Archives for August 2023

I Regret Getting Porcelain Veneers Instead of Invisalign

Posted on August 31, 2023 by AllSmiles.

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In April 2022, my dentist recommended eight veneers instead of Invisalign. Maybe my concerns about how long Invisalign takes made my dentist take Invisalign off the table. My teeth were stained, misshaped, and crooked, so I agreed to porcelain veneers. I knew the results would be faster than Invisalign, too. My dentist completed the porcelain veneers in late June 2022. Since then, my teeth have hurt, two veneers loosened, and one fell off last month. Now my dentist said that crowns would probably work better for me since I can’t seem to keep the veneers on my teeth because I grind my teeth. Is that something I can control?

I want to return to my former teeth and get teeth whitening, dental bonding, and Invisalign. I would rather spend 18 more months getting it right than knowing my dentist would shave down my teeth for dental crowns. Shouldn’t my dentist have known if I needed crowns before taking my money for veneers? I didn’t ask him, but I assume if a dentist says veneers didn’t work, the crowns are free. Thanks. Madilyn

Madilyn,

If your dentist thinks teeth grinding is affecting your porcelain veneers, your initial exam and X-rays should have shown evidence of wear on your teeth from the habit. We recommend not agreeing to further treatment from your dentist.

Why Do Porcelain Veneers Fall Off?

Porcelain veneers may fall off due to a dentist’s bonding or tooth preparation technique. Teeth grinding can also affect veneers’ stability.

Bonding technique – We are concerned about why your veneers are weak and falling off. If a dentist does not bond your veneers properly, they can loosen and fall off.
Tooth preparation – Skilled cosmetic dentists remove minimal amounts of tooth enamel from the fronts of your teeth in preparation for porcelain veneers. Removing too much tooth enamel can expose the dentin, the layer beneath the enamel.
Teeth grinding – Teeth grinding can wear away natural teeth and restorations, such as porcelain veneers. A dentist can provide a custom night guard to minimize the effect of grinding, which may help preserve porcelain veneers.

Schedule a Cosmetic Dentistry Appointment

Schedule a consultation with a trained cosmetic dentist to examine your teeth and veneers and discuss possible causes for your veneers falling off. It is probably unnecessary for a dentist to grind your teeth for dental crowns. Although Invisalign would align your teeth, your dentist has already removed tooth enamel to prepare your teeth for porcelain veneers. Most likely, veneers are the only treatment to resolve your concerns. However, a skilled cosmetic dentist will confirm that after an exam and X-rays. Your new dentist will explain treatment costs. If your previous dentist had faulty bonding techniques, he may be willing to compensate you in some way for the new dental work.

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.

Does My Son Really Need All His Teeth Extracted?

Posted on August 30, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Does my son need all his remaining teeth extracted? His addiction started at age 16, and now, at 20, he is recovering and has been clean for 8 months. When he was 16, his pediatric dentist talked to him kindly about the effects of smoking and drugs on his teeth. Two weeks ago, he had his first dental visit since the one with the pediatric dentist at age 16. I convinced my son to see a dentist, and he agreed that we could see a dentist who is 1.5 hours away so that no one would know him or be able to spread his story to people who know him. We found a few dentists during a Google search and scheduled an exam with one.

My son and I were surprised to hear the dentist recommend extracting all his teeth, including impacted wisdom teeth. This sounds extreme. My son wishes to return to his pediatric dentist for compassionate care, but we know it is impossible. Could drugs damage all his teeth beyond the ability to save them? Does this mean he will be a young adult with dentures at age 20? This hurts us so deeply. Thank you. D. Williamson from Illinois

Hello, D. Williamson,

Your son’s recovery is commendable. It’s challenging to experience a disappointing dental visit when someone tries to improve their life and smile, affecting their confidence. It’s good that your son had a kind pediatric dentist. We recommend moving forward until you find a dentist with advanced restorative training and skills who is also compassionate.

Although one of our dentists would need to complete a comprehensive exam and take X-rays of your son’s teeth, the recommendation to extract them all does sound extreme.

What to Consider Before a Dentist Extracts All Your Teeth?

If a dentist recommends extracting all your teeth, consider the consequences and how they will affect oral health. Below are factors to think about.

Your Age

A dental implant with the crown, abutment, and screw labled

Consult with a trained, skilled dentist to discuss options for saving teeth.

A young patient will likely have some savable teeth. Although it may require more work for a dentist to save the teeth, restoring them will help preserve the jawbone. If a person is a senior and has lost most of their teeth, it is not unusual for a dentist to recommend extractions if the remaining teeth are not savable or would threaten oral health.

A skilled dentist can determine whether your son’s teeth are savable or if some require extractions and dental implants.

Jawbone Shrinkage

After your teeth are missing, the jawbone will begin to shrink because there are no tooth roots to stimulate them. If your son is 20 years old, by age 40, jawbone shrinkage will be so severe that a denture will fall out of his mouth because there will not be enough bone to support it.

Facial Collapse

The jawbone supports facial muscles, so the face will sag and shrivel when it shrinks. As your son matures and becomes more concerned about his appearance, he will want a solution for jawbone shrinkage and facial collapse. A jawbone graft and implant-supported dentures are the only solutions.

Intensity of Oral Surgery

Removing all upper and lower teeth is an intense procedure and may require multiple visits. Get a second opinion from a dentist with advanced training and years of experience. You can expect a comprehensive exam and X-rays before a dentist makes any recommendations.

We recommend finding at least two more dentists with general and cosmetic dentistry credentials. Look for training from the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read about Dr. Henderson’s, Dr. Finley’s, and Dr. Coughran’s commitment to offering their patients some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Why Do My New Tooth Fillings Keep Popping Out?

Posted on August 22, 2023 by AllSmiles.

I’ve had dental bonding on my teeth since 2001 for areas of teeth erosion near my gumline. The bonding was on the four teeth behind my upper left front tooth. My teeth are also discolored from tetracycline stains. The dentist who did the initial bonding did superior work, and it lasted until 2021. Since then, I’ve had the bonding replaced three times, but the fillings pop out. The first dentist who tried to replace the bonding did so twice with no success. So, six months ago, I switched to a new dentist who replaced the bonding, but one filling fell out two weeks ago. Should I give up on dental bonding and switch to porcelain veneers? Is there anything new in teeth whitening that would help discoloration? I am afraid that I won’t be able to find a dentist to do the filling or veneers without my dark teeth showing through. If I had not relocated from the west coast, I would return to the dentist who did the original bonding in 2001, but that isn’t an option now. Thanks for your help.

Bianca,

We understand your concerns and frustration with tooth fillings that repeatedly pop out.

Why Do Tooth Fillings at the Gumline Pop Out?

Tooth fillings can pop out at the gumline if a dentist chooses a durable hybrid composite material because they lack the flexibility to withstand the forces on front teeth. Often, teeth clenching or grinding increases the pressure on teeth, and the fillings can pop out.

Skilled cosmetic dentists use flexible microfill restorative materials to help fillings stay in around the gumline. Silux Plus and Renamel are two brands of bonding that will bend with the tooth when a cosmetic dentist is skillful in bonding techniques.

Hiding Tetracycline Stains on Front Teeth

Although porcelain veneers can beautifully transform your smile and hide tetracycline stains, they require a highly artistic cosmetic dentist to give you natural-looking results. Otherwise, your veneers can look opaque or pasty. A cosmetic dentist can determine if in-office teeth whitening will lighten the tetracycline stains some, but you would still need cosmetic dentistry to restore your teeth.

We recommend consulting with at least two cosmetic dentists to explore your treatment options.

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

Am I Allergic to My New Dentures?

Posted on August 4, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Could I be allergic to the new dentures I got last month? Could it be the acrylic or something else? I have new upper and lower dentures that fit better than any I’ve worn for the past 12 years, but I am worried about being allergic to them. After wearing the dentures all day, my eyes were swollen, and so were my glands. I removed and soaked the dentures overnight. On the second day, the swelling worsened. I don’t know why I wore the dentures a third day because I was miserable. I developed sinusitis, and my throat began to swell.

I figured I had allergy symptoms, so I stopped wearing the dentures and took Benadryl. I saw my ophthalmologist for what became an eye infection, and she agreed that my symptoms seemed to be related to an allergic reaction. I am embarrassed that I tried the dentures again and had the same eye, gland, and throat swelling symptoms. I’m finished trying to make the dentures work. Will I need a second opinion for new dentures? – Thanks. Bethany from CT

Bethany,

Yes, it sounds like you are allergic to your new dentures. Your decision not to wear them again is wise. Allergic reactions that cause swelling in your throat can be life-threatening.

What Should You Do If You’re Allergic to Dentures?

If you are allergic to your dentures, visit an allergist for testing. Identifying which materials in the denture cause a reaction can help your dentist to understand which materials to use or avoid when making your new denture.

Denture materials

Denture base – A denture base is processed from a liquid (monomer) acrylic that the lab hardens to make the denture base.
Hardening process – Hardening the acrylic changes it to a solid (polymer).

The process leaves leftover liquid (monomer) that can cause some patients’ reactions. If allergic testing reveals that you are allergic to liquid acrylic, a dental lab can immerse the denture in hot water for several hours. You can read details in a 2015 European Journal of Dentistry issue on allergic reactions to residual denture monomer.

An alternative is for your dentist to consult the dental laboratory to make your denture with a different material, such as resin. Although you are otherwise happy with your new denture, a new resin denture can prevent uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.

Before getting a second opinion for new dentures, consult an allergist to identify which materials may be causing the allergic reaction and your symptoms.

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.

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