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Cosmetic and
restorative
dentistry

Smile Makeover During Pregnancy

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I was planning on getting a smile makeover but just found out I’m pregnant. Can I go through with it or do I need to wait?

Avery

Dear Avery,

A woman smiling with a beauttiful smile

Congratulations on your upcoming blessing. Babies are the best. Whether or not you can go forward with treatment depends on a couple of things. The first is what procedures you were planning. The second is whether or not you’re in a high-risk category in your pregnancy.

Let’s start with the procedures.

Teeth Whitening

Getting your teeth whitened hasn’t been officially cleared for pregnant women. It’s not because there is evidence of it doing harm to the baby, it is because we’ve had no tests to say it doesn’t do harm. As you can imagine, there aren’t a lot of women lining up to have their unborn child be a test subject.

I’m sure you can find a dentist to do it for you. Just make sure you understand the risks. By that I mean we don’t yet know the risks.

Invisalign

These are clear aligners you wear over your teeth to straighten them. It’s perfectly safe to use during pregnancy. However, if you are prone to morning sickness and vomiting, you may find this an inconvenient time to straighten your teeth. The aligners have to be worn almost full-time, with the obvious time exceptions being during meals.

Vomiting will mean thoroughly cleaning out the aligners so you don’t get stuck with anything acidic in them. This will lead to massive decay.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a safe procedure, even during pregnancy. The only chemical used would be the Lidocaine which is used for numbing during tooth preparation. Lidocaine is one of the medicines which has been FDA approved as safe to use during pregnancy. It’s even sometimes used during the delivery process.

The only cautionary tale I’d offer here is to make sure you see an expert cosmetic dentist or you will be disappointed with your smile makeover results.

All that being said, if you are in a high-risk pregnancy group, you’ll need to scrap everything I just said and talk to your obstetrician and get clearance on everything first. There will likely be special considerations.

Best of luck to you and your baby.

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

Cosmetic Dentistry Malpractice

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Can you advise me? I spent a small fortune to get my smile updated. I’d had some cosmetic bonding on my front teeth which was showing its age along with a dental bridge. I went to a dentist who advertises as specializing in cosmetic work. He replaced the metal bridge and then planned crowns on the remainder of the visible front teeth. When they put in the temporaries, they told me they wanted to be certain I’d like them. I’d brought them a very specific smile design I wanted so I was glad to hear them say that. Unfortunately, it proved not to be true. When the permanent ones came in they weren’t the same color. I mentioned that and they said they’ll look different in my mouth. They didn’t. I told them, they still looked dull. Then they said it was because I see them differently in this light. Which, by the way, was the same light I saw the temporaries. When we got in a different light I noticed, they didn’t match the metal bridge. Their response, was, “Of course they don’t. The bridge is metal.” Then they bonded them in even though I wasn’t happy with them and said I’d get used to them and love them. I don’t. I don’t know what to do. My teeth are not what I wanted and don’t match.

Patricia

Dear Patricia,

A woman smiling with a beauttiful smile

When you get a smile makeover, you should be thrilled to share your new smile.

You have a great case to have this re-done by a dentist who actually knows what they’re doing, but you are going to have to be tough. This dentist behaved quite unethically based on what you’ve said and I don’t think he cares whether you like your smile or not.

Aside from shoddy cosmetic work, they violated a very important principle of dental practice, which is informed consent. You did not consent to them bonding in your new smile. In fact, they badgered you into it by trying to make you feel unreasonable. This was after they promised you that you’d get to approve the smile and love it first.

Dealing with Shoddy Smile Makeovers

Because they didn’t have your consent, you have the right to have this done again. However, I wouldn’t trust this dentist to do it. Instead, have them pay for an excellent cosmetic dentist to re-do your work properly. You may have to involve a lawyer, but you’re on solid ground.

It’s unfortunate he ground all those teeth down for dental crowns. Porcelain veneers would have been a better option for you and is much more conservative on your tooth structure. Seeing as you had crowns done (through no fault of your own) you will have to have crowns done again.

This time, get them done by someone who’s invested time and training in cosmetic dentistry (which by the way isn’t a recognized specialty). In your place, I’d go to mynewsmile.com and see which dentists they recommend in your area. Anyone on their list will give you a stunning smile makeover you’ll be proud to show off.

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

Why Can’t Lumineers Make My Teeth Longer?

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I’m so frustrated right now and need some advice. I’m looking at the Lumineers advertisement holding it in my hands. They show before and after pictures of teeth being made longer. When I went to see my dentist, he said it could happen. All I wanted was whiter, longer teeth. Yet, when the lab sent them back, they weren’t any longer. My dentist called and they said that’s as long as they can get. I don’t get it? Do they falsely advertise?

Mischa

Dear Mischa,

Lumineers Advertisement

So, your biggest problem here is your dentist. Think about this. If the Lumineers lab is right (which they are not) shouldn’t he have known this? Also, He’s the doctor. The lab workers are technicians. They follow the doctor’s instructions, not the other way around. So, what is going on here?

Smile Makeovers Aren’t Taught in Dental School

Many people don’t realize that dental schools are for general dentistry. If a dentist is interested in learning how to do smile makeovers, they have to invest in the time and training for that post-doctorally.

Some dentists do it. Some don’t. Some invest more time and effort into it than others. As a result, some smile makeovers end up beautiful and some end up a disaster.

The Lumineers brand, in particular, is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists in being easy to place. However, the brand forces dentists to use their lab, which isn’t known for its beautiful work. That means you have two things working against you– the inexperience of your dentist and the low-quality results of the lab.

How to Get a Guaranteed Beautiful Smile Makeover

Your dentist hasn’t provided the smile he promised. You specifically asked for longer teeth and he didn’t provide that even though porcelain veneers can accomplish that very request. In your place, I’d ask for a refund and start over with a true cosmetic dentist.

Then, go to aacd.com. This is the website of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. They have an accreditation program where dentists who truly want to excel in cosmetic dentistry can receive training and be tested for their skill and artistry.

They have to pass both oral and written exams as well as show visual evidence of a large number of specific cases they’ve personally done to demonstrate their artistry. Only then can they be accredited. Their website has a link where you can search for AACD accredited dentists in your area.

That would be the dentist I would go to in order to get a stunning smile makeover.

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