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CEREC

My Dentist Refuses to Give Me CEREC Crowns Even Though He Does Them

I need a crown on my front tooth. My dentist CEREC crowns, but absolutely refuses to do it on my front teeth. I really like the convenience of one appointment crowns. Can you think of a reason he won’t give it to me?

Marcella M. – Idaho

Marcella,

I suspect it is an aesthetics issue. You see, CEREC crowns are milled out of  a single block of porcelain. That means they don’t have th subtleties that you find in your natural teeth. That is fine for most of your teeth, but your front teeth are quite visible. Your dentist will want to make sure they get all the variation to make them look natural.

If he does a traditional crown, it will take a little longer, but he can do it beautifully. Of course, it is up to you. If you want a CEREC crown that badly, you can likely have one–from another dentist who doesn’t care as much about the aesthetics. Just know they’ll be a litle flat looking.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Can Invisalign Substitute for A Sport’s Mouthguard?

I’m on the football team and just got invisalign. My coach said I can’t practice or play without a mouthguard. Can I use my invsalign as that because I don’t think I’m supposed to take them off?

Tommy H. – Denver

Tommy,

You can’t subsitute your Invisalign for a mouthguard. It doesn’t absorb the shock for your teeth like a true sport’s mouthguard does. You’ll have to get one.

It won’t hurt your treatment, as long as you only take them out for practice and eating. Much more than that and you could have a problem.

It shows responsibility that you were concerned about taking them out and you had the foresight to check if they’d work in both situations.

I have confidence that you’re going to do very well with your treatment, and with football.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Lafayette LA Dentist

What are some decent tooth replacement options?

I have to get a tooth extracted. I wanted to get a second opinion on some good tooth replacement options. Money is no object. I want the best. What are your thoughts?

Martin C. – Albany, NY

Martin,

My initial thought is if you want the top tooth replacement option, than just about any dentist would tell you to get dental implants.  They’re the most like having your own natural tooth.  If you’re in good general health, than you are likely a candidate.

There are times when a dental bridge makes more sense. That’s generally if the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth happen to need dental crowns. If that’s the case, a dental bridge will take care of two procedures at once.

You didn’t say what your dentist suggested. If he’s not adequately trained in dental implants, then he wouldn’t be likely to suggest them.  But, it is the ideal treatment if you’re a candidate.

There are other options, as well, aside from implants and bridges, such as a removable partial denture, but you asked for the top treatments.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Porcelain Veneers

Can porcelain veneers fix a tooth gap?

If I have a tooth gap between my center top front teeth, can porcelain veneers close the gap?

Lucy P – North Dakota

Lucy,

Yes, porcelain veneers can close a tooth gap. However, unless there are other things about your teeth you’d like to change, there is a less expensive fix.

Dental bonding is a simple way to close a tooth gap. It uses composite resin. Your dentist will manually shape it to your teeth, blending it to look naturally with your front teeth.

Porcleian veneers are better for a total smile makeover.  They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. They can completely remake your smile.

However, they do cost more than bonding. Which procedure you should get will be determined by your goals and desires for your smile.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

CEREC

Why Is My CEREC Crown Getting Stained?

I’m having a problem with my CEREC crown. I’ve only had it about a year and now it’s picking up stains. I don’t know what happened. I just got my teeth cleaned. My teeth, including my crown, looked great when I left. A few weeks later and it started getting dingy.

Corinne – New Mexico

Corinne,

I can’t be certain without examining your crowns, but it sounds like your crown has lost its glazing. I suspect, because it happened just after your check up and cleaning, you likely had an inexperienced hygienist. He or she either didn’t realize you had a CEREC crown or didn’t know how to care for them.

If the hygienist used something like a prophy jet during your  cleaning, it would damage the glazing.

I’d talk to your dentist about it. If he or she doesn’t know how to fix it, they might be willing to replace it.  Other than that you’re stuck either living with it or replacing it yourself.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Invisalign

Why would I need to do two procedures to get pretty teeth?

I want to have my teeth much whiter. I also have one front tooth that is a little crooked. Not much. I was told by a friend that porcelain veneers would take care of both of these things, but my dentist wants me to have ortho done and then veneers. Why would I need two procedures?

Jermaine – San Jose, CA

Jermaine,

You question leaves me wondering if there’s something unique about your bite that your dentist is recommending both procedures; because, you’re right, generally you would either do porcelain veneers or invisalign, not both.

Invisalign will straighten your tooth and ensure your other teeth are in proper alignment. You could also whiten them simultaneously. Your invisalign trays can double as whitening trays.

Porcelain veneers are a better option if you want to change more about your smile than just color or crookedness. For instance,  if you wanted to change there shape as well, I’d definitely recommend veneers.

If I were in your place I’d get a second opinion by a highly experienced, artistic cosmetic dentist. Ideally, you’d want someone who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). If you don’t have one of those nearby, you can go on the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend expert cosmetic dentists by area.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Uncategorized

When Can We Stop Going to the Dentist?

We’ve always been very diligent about going to the dentist. Our children have never had cavities. Recently, my husband was laid off. Is it OK for us to skip the dentists for a while, just until he’s found a new job?

Mindy  – Ft. Worth, TX

Mindy,

I understand your question completely. Here in Louisiana, the oil industry as been hit pretty hard and a lot of people are without work.  One of the things dentists tend to notice is that when people try to save money by skipping their check-ups and cleanings, they end up spending more. Here’s why.

Especially in children,  things can change quickly with the condition of teeth. Without regular check ups, early warning signs of decay are likely to get missed. That means more extensive (and expensive) treatments are necessary.

My suggestion, during this time of financial difficulty, is to talk to your dentist and work out payment plans. There are even no interest payment plans.

Dentists want to help people. Communication is the key.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Porcelain Veneers

Why can’t I floss my teeth?

I got porcelain veneers. I like them, but for some reason I’m no longer able to floss. Is that normal?

Hannah A. – Florida

Hannah,

No, it’s not normal. In fact, it’s bad for your teeth, including your porcelain veneers.

It’s possible your dentist skipped a step. As you’re dentist places each veneer, some bonding material squeezes out. Your dentist needed to go around those teeth carefully with dental floss.

To do that, your dentist would need two special curing tips. The first one very narrow (about 2mm). This one tacks the veneer into place so your dentist can floss it without the veneer popping off. After he flosses, he can use another curing tip (about 13mm) to cure it the rest of the way.

After all that, he should still go over it all again with fine polishing strips.  If your dentist didn’t take all those steps, it would explain why you can’t floss.

This blog is brought to you by Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

Cosmetic Dentist

Why won’t my dentist let me get lumineers?

I want to get lumineers, but my dentist Dr. ———– says they’re not any good. Shouldn’t it be my choice?

Tara M. – Kentucky

Tara,

I know the dentist you’re referring to. He’s actually a very good cosmetic dentist and he can give you a gorgeous smile. There are a lot of good cosmetic dentists who aren’t crazy about lumineers. Mostly that stems from the fact that the Lumineers company requires dentists to use their lab, which to be quite frank, isn’t that great.

Yes, it is up to you, but you’re going to your dentist for his expertise. Maybe you should trust his instinct. If you’re worried, you can tell your dentist that you want to approve the try ins. But, again, he’s a great dentist and would have you do that anyway.

One thing to bear in mind is that Lumineers are just a brand of porcelain veneers. There are several different brands of veneers. Each of them have their own characteristics and a great cosmetic dentist will know which one is the best option for the type of smile you want.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

CEREC

Why doesn’t my CEREC crown match?

I needed another crown. My new dentist (from my new city) suggested a CEREC crown. I was all for the one appointment thing, but was disappointed in the results. My other crowns match my teeth. My CEREC doesn’t. It’s obviously different from the rest of my smile. Is that a CEREC drawback?

Tatiana M. – Arkansas

Tatiana,

CEREC crowns can definitely match your teeth. I suspect the problem is your new dentist. It’s the dentist who does the coloring and other details of how the crown will look.

Though your dentist may be technically proficient, that doesn’t mean he has the artistic skill. That is a completely different skill set and often requires much different training than you get in dental school.

It sounds like your old dentist had that ability and your new dentist doesn’t. You may have to go somewhere else to have the crown re-done if you want it to match your other teeth.

This blog is brought to you by cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.