Tag Archives: dental fillings

Invisalign

Doubling Invisalign Trays for Teeth Whitening

I’m getting Invisalign which I’m very excited about. My dentist also offers teeth whitening. It appears that the trays for teeth whitening and the trays for Invisalign are quite similar. I noticed that I can buy the gel online. This will allow me to get both procedures done for so much less. Could I use the aligners as whitening trays?

Miranda D.

Dear Miranda,

A woman placing in her Invisalign aligners

I’ll start by telling you that, yes, your Invisalign aligners can double as whitening trays. The caveat being, you need to make sure you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. I would not recommend just purchasing whitening gel online to use in the aligners, especially if this is your first time whitening your teeth.

You’ll want to be under the observational care of your dentist during your first whitening because there are complications that could arise which you won’t know the warning signs for. He (or she) can spot them and take helpful steps before any complications become more serious.

Secondly, you have no way of knowing whether the gel you’re purchasing is reputable or even equally strong as the gel your dentist can provide. Even worse, it could be material that will damage your teeth.

Teeth Whitening Only Works on Natural Teeth

If you have dental work, such as fillings or dental crowns, they will not whiten with the whitening gel. Instead, your teeth will whiten and the dental work will remain the same color. So, if they’re visible when you smile, you’ll want to replace them when the procedure is done. The same goes for dental bonding.

You will likely find that once your Invisalign and Whitening are done, you will have a stunning smile. You’ll gain confidence and smile more. In turn, you’ll appear more positive and successful to others, which will bring you opportunities previously hidden.

Also, keep your final pair of aligners. Keep them clean and stored carefully, then once a year or so, you can ask your dentist for another tube of whitening gel for a touch-up. Many dentists are willing to provide that if you keep up regularly with your cleanings and check-ups.

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

Uncategorized

Can CEREC Crowns Handle Night Grinding?

My dentist recently purchased a CEREC machine he’s very excited about. I have a cavity that he feels is too large for a filling. He wants to me have a crown done using the machine. I just wanted to get a second opinion as to how they hold up as well as normal crowns. My dentist said I grind my teeth at night. I’m assuming he would only give me a crown that would hold up against that, but just wanted to double check.

Lizza

Dear Lizza,

Machine for CEREC Crowns

This is one of those yes and no answers. CEREC crowns are every bit as strong as traditional crowns. The biggest difference is they’re able to milled at the time of your appointment, eliminating the need for either a temporary crown or a second appointment.

However, I’m truly concerned about your grinding. When your dentist mentioned to you your teeth showed evidence of nighttime grinding, did he suggest anything to you, such as a nightguard? Your teeth need protecting. The stress of grinding will not only wear down the enamel of your teeth down, but can also lead to your teeth cracking and breaking.

When your enamel wears down it leaves you vulnerable to decay. With decay, you’ll be looking at a mouth full of fillings. Even worse, would be the possibility of losing a tooth. Then you’re looking at getting a tooth replacement, such as dental implants or a dental bridge.

While your choice of crown is fine, just like your natural teeth, it won’t stand up under grinding without you having some type of nightguard to protect both your natural teeth and your crowns.

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