigate the training of each dentist you look at. Any one of them can give you an extraordinary smile makeover.

Let them look at your teeth and talk to them about the look you want. They will be able to determine what procedure can give you the best outcome.

I hope this helps.

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