Archives for July 2021

My denture looks like costume teeth

Posted on July 31, 2021 by AllSmiles.

Senior woman smiling and holding a glass of orange juice - for natural-looking dentures info from Bayou Dental Group

A cosmetic dentist can give you natural-looking dentures

In April 2020, I got six dental implants for an upper denture. I was so excited to get my permanent dentures, but I immediately hated my smile when my dentist temporarily attached it. The good news is that the oral surgeon did a fabulous job with my dental implants. The surgeon and my dentist worked hard to fit my denture perfectly. And the denture feels great. But it looks awful. Like someone else’s teeth.

I lost confidence in my dentist when he told me that my denture looks excellent, but I need to get used to it. So, I insisted on him redoing the denture, which he did. I don’t understand the disconnect, but the wax model and my final denture do not look alike. I want to smile again without dentures that look like costume teeth.

I have no energy to fight for a refund; I just want to get it right. And I know that I must switch dentists to do it. I’m sending photos for you to see what I mean. Too bad your office is so far away. I would have to fly there because of my health, and I cannot afford it after spending so much money on implants and a denture. – Thank you. Iyona from GA

Iyona,

Thank you for your message and for sending photos. We are sorry to hear about your experience. You invested in a stable, beautiful smile, but it stopped with getting your denture stable with implants. Although it is good that you are pleased with the oral surgeon, dental implants do not show when you smile. But your denture does. An artistic cosmetic dentist cares about giving you a natural-looking smile, never hinting that you need to get used to it or tell you that it looks good when it does not.

Get a Second Opinion for Dentures

You are wise to get a second opinion on dentures. It seems that your dentist doesn’t care much about how your smile affects you or how it reflects on his limited skill. We suggest the following:

Please follow up with a trained cosmetic dentist—one with post-graduate training in dental aesthetics.
Your experience was so disappointing that we recommend looking for an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area.
Although you may have to travel outside of your town or city, it will be worth the few trips you need to get a natural-looking smile with dentures.
Look for accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry or the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. Dentists with accreditation from either organization must prove their skill through rigorous exams and a series of successful patient cases.
Schedule a consultation with the dentist before signing up as a new patient. A consultation will increase your confidence that you are making the right choice.

Best wishes for a complete resolution and being happy to smile again.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, LA fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, sponsors this post.

Dentist drilled my tooth for two hours and it broke

Posted on July 24, 2021 by AllSmiles.

Last month, my dentist said I need a root canal on a tooth for decay beneath the crown. I was surprised because neither the tooth nor my gums around it hurt. Last week my dentist attempted a root canal, and after almost two hours, he stopped. He said the canal is calcified, so he could not locate it. After putting a temporary filling in the crown, he referred me to an endodontist. My crown and part of the tooth broke, and I have two weeks before my appointment with the endodontist. Should I just skip the endodontist and get an implant? I think the tooth is too broken down for a crown anyway. I want to know the best way to handle this because I am scheduled to begin Invisalign treatment in mid-September. Thank you. John T. from TN

John,

Thank you for contacting our office. We are sorry to hear about your experience. No doubt, your dentist’s two-hour hunt for the canals in your tooth weakened it and caused it to break. And unfortunately, he did not do anything to strengthen the tooth. A temporary filling is not enough. Although your dentist may not know who to preserve your tooth, he should take responsibility for it.

Decay Beneath a Dental Crown

When decay is beneath a dental crown, and a dentist must perform root canal treatment, removing the crown increases visibility and access to the tooth. These steps are often successful:

Remove the crown
Remove the decay and disinfect the tooth
Find the canal

Save or Extract the Tooth

Upper and lower Invisalign aligners, available in Monroe, LA from David Finley, DDS

A cosmetic dentist can ensure your teeth are healthy and ready for Invisalign

If a tooth has little structure left, it may be challenging for a dentist to attach a crown. You could lose the tooth and need a dental implant. However, if your bite is not stressful or intense, a dentist may be able to insert a dental post into the tooth, build some composite around it, and attach a crown to it. But based on your experience, it does not seem that your family dentist has the skill to complete the work.

Schedule a Second Opinion

We recommend that you schedule a second opinion with an advanced cosmetic dentist trained in orthodontic treatment with Invisalign. A cosmetic dentist with experience in both areas can examine your tooth and determine if they can save your tooth or if you need a dental implant. A trained cosmetic dentist will create a treatment plan that includes Invisalign.

David Finley, DDS, of Monroe, LA—a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry—sponsors this post.

I want my flowable composite fillings out – ASAP

Posted on July 15, 2021 by AllSmiles.

In May, my dentist placed three small filings with flowable composite. All fillings are on my lower right teeth. Unfortunately, I chew on that side of my mouth, and whenever I’m chewing something hard or crunchy, I feel sharp pain. My dentist replaced the filling with more flowable composite, but I don’t notice any improvement.

My dentist asked me to clench my teeth to see if I feel pain, but I only feel sharp pain with hard or crunchy food. I called my dentist’s office yesterday, and she wants me to return to replace the fillings again. I have no confidence that anything will be different. I’m thinking about calling another dentist and claiming a pain emergency to get these fillings out and replaced with regular composite. I do not want to be dishonest, but when I chew, it feels like an emergency. Before I do switch dentists, I would like to know if you have another suggestion. – Thank you. Kaylie

Kaylie,

The sensitivity you describe seems to occur with a small filling that a dentist bonds to a tooth’s dentin—the layer beneath the enamel. Although you are in pain whenever you chew hard or crunchy foods, we do not recommend that you schedule an emergency appointment with a dentist. Even if another dentist replaces your fillings, it does not guarantee that they know how to prevent sensitivity. You need to select a new dentist carefully.

Resolving Pain When Chewing on Teeth with New Fillings

We recommend that you consider two options for resolving pain in your teeth that have new fillings.

Reschedule with your dentist – You can schedule an appointment with your dentist and explain that you will only accept a new filling if your teeth are primed with a glass ionomer base. The base will protect the dentin and prevent sensitivity.
Visit an advanced cosmetic dentist – If you are hesitant about your dentist’s ability, you can look for an advanced cosmetic dentist in your area. Dentists with accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry or the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry passed rigorous tests to demonstrate their skill. A trained cosmetic dentist knows how to prepare your teeth, eliminate sensitivity and pain with new composite fillings, and help you avoid an unnecessary dental emergency.

Dr. David Finley of Monroe, LA, sponsors this post. Dr. Finley is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Will root canal help lighten tooth color?

Posted on July 8, 2021 by AllSmiles.

break any teeth, her left front tooth is getting darker with time because the toot nerve is dying. Fortunately, the tooth does not hurt. My daughter is now 14 years old, and her pediatric dentist referred us to an endodontist who recommends root canal treatment to save the tooth. The endodontist uses some new technology that is easier than a traditional root canal. The endodontist says that we do not need to treat the tooth right away. We have some time but should watch it closely to ensure it is not getting dark too quickly. Have you heard of Gentlwave technology and whether it will improve tooth color? I’m also wondering if we will need to see a cosmetic dentist for internal tooth bleaching. Thank you. Ashleigh.

Ashleigh,

Thank you for choosing our office for your question.

If your daughter injured her tooth years ago, either the tooth nerve died soon afterward, or it recovered. A gray tooth usually means that the nerve has been dead for a whole. But if your daughter’s tooth is not infected, it is unlikely that it needs root canal treatment. Still, it is good that your daughter’s pediatric dentist referred you to a specialist.

GentleWave® vs. Traditional Root Canal Treatment

Dental literature often praises GentleWave as an alternative to traditional endodontic treatment. Gentlweave dissolve soft tissue inside a tooth with sodium hypochlorite activated with sonic energy. Although the treatment could light a tooth slightly, the procedure is too fast to remain inside the tooth long enough for significant bleaching.

Internal Tooth Bleaching After Root Canal Treatment

Internal tooth bleaching after root canal treatment is often necessary if a dentist leaves root canal filling material and cement behind. The material left in the pulp chamber—a portion of your tooth above the gumline—can make a tooth turn considerably darker. A dentist must take care to clean that part of the tooth. And if needed, the dentist can seal in a bleaching solution to lighten tooth color. If the bleached tooth matches your surrounding teeth, your dentist can restore the tooth, perhaps placing a fiberglass post into the tooth and filling the space with composite. Otherwise, a porcelain veneer can correct tooth color.

Although some dentists may choose a ceramic crown, the aggressive tooth preparation for a crown can weaken a tooth and increase the risk of it breaking.

If you choose internal bleaching, we recommend an expert cosmetic dentist. And if the tooth requires further whitening, the cosmetic dentist can perfectly match a porcelain veneer to her natural teeth.

David Finley, DDS, of Monroe, LA, sponsors this post.

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