Tag Archives: Choosing A Cosmetic Dentist

Invisalign

Invisalign AND Porcelain Veneers?

I had asked my dentist for ten Lumineers. I have one crooked tooth but I heard veneers can make that look straight. What I’m really after is a brighter smile, plus masking that one tooth. My dentist said he’d like me to do Invisalign and then porcelain veneers. He also said he didn’t like Lumineers because they’d make my teeth look bulky but would give me a different brand. I’m not crazy about spending money on both treatments. Do you really think this is necessary?

Catherine C.

Dear Catherine,

Image top: A woman putting on her Invisalign aligners. Image bottom: a woman smiling with Invisalign on her teeth

I’m a little confused here. On the one hand, what your dentist says about Lumineers is true. They tend to make the teeth look bulky. Plus, their lab is sub-par in following the dentist’s directions properly and rarely give gorgeous results. That tells me he has a decent understanding about at least that brand.

However, his other instructions make me think he’s not a skilled cosmetic dentist unless there’s something you’re not telling me about your bite. Generally, a cosmetic dentist would recommend either Invisalign or porcelain veneers. Not both. A skilled cosmetic dentist can make a single crooked tooth look straight.

Porcelain Veneers or Invisalign?

Which procedure you do depends on your needs. It sounds like you’re fairly happy with your smile with the exception of the crooked tooth and the stains. If that’s the case, you’d save a lot of money just getting Invisalign and teeth whitening.

Invisalign works faster than traditional braces and has the added benefit of enabling you to do both procedures at once. The aligners used to straighten your teeth can double as whitening trays.

However, if you feel there are other aspects to your teeth which need changing, such as the size or shape of your teeth, then I’d recommend getting a smile makeover with porcelain veneers.

With the Invisalign option, pretty much any dentist will do. But, if you go with the smile makeover, you will need an expert cosmetic dentist to do your porcelain veneers. I’d make sure you get a dentist who’s reached accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. That way you’d be guaranteed to get a sublime smile.

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

Cosmetic Dentist

Can a Cosmetic Dentist Fix Spaces Between My Teeth?

I have some spaces between my teeth that I want fixed, but I don’t want metal braces. Are there cosmetic options?

Fiona L.

Dear Fiona,

A woman with a gorgeous smile created by cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone
A gorgeous smile created by cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone

You have quite a few options to fix the spaces between your teeth. If you want to close the spaces, you have options other than traditional metal braces. Invisalign is a brand of orthodontics which uses invisible aligners to straighten your teeth. They’re very effective, working in less time than traditional braces.

The aligners have the benefit of being able to double as teeth whitening aligners. That way you can whiten your teeth and straighten them at the same time.

Cosmetic Dentistry Options for Closing Teeth

  • Tooth bonding: Depending on the size of the gaps between your teeth, dental bonding is a fantastic, fairly inexpensive option for you.
  • Porcelain veneers: If there are other things you want to change about your teeth, then veneers are your best option. They can change anything—the shape, size, color, and character.

Choosing your Cosmetic Dentist

If you choose the cosmetic option over the orthodontic option, it’s important you choose your cosmetic dentist carefully. You want to make sure the smile you get will be a beautiful one. Not every dentist can pull that off. It takes both technical knowledge as well as an artistic eye. It’s very challenging for patients to know who is capable of that type of advanced cosmetic work.

Because of that, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) started an accreditation program. It’s designed to test dentists on their technical skill and their artistic ability. There are stringent oral and written exams and they have to show a series of cases they’ve done of specific procedures to make sure they create not just technically proficient but gorgeous as well.

If you want a beautiful smile, go to an AACD accredited dentist.

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

Porcelain Veneers

Do I really need to see a cosmetic dentist? What is the difference?

I was recently in an accident that fractured my one of my front teeth and the tooth next to it. They did not break off, but both were very noticeably cracked. I was out of town and had to go to an emergency dentist for a repair, and the bonding is not the right color at all. I had to have a root canal on the front tooth, and the dentist said that too will likely darken over time, and become brittle.

So I need to have some cosmetic work done. Before this accident, my smile was a real source of pride for me. My teeth have always been great, and most of them still are white and straight and beautiful. I’ve consulted my regular dentist, who says that I can get just the damaged teeth done with porcelain crowns. I’ve been reading, and it seems like to make the repair look right, I should get six or even eight crowns or porcelain veneers. I am also reading that I should consult with an accredited cosmetic dentist to do this work. Is that really necessary? I like my regular dentist, and he seems confident in doing the work, but he is not an accredited cosmetic dentist, and does not really advertise much as doing cosmetic work. I don’t want to have him stick a couple of crowns on my front teeth that look out of place. I would rather have them all done, even with the expense, than spend the rest of my life dealing with a mismatched smile.

What do you think? I want my smile back! It is one of my few claims to beauty, and I am willing to invest to get it back again. What should I do?

Thanks for your help,

Tracy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Dear Tracy,

First, consulting with a cosmetic dentist in this case is essential. You sound like you really just want to get your smile back to what it was before the accident, and a really skilled cosmetic dentist should be able to help you do that. The brief statement you made about the reading you have done indicates that you are eager to be educated about this and want to make the best decision. Experience has shown that the most important decision you make for this kind of dental care is in choosing the right dentist.

Nearly all dentists are what we call “technician” dentists. When things break, they are very good at fixing them, but may not be overly concerned with nuances of appearance. You had a beautiful smile, and you want it back again. The key to reclaiming your smile is in finding the right professional to help you do so.

Porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers may be possibly treatments, but it is also possible that a skilled cosmetic dentist could do dental bonding on the cracked tooth that is still viable. A great cosmetic dentist will get you beautiful results while leaving as much of your natural tooth structure intact as possible.