Tag Archives: AACD Accredited Dentist

Dealing with Enamel Hypoplasia

I am have enamel hypoplasia on my teeth and it is very embarrassing. I try my best not to smile, but sometimes you just have to. I want to have a smile that I am not ashamed of. Do you know what are the best ways to treat this? I suspect with today’s cosmetic dentistry, there are solutions.

Pamela


Dear Pamela,

You are correct that there are some good solutions for this situation. An image with two examples of enamel hypoplasia

If you are reading this and wondering what in the world enamel hypoplasia is, it is when the enamel on teeth does not fully develop. This can happen because of a genetic defect, or because of an illness contracted during the formation of the the adult teeth. This is generally before age twelve.

Mild Enamel Hypoplasia

before and after dental bonding

Some cases of hypoplasia is mild, such as on the case on the left image, which gives a mottled appearance to the teeth. If this is your situation, dental bonding would be a good solution. This is done using a composite that is bonded directly to the tooth. It is often used to repair tooth gaps or chips in teeth, such as in the example above.

Severe Enamel Hypoplasia

porcelain veneer being placed

Some cases of hypoplasia are much more severe, such as with the image on the right. As you can see, the teeth are pitted and there is significant discoloration. Dental bonding will not work in this situation. Instead, I would look into having porcelain veneers done.

Both of these procedures are quite advanced and will require you go to an experienced and artistic cosmetic dentist. You may even want to look for an office that has an AACD accredited dentist. They are the top cosmetic dentists in the country.

Once you have this work done, you will no longer be ashamed to smile. In fact, a beautifully done smile makeover can completely change your life because of the confidence that comes with it.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your new smile!

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Lumineers or Orthodontics?

My nephew is graduating and I promised to get him orthodontics as a gift. His parents are struggling and I know his teeth bother him. However, his dentist told him that he could get his teeth fixed much faster with Lumineers. I looked into it and they are a LOT more expensive. Would these really be a better option for him than straightening his teeth?

Angie

Dear Angie,

Invisalign aligner

I am glad you wrote before moving forward. If the only thing his teeth need is to be straightened, than orthodontics are the way to go. To do Lumineers simply to straighten teeth would be a bit of an overtreatment, and an expensive one at that as you have noticed.

At his age, instead of traditional metal braces, I would suggest you look into Invisalign. This would allow him to straighten his teeth without anyone even knowing because it uses clear aligners.

If there are other things wrong with his teeth, like their shape or size, and you are willing to invest in a total smile makeover, than porcelain veneers would be the way to go.

That being said, I would not recommend the Lumineers brand. This particular brand is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. Additionally, their lab, which they force dentists to use, is not known to produce beautiful results.

Instead, I would look for a dentist who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. They are the most skilled cosmetic dentists in the country and can give your nephew a stunning smile.

I hope this helps you with your decision.
This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Dental Bonding for Children

My eleven-year-old broke her two front teeth quite badly. Most of the structure is gone. She only has the top and sides left. Everything else is gone. We went to our pediatric dentist and he suggested removing the teeth. I wasn’t keen on that idea so I took her to my dentist. He said that dental bonding was the solution. I was so glad to hear that she could keep her teeth, I didn’t even look into the procedure. When the results were done, her bonding was so awful. It was lumpy and uneven and in places the color didn’t even make sense. She’s horrified and I don’t blame her. I don’t know what to do. Is there any way to fix this? I’m devastated for her.

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

before and after dental bonding

I’m shocked that your pediatric dentist suggested you extract her teeth. That was quite extreme. I expected he would have suggested dental crowns, but that would be a bad idea as well. The pulp of our teeth shrink as we age. In an 11 year old, that pulp is still quite large. Doing a crown on their teeth can kill the pulp.

Your other dentist was on the right track in recommending dental bonding for the repair. The problem lie in he did not have the skills to do such a massive repair. Dental bonding has to be done freehand and takes a great deal of training and artistry. When done well, it will blend in perfectly with the remainder of the tooth structure, as evidenced by the image above.

My suggestion is you look for a practice that has a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry on their staff. Ideally, they should also be a practice that enjoys working with children. But, if you had to choose, go with the AACD accredited dentist. Your current dentist should be willing to give you a refund.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Covering Tetracycline Stains

I am looking for a solution for my tetracycline stains. My sister and I both had them. She had hers fixed five years ago, but her dentist had to make them very opaque in order to cover the tetracycline stains. I was wondering if there have been some new developments that can make them more natural looking? Would I be better off with teeth whitening?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

before and after tetracycline stains are treated.

Porcelain Veneers for Tetracycline Stains

I’m glad you wrote. You may or may not want to tell your sister this but it was possible to get translucent, natural looking porcelain veneers even back when she had them done. How that could have been accomplished would be by using an expert, artistic cosmetic dentist. Doing porcelain veneers is hard on its own. When you add tetracycline stains, it becomes even more complicated. In fact, it is one of the most advanced cases using veneers. In this case, I would only use one of the top of the line dentists. My suggestion would be an AACD accredited dentist.

Teeth Whitening for Tetracycline Stains

While teeth whitening is a possible treatment, you would have to be very persistent and patient. It would take a long time. If you pursue this avenue here are some tips:

  • Only use at-home professional teeth whitening trays. While Zoom Whitening is very effective, the number of sessions you would need to cover these stains would be cost-prohibitive. Using the trays allows you to do it long-term without breaking your budget.
  • Wear the trays for as long as you can each day. Ideally, you would wear them overnight.
  • The best time of at home whitening for this time of situation would be the KöR teeth whitening system.

Best of luck with whichever procedure you end up with!
This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Are CEREC Veneers Risky?

I plan on getting CEREC veneers, but I have not exactly used this dentist before. He told me that he generally makes porcelain veneers 1.55 mm. I have done some research and that seems a little thick to me. Should I reconsider? I understand that the dentist who does the veneers could affect the outcome so I’ll tell you ahead of time, his name is [ name withheld ].

Patricia,

Dear Patricia,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I am very glad you wrote. Instead of saying “the dentist could affect the outcome”, I would say the dentist determines the outcome. He or she would be the key to the outcome of your smile makeover.

Doing CEREC veneers is much harder than doing traditional porcelain veneers using a master ceramist. In that case, the skill and training of the dentist becomes even more important. I looked up the dentist you mentioned to me. I started by looking at his website and I saw nothing that indicated any cosmetic training. That was a red flag. But, I went ahead and did some extra work and looked up the institutions that do the type of training he would need. He is listed on none of their alumni lists. Because of that, I am going to recommend you go a different direction.

If you are set on CEREC veneers then I suggest you go to a practice that has an AACD accredited dentist on their staff. Nothing less than that would give you the outcome that I believe you want.

Let’s say you go to a dentist to get a smile makeover and he or she does a terrible job. You will have no recourse. The standard of care is that it the results of the procedure are functional, not attractive. This is not what you are going for when you want a smile makeover. Therefore, you as a patient, as to be proactive and find the dentist who will not only care that you have a beautiful smile, but has the training and skills to provide them for you.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Forman and Thimmesch.

Getting White Teeth Fast

I had read on a dental blog similar to yours that over the counter Crest whitestrips actually works. I’ve been using them, but they seem to take forever. I want really white teeth, but need it faster because I have an event coming up. Is there a product for that?

Misty

Dear Misty,

Zoom Whitening Logo

While it is true that Crest Whitestrips really will whiten your teeth, the whitening gel concentration is pretty weak. That is why it is taking so long. It’s not Crest’s fault. Because they are over-the-counter, there are regulations on the strength they can use in order to protect patients.

If you are looking for something to get your teeth really white really fast, than I will suggest you see a dentist who offers Zoom Whitening. This is a procedure that you will do in-office and your teeth will be white in just one appointment. The gel is highly concentrated. Plus, there is a special light they use to activate the gel and kick the whitening process into gear. You’ll get remarkable results.

Make sure you ask for a take home tray so you can do upkeep and touchups in a year or so. That will save you money in the long run.

Getting a Complete Smile Makeover

single porcelain veneer being placed

Another option you have, if you’ve ever considered a total smile makeover is to get porcelain veneers. These use tiny wafers of porcelain that can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth simultaneosly. It is the go-to for Hollywood to get that celebrity smile they all seem to have.

It is quite an advanced procedure, though. You won’t want to let just any dentist do it. They need training, technical skill, and artistry. We have an AACD accredited dentist on our staff which means he is in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country. If you decide you want to go the complete makeover route, find one in your area. If you have to drive to a nearby city or state, it will be worth it.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Advice on Fixing One Crooked Tooth

I have one crooked tooth in the front that is well behind the other front tooth. So far behind you can barely see it. Dentists keep suggesting different things and I don’t know who to trust. One dentist said to get braces. Another suggested I just pull that tooth. Then there are all the pieces of advice in between. Would Invisalign even be a possibility for me?

Marie

Dear Marie,

Invisalign aligners
Invisalign Aligner

It used to be that Invisalign would only work on the more ideal cases. These days are different. Invisalign can work on all but the most complicated cases. Because of that, there is a great possibility that Invisalign will be a good solution for you.

They also have the added benefit of the aligners being able to double as teeth whitening trays, which means you can straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time, if that is something you are interested in.

Don’t let the dentist pull your tooth. First, if you left it as is, you would never look normal with a smile that is asymmetrical. If you wanted to replace the tooth with something like a dental implant, you would still need to open up the space with some type of orthodontics. In that case, why not keep your natural tooth structure?

If you decide not to go with Invisalign, another possibility is to use porcelain veneers. These will not actually straighten your teeth, but it will make them look straight,

Veneers are typically used by someone who wants a full smile makeover. That is because they can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. If you decide to go that way, you will need an expert cosmetic dentist, like an AACD accredited dentist because your case is more complicated.

My suggestion, if the only thing that bothers you about your smile is that one crooked tooth, is to see a dentist who offers Invisalign. Let them examine you and they’ll be honest about whether or not you are a good candidate.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Invisalign or Porcelain Veneers

I had been saving up to give myself a smile makeover. I’d planned on porcelain veneers. There is not anything major wrong with my smile, but I heard porcelain veneers were the procedure to do for a smile makeover. When I met with my dentist he suggested I do Invisalign first and then get the porcelain veneers. I was under the impression you do one or the other. I don’t have a major orthodontic case, just one crooked tooth. My dentist suggested Lumineers, which I was fine with, but that confused me more because their advertisement said they can make crooked teeth look straight. What am I not understanding?

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

Invisalign aligners
Invisalign Aligners

I can understand your confusion. In general, unless as you said there is a major orthodontic case, the porcelain veneers can make your teeth look straight if the dentist is skilled enough to do it right. I am concerned that your dentist is not and that is why he is suggesting Invisalign first. The fact that he wants to place Lumineers reinforces my fears. That particular brand of porcelain veneers is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists.

If you decide to go with porcelain veneers, you need to find a different dentist to do it. I would look for a practice that has an AACD Accredited Dentist on staff. That being said, I don’t think you actually need porcelain veneers.

Based on your description, it sounds like you are just wanting to whiten and brighten your teeth and change the appearance of that one crooked tooth. You could do that at a fraction of the cost of any brand of porcelain veneers using Invisalign.

Plus, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This allows you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. Now, if there are other things about your smile you want to change, such as their shape or chips, then, yes, spend the extra money on porcelain veneers (though I do not recommend the Lumineers brand). Just make sure you get them done right with an expert cosmetic dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

what is essential treatment?

I know during this time of quarantine that we all have to do our part. I’ve been doing very well and not going anywhere. Unfortunately, I took a spill down our stairs and ended up chipping a tooth. Would this be considered an essential treatment? I feel silly. I know it is just a chip but it is bugging me.

Camille

Dear Camille,

a before and after picture of dental bonding for a chipped tooth.

The CDC hasn’t listed what procedures and treatments are considered essential and what isn’t. For the most part, they expect us to avoid routine procedures. If it were just a cosmetic issue alone, I would say you would need to wait until the quarantine is over.

However, based on what you said, there is more to this than just cosmetics. You took a fall which caused the damage. There could be underlying trauma to the tooth which needs immediate treatment. Sometimes the ligament can be stretched and if you don’t splint the tooth you can end up with a tooth that comes loose. Other times, the trauma is so severe, the pulp of the tooth dies and you need a root canal treatment.

Under normal circumstances, I’d suggest you call your dentist and ask him to squeeze you in for an emergency dental appointment. In this case, the only appointments are for situations like yours.

If you’re going to need an emergency appointment. This is the perfect time!

Getting the Chipped Fixed

If it turns out there is not damage from the trauma that requires immediate treatment, then your dentist can likely go ahead and fix the chipped tooth. I mean…you’re already there.

The ideal solution for this is to have dental bonding done. You can see an example of that in the image above. I will warn you. It does take an expert cosmetic dentist. If your dentist isn’t one, my suggestion is you see him for the trauma. Then, once the virus calms down, see an AACD accredited dentist to do the bonding to repair the chip to your tooth.

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

How white can I get my teeth?

I am trying to figure out how white I can get my teeth. Ideally, I’d like them to match my eyeballs. Is that possible?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

I love it when I get questions that surprise me. This is one I’ve never encountered. Whether or not your teeth can match your eyeballs really depends upon how white your eyeballs are. There are limits to what teeth whitening can do. Though, you certainly can get them very white.

In general, when a patient is striving to match a certain color, we suggest they have porcelain veneers done. These can be more specifically designed to match certain colors. In addition to color, they can change the shape and size of your teeth as well. It is the go-to procedure that celebrities use to get their Hollywood smiles.

Even when patients do get porcelain veneers we always have them whiten their teeth first, this way if they have a smile that is ten teeth wide but only get six porcelain veneers, the adjacent teeth will blend in with the veneered teeth and not look out of place.

Who Should Do Your Cosmetic Work?

Here’s what I recommend. Start with the teeth whitening. That may be all you need. If you get the level of whitening you want, job done. Any dentist can do teeth whitening, even your family dentist.

If it doesn’t get to the color you want, then you’ll have to decide if you want to get a total smile makeover with porcelain veneers. This does require some rather specific training.

Unfortunately, cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. That makes it hard for patients. Doing smile makeovers isn’t taught in dental school. The dentist has to seek post-doctoral training. The best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited.

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