Tag Archives: Lafayette Cosmetic Dentist

Uncategorized

If I Get a CEREC Crown Will It Fall Off?

I have a friend who got a dental crown. The temporary one fell off three times before his permanent one came in, then his permanent one fell off–twice. I’m wondering if it is because he got a regular crown. Would the same thing happen if he had gotten a CEREC crown?

Danny P.

Dear Danny,

In reality, neither crown should fall off. The temporary is more excusable because they’re designed to come off easily. However, the permanent one, when bonded properly should have stayed fixed. A well-made crown could stay affixed without bonding (assuming you don’t eat anything extremely chewy). But when it’s made well and bonded, you’re safe.

It sounds like this dentist isn’t the best when it comes to a proper understanding of either porcelain crowns or bonding. Hopefully, you’re not going to the same dentist.

CEREC crowns are a little safer. They’re milled by computer so are more likely to be cut precisely. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of a temporary crown.

I’m not sure where you’re getting the crown, but if it’s somewhere visible and you plan on doing any cosmetic work, such as teeth whitening, you’ll want to get the whitening done before the crown is designed. You can’t whiten crowns once they’re done. So, the wise thing to do is whiten your teeth and then have your crown made to match the new color.

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

Invisalign

Can I Use My Invisalign Aligner Instead of My Retainer?

I’m finishing up my Invisalign treatment. I was scared I wouldn’t like it but it’s been awesome. Only the friends I told knew I wore the aligners. They were really comfortable. My friends always complained about how their braces hurt, but mine never hurt. I’m supposed to get a retainer, but that’s going to be metal. Can I just wear the last aligner instead of getting the metal prison?

Lisa L.

Dear Lisa,

I”m glad you enjoyed your Invisalign treatment. Most patients love it. I wouldn’t recommend using your aligner in place of a retainer though. It’s not that it will hurt your teeth. And, it will keep your teeth in place, but it isn’t designed for long-term use. Two things are going to happen. First, it’s going to get a little “used” feeling and you’ll want to switch it out. Then, it will also start to wear down.

So you know, you’re no longer relegated to metal tooth prison with retainers anymore. There are more options these days. There are retainers which are clear plastic, like your Invisalign and wrap around your teeth. Others can cover the top of your mouth. They can even customize them to have different colors or designs.

Another option is a lingual retainer. It is metal, but it goes behind your teeth so no one will see them.

The key is to talk to your dentist. Let him or her know why you’re not wanting to wear the retainer. They can make sure you know all your options and help you make a choice you’ll be completely comfortable with.

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

Porcelain Veneers

Why Is My Porcelain Veneer Staining My Tooth?

I don’t know what’s going on with my porcelain veneer. I had a large chip on a tooth on a front tooth. My dentist fixed it with a porcelain veneer a few years ago. For some reason it’s developed a black stain at the top near the gumline. What can I do to fix that? It’s a little embarrassing.

Wesley C.

Dear Wesley,

There are a couple of possibilities going on here. To determine which, we’ll need to be certain what you have is actually a porcelain veneer. A porcelain veneer is just placed on the front of your tooth. Very little is done to the actual tooth with the exception of some mild shaving. It’s possible your dentist placed a dental crown instead. For these, your teeth need to be ground down quite a bit, to a nub. Then a restoration is made that surrounds the entire tooth.

If you have a dental crown, based on what you’ve said your dentist likely gave you a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown (PFM). Though, for the life of me I can’t fathom why any decent cosmetic dentist would place a metal-based crown on a front tooth. The appropriate crown for a front tooth would be an all-porcelain crown. The metal-based crowns eventually develop a gray line at the gumline. You’ve only had your restoration a few years. That seems a little soon for the gray line to develop unless you have gum disease or possibly if you brush too hard.

If you do have a porcelain veneer, this shouldn’t be happening at all. It’s a sign your dentist didn’t bond it correctly. It should sit flush with your tooth. If your dentist doesn’t properly smooth it out they’ll be a ledge which can trap bacteria. Another possibility is the bond is so week things are getting between the veneer and the tooth. Both of these will lead to staining and, eventually, decay.

The solution to either of these is it needs to be replaced. If the problem is a crown, you’ll want to replace it with an all-porcelain crown. If it’s a veneer, your dentist should replace it free of charge. The mistake was his.

You may have to get a second opinion from someone who isn’t your dentist to get an honest answer.

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

Invisalign

Am I Too Old For Invisalign?

I’d like to get my teeth straightened. I’d always wanted to but my husband kept insisting he liked me the way I was. I appreciated the sentiment, but they still bothered me. He passed a couple of years ago. I’ve decided I’m going to do it now. Otherwise I’ll always regret not following a dream. I’ve always heard adults prefer Invisalign. If I’m over 60, am I too old?

Eva – Montana

Eva,

You’re definitely not too old for orthodontics, including Invisalign. You’re right that most adults prefer Invisalign. It’s more comfortable than traditional braces. You don’t have to worry about your oral hygiene. With braces, brushing and flossing is quite the challenge. With Invisalign, you simply remove the aligners then brush and floss as normal.

It’s great that you’re not letting your dreams pass you by. While your husband’s sentiment is sweet and romantic, you may find with a corrected bite you feel better. Sometimes our bite can throw off our hinge joint enough to cause TMJ. It can cause everything from jaw pain and migraines to complete lock jaw.

We’ve also had seniors live out their dreams of a total smile makeover. You’re never too old to do anything!

Make sure you have a dentist you’re comfortable with because you’ll need to change out your aligners every couple of weeks, though most dentists don’t make you check in that often. The point is, you’ll be seeing the dentist a little more than usual.

You won’t have to see an orthodontist, though. Many general dentists are Invisalign certified and will do a fantastic job.

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

Porcelain Veneers

Can I Switch My Metal Crowns with Porcelain Veneers?

I’ve got four metal-based crowns. I’ve never been thrilled with them. They’ve always looked more cloudy than my natural teeth, but it was better than no teeth. Lately, though, there’s been this dark line at my gumline. It’s making it impossible for me to smile without feeling humiliated. I’ve started avoiding going out in public. Last night, I saw an article about porcelain veneers. The pictures were stunning. First, are they really that gorgeous or was that clever photoshopping? Second, can I switch out my metal-based crowns with porcelain veneers?

Millie M. – Indiana

Millie,

No one should be embarrassed to smile. With that said, I don’t want you to feel alone. There are many people (Americans especially) who are unhappy with some aspect of their smile. We want perfection. Cloudy teeth you can maybe get away with. It’s not ideal, but it’s not necessarily distracting or ugly. A gray line at your gumline is both distracting and ugly. I understand your desire to make a switch.

Porcelain veneers really can be that stunning. Whether they are or not depends on the skill of the cosmetic dentist. A skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist can give you a gorgeous smile. Toward that end, I have good news and bad news regarding switching out your crowns with veneers.

First, the bad news. You cannot. It doesn’t matter what type of crown it is. The reason is the structural difference between the two treatments. Porcelain veneers bond to the very front of the teeth. Hardly any tooth structure is removed to place them. Dental crowns, on the other hand, fit over the entirety of your teeth, which requires grinding down a large amount of tooth structure. Because of that, there’s not enough tooth left for the veneers to be bonded to.

Now for the good news. You can still replace these ugly crowns and get a gorgeous smile. Instead of replacing your metal-based crowns with porcelain veneers, you can replace them with all-porcelain crowns. These can be created just as beautifully as porcelain veneers. Unlike their metal-based relations, all-porcelain crowns will not look cloudy. It’s the base that makes which makes that necessary in order to hide the metal. Also, you’ll never have to worry about them developing that unsightly gray line.

The key will be the dentist. The get the best results, look for an AACD accredited dentist. Accreditation is different than membership. You can purchase membership. Accreditation is earned by demonstrating proficiency in both technical skill and artistry.

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

Invisalign

Can I Run My Invisalign Aligners Through the Dishwasher?

I’m a germaphobe. I hate the idea of putting my aligners in my mouth with bacteria in them. All that spit that got on them (and yes I know it’s my spit) gives me the heebee-geebees. I was thinking of running them through the dishwasher as a means of disinfecting them. I do that for all my dishes and silverware. The heat gets rid of the bacteria.

Kate – San Antonio

Kate,

I understand how you feel. I’m a salmonella-phobe. You should see all the precautions I take when I’m cooking chicken. However, using the dishwasher to disinfect your Invisalign aligners is a bad idea. The heat, which admittedly does disinfect, will also distort the aligners. That can derail your treatment.

Your dentist should have given you instructions on how to properly clean your Invisalign. Additionally, the Invisalign company makes a special kit you can order. If you are still concerned, you can do a vinegar soak. Vinegar is a natural and potent disinfectant. However, I would only let them soak for 30 minutes about once a week. Don’t forget to rinse them after the soak or you’ll have a nasty taste.

You may also consider asking your dentist if you can get your teeth whitened simultaneously with your Invisalign treatment. The aligners can double for teeth whitening aligners as well. Peroxide (used in whitening gels) is also a disinfectant. This way you can feel better about killing bacteria, while doing something proactive about your smile at a reduced cost. I’m all for multi-tasking (and saving money).

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

Cosmetic Dentist

Can I Improve My Smile Without Tons of Money?

I’ve wanted to improve my smile for a long time, but just don’t have that much money. I’ve heard porcelain veneers are the way to go, but when I looked into them they were way too expensive. Is there a less expensive way to makeover your smile?

Amanda S. – Topeka

Amanda,

It’s a tough economy right now, especially where we are in Louisiana, so I understand wanting to save money. It’s tough when you have a desire to improve something, but don’t feel you have the requisite funds. I have some good news for you though. There are cosmetic procedures you can do that will improve your smile without porcelain veneers.

One of the least expensive cosmetic procedures is teeth whitening. That simple procedure takes years off your appearance. If you can swing in-office whitening, it’s faster. Your teeth will be dramatically whiter in one appointment. However, your dentist can custom design trays for you to do professional strength whitening at home. That costs a little less. It will take a little longer, depending on the level of whitening you desire, but it can get them as white as the in-office option.

If you have chips or gaps in your teeth, dental bonding can repair them, and is significantly cheaper than veneers. Just be aware that while veneers can last a couple of decades when well cared for, dental bonding will only really last a few years.

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

Uncategorized

Are CEREC Crowns Worth Switching Dentists?

I need to get a dental crown. My sister told me to make sure and get a CEREC crown, but my dentist said he doesn’t do those. My sister seemed to think it was really important. Is it worth switching dentists to get one?

Amelia L. – Ft. Worth, TX

Amelia,

The only real benefit to CEREC crowns is they can be done in one appointment.  While it is convenient, I wouldn’t necessarily think it’s worth switching dentists.

The reason it can be done in one appointment is that it is milled on site from a single block of porcelain.

The bigger issue would be where the crown is being placed. If it is a front tooth, you’ll want to be certain your dentist is experienced and artistic with cosmetic issues. You want to make sure that he can make the crown look both beautiful and natural.

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

Invisalign

Warped My Invisalign Aligners

I took out my Invisalign aligners in order to brush my teeth. I didn’t realize that I’d laid them down where they were touching my curling iron. Now part of them is melted and warped. What do I do?

Nesibe A. – Houston, TX

Nesibe,

Accidents happen and your dentist has seen every kind of accident imaginable. Don’t wear the warped Invisalign aligners. It will set back your treatment. Instead, call your dentist. He’ll make new aligners for you.

If you’re toward the beginning of this particular two-week block, he’ll just start that block over, making the exact same aligners. If, however, you’re closer to the end of your two-week block, then your dentist will likely just move you on to the next set.

It’s safe to do that once or twice, but you wouldn’t want to do it too often. It won’t be great for the roots of your teeth. Generally, your teeth need the full two weeks to give the roots time to stabilize and bone to re-form over the new position.

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

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.