Category Archives: Uncategorized

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CEREC crown keeps falling out

I got a cerec crown for the first time. It has fallen out twice. Is this something that is common with these types of crowns?

Alai K. – Brownsville, TX

Alai,

No, the problem is an issue with the crown. In fact, CEREC crowns are generally more accurately milled because they are done with a computer. The problem is with whatever bonding process your dentist is using.

I’ll be honest with you, most dentists go their entire career without having even one crown fall out. The fact that yours did twice, tells me there is a problem with your dentist more than your crown.

I suggest you take your crown somewhere else to be bonded and quickly. If you like the person who fixes is, you’ve found yourself a more competent dentist.

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

 

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Mismatched crown

I moved to a new city. As a result, I’ve obtained a new dentist. He has this machine that enables crowns to be made the same day.  That part was great. Unfortunately, that is the extent of the positives. I’ve had crowns done before. This is my fourth.  All the previous ones match my existing teeth. This new one, however, is a mismatch. It is pretty obvious too. Is this the necessary cost of convenience or did something go wrong.

Benjamin A. – Maryland

Benjamin,

No, that is not a necessary price for the convenience of a same day crown.  The type of crown you received are CEREC crowns. You’re right that they’re very convenient. It’s great not needing a temporary crown, or needing to come back for a second appointment to get your permanent crown.

This problem you’re experiencing is the result of what dentist you currently have, not the type of crown he gave you.  It is the dentists responsibility to match a crown to the existing teeth.  You can see if your dentist would be willing to re-do it to make it match your current smile. However, you may have to try for a refund and go to a more artistic dentist to get the results you are hoping to get.

This blog is brought to you Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

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This bridge will be a disaster

I had four teeth removed because of gum disease. My dentist is planning on giving me a dental bridge to replace the teeth, but my other teeth are starting to get loose. Should I go through with this procedure?

Harriet E. – Mississippi

Harriet,

I am quite concerned about this treatment. If you’ve lost teeth because of gum disease, that has to be treated before you try to put any permanent replacement on.

A dental bridge needs anchor teeth, which will put pressure on them. They’re already coming loose. The bridge will pull them right out.

Your dentist has a disaster planned for you. What you need right now if to start treatments for periodontal disease. Your loose teeth will need be stabilized while that is taking place.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

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My Crown Looks Awful

I got a makeover on five teeth. Four were veneers and one is a crown. The veneers look OK, but the crown looks different than the others. It’s like there is a shadow underneath it. My dentist says it is from the cement and that it isn’t noticeable. If that’s true, than how come I can see it? I asked if we could re-do it, but she said it wouldn’t match the others because they need to be done at the same time. Is that true?

Hannah S. – Little Rock, AR

Hannah,

Well, it may be true for your dentist, but it isn’t true for someone with expertise in cosmetic dentistry. There is a danger in letting a general dentist without a lot of training in cosmetic procedures. A true cosmetic dentist would not be satisfied if you didn’t like the way it looked.  That crown would go right back to the lab.

The problem is twofold: one, dentists are taught in dental school that they know better than the patient. That is not the case with those who have significant training in cosmetic. They are taught that the patient is the decision maker as to what is beautiful.  The second issue is skill. Now a great cosmetic dentist could match your crown to other teeth easily. Maybe your dentist doesn’t know who to do that. However, your dentist ordered the veneers with the crown at the lab. They should be able to match the specifications to the lab.

I’ll be honest, if you really want this done well, you’ll probably need to have it done by a different dentist. I recommend you see a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). These dentists are in the top 1-3% in their field. They can give you a gorgeous crown.

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

 

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What if you can’t have an implant?

I recently found out that I cannot have a dental implant. I’m terribly disappointed in this because I am in public relations and my smile is a big deal.  What is the next best option?  Will it look natural?

Candace- Washington D.C.

Candace,

If you’re talking about a single tooth, then there is another good option. You can get a dental bridge and it will more than adequately take care of your missing tooth.

Whether it will look natural or not, will depend on the dentist you go to.  What you want is an expert cosmetic dentist. Ideally, you will want someone who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).  These dentist are the top in the world and will give you a gorgeous smile. Even if  you have to drive a few hours away it will be worth it.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

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Bulimia and Teeth

I recently had a friend confide in me that she caught her daughter throwing up after a large meal. She became suspicious and started keeping an eye on her daughter’s eating habits. She was devastated to realize that her daughter was bulimic. It was such a surprise, because her daughter had always seemed happy and confident. Plus, she was very popular at school and had lots of friendships. We discussed ways to help her.

First, I wanted her to know that she needed to get her to the dentist as soon as possible. Most people think of going to the doctor for treatment, which is important, however a bulimic’s teeth get very damaged and need to be treated as well. This is especially important because it is generally self-esteem issues that lead to bulimic activity. As their teeth get more and more damaged it will negatively impact their body image.

The acid in the vomit will erode your teeth making them thin and damaged. Eventually, your teeth will become sensitive to hot and cold. This is because the tooth was eroded enough to expose the nerve. The damage isn’t noticeable at first because it is strongest in the back of your teeth.

A dentist treating a bulimic should provide some flouride, which will help decrease sensitivity and slow down decay. After vomiting, you want to rinse your mouth out with water as quickly as possible to help neutralize the acid. Do not brush your teeth right away, because that will grind the acid into your teeth. A dentist can tell you whether or not the patient will need dental crowns.

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

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My friend is a dental student. What about going to him for my smile makeover?

We saw a blog post where the person was asking about getting a smile makeover from a dental student. The dental student is her friend, and I think it appealed to this person because of the prospect of saving a lot of money.

Click here to read the post.

The blogger answered the question well, we thought. A lot of people don’t understand that cosmetic dentistry is art, and the culture in dental school is actually, unfortunately, often anti-creativity. And that’s probably how it should be. The first task of a dentist is to learn the technique and in doing so they need to learn standard procedures. They could get into all kinds of trouble by encouraging creativity.

This blog is sponsored by Lafayette dentist Dr. Michael Malone.

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Whitening brown spots

I’ve had brown spots on my teeth since I was a child and have finally gotten to the place financially where I can do something about it. My dentist has tried whitening my teeth, but it just makes it look worse. Do you have another recommendation?

Alicia S.- Broken Arrow, OK

Alicia,

Teeth whitening never works on brown spots. They will always whiten the teeth surrounding the brown spots, making the spots actually look darker.  However, there is definitely something else you can do. You could use dental bonding or porcelain veneers. Either one will help with the brown spots on your teeth. However, I want to stress that you should not use your current dentist to do either of these procedures.

Teeth whitening is a basic cosmetic procedure and she didn’t understand how it works. Porcelain veneers and dental bonding are much more advanced procedures. It will be a disaster if you let a beginner do the procedure. I’m not saying he or she isn’t a good general dentist. You can still go to that office for your general dentistry procedures. But, for the cosmetic procedures you need to find an expert cosmetic dentist.

Look on the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend cosmetic dentists that are qualified by state. You’ll be safe using anyone on that site.

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

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Stuck impression

I had an impression done in my mouth in order to get a dental bridge.  Somehow it got completely stuck in my mouth. It took the dentist about forty minutes of yanking, pulling, spraying all kinds of gunk in my mouth before he got it out. I am a little afraid it damaged my other teeth. Is he incompetent? Should I find a different dentist?

Aaron B.- Newark, NJ

Aaron,

This sometimes happens to a dentist, so it is not anything to worry about. In fact, the only harm it does is being embarrasssing to your dentist and throw him or her dreadfully behind in their schedule.

This happens because there is a stiff putty used in conjunction with a lighter body wash impression material. The wash gets pushed into the finest crevices. Sometimes the putty gets into the undercuts. When that happens, it can be very difficult to remove.

You may be interested in learning a little more about dental bridges.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, Louisiana Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

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Can my teeth match my undershirt?

I was wondering if it is possible to get my teeth bleached so white that they match my white undershirt?  I bleach my shirts and they are really a brite white. I want my teeth the same color. Is that possible?

Curtis J.- Memphis

Curtis,

This has to be the most interesting question I have ever received. Thanks for making my evening. You can get your teeth very white with teeth whitening. How white they get really depends on factors that are outside the control of either your dentist or you. Therefore, if it is  a specific color you are after, I recommend you get porcelain veneers. Cosmetic dentists can control a lot more over not only the color, but the shape of the teeth.

However, make sure you go to an expert cosmetic dentist. If not, you could end up with a disaster. There are two easy ways to locate expert cosmetic dentists. Your first step would be to look for  a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). They will be the top 1-3% of dentists. If however, you there isn’t an AACD accredited dentist in driving  distance, then I recommend you next check with the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend highly qualified cosmetic dentists in each state. You’ll be safe with anyone they recommend.

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