Archives for July 2022

Do Whitening Strips Work?

Posted on July 24, 2022 by writeradmin.

I went to my dentist to price teeth whitening. He uses this special light machine that whitens your teeth right there in the office. The cost was way above what I could do. I was wondering if those over-the-counter teeth whitening strips do any good. Ideally, I’d like something I can do at home.

Ben

Dear Ben,

It sounds like your dentist offers Zoom Whitening. There are options that will allow you to whiten your teeth at home with professional strength gel, but before we go into that, let’s go over your question about over-the-counter whitening strips. The only one of these I would recommend is Crest Whitestrips, but before you run out to the store, I want you to understand its limitations.

Crest Whitestrips are Much Weaker

As a means of consumer protection, over-the-counter whitestrips you purchase will not be nearly as strong as what you would get through a dentist. For instance, Crest Whitestrips, which does work, only has a 6% concentration. What you’d get with your dentist has around 33%. This means you would have to purchase significantly more kits to get the same level of whitening.

Crest Whitestrips Only Covers Your Front Six Teeth

In addition to being weaker, the strips will only cover your front six teeth. Most smiles are eight to ten teeth wide. This means you will have to use more strips with each use, costing you even further.

Crest Whitestrips Tend to Whiten Unevenly

Unless you have just completed a cleaning with your dentist the results are going to be spotty. The cleaner areas are going to get more of the whitening gel than those which have some film over them. This film is often invisible to the human eye so you won’t be aware of it.

You Can Get Professional Whitening at Home

Your best option is to have take-home teeth whitening done by your dentist. If he doesn’t offer it there are plenty who do. They can make you custom-fitted trays that will allow you to whiten your teeth at your convenience. They’re discreet enough where you can wear them while running your errands or just overnight while you sleep if you prefer.

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

Did Listerine Turn My Porcelain Veneers Gray?

Posted on July 5, 2022 by writeradmin.

I had ten porcelain veneers placed on my upper teeth about 7 months ago. I have tried to take very good care of them by brushing thoroughly with a hard toothbrush and using Listerine to keep the bacteria away. Now my porcelain veneers have turned gray over the entire surface. Could the Listerine have done this? They never really gave me any instructions on how to take care of them so now I wonder if I did something wrong without knowing it. If I damaged them, is there any way to fix it?

Mary Ellen

Dear Mary Ellen,

I am sorry that your porcelain veneers have turned gray. I am disappointed that your dentist never gave you instructions on how to care for these. While Listerine can damage your porcelain veneers because of the alchohol content in it, the damage would be more to the margins, not the surface. There are a couple of things that could be the cause of them turning gray.

The first is that you do not actually have porcelain veneers. Some unethical dentists tell their patients they are getting porcelain veneers, when in reality they are only giving them composite bonding. This will deteriorate and stain much sooner than veneers.

A second possibility is that your dentist or hygienist did something to damage the surface of the porcelain veneers at your last cleaning. If they used something like a Power Prophy Jet or acidulated fluoride, it will destroy the glazing on your porcelain veneers.

Either way, it is your dentist’s fault that this happened. My recommendation is that you go to see an expert cosmetic dentist. Don’t tell them who did the work, just ask them if they are actually porcelain or composite and whether or not they can tell what is wrong with them. Look for someone who is AACD accredited. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country and can give you some good feedback.

Caring For Your Porcelain Veneers

Mouthwash is not really necessary, but if you feel you need it, make sure you look at the ingredients and only get some that is alchohol free.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. These are actually better for your natural teeth too.
Most over-the-counter toothpastes are fine, with the exception of whitening toothpastes. Whitening toothpastes tend to have abrasives in them, which you do not want. However, if you are looking for the best toothpaste for porcelain veneers, I would look into SuperSmile toothpaste. This brand is specifically designed for cosmetic dental work.

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

Implant Bridge Through Off My Bite

Posted on July 4, 2022 by writeradmin.

I received two dental implants in order to replace four teeth with a dental bridge. This is on my lower right side. My teeth meet up on that side. However, on the left side they don’t touch at all. It feels uncomfortable when I chew. Is there anything that can be done about this or is it normal?

Casey

Dear Casey,

No, this isn’t normal. They way your teeth come together is called occlussion. Your teeth should all mesh at the same time. When it doesn’t, not only does it cause the pain you are experiencing when you are chewing, but it also can lead to debilitating TMJ Disorder. Your dentist needs to fix this.

While dental implants are not a recognized specialty, they are an advanced procedure that requires additional post-doctoral training. Yet, there are no regulations for getting that training or, if they do, how much.

There are two possibilities for what went wrong here. First, the implants could have been restored incorrectly. However, the most likely scenario is whoever placed them during the surgery did not do the right placement. If two different people are working on the procedure, such as a dentist and an oral surgeon, it is important you see the dentist first and that he or she determines the placement. Additonally, they need good communication throughout the procedure.

You need to have another dentist look at this to tell you what went wrong. Look for someone with the credentials that Dr. Weiss has on his bio to make sure you get someone who knows what they’re doing.

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