Tag Archives: Dental Bonding

Cosmetic Dentist

Can I Close My Tooth Gap Without Invisalign?

I wanted to close a tooth gap. I wanted to do it with cosmetic dentistry, but my dentist wants to do orthodontics. Isn’t there a cosmetic way to do it?

Amanda L. – Idaho

Amanda,

Yes, there are a couple of cosmetic options to close a tooth gap without orthodontics. Two cosmetic options are dental bonding and porcelain veneers.

Dental bonding is the most logical if all you want to do is close the gap.  A cosmetic dentist will use a composite resin to fill in the tooth gap.

Porcelain veneers are a bit of an overtreatment for simply closing a tooth gap. But, if you had several changes you wanted to change about your smile, such as the shape, size, and color it would make more sense.

However, let me give you a small word of caution. If your dentist didn’t suggest either of those, it’s likely because he’s not confident in cosmetic procedures. You’ll want to find a skilled cosmetic dentist.

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.

Cosmetic Dentist

Can veneers fix a tooth gap?

I have a gap between my two front teeth that has always bothered me. Can I get porcelain veneers to fix it?

Lori Ann W. – Wyoming

Lori Ann,

While you can get porcelain veneers to fix it, that is a pricey way to go…unless, there were other things you wanted to fix about your smile. Porcelain veneers can fix the shape, size, and color of your teeth.  If you’re interested in a smile makeover, then porcelain veneers are an excellent choice and can give you a stunning smile.  Though, it will be imortant to go to a highly skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist.

If you just want to fix the tooth gap, my suggestion would be to use dental bonding. It’s a much more affordable treatment and will look just like your natural teeth.

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

Lafayette LA Dentist

How will dental bonding fix my gap?

I have a tooth gap that is a little over 1/2 a centimeter. My dentist said he can fix it with dental bonding. How will that fix it? Wouldn’t that make my teeth really wide? Will that look attractive and I just can’t picture it?

Rhianna L. – Newark, NJ

Rhianna,

Over 1/2 a centimeter is quite a large gap. In fact, you can fit a small tooth in that size space. Unless your teeth are unnaturally narrow, I don’t think adding in that much structure will make your teeth look normal.

Tooth bonding (or dental bonding) is generally a good way to close a tooth gap, but it has to be a small gap.  I’m not sure your dentist is the one to do it. You seem to have more of a sense of aesthetics than he or she does. That isn’t a good sign.

You don’t want your basic family dentist to do serious cosmetic procedures. These take additional post-graduate training. You also want someone who has an artistic eye. If you’re serious about closing your gap, I’d look into Invisalign. It will actually close the gap and almost any dentist can perform this.

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

Invisalign

Treating a huge tooth gap

If I have a large tooth gap. i measured it and it looks like it is a little over half a centimeter. if I wanted to treat that would it be better to do lumineers, dental  bonding, or something else?

Eric S.- Philadelphia

Eric,

Which treatment you use will depend in part about how you feel about your teeth in general. Are you happy with the shape and color of your teeth, but just want to fix the gap? Do you want to fix your gap and whiten? Or do you not like anything about your teeth and want a complete smile makeover? The only thing you mentioned that I would definitively say no to is the dental bonding. It is just too large a gap for that to be an attractive solution.

If you’re happy with your teeth and just want to fix the gap, then I would recommend Invisalign. These will straighten your teeth in less than half the time of traditional braces. The best part is the aligners are invisible. Even at a conversational distance people will not be able to tell you are wearing them.  It is also possible to do teeth whitening at the same time.

However, if there are other things, such as the size and shape of your teeth, that you want to change, then you might want to consider porcelain veneers. I know you mentioned Lumineers. I don’t know if you are aware that they are just a brand of porcelain veneers. Most expert cosmetic dentists are not happy with the quality of their product. Let me give you a word of caution. A gap the size you mentioned is large enough to fit another tooth into. Because of this, if you choose any type of porcelain veneers you had really better make sure you are going to an expert cosmetic dentist. I wouldn’t go to anyone who wasn’t accredited (which is different from just a member) by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Only about the top 1% of dentists reach the level of accreditation. They’ll be able to handle a complicated case like yours.

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

Uncategorized

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.

Uncategorized

Broken front tooth

My daughter fell and broke off part of her front tooth. She is really embarrassed and I want to get if fixed right away, but my dentist said he can’t see her for six weeks. He told me the root of the tooth needs time to heal, so it is better to wait. Is there anything I can do to make her feel less conspicuous?

Jeanine- San Francisco

Jeanine,

There really isn’t any reason for you to wait to have her treated.  If you have the piece of the tooth the broke off then the dentist can re-attach it. If you don’t have the piece, they can fix it with dental bonding until she is old enough for a permanent porcelain crown.

Be careful not to price shop these procedures. I cannot stress enough how important it is to see an expert cosmetic dentist. You want your daughter to be comfortable with her appearance. Someone who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) will be able to create a beautiful bonding for your daughter. Be aware that being a member of the AACD and being accredited by them are two very different things. Any dentist can join the AACD, but to become accredited you have to pass a stringent examination and demonstrate your artistic ability.

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

Uncategorized

Can I whiten my teeth if I have dental bonding?

I have my two front teeth bonded. Can I use a teeth whitener like crest white strips?

Thanks, Carlie

Dear Carlie,

Dental bonding will not bleach at all. In regards to crest white strips it will lighten your teeth somewhat however it is just temporary and your teeth will go back to their natural color within several months. We recommend that if you want to have a more permanent color change in your teeth to have them professionally bleached at your dental office either with the take home bleach trays or with in office ZOOM Whitening. After you have your teeth bleached you can have your dental bonding replaced to match your new tooth color, however dental bonding gets darker over time. Your best option would be to either have porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns which won’t change color and look very natural next to your normal teeth. This is considered a cosmetic procedure and most dental plans do not pay for cosmetics however if your dental bonding is wearing away and very little tooth structure is left you can have your dentist send a preauthorization to your dental insurance to see if they will cover the cosmetic procedure.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

Porcelain Veneers

Filling or Veneers to close a gap in teeth?

I’m going soon to the dentist to get fillings in to close two gaps in my front teeth. Fillings are obviously the much cheaper option, but would they be as strong and effective as veneers? Would they last as long? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jeff

Dear Jeff,

Using composite filling material to close the spaces between your teeth may work, however aesthetically may not look as nice and natural as dental veneers will. Composite fillings will discolor overtime and the attempt to close the spaces will become noticeable therefore you may find yourself replacing the fillings several times throughout your life. Having this type of dental treatment completed to close your spaces may make your teeth look bulkier and not as uniform. Dental veneers are made of porcelain and are much stronger then composite filling material, therefore can last for years without discoloring or chipping away. We recommend you have a consultation with a dentist that has a lot of training in cosmetic dentistry. Discuss your concerns and if you prefer to have the dental veneers and our concerned about the cost, ask if they will work with you on some type of payment plan.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

 

Uncategorized

Do your gums grow back after quitting chewing tobacco?

I chewed tobacco for about 10 years and recently quit. I noticed that my gums had receded quite a bit. Will they grow back?

Thanks, Steve

Dear Steve,

It’s great that you were able to quit such an addicting habit that affects the entire mouth as well as your general health. Studies have shown that 10% to 30% of regular chew tobacco users have gum recession and develop some bone loss around the teeth. Besides gum recession other risk factors for tobacco use are sores in the mouth, oral cancer, tooth decay and sensitivity.

Unfortunately our gums do not grow back. Gum recession is usually permanent and difficult to repair. Stopping your tobacco use will prevent further gum recession; however you also have to make sure you have good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing daily as well as visiting your dentist every six months for your dental cleanings.

We advise you to address your gum recession concerns with your dentist who may recommend surgery of a more cosmetic or restorative nature to make your smile look more aesthetically pleasing.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist