Best Dentist Archives - Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist

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.

Dentist Said I Cannot Have White Crowns

Posted on February 3, 2022 by writeradmin.

I had eight dental crowns placed two decades ago. I wanted whiter crowns then they gave me but they insisted they wouldn’t look natural with the white color I wanted. Now, I want to replace them, this time getting the white color I’d always wanted. However, my new dentist said the whitest we should do is B1. The temporaries in that color are hardly whiter than what I have. His reasoning is that there are posts that would show through with a whiter color. I’m so disappointed. Before I have these permanently bonded on I want to see if there is a possibility I could get a BL4 without the posts showing. Just something a little brighter.

Sandy

Dear Sandy,

I don’t know who your dentist is, but I get the impression he isn’t really an expert cosmetic dentist. He is confusing color with translucency. If the posts are not seen through on a B1, they won’t be seen through the BL4 or if you want really white crowns, as it sounds you do, you could even get a BL1. I am not saying you have to switch dentists at this point, but I would insist your dentist give you the color you want for your porcelain crowns.

Additionally, you need to insist he do them with a temporary try-in paste and you get to see and approve them before they are permanently bonded on. If you don’t like them, they should go back to the lab until you do. Sometimes, it is helpful to have a friend with you during the try-in to give you courage and be a second set of eyes for you.

If he cannot or is unwilling to get them the way you want, then it will be time to switch dentists. If you do need to switch, the best cosmetic dentists are accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have proven expertise and artistry. They will have not only the skill to give you the smile you wanted two decades ago, but the right mindset that it is about what kind of smile the patient wants that matters.

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

Can I Trust the Dental Tourism Adverstisement I received?

Posted on February 18, 2021 by writeradmin.

I received this advertisement that describes the most delightful vacation I can take all while getting my dental care done at a fraction of the cost I would pay in the United States. I have my choice of Baja California or Cancun. I have to be honest, I am tempted. Is it safe?

Estelle

Dear Estelle,

I am very glad you wrote before taking part in this. Dental tourism is heavily marketed and when it works out, it can be okay. But, when it does not work out, and that is more often than people think, it can be a disaster.

I actually know about the dental group you are referring to here, but won’t give their name here, so as not to give them any more advertisement. Here are my concerns with this particular group, which believe it or not are better than most.

First, there are quite a few reports of them trying to upsell. That means they are proposing procedures that may not even be necessary. There are also reports of patients receiving the wrong treatment. In many of these dental tourism countries, when things go wrong there is not much recourse (if any at all) for the patients. The dentists themselves have zero risk.

Here is one review I saw on Yelp! where a patient experienced both of these issues at the same time. You should know they went to this dental clinic I believe you received this advertisement from.

“My mom and I went to Mexico recently for her to have dental work done. I’m sure mom needed some dental work done but not 10 crowns and a root canal. The 2nd molar that had the crown and root canal fell out 2 months later due to bone loss.”

Doing a root canal treatment and putting a dental crown on a tooth that had the type bone loss described here shows a serious lack of integrity on the part of the dentist. He did two useless procedures on this woman simply to take her money, all while not giving her the treatment she actually needed.

You can probably guess by now that my advice will be NOT to go. If you want to go to Baja or Cancun, go to enjoy the sites, but get your dental work done here by dentists you can trust. You didn’t mention if you were going for general dental work or if you had cosmetic work in mind. If you are looking for cosmetic procedures, the best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. I would suggest that is the dentist you seek for your smile makeover.

If you are looking for a general dentist, be sure to check their Yelp! reviews. This will give you some idea of the experiences other patients have had with them.

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

Full-Mouth Reconstruction to Whiten Teeth?

Posted on June 27, 2020 by writeradmin.

I need to make some important choices soon. I have a dental crown that is about 20 years old and two porcelain veneers that are a bit older. I’ve been experiencing some dry mouth. I’ve chipped the veneers on the front teeth and now there is a gray line at the gumline by the crown. I went to my dentist to discuss replacing them. Because my smile is no longer very white, he is suggesting I get crowns on both my upper and lower arch to do a smile makeover of sorts. The more I think about it, the more concerned I am, especially with my dry mouth. It may be better for me to just replace the old work and wait to see what happens with the dry mouth first. What do you think?

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

The first thing I am going to suggest is that you get a different dentist. If I understand you correctly, your dentist is suggesting crowning all of your teeth because your teeth need to be whitened? Really?

So, here’s the thing. Whitening your teeth will bring him in a few hundred dollars. Crowning all your teeth, known as a full mouth reconstruction, will bring him in $30,000+. Your dentist is being self-serving. The best dentists are doing their best to serve their patients without unnecessary expense for his or her benefit and while preserving as much tooth structure as possible. He’s doing neither.

My suggestion is you have your teeth whitened and then just replace the damaged dental work. However, I don’t think your dentist should be the one to do it and not just because he’s grabbing for the bucks. There is another warning sign that he isn’t what you need. When a dentist suggests dental crowns instead of porcelain veneers for a smile makeover, it is because they are not comfortable doing porcelain veneers. Doing crowns in a case where they are not needed is a waste of healthy tooth structure.

As you likely know from the crown you already have, in order to make room for the restoration, he’d have to grind your teeth down to nubs. This is irreversible. Once you have dental crowns you will always have to have dental crowns. It is much better to do porcelain veneers when it comes to a smile makeover.

Now, you do already have one crown. You mentioned a gray line at the gumline. This tells me the original dentist did a porcelain-fused to metal crown. On a front tooth, what you really want is an all-porcelain crown.

What you need is a skilled cosmetic dentist to take over. In your place, I’d look for an AACD accredited dentist. These dentists are in the top of the cosmetic field and have proven skill and artistry. You’ll have a smile you are proud of.

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

I’m In Tears After My Smile Makeover

Posted on April 18, 2020 by writeradmin.

I had a few teeth with composite bondings to repair some chips. They needed some repair. My dentist retired and said the man who took over his practice said they’d need to be replaced with porcelain crowns because you can’t just replace composite bonding. I didn’t realize at the time that wasn’t true and allowed him to do six dental crowns. The two front teeth look a darker grayish compared to the other teeth. Is there any way to fix this? My dentist insists they’re the exact same color as the others. It almost feels like I’m being gaslighted.

Elaine

Dear Elaine,

I’m very sorry you’re going through this. I can tell you the biggest obstacle you face is you have a bread and butter family dentist trying to do cosmetic dental work. One of the big problems in dentistry right now is the fact that cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. This means any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the amount of training they’ve received.

This puts patients in a difficult position. They may not know that smile makeovers and other advanced cosmetic procedures are not taught in dental school. In order for a dentist to become skilled in those areas, it requires a significant amount of post-doctoral training. The best dentists invest in this type of training on a regular basis and are constantly improving their skills. My guess is your dentist didn’t receive that. This is what landed you in this position.

Getting Your Smile Disaster Fixed

A true cosmetic dentist would never tell a patient their smile looked fine when they were unhappy with it. Instead, they would re-do the work until the patient was thrilled. Because they want total patient satisfaction, they’ll use a temporary try-in paste. This allows the patient to get a good look at their smile before it is permanently bonded on.

It is unfortunate you now have dental crowns. You’re stuck with those the remainder of your life because it required your teeth to be ground down. The good news is he misrepresented to you the options available. It is not true that dental bonding could not be replaced. My guess is he said you had to have dental crowns done because that is all he knew how to do. In your place, I would ask for a refund and then go elsewhere to get them done properly.

If you’re happy with all the crowns except the two front ones that don’t match the adjacent teeth, you can just get those re-done. Either way you are going to need to find a top of the line cosmetic dentist. The best are AACD accredited cosmetic dentists. They’ve passed stringent exams as well as demonstrated their artistry on a large number of cases they’ve done.

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

She’s Going to Need a Better Dentist

Posted on September 29, 2019 by writeradmin.

I need to replace six crowns. They were done by another dentist but I’ve since moved. I really loved them, but they’re old and need to be replaced. I want to replace them all at the same time. I don’t like the temps my new dentist has provided. They’re much more yellow than my old crowns and are shaped differently. I liked my other smile. When I told him I didn’t like the temporaries, he raised his voice and said he’s the dentist and they’re perfect. What do I do?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

Your bumping up against the difference in philosophy between a standard dentist and a dentist who really invests in cosmetic dentistry. In dental school, we’re taught the dentist knows what is best. But, cosmetic work is different. You are creating a smile which the patient wants. The best cosmetic dentists are more interested in how the patients feel about their smile.

Your current dentist doesn’t understand this. He’s not going to work with you. If I were in your place, I’d go to a different dentist to get this finished. Your current dentist is ethically obligated to pass on all your diagnostics, etc. to the new dentist.

Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. It is up to the dentist how much training they get after they graduate dental school. When you are talking about a smile makeover, you want the best cosmetic dentist possible. These are the dentists who take their craft seriously.

They’ve done significant post-graduate training and have an artistic eye. In your place, I’d look for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Through the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, they’ve passed stringent exams which test their technical knowledge. They also have to provide visual evidence of a large number of cases they’ve done in order to gauge their artistry.

I hope this helps you. This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.

Best Dentist for a Recovered Bulimic

Posted on May 31, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’m looking for a dentist for my daughter. She’s a recovered bulimic. I’m super proud of all the steps she’s taken to get a healthy mindset again. She’s been out of recovery for six months and has done spectacularly. I thought it was time to reward her new habits with a smile makeover. When she was purging it did tremendous damage to her teeth. I want her smile to reflect her beautiful spirit. I am just not sure how to find the right dentist for this type of situation. Any advice?

Kaylee,

Dear Kaylee,

It is great that your daughter has such wonderful support from you. That will help her go far for the remainder of her life. It’s also great you are doing some research ahead of time. I can’t tell you how many cosmetic dentistry horror stories there are of patients who went to an inexperienced cosmetic dentist. This would be the last thing your daughter needs.

Most cosmetic dentists have experience with bulimic patients. They are sensitive to how they’re affected by their smile and will not be judgmental, which is important. Equally important is their skill in creating beautiful smiles. Sometimes porcelain veneers are sufficient, but depending on the severity of the damage, she may need some dental crowns as well.

Because of that, you’ll want a dentist who understands not only how to create beauty but knows how her bite should come together if a lot of crowns are necessary.

Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist

There isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. This leaves patients in the quandary of figuring out who is skilled and artistic and who isn’t. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recognized that issue and started an accreditation program to serve both patients and dentists interested in cosmetic work.

Dentists can take classes to improve their skills. Plus, they can strive for accreditation. To get accredited, dentists have to pass stringent oral and written exams. In addition, they have to provide visual evidence of a large number of cases they’ve personally done in order to show their artistry in their work.

In your place, I would look for an AACD accredited dentist. They are the best cosmetic dentists in the country and will give your daughter a smile she’ll be proud to share with the world.

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