Tag Archives: Lafayette LA porcelain veneers

Porcelain Veneers

What If I Can’t Get Porcelain Veneers?

I’m disappointed with my smile, but my dentist said I can’t get porcelain veneers because I grind my teeth. Is there anything else I can do to improve my smile? I have a gap between my teeth and they are quite discolored.

Mandy

Dear Mandy,

A single porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I think your dentist may be a little confused. If the only issue is that you grind your teeth, there is a way for you to get porcelain veneers. It’s possible that he’s not comfortable doing smile makeovers and rather than admit that he’s trying to discourage you from moving forward with that. Don’t pressure him. You will not be happy with the results.

Here’s what I’d recommend. The first thing I want you to do is to get a second opinion. But, make sure you do it with a dentist who’s accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country.

In all honesty, in order to get the gorgeous smile you’re hoping for that’s the type of dentist you’d want to do your veneers anyway.

If Porcelain Veneers Aren’t an Option

There are some cases, where other work has to be done before you can get porcelain veneers, such as when you have gum disease. In other cases, they’re good candidates, but this type of makeover is just over their budget. That doesn’t mean you can’t get an upgraded smile. Here are some great, affordable options:

  • Teeth Whitening: This is the most affordable way to brighten your smile dramatically. It will make you look years younger.
  • Invisalign: This is a great option to straighten your teeth without anyone knowing your wearing orthodontics. Plus, it works in half the time of traditional orthodontics.
  • Dental Bonding: This can repair chips and gaps on teeth.

As you can see there are many ways to upgrade a smile. However, no matter what you do, you’ll want to protect your teeth, especially after investing money in improving it. If your dentist hasn’t suggested a night guard to you, knowing that you’re grinding your teeth, then it may be time to get another dentist.

This is a simple orthotic device you’d wear over your teeth and it will take the pressure off of your teeth when you grind them. Without this, your natural teeth will eventually be worn down to nubs, requiring you to get each tooth crowned.

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

Porcelain Veneers

My Sister’s Porcelain Veneers Disaster

My sister and I are in constant competition with one another, even when I don’t want to be. I told her I was planning on getting a smile makeover next year. I’m guessing she felt she needed to beat me to it because three months later she called to tell me she just had Lumineers done and has a gorgeous new smile. At first, I was mad. She’s always “one-upping” me. However, after I saw her new smile, I was relieved. She likes it (or at least says she does). But, I think it looks awful. Her teeth are bulky. To me, they look like horse teeth. They’re also chalky looking. I was hoping for something more natural looking, though I do want them to be very white. How can I avoid a fake looking smile? I’ve seen the pictures of smile makeovers and, in photos, they look gorgeous. What went wrong with my sisters?

Lacey

Dear Lacey,

A single porcelain veneer being held up by a dental tool

Having a copy-cat sister is going to turn out to be a true blessing for you. The most important decision to make when it comes to getting a total smile makeover is the dentist you choose to create your new smile. Cosmetic dentistry is an art. Just like two different sculptors have different levels of artistry and skill, the same is true for dentists.

Choosing the wrong dentist is what went wrong with your sister’s porcelain veneers. My first clue to that is you said he gave her Lumineers. Those are a particular brand of porcelain veneers that are highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place.

Many expert cosmetic dentists feel the brand is sub-par. The reason for that has more to do with the fact that the DenMat Company, who owns Lumineers, insists dentists use the company’s lab. They’re not known for following the dentist’s directions in a way which creates beautiful results. That’s likely where the chalky look came from.

As for the bulkiness, that’s also a common complaint with that particular brand. They’re advertised as being easy to place because they’re ultra-thin and the teeth don’t have to be prepped as a result. That’s why they’re considered “easy” to place. The problem with that is with some smiles, regardless of how thin the veneers are, without the teeth being prepped you end up with bulky looking teeth.

Finding the Right Dentist to Place Your Porcelain Veneers

If you want a stunning smile, one that will make your sister think twice about rushing into something just to beat you to the punch, then you one a top-of-the-line cosmetic dentist. If possible go to a dentist who has attained accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. These are the best cosmetic dentists in the world. They’re so good

If you can’t find an AACD accredited dentist in a near enough distance for you to reasonably travel, don’t panic. There are many other skilled cosmetic dentists, many of whom are on their way to accreditation which takes many years.

You can look at the mynewsmile.com website to find these dentists. They don’t recommend anyone who cannot create a stunning smile. You’ll be safe with anyone on their list. All you have to do is input your zip code and how far you’re willing to travel for your smile makeover.

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

Cosmetic Dentist

Solutions for Tetracycline Stains

My twin sister and I both have tetracycline stains from some medicine we took when we were young. She decided to get something done about them. I kind of wanted to wait until I saw how hers turned out. She went to her family dentist. He crowned all her upper teeth and whitened the bottom teeth. He told her the bottom teeth wouldn’t look exactly like the top because tetracycline stains are hard to whiten. We were prepared for that. The crowns took him a couple of tries before he got something my sister was happy with. Though she likes them, I’m not too thrilled with them. To me, they’re so opaque they look like the porcelain you’d find in a bathtub. Is there a way to get it more natural looking? Yes, I know it’s still better than my teeth, but I’m wondering if a different dentist could have done a better job.

Morgan L.

Dear Morgan,

Porcelain Veneer being placed on a tooth
It takes an expert cosmetic dentist to treat tetracycline stains beautifully.

It takes an expert cosmetic dentist to create a beautiful solution for tetracycline stains. Most cosmetic dentists don’t have the technical skill and artistry necessary. It is among the most challenging of cosmetic cases. Because the tetracycline stains show through tooth structure, both natural and manmade, most cosmetic dentists go too far the other way, as your sister’s dentist did. They make them so opaque to cover the brown of the stains, their teeth end up looking like bathroom porcelain.

That doesn’t mean your case will have to turn out that way. In fact, I’m sad to say, those dentists who are highly skilled in their field spend a great deal of their time fixing subpar cosmetic procedures other dentists have done. We’ve had patients come to us from other offices in tears begging Dr. Malone to fix their smile.

I’m curious as to why your sister’s dentist used crowns on all her teeth. Did she have issues on them which required crowns? I don’t understand why he’d remove so much tooth structure if her teeth were otherwise healthy. Generally, I’d use porcelain veneers to cover tetracycline stains. This only requires mild shaving on the front of the tooth.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

Even if there were a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, every dentist’s skill level and artistic eye vary. How in the world is a patient to know if one cosmetic dentist is better than another? Would you even know what to ask if you had an opportunity to interview the dentist ahead of time? Of course not!

This is exactly why the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) formed. They wanted patients to have a resource where they could find expert cosmetic dentists. Any cosmetic dentist can join as a member, however, they have an accreditation program.

If a dentist is AACD accredited, they’re in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country. They’ve passed stringent exams, both oral and physical. They’ve also had to demonstrate their artistic ability by giving examples of a large number of specific cases they’ve personally performed.

I’d go to their website and look up which AACD accredited dentists are near to your area. It’s worth it to travel just a little if you need to.

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

Porcelain Veneers

Can bulimics get smile makeovers?

I’m bulimic. I’m getting a little better about it, but to be honest, I still purge sometimes. My teeth are in bad shape. I was wondering if it’s possible for me to get a smile makeover with porcelain veneers or if I damaged my teeth too much?

Olivia B. – Minnesotta

Olivia,

Congratulations on working on your bulimia. I know it is a hard road. Because Dr. Malone has worked with pageant contestants, he understands the difficulty of your situation.

One thing to  be aware of is that while you’re still struggling with your eating disorder, it will continue to damage your teeth, even teeth that are cosmetically restored.

Depending on the condition of your teeth, it can still be possible to get porcelain veneers. Go see a great cosmetic dentist. Look for someone who is AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) accredited.  You will get a much more attractive smile that way.

Good luck with your treatment.

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

Porcelain Veneers

My Lumineers make me look like a beaver!

I just spent and embarrassing amount of money on lumineers.  I was so excited to get a new smile, but when he put it one I was horribly disappointed.  They’re so bulky that I feel like a beaver.  IS there anything I can do to trim them down?

Rose T.  – Georgia

Rose,

I’m very sorry for the experience you’re having with your smile makeover.  Believe me, I’ve heard similar stories a thousand times.  It appears that you’ve had an inexperienced dentist to your porcelain veneers. Lumineers are simply one brand of porcelain veneers. They often appeal to inexperienced cosmetic dentists, because they are marketed as being very easy to place.

However, to do a smile makeover well, it requires a lot of post graduate training in cosmetic techniques.  It takes more than just technical skill though.  You need a dentist who has an artistic eye…..otherwise you end up looking like a beaver (or worse!).

Unfortunately, once porcelain veneers are bonded on there is nothing you can do to change them.  You’ll have to have an entire new set done.  It’s possible you can get at least a partial refund.  I’d start by asking your dentist.   IF he says no, you can get a second opinion by a highly skilled cosmetic dentist on your veneers.  He could add some pressure to your dentist.

Look for someone who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.  They’re the top cosmetic dentists in the world. You can be confident that you’ll get a smile that is stunning.

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

Porcelain Veneers

Why are my veneers turning yellow?

I’ve only had my porcelain veneers for almost two months and they seem to be turning yellow. It’s quite disappointing, because I spent extra money to get my teeth whitened before I got my porcelain veneers. Now, my natural teeth are whiter than the teeth I had madeover. Is there some way to fix this?

Sienna P. – Maryland

Sienna,

I’m a little suspicous. If you’ve only had them for a little over a month, then they would retain their color for many years. If they’re turning yellow it means one of three things.

1. It’s possible they didn’t give you real porcelain veneers. but rather a cheaper resin material. If you thought they were giving your porcelain veneers and paid that price, it would be very dishonest and unethical for them to give you anything else.  You may consider going to another dentist and just asking what type of veneer have been placed.

2. The lab neglected to put the glaze on the veneers. While it is possible for this to happen it is certainly not common. However, it would explain why your veneers are picking up stains so quickly.

3. Something removed the glaze from the veneers. This can happen if your dental hygienist doesn’t understand how cosmetic dentistry works, they could have used something like a prophy jet on your veneers. That would have removed the glaze.

Whichever of these it is, you’ll need a second opinion from a dentist to help you figure out the actual cause and give you some options.

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

 

Porcelain Veneers

A refund on porcelain veneers

I got porcelain veneers. I’m a little disappointed in them and am wondering if I can get a refund on them. The color is darker than I expected and one of them is cracked. I didn’t do anything that should have cracked them.

Elaina P. – New Mexico

Elaina,

It’s possible you can get a refund on the cracked veneer. It’s unlikely you’ll get a refund on the intact veneers. The fact that you didn’t like the veneers tells me your dentist didn’t give you a proper try-in.

You may not want to hear this, but I think it is likely your dentist isn’t very artistic. The only way you’ll get a gorgeous smile is to go to a different more experienced dentist to do your porcelain veneers.

I’d go to the mynewsmile.com website and see who they recommend for New Mexico in your area. It will be worth it even if you have to drive to another city.

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

Porcelain Veneers

A Tale of Two Dentist

IT was the best of makeovers, it was the worst of makeovers.  My dearest friend and I got our smiles redone. We live in different cities and so we use different dentists. However, we get together twic a year for two weeks each time. I was quite looking forward to our next meeting, becuase we’d get to show off our smiles to one another. I loved my new smile and ahave been enjoying flashing it around quite a bit. We were going to hit the town with our hot pearly whites. You can imagine my dismay when my friend’s smile ended up looking quite eratz. She could tell by my face I was unimpressed was hers. Plus, mine was so much more brilliant in its color scheme and looked much more natural.  Does she have options?

Cyrienne L. – St. Louis

Cyrienne,

I’m sorry for your friend’s experience. Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon one. There is a lot more to cosmetic dentistry than just learning how to bond on porcelain veneers. Not only is the technical training important, there is a significant amount of artistic training that is necessary too. Some of that can’t be taught. Everyone is different in their level of artistry and what kind of eye they have for aesthetics.

Your dentist obviously had the training and artistry. Your friend’s, unfortunately, appears not to have.  It’s quite difficult to get a refund on cosmetic work. That “ethical” standard is they have to be functionable. Well, you can be functionable and horribly ugly.  My suggestion is you have your friend get a second opinion regarding her porcelain veneers, preferably from someone who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

Sometimes dentists will be more willing to give a refund if their professional reputation is on the line with another successful dentist in their area.

This is important. If she gets her refund and she decides to have a new smile makeover, it is imperative she chooses the right dentist this time.  Ideally, you’ll want AACD accreditation–even if you have to drive to another city for the work to be done well. Let me know if you have trouble finding one in your area and I’ll help.

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

Porcelain Veneers

Don’t want to wait on veneers

I have been dying to get my porcelain veneers done, but my dentist wants me to get my teeth whitening done first. He thinks they won’t match my teeth otherwise.  Shouldn’t he know what they’ll look like white so I can at least get started on my veneers? I’m really anxious to get this smile makeover going.

Aamod- San Francisco, CA

Aamod,

I can tell you’re excited about getting a smile makever. It’s understandable that you’re ready to get the ball rolling. However, with as much money as you’ll have invested in it, as well as your emotional investment, you’ll want it to be the best smile possible.

In this case, you really want to make sure you’ve completed your teeth whitening in order to do the best possible porcelain veneers.  There is no way for your dentist to predict the exact shade of whitening   that your teeth will end up.  However, once your whitening is done, your dentist wil be able to match your porcelain veneers to the new shade.

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