Archives for October 2022

My Smile Makeover is a Disaster

Posted on October 31, 2022 by writeradmin.

I don’t know what to do. I had four porcelain veneers placed on the teeth adjacent to my front teeth on either side. My front teeth look great and didn’t need any work, but the adjacent teeth have always bothered me. Here’s the problems I have with the work. First, the canine teeth are very bulky. I mentioned that so he tried to shave them down, but on the first one he tried shaving ended up with a dark spot. I decided to leave the other one bulky. I thought I could live with this. Here is the big problem. At the office, with the windows open and sun shining through, the porcelain veneers matched my teeth. However, when I got home, in the artificial light, they don’t match at all. The veneers are much darker than my natural teeth. I spoke to my dentist about that and he said I saw and approved them and he doesn’t know how he can change the color. Is there anything I can do about this?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

The biggest problem you are facing is your dentist. He is not a true cosmetic dentist. Worse than that, he is apparently learning as he goes. Let’s start with the canine teeth. He makes them too bulky. Then, he tried makes one smaller, but discovers that changes the color so he stops. Now you have one miscolored tooth and one bulky tooth.

His next discovery is that the teeth look different in different lights. In cosmetic dentistry, this is known as color metamerism. He would have known that had he had any real training. Finally, he says he doesn’t know what to do about the color. I’ll tell you what he can do, he can replace them!

However, I am going to recommend that you don’t let him replace them. He is not the best dentist to do any cosmetic work on your teeth. I would ask for a refund and then look for a dentist with post-doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. Also, check out their smile gallery to make sure their work is beautiful. If possible, see an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country.

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

How Do I Avoid My Sister’s Veneers Problem?

Posted on October 22, 2022 by writeradmin.

My sister and I had planned on getting smile makeovers for years. She saved up faster than I did. She didn’t want to wait. At first, I was bummed because I’d really hoped we could do it together. Now, though, I am really glad it didn’t. Her smile looks really fake, chalky, and bulky. On top of that, one of them fell off. She said she got Lumineers. I haven’t told her how fake they look. I am worried that mine will look that way as well. I know they can actually be beautiful because I have seen them on other friends of mine. So, how do I get those porcelain veneers? Is it a matter of not getting Lumineers? In that case, what brand should I get?

Mirrabella

Dear Mirrabella,

I am sorry this happened to your sister. The good news is that it will be completely preventable for you. The most important thing is not the brand. It’s the dentist. Think of a smile makeover as a work of art. If you have two artists of varying skills and give them both a canvas, the same subject, and the same brand of paint, I can assure you the results will be drastically different. This is what happened to your sister. She went to a sub-par cosmetic dentist.

If you want to have a beautiful smile makeover, you need to go to an excellent cosmetic dentist. The problem patients face is knowing who is qualified. This is difficult because there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. Any general dentist can call himself a cosmetic dentist.

Because of that, I would recommend looking for an AACD accredited dentist. In order to receive accreditation, a dentist has to pass stringent exams as well as demonstrate their artistry in a significant number of specific cosmetic cases. It takes years and a great deal of skill to pass. Only the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country actually achieve accreditation. If you want a stunning smile with porcelain veneers, that is the type of dentist I would go to.

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

Why Won’t My Dentures Stay In?

Posted on October 10, 2022 by writeradmin.

I am a smidge over 60 years old and have trouble keeping my dentures in, this is true even when I put in the adhesive. They still slip right out of my mouth. Is there anything I can do to keep them in at this point?

Matilda Lynn

Dear Matilda Lynn,

I am so sorry you are going through this. You are in a tough spot. However, the good news is that there is a solution for you. I don’t know if the dentist who originally provided the dentures for you had warned you about bone resorption. When your teeth are removed, your body recognizes that and begins resorbing the minerals in your body to use elsewhere. This slowly shrinks your jawbone. Eventually, you lose so much of the bone that you can no longer retain the dentures in your mouth. This is known as facial collapse and why your dentures will not stay in, even with adhesives.

The Solution to Facial Collapse

The first thing you’ll need to do is have bone grafting done. This will build up the missing bone in your jawbone. After this is healed, you have two options.

Your first option is to have new dentures made. Now, you’re only in your 60s, so you should be aware that the cycle of resorption will start over again. Eventually, you’ll be right back to the situation you are in now.

A second option is to get implant overdentures (pictured above). This uses between 4 – 8 dental implants per arch and then anchors a pair of dentures to them.

Benefits of Implant Overdentures

Because the implants are prosthetic tooth roots, your body interprets that as you still having teeth and you will no longer have to worry about losing your bone.
Your dentures will be completely secure. No more slipping and sliding.
You will find your quality of life increases, including your chewing capacity. Even the best-fitting dentures will lower your chewing capacity by 50%. With dental implants, you’ll be able to eat anything you want, including steak.

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