X
Call Us: 318 323 9303
Menu
X
X
Image of smiling woman Image of smiling woman Image of smiling woman

Bayou Dental Group

Comprehensive Family Dentistry

and Award-Winning Smile Makeovers

Book an Appointment

Archives for December 2019

What Your Dentist Might Not Tell You About Fluorosis and Zoom Whitening

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I have blotchy brown fluoride stains on several of my teeth. I’m becoming more self-conscious about my smile, and it is affecting my mood. My previous dentist used Zoom to try to lighten my teeth, but now the brown stains are even more noticeable. My new dentist recommends porcelain veneers. I have read online that some dentists use bonding. Will one treatment work better than the other on the stains? – Macie

Macie,

Photo of a woman wearing goggles and reclined in a dental chair with the Zoom whitening LED light over her teeth.

Zoom whitening brightens your smile but isn’t effective with dental fluorosis

It’s good that you left your previous dentist. Many dentists have tried to correct fluorosis (fluoride stains) with Zoom whitening. Zoom works well on deeply embedded stains, but it won’t improve blotchy teeth. After an examination, an advanced cosmetic dentist will let you know if dental bonding or porcelain veneers will conceal the stains. The extent of the stains will help determine which treatment will be effective.

Dental bonding

Direct dental bonding can conceal mild fluorosis stains. But bonding is an art that must be done freehand. Most general and family dentists haven’t received training to apply bonding to cover fluorosis stains and get beautiful results. Nor do they stock the right materials to produce natural-looking results. Many dentists attempt to resolve fluorosis with bleaching systems like Zoom, with no success.

The dentist you choose must have an eye for dental aesthetics to balance color, translucency, and gloss in your teeth. Most advanced cosmetic dentists are near larger cities. If you’re able to do so, it’s worth traveling to get the smile you want.

Porcelain veneers

When fluorosis is severe, all the teeth that show when you smile must be covered with porcelain veneers. Only a highly skilled cosmetic dentist has the technical ability and artistic understanding to conceal the stains and produce natural-looking results.

Is your new dentist a highly skilled cosmetic dentist? If not, look for an accredited cosmetic dentist to get predictable, natural-looking results with dental bonding or porcelain veneers.

David Finley, DDS, an accredited fellow of cosmetic dentistry in Monroe, LA, sponsors this post.

New Dental Crowns Hurt and Need to Be Replaced? How to Select a Dentist to Do the Work

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I had 5 old silver fillings that my dentist convinced me to replace, even though the fillings were stable. The plan was to replace 3 of the fillings with composite and replace the 2 larger ones with zirconia crowns. I got the crowns in late October and have not been happy with them from day one. They were pressing on my gums from the very beginning and making my bite feel off. It was only two weeks before the discomfort became painful. It still hurts when I chew on the crowns, so I’m trying hard to avoid getting food anywhere near them. This has been very stressful. I work nights and have trouble sleeping during the day due to stress over the discomfort in my mouth.

My dentist knows about the issue. I’ve been to her office once, and she checked my bite. She said my bite is fine, and the crowns look good. She refused my request for a refund. I’ve canceled my appointments to have the remaining fillings replaced with composite. I’m not giving her any more money.

I now have a new dentist who says my tooth nerves are irritated and need time to calm down and heal. He wants to avoid root canal treatment on my teeth, so I must wait for 2 to 3 months. I’ve been searching online when I have time, but I don’t see anything to confirm what he told me. But maybe the issue is not common enough for me to find online articles. Do I really need to wait months for replacement crowns? If I ignore my dentist and move on to a third dentist for faster treatment, will replacing my crowns be extremely painful since my tooth nerves are irritated? Thank you. – Darla

Darla,

Unfortunately, it sounds like you’ve found two dentists that lack expertise and a firm understanding of dentistry.

Dental crowns that irritate your gums and disturb your bite are unrelated to your tooth nerves. If the nerves were irritated, your crowned teeth would have significant sensitivity to cold.

Dental Crown Replacement – What to Expect

Photo of a young woman who has received sedation dentistry and is relaxing in the chair during treatment.

Sedation dentistry helps you relax while you receive new dental crowns

Based on your description, we see no reason to delay replacing your crowns. Although you don’t have to wait before a dentist replaces your crowns, it isn’t wise to insist that your current dentist replaces them. Your dentist’s hesitancy is likely a sign that he is uncomfortable with the work. Zirconia crowns are very tough and challenging to grind off, especially if your previous dentist bonded them to your teeth.

What can you expect when you receive crowns?

  • Preparation for new crowns – When a dentist must cut deeply into a tooth in preparation for a crown, the tooth nerve can be irritated—and highly irritated in some cases.
  • Replacing established crowns – You’ve had your crowns since late October. That’s enough time for tooth nerves to settle down—if they were irritated at all. When a dentist replaces your crowns, if you feel any irritation in your teeth, it will be mild.
  • Calming your nervousness – If you’re anxious about dental appointments, your new dentist can provide sedation to help you relax throughout the procedure.

Look for an advanced cosmetic dentist to do the work. If you’re within driving distance of our office, Dr. Finley will be happy to replace the crowns. He has experience in providing new—and replacing old—zirconia crowns. Otherwise, look for a nearby accredited cosmetic dentist.

Dr. David Finley sponsors this post. He is a Monroe, LA, dentist with advanced training in aesthetics.

Thinking About a Maryland Bridge for Missing Teeth? 4 Facts That Might Change Your Mind

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My dentist is recommending dental implants for two upper-left missing teeth. But while doing research online, I read about a Maryland bridge. When I mentioned it to my dentist, she said that it’s possible to do a Maryland bridge, but she prefers implants for better results. I thought the patient’s choice is what mattered. I’m doing my best to choose an option that will work just fine without spending a lot of money. I’ve trusted her over the years, but now I’m wondering if her preference is biased because dental implants bring in more money to her practice. What’s wrong with getting a Maryland bridge? – Karl

Karl –

While it is possible to receive a Maryland bridge for two missing teeth, the stress on the bridge increases with the number of replacement teeth you add. Consider a comparison of the two options:

Maryland Bridge

1. What Is a Maryland Bridge?

Diagram of a Maryland bridge suspended above the location of a lower missing tooth.

Maryland Bridge

A Maryland bridge is a porcelain tooth baked onto a metal framework. The wings of the frame are bonded to the backsides of adjacent natural teeth.

2. How Does It Work for Two or More Missing Teeth?

Adding a tooth to the bridge puts twice as much vertical force on it. The longer the span of the bridge, the more it will bend and flex as you apply force to it when biting or chewing. The bending and flexing have several effects:

  • Put stress on the abutment, which is the metal plate bonded to the backside of adjacent teeth
  • Increase pressure on the teeth
  • Loosen the bonding and the bridge

Dental Implants

3. How are Dental Implants Different?

Diagram of of three side-by-side dental implants: 1 - implant components, 2 - implant root in the bone with abutment and crown above it, 3 - all components in place and in the jawbone.

Dental implants provide a solid anchor and don’t require work on adjacent teeth.

Your dentist or an oral surgeon will replace each missing tooth by inserting an implant in your jawbone. Nothing will be attached to the adjacent teeth. In three to four months, implants fuse with your jawbone and provide solid anchors for dental crowns. Dental implants remain stable during the forces of biting and chewing.

4. Reasons Your Dentist Is Recommending Implants

Your dentist recommends dental implants because they are more stable and durable than a Maryland bridge—especially when replacing multiple missing teeth. Implants withstand the forces of biting and chewing. You’ll get better long-term results with dental implants.

This post is sponsored by Monroe, LA dentist Dr. David Finley.

Front Teeth Too Big? 3 Ways to Make Them Smaller

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My upper two front teeth are super big and long. They stick out farther than the teeth around them. I hate seeing my smile in pictures, so I’ve started smiling with my mouth closed whenever I take pictures. I’m doing some research online about cosmetic dentistry, but I don’t see anything that will work without making my teeth look even bigger.

Do I need to have my front teeth removed and replaced with dental implants? I spoke with my dentist about this, and she said my teeth look okay because they aren’t crooked and that many people wish their teeth look as good as mine. I wasn’t asking for a comparison of my teeth to someone else’s. I was asking for some possible solutions to improve my smile. I need straight answers. What are my options for making my teeth look smaller? Thanks for your time. Cassandra

Cassandra,

Wait! Please don’t ask a dentist to replace your front teeth with dental implants! And don’t make any decisions before consulting with an advanced cosmetic dentist. A cosmetic dentist can offer solutions that will improve your smile and preserve your natural teeth.

We understand that you want to be comfortable with your smile. Your cosmetic dentist would need to examine your teeth before recommending treatment. If you aren’t in or near Monroe, LA, we discourage you from asking Dr. Finley to do this. Instead, check with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry for a capable cosmetic dentist near you anywhere in the world. But based on your description, there are a few possibilities to make your front teeth look smaller.

Ways to Make Big Front Teeth Smaller

Photo of an upper aligner for Invisalign, which is offered by Monroe, LA dentist Dr. David Finley.

Your cosmetic dentist might use Invisalign to align your front teeth

After examining your teeth, your cosmetic dentist might recommend one of these solutions or an alternative:

  1. Trimming – An advanced cosmetic dentist can use diamond burs and diamond strips to trim your teeth carefully. Your cosmetic dentist might need to narrow your teeth by filing them down on the sides and shorten them by trimming the biting edges.
  2. Aligning – Your dentist might recommend a spring retainer to align your center front teeth with the surrounding teeth. Or, he or she might recommend Invisalign invisible braces to reposition your teeth.
  3. Porcelain veneers – If your front teeth are so large that your dentist must trim them a lot, after trimming them, he or she might use porcelain veneers to cover exposed dentin (the layer beneath your tooth enamel).

Don’t Entrust Your Smile Correction to a Family Dentist

Regardless of which treatment you receive, don’t leave your smile enhancement in the hands of a family dentist. Only an artistic cosmetic dentist can make your teeth smaller and achieve natural-looking results. Otherwise, the results can drastically detract from your smile and be very expensive to correct.

David Finley, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Monroe, LA, sponsors this post.

Contact Bayou Dental Group Contact Bayou Dental Group

Complete dental care
in one location

Call: 318 323 9303

Book an Appointment