Archives for February 2023

Can Dental Bonding Fix My Peg Laterals?

Posted on February 20, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have peg laterals on my upper on either side of my two front incisors. I’ve had them since childhood and I really dislike how they appear. I’ve heard that I may be able to have them “fixed” using bonding–is this true? I’d love to smile without reservation at last.

Many thanks,
Moira

Dear Moira,

This is a great question and one that is frequently asked by others as well.

What Are Peg Laterals?

For those who may not be aware of what you are referring to, let me give a quick rundown. Peg laterals are when the teeth lateral to the upper incisors are malformed. Often they are small and occasionally even pointed. Considered a form of microdontia, peg laterals are congenital and can be hereditary. They are rarely seen in lower teeth.

Will dental bonding help?

The short answer is yes. In fact, dental bonding is often one of the best ways to treat peg laterals and gain an esthetically pleasing smile. You also have the option of porcelain veneers as a solution. Veneers last longer, but are more expensive so which you pick will depend on your budget.

During the bonding process, your natural peg lateral teeth are left in place, and a tooth-colored material is bonded to the surface to bring the size and shape of the teeth in alignment with the rest of the natural incisors. They will be expertly shade-matched, shaped, adjusted, smoothed and polished to match your other teeth and your occlusion, resulting in a pleasing smile.

These should last you several years. As I mentioned earlier, porcelain veneers will last longer and will be more stain resistant, so you will want to look at both options to decide which is best for you.

Getting Beautiful Dental Bonding

The real trick to this is who you have do the procedure, regardless of whether you choose bonding or veneers. Cosmetic dentistry is not taught in dental school so for a dentist to do it well, they need to have post-doctoral training. The top cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. In your position, I would look for that type of dentist. This way, you will be pretty much guaranteed a gorgeous result.

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

Picking the Color for my Smile Makeover

Posted on February 10, 2023 by writeradmin.

I am finally getting a smile makeover and I am trying to pick the color so I know what I want to get when I see the dentist. I am thinking about a BL4 because I want a white smile, but I don’t want it to look unnaturally white. Do you think this is the right choice for me?

Teddy

Dear Teddy,

How exciting that you are finally getting the smile makeover you have always wanted! If you want quite a white smile, but not unnaturally white, I would say either a BL4 or an A1. To be honest, though, the key to a beautiful smile makeover is not the color you choose, but the artistry of the dentist.

You should be aware going into this that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. Any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist even though smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. If a dentist wanted to develop real skills in cosmetic dentistry, they would need to invest in post-doctoral training. It takes both technical skill and an artistic eye to create a beautiful smile.

A great cosmetic dentist will sit down with you and talk about what type of smile you want. They would go over the character (youthful, sporty, etc), color, and a few other things to have a real idea of the smile design you have in mind when you think about the smile of your dreams.

From there, the dentist will design the smile and make a mock up. Even after the lab finishes the porcelain veneers, your dentist should place them with a temporary try-in paste and make certain you get to look at them in a variety of lighting. You should be able to give your approval or suggest changes before anything is permanently bonded.

The safest way for you to find a true cosmetic dentist with real skill is to look for someone who is AACD accredited. These dentists have proven skill and artistry.

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

Is It Safe to Get Dental Implants with Osteoporosis?

Posted on February 2, 2023 by writeradmin.

I am on Boniva for Osteoporosis and have been for a few years. A month ago, I lost a tooth that was unsavable. I’m looking into options for replacing that tooth and was told that I cannot get a dental implant if I have Osteoporosis. Is this accurate? If so, what is my next best option?

Caroline

Dear Caroline,

You have asked a great question. For the benefit of others reading who may not be aware of osteoporosis, let me give a quick explanation. It is a degenerative disease that affects bone density, greatly increasing the risk of fractures. It has a tendency to affect women more than it does men. This is especially the case in post-menopausal women.

The good news is that it is possible to get a dental implant while dealing with osteoporosis, the iffy news is that there are some complicating factors involved. Your medication is one of several types of biophosphates. They work by preventing the breakdown of bone as well as bone fractures while building up the bone density. This is done by stopping the osteoclasts that eat up the bone.

Why is that a Risk Factor for Dental Implants?

Patients who take these medicines, show an increased risk of dental implant failure as well as osteonecrosis, which is death of the bone tissue. Because of that risk, it is considered important that you stop taking your medication approximately four months or more before getting your dental implant and staying off of it until the bone has had an opportunity to adequately integrate with the dental implant. At that point, you can safely start taking the medicine again.

Obviously, your osteoporosis needs to be under control for this to be a possibility, so it will be imperative that you contact your doctor and get his or her approval to pause the medication for the duration needed.

What If Your Doctor Says No?

If, by chance, you are one of the cases that cannot stop taking the medication even for limited periods of time, you do have other options. Your next best option would be to get a dental bridge.

Don’t worry yet. Talk to your doctor and get his assesment; then you can go from there.

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