Tag Archives: Porcelain Veneers

Sedation Dentist

Sensitive to Novocain

I have a high sensitivity to Novocain and any type of numbing medication, but want to get porcelain veneers. A friend of mine with a similar condition said that when they put the numbing medication on her she became very shaky and had a hard time calming down. I don’t want that to happen to me so was wondering if there was a way around this.

Callie

Dear Callie,

a porcelain veneer being held up to a tooth

I think you are going to be okay to get the porcelain veneers. Your friend’s reaction is unlikely to be from the Novocain. There’s a very slight possibility that it would be in the epinephrine that is often present in Novocain, but I find that unlikely. The reason for that is the amount of epinephrin in Novocain would be significantly less than what is present in your body when you become fearful.

It is more likely that your friend has dental anxiety which made her shaky. If you have dental anxiety as well, then I would recommend you have your cosmetic dentist provide you with nitrous oxide. Don’t let a dentist talk you into a stronger sedation for your porcelain veneers procedure. It is not a painful procedure at all. This will relax you enough that you won’t have anxiety.

With nitrous, your dentist can switch it back to oxygen and you will be back to normal in just a couple of minutes and can approve or disapprove your smile makeover. If you use anything stronger, then you will be way too groggy to approve anything. You could end up with a smile you hate.

You also want to make sure whoever is doing your smile makeover has extensive post doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. It would be ideal if they were AACD accredited. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country and will give you a stunning smile makeover. At the very least, make sure that they have a beautiful smile guarantee which allows you to approve the smile. If you don’t love it, then they should be willing to go back to the lab and make any changes you want.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Invisalign

Do I Really Need Three Procedures for a Smile Makeover?

I hope to get a smile makeover. I thought it would just mean porcelain veneers. I have stained teeth and my two front teeth are a bit crooked. However, my dentist is suggesting that I get three procedures. First, Invisalign to straighten the crooked teeth, then, teeth whitening. Finally Lumineers, which he said are better because they do not need any tooth prep. Is all of this really necessary? I thought veneers could make teeth look straight.

Penelope

Dear Penelope,

Invisalign aligner

I am really glad you wrote. I’m concerned about the advice you are getting. While it is true that porcelain veneers can make teeth look straight, it actually takes an advanced cosmetic dentist to make it look right. I don’t think your dentist qualifies. He is suggesting Lumineers. This is a brand of porcelain veneers that is heavily marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists.

While a few smiles do okay without any tooth prep, most of them require some. Otherwise, the teeth will look bulky. I think this is why he is suggesting Invisalign. He doesn’t know how to make your teeth look right without the orthodontics.

This teeth whitening is okay and will actually save you money. Unless you want to get a porcelain veneer on every tooth, which would cost a fortune, you can get your teeth whitening first and then have porcelain veneers placed on the teeth that are visible when you smile. Because of the teeth whitening, the remainder of the teeth will will blend in.

However, I want to suggest something. You only mentioned that you had discolored and crooked teeth. You didn’t say anything about wanting to change the shape and size of your teeth. In that case, you can save a LOT of money by just having Invisalign and teeth whitening done. That will take care of both of those issues for you. In fact, Invisalign can double as teeth whitening trays. All your dentist has to do is provide you with professional strength teeth whitening gel to wear inside your aligners.

This means you can straighten and whiten your teeth at a fraction of the cost.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesh.

Sedation Dentist

Can I Use Sedation for a Smile Makeover?

I want to get a smile makeover but I am a nervous dental patient. Would I be better off getting dental sedation so they can just knock me out, do the work, and I wake up with a beautiful smile?

Candy

Candy,

Woman resting in dental chair from dental sedation

I am sorry for your dental anxiety. I want you to know that you are not alone in feeling this way. Hopefully, you go to a dentist who is understanding about your fears. It can be very helpful to go to a dentist who is compassionate with patients who are anxious.

While I am a big proponent of using dental sedation, the one concern I have about using it for your smile makeover is that, depending on the type of sedation you use, you won’t get to approve the smile before it is bonded on permanently.

If you are getting porcelain veneers, very little shaving needs to be done on your teeth. The dentist will give you something like Novocain, which will make you completely numb. If that still scares you, then you could have some nitrous oxide. Unlike oral conscious sedation, which will make you too sleepy/loopy to make an informed decision in approving the porcelain veneers, your dentist can switch the nitrous to oxygen once the porcelain veneers have been placed with a temporary try-in paste. This will enable you to be lucid enough to decide if they are to your satisfaction and ready to permanently bond on.

Never allow a cosmetic dentist to bond on your veneers without your getting to see them and approve them. If you don’t absolutely love how they look, the dentist should make the changes needed.

Unfortunately, smile makeovers are not adequately taught in dental school. In order to develop the technical skill and artistry necessary to create beautiful smiles, they will need post-doctoral training. I would look for a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the best cosmetic dentists in the world. You can feel confident that they will give you a stunning smile.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Invisalign

Fixing Misaligned Teeth Without Braces

I have some misaligned teeth, especially in the front. They’re not horrible, they’re just not in the right place. My dentist wants me to do a full set of braces. I’m not too keen on that idea. I’m 42 and have a professional job. Is there another option? I asked about Invisalign, but he said that the Invisalign treatment was not meant for misaligned teeth. What are they for then? If that won’t work, what will that isn’t braces?

Frank

Dear Frank,

Invisalign aligner

I am glad you wrote. I am not sure why your dentist said that Invisalign would not work for misalignment. That is exactly what the procedure is for. My guess is that he doesn’t offer the procedure and he is leading you to braces so you don’t switch to a dentist who has a broader service offering.

You mentioned that your teeth were not that bad, just a bit out of alignment. If that is the case, then you have a couple of options. The first is Invisalign. It will straighten your teeth. If you want to whiten them too, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. Both of these are simple procedures that pretty much any dentist who offers them can do for you.

However, if there are other things you would like to improve about your smile, you also have the option of getting a complete smile makeover. It will not actually straighten your teeth, but when done by an expert cosmetic dentist, it will make your smile look straight. Using porcelain veneers, you can change anything about your smile, including the shape, size, and color of your teeth all at the same time. This is the procedure that Hollywood celebrities go to in order to get their gorgeous smiles.

Unlike the first option, you will need to go to a dentist with serious cosmetic dentistry training to do your smile makeover. The best cosmetic dentists are accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). If you want to go with the complete smile makeover, look for a practice that has an expert cosmetic dentist. For instance, at Camellia Dental Dr. Mike Malone does our cosmetic cases.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Zoom Whitening

Zoom Whitening for Tetracycline Stains

I talked to my dentist about solutions for my tetracycline stains. I cannot afford porcelain veneers and told him that. His suggestion is that I use Zoom Whitening because it is very strong. Before I get my hopes up about this solution, I wanted to get a second opinion. Do you think this is a viable solution for my smile?

Kelli

Dear Kelli,

Zoom Whitening Logo

I appreciate that your dentist is trying to find a solution for you that does not include porcelain veneers. He was sort of on the right track. If you are persistent enough, and I mean really persistent, then teeth whitening can greatly improve the look of your smile, even with tetracycline stains. It will not look as beautiful as porcelain veneers would when done by and expert cosmetic dentist, but it can make a big difference. The downside is that it will take many months.

Because of the amount of whitening necessary to make a real impact, I don’t think Zoom Whitening is your best option. It is more expensive than tray whitening and you will need so many treatments that it will not be cost effective.

My suggestion is that you have at-home tray whitening done. Your dentist will make you custom-fitted trays for your teeth and then can provide you with whitening gel that you will wear at your convenience. The longer you can wear them each day, the faster your teeth will whiten. It is much more affordable for you to keep purchasing new gel to put in the bleaching trays, than it will be to do additional Zoom treatments.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Invisalign

Do I Need Porcelain Veneers, Teeth Whitening AND Invisalign?

I am a bit confused. I thought that porcelain veneers could make teeth look straight and white. When I went to see my dentist about getting a smile makeover with porcelain veneers, he said I would need to get my teeth whitened first, next Invisalign, THEN I can get porcelain veneers. I really don’t understand why three procedures. The only thing crooked on my teeth is a slight overlap of my front teeth. I truly thought the porcelain veneers would take care of that. Do I need all three procedures?

Samantha

Dear Samantha,

Invisalign aligner

No, you should not need all three procedures. Two makes sense. The third does not. Which two you get will depend on your goals. If you are wanting your teeth to simply be whiter and straighter, then you would save a LOT of money by having teeth whitening and Invisalign. In fact, you could do both of these procedures at the same time. This is because the Invisalign aligners can double as teeth whitening trays.

If, however, you were wanting to change the shape or size of your teeth, then your best option is to get teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. You may be wondering why both? Most people’s smile is eight to ten teeth wide. If you cannot get that many porcelain veneers, you will want to whiten your teeth before getting the porcelain veneers so that the teeth can blend together more naturally. Most people do not place veneers on their bottom teeth unless they feel the need to change their appearance. In most cases, the will just whiten the bottom arch. You will not need the Invisalign in this case because a skilled cosmetic dentist can make those front teeth look perfectly straight.

So why is your dentist suggesting all three? The most logical reason is that he or she is not skilled enough to make the teeth look straight. If you want porcelain veneers, you will want to have an expert cosmetic dentist to do the procedure. If you decide to do Invisalign and teeth whitening, just about any dentist who does Invisalign can do both procedures.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Emergency Dentist

Discolored Porcelain Veneer

My daughter is in college and still has several weeks before she gets out for the summer. A couple of years ago she had eight porcelain veneers placed on her upper teeth. Last summer she chipped one in a biking accident. Our dentist decided the solution was to shorten the tooth to even out the chip. That also meant shortening the tooth next to it so they’d match. This was not ideal and changed the character of her smile. A few months later, the tooth began to turn dark. We brought her in over the Christmas break but the dentist insists we’re being too picky and he doesn’t see anything wrong with it. When I pushed back against that a little, he told me that he is the cosmetic specialist and knows color better than I do. I mean, sure, he’s the dentist, but I did learn how to match colors in kindergarten and this tooth looks different. There is  now a weird blue/green tint to the tooth and we’re worried the veneer is going to fall off before she can get home. Of course, I think we’ll need a new dentist to do any thing about it, which is frustrating because I feel certain he’s the one who damaged it and should repair it. Do you have any recommendations for us? Should we get her to a dentist near her school or can it wait until she is home in a few weeks?

Sandy

Dear Sandy,

Leaky porcelain veneers
The bluish color on these temporary porcelain veneers are an example of leaky veneers in their early stages.

The blue/green color to me indicates that the veneer is leaking. Does it look a bit like the ones above? That happens when the bond between the tooth and the porcelain veneers is failing.  While it will fail at some point, it is better to let it fall off than to force it.

If the porcelain veneers falls out while she is at school, I would look for an AACD accredited dentist that can get her in for an emergency appointment and bond her veneer back on safely.  While there is no such thing as a specialty in cosmetic dentistry. AACD accredited dentists have proven expertise and artistry. With you away, this is one way for you to feel confident she is in qualified hands.

I also agree that another dentist is in order for your family. The way he rudely discounted your concerns is unprofessional.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

 

Invisalign

Fixing Beaver Teeth

I have really large front teeth that tend to make me look a bit like a beaver. I am trying to think of a way to improve the look of my smile but can’t think of anything that won’t be very unpleasant. I could get braces, but I don’t want a bunch of metal in my mouth at my age. Plus, though I am no orthodontist, I am guessing that because of the size of my teeth there might not be room to move them in, which might require removing some back teeth. That is something else I am not too keen on.  Is there an option that I have not considered?

Sammie

Dear Sammie,

Invisalign aligner

I am glad you wrote. Yes, there is another option for you. First, if your dentist has some cosmetic skills, he or she could trim the sides of the teeth enough for them to be moved into a more esthetically pleasing, aligned position.  This has to be done with diamond burrs and diamond strips.

You would not have to move them with braces. Instead, you could use Invisalign. These are a type of invisible braces that use clear aligners to adjust the position of your teeth. No one will even know that you are wearing orthodontics, even at a conversational distance.

If your teeth require a great deal of trimming, enough to where the dentin is exposed, then you will need to have porcelain veneers placed in order to cover the dentin.

All of these procedures require training, so don’t pressure your dentist into any of them. If he or she is unfamiliar on how to do this don’t push them into it. You won’t like the results. Instead, find a cosmetic dentist with the training to do the trimming and, if necessary, the porcelain veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

 

Invisalign

Ways to Straighten a Crooked Tooth

I have two crooked teeth and a couple of small gaps. I went to my dentist to discuss braces. I heard there are clear braces these days. My dentist is suggesting porcelain veneers because my teeth are yellow and these can straighten my teeth and make them whiter. I am a bit concerned on how expensive porcelain veneers are. Are there better options?

Enid

Dear Enid,

Invisalign aligner

Let’s start with the porcelain veneers. They can make your teeth look straight, but they will not actually straighten your teeth. These are more useful if you are looking for a complete smile makeover, but not a great use of your money if you are just wanting to straighten and whiten your teeth.

In all honesty, there is a much less expensive option for you. If you get Invisalign, which use clear aligners. These can both straighten and whiten your teeth simultaneously. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays so all you will need is to get some professional strength gel from your dentist.

This will straighten and whiten your teeth at a fraction of the cost of porcelain veneers.

Of course, if there are other things that you would like to change about your teeth, such as their shape or size, then porcelain veneers will be a great option. Just make certain that you go to an expert cosmetic dentist to have the work done. Otherwise, you could end up with a smile that is less attractive than your natural smile.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Forman and Thimmesch.

AACD Accredited Dentist in Lafayette

Dealing with Tetracycline Stains

I am almost 45 and have severe tetracycline stains. I’d really like to improve my smile so I won’t feel embarrassed to smile. However, I’ve been to three dentists and they all want to give me a mouth full of dental crowns. My teeth are very healthy so I hate the idea of grinding them down. Are there other options for my situation or should I resign myself to crowns?

Brenda

Dear Brenda,

porcelain veneer being placed

Tetracycline stains are some of the most difficult type of cosmetic cases there are. If a dentist is suggesting a dental crown for your smile makeover and you do not have a clinical need for them, that is a hint that they are not a skilled cosmetic dentist.

One of the trickiest parts of a tetracycline case is getting the dental work opaque enough to cover the stains themselves, but still translucent enough to look natural.

Inexperienced cosmetic dentists try to get around this by using dental crowns. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really help. Given your unique situation, I would say you need an expert cosmetic dentist. They will be able to cover your tetracycline stains with porcelain veneers, which will give you the gorgeous smile you want without grinding healthy tooth structure down the way your current dentist wants to do.

While there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, the top 1-3% of cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recognized the dilemma both patients and dentist’s faced. Patients needed a way to find good cosmetic dentists. Dentists needed a way to get the skills needed to do excellent cosmetic work that is not offered in dental school. As a result, they created their accreditation program.

It takes YEARS to get accredited. There are superb cosmetic dentists out there who have not yet received their accreditation, but your situation is quite challenging. I am going to recommend you look for a dentist who is accredited.

While not all dentists in our office are accredited, we do have one dentist in our office who comes in just for those challenging cases.  There is probably a dental practice in your area who has a credentialed  dentist. If there is not, it will be worth it for you to travel to a nearby state if you want to be assured of a gorgeous result.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.