Archives for June 2023

Are BL2 Dental Crowns Too Hollywood Bright for My Skin Color?

Posted on June 30, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Are BL2 crowns too Hollywood bright for my dark skin? I finished Invisalign last year, but four of my teeth are misshaped and worn down. Within the next few months, I will get either crowns or veneers on five upper teeth. I talked to my dentist about tooth shade because I want whiter teeth if I need so much work done. My complexion is dark, and I want my teeth to be brighter than average without looking fake. Is BL2 too Hollywood bright for my skin color? I want to decide on a crown shade before asking a dentist to whiten my lower teeth so that I explain how white I want them. Thanks for your help. Sakura from San Diego

Sakura,

Congratulations on completing the Invisalign treatment. We understand that even with Invisalign, a smile makeover is sometimes incomplete until you correct misshaped teeth. Speak with a cosmetic dentist about whether ceramic crowns or porcelain veneers are the healthiest for your smile. Still, we will answer your question about dental crowns.

Are BL2 Crowns Too Bright?

BL2 is bright, but you must consult a cosmetic dentist to compare shades against your skin tone and lips. Although BL4 may look more natural, work with a skilled cosmetic dentist to choose a crown color based on your facial features, complexion, and personality. If you want a bright smile and have a big smile or a vibrant personality, shades lighter than BL4 will make your smile noticeable when you walk into a room. BL1 is the brightest shade on newer shade guides.

How to Select Your Dental Crown Color

You can choose your dental crown color by selecting an advanced cosmetic dentist who follows a process like this:

Make a provisional makeover – Cosmetic dentists who regularly complete smile makeovers make temporary teeth in resin so that you can try out their color and shape.
Allow you to wear the temporary replacement teeth – Wear the provisional (temporary) teeth, let your friends and family see your new smile, and give yourself enough time to decide whether you like the tooth color.

However, if you want your natural teeth whitened, a cosmetic dentist must bleach your teeth before getting dental crowns. Your dentist will collaborate with a ceramist to craft crowns that match your newly whitened teeth.

You can schedule consultations with two different cosmetic dentists to explain your goals and determine whether you need crowns or porcelain veneers. Ask each dentist about their process for helping you get a crown or veneer color that meets your preference for a bright, noticeable smile that still looks natural.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley, Dr. Thompson, and Dr. Coughran do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Did My Dentist Ruin My Maryland Bridge?

Posted on June 29, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Did my dentist ruin my Maryland bridge? My former Maryland bridge was 15 years old, but until recently, it was intact. I agreed with my dentist to replace two crowns on the top left side of my mouth. I grind my teeth so the crowns were worn and looked rugged. I got new crowns three weeks ago, and when I got home, I noticed a silver line showing through the bridge tooth.

My dentist covered the silver line with composite and said that I should probably get the bridge replaced. He did agree that he might have nicked the bridge tooth while adjusting my bite, but he also said that my teeth grinding more likely caused the streak. How could teeth grinding cause a line? Today, I see the silver line again on the bridge tooth. So, I probably will get it replaced. What’s the point of having two new crowns with another damaged tooth flashing a silver streak? I’m wondering if my dentist should pay for this, though. Should I ask? Thank you. Lance from Shaker Heights, OH

For our readers: A Maryland bridge is a type of tooth replacement. Replacement teeth are in the center, and wings, or extensions, are attached to the back of adjacent teeth on each end of the bridge. See the photo on this page.

Lance,

Your bridge tooth had no silver line before your dentist replaced your crowns and adjusted your bite. So yes, you should ask your dentist to restore or replace the bridge tooth at no charge.

Asking Your Dentist to Pay for Your Damaged Crown

You can ask your dentist to pay for the bridge tooth directly, but you may want to prepare an explanation. We suggest finding an experienced cosmetic dentist to examine your Maryland bridge. The dentist who examines it can do the following:

Tell if teeth grinding caused the streak on the bridge tooth
Determine if a dental instrument scratched the surface
Give you documentation on the cause of damage to the surface

You can return to your dentist with the second opinion document and ask for a refund or if he will pay to restore or replace your bridge.

Restoring a Crown without Replacing the Maryland Bridge

Sometimes, a highly skilled cosmetic dentist can conceal the damage to the tooth of the bridge without replacing the entire bridge. One method includes these steps:

Grind some of the metal to make room for dental bonding cement
Etch the metal with a micro-etcher
Prime the metal with a thin layer of opaque cement that bonds to metal
Cure the cement
Place composite over the cement
Shape and polish the composite

Patient cases differ, so an advanced cosmetic dentist must examine your bridge and determine if they can save it.

Schedule an appointment with an accredited cosmetic dentist or one with extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.

What Are My Treatment Options for a Cracked Tooth?

Posted on June 25, 2023 by AllSmiles.

I was planning to start Invisalign next month, but my hygienist noticed two cracks in my upper first molar, so Invisalign has to wait. After an appointment with an endodontist who recommended a crown, my dentist used bonding on the tooth as a more conservative approach. Now the tooth is sensitive, and chewing on it hurts. I want this resolved so I can get Invisalign. Should I ask for a crown or an onlay or find a dentist to see me this week for a second opinion? Thank you. Kiera from Austin, TX

Kiera,

Your dentist or endodontist may review the X-ray again to reevaluate your tooth’s condition. You may still feel discomfort and sensitivity in the tooth if it is not fully repaired. An accurate diagnosis depends on these factors:

The crack’s location
The crack’s length and depth
Whether the damage is horizontal or vertical

Will a Dentist Recommend a Crown or an Onlay?

A dentist recommends a crown or an onlay depending on the tooth’s condition and position. Although an onlay or a crown can restore a tooth, we explain the differences.

Onlay

An onlay is a custom-made restoration that replaces only the damaged portion of your tooth, but not all dentists offer onlays. An onlay covers one or more cusps or peaks of a tooth; it can be gold, ceramic, or porcelain. A porcelain onlay may not be strong enough to restore a cracked tooth. A dentist may recommend a gold onlay or a dental crown.

Dental crown

A dental crown is a dental restoration that covers the entire tooth from the gumline up. An extensive crack may require root canal treatment and a dental crown. Or, if you already had a crown on a tooth, you could only receive another crown versus other treatment options.

Repeated attempts to restore the tooth will further weaken it. Speak with your dentist again to ask about your symptoms and the condition of your tooth and treatment recommendations before scheduling an urgent appointment for a second opinion.

Is My Daughter’s Fever from Teething?

Posted on June 15, 2023 by AllSmiles.

My daughter is nine months old and has fevers regularly. Is it because her gums are swollen, and it looks like she may be teething? My husband’s aunt said we should make a small slit in her gums to help the teeth erupt. I’ve never heard of that, but she said she did it with all four of her children. I will not slit my baby’s gums, but are fevers common with teething? – Thanks. Aletia

Aletia,

We are glad that you are not considering slitting your daughter’s gums. We do not recommend It and have never heard of that practice. Teeth erupt unless they are impacted for some reason. Attempting to accelerate the process may prevent teeth roots from forming fully and supporting teeth.

Are Fevers Related to Teething?

Teething symptoms vary with each child. Not all experience a fever with teething. According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, teething symptoms may include the following:

localized discomfort
irritability
low-grade fever
excessive salivation

What If Permanent Teeth Won’t Erupt?

If you see a permanent tooth erupting in your child’s mouth, but the primary tooth is still there, schedule an appointment with a dentist for an exam. A dentist may need to extract the primary tooth. Otherwise, the permanent tooth may erupt to the side rather than its correct position.

Molar Teeth

Erupting premolars that replace the primary molars may not dissolve the roots of a primary tooth. If so, the primary tooth will remain attached to several undissolved roots and not fall out before premolars erupt.

Front Teeth

Permanent incisor teeth may erupt incorrectly if the primary teeth don’t have spaces between them. Your child’s dentist may consult an orthodontist to determine whether to remove enough primary teeth to allow the front teeth to erupt correctly. The orthodontist may recommend relieving teeth crowding to ensure front teeth are straight before your child needs orthodontic treatment later in life.

Bayou Dental Group

Comprehensive Family Dentistry

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