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Archives for January 2025

My New Dental Crown Is Still the Wrong Color

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My new dental drown is still the wrong color. The drama began when the top of my old root canal tooth turned blue. The tooth had a filling, and my dentist bleached the tooth six weeks ago. That didn’t work, so she put a crown over it. The first crown was too white, so my dentist had the lab redo it. It still does not match my right front tooth, an implant crown. I damaged both teeth in an accident in 2015 but lost one of them. This crown redo process is getting old. How many more times should I let my dentist try to get the color of the root canal tooth to match the implant crown? Thank you. Kamyl from TX

Kamyl,

Thank you for your question.

Matching Crown Color on a Front Tooth

A single dental crown

Consult a skilled cosmetic dentist for natural-looking crowns that match your surrounding teeth

Matching color with a single front tooth is challenging for most dentists. You can quickly notice even a slight color difference on front teeth. Dentists who lack cosmetic dentistry training sometimes ask their patients to put new crowns on both front teeth. Here’s why:

  • Each tooth has multiple shades and variations in translucence.
  • An expert cosmetic will use a high-quality camera and detailed instructions to help a dental ceramist match your crowns.
  • An expert dental ceramist in a lab will layer porcelain and add tints to match the other tooth.
  • A cosmetic dentist is willing to try a temporary crown on your tooth multiple times to perfectly match your dental implant crown.
  • You and your cosmetic dentist should look at your crown in various lighting conditions to detect color differences.
  • Your cosmetic dentist should only cement the crown to your tooth when you both are confident of a perfect color match.

We recommend speaking with your dentist to see if she can work with a dental lab to match your crowns. Otherwise, you can consult an experienced cosmetic to discuss your options.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.

 

Can I Find a Dentist to Restore My Old Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I got porcelain veneers in 2021. I’m happy they lasted as long as my dentist told me. However, within the past 6-8 months, I noticed gaps between some of the veneers that catch food sometimes when I eat. Also, space is developing at the top of four veneers on my front teeth. I got veneers to replace old dental bonding because I have tetracycline stains. I’ve seen two dentists about restoring the veneers, but they tell me that I must replace all eight veneers. My income has reduced, so I would need to finance the veneers to get them. Where can I find a dentist to restore my veneers or give me another alternative? – Thank you. Raquel from NM

 

Raquel,

A cosmetic dentist can touch up veneers for minor conditions with polishing and margin smoothing. However, based on your description, you probably need new veneers.  You mentioned a space developing between the top of the veneer and the gumline, indicating some gum recession and tooth exposure.  If you have tetracycline staining, this may be more noticeable depending on your lip line.

Unfortunately, teeth bleaching is ineffective for tetracycline stains, which are resistant to lightening. Your teeth may not achieve the desired brightness and vitality, even with bleaching.

Photo of a porcelain veneer being help up to an incisor tooth.

If your porcelain veneers are old, you likely need new ones to protect your teeth and hide tetracycline stains.

While the lifespan of your current porcelain veneers seems to align with your dentist’s initial estimate, it’s important to remember that this timeframe can vary.  From your description, the issues you’re experiencing likely stem from changes in your teeth rather than a breakdown of the veneers.  Without these changes, the veneers might have lasted longer.

Consult an advanced, preferably accredited, cosmetic dentist.  We’ve heard similar stories where replacing old bonding or veneers resulted in a less-than-ideal outcome. Concealing tetracycline stains and creating a beautiful smile with porcelain veneers requires specialized skill. Only a small percentage of dentists advertising cosmetic dentistry have this expertise.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Could I Be Allergic to My New Dental Crowns?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I have multiple chemical sensitivities and some allergies that I told my dentist about, but I think somehow, I am allergic to my new crowns. All three crowns seem to be infected. Now, I wish I had switched to a holistic dentist. But this is my first time receiving crowns, so I did not know what to expect. I told my dentist that there was leakage around the temporary crowns. She removed the temporary crowns, did a fluoride treatment on my teeth, and prescribed antibiotics. When the final crowns arrived, my dentist filed them a lot because my bite was off. The crowns seemed okay, but the fluid would rush beneath them whenever I drank something. I wore temporary crowns again for two weeks, but my new crowns make my gums burn, and my teeth are sensitive. My dentist did not bond them on, and I do not want her to bond them. Could an allergy to one of the dental chemicals be causing this problem?  – Thanks. Arielle

Arielle,

We cannot diagnose you accurately without an exam, but we can offer some insight.

If your crowns irritate your gums and teeth, do not let your dentist cement them. The discomfort will resolve unless your dentist identifies and treats the problem.

Can New Dental Crowns Cause Burning Gums?

A dental crown with the inside visible

It’s rare to have an allergic reaction to an all-ceramic dental crown

If your dental crowns are burning your gums, you may be sensitive or allergic to the crowns or substances used in the process.

  • Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns – If you have metal sensitivity and your dentist placed porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, you may be allergic to them. Ask your dentist to look at the dental alloy certificate from the lab and tell you your crowns’ exact composition.
  • Pure ceramic crowns – Although it is rare to react pure ceramic crowns, it is not impossible. Ask your dentist which materials the lab used to make the crowns.
  • Dental cement – Again, ask about the ingredients in the bonding agent and other materials that your dentist used.

If the crowns or bonding agent contain chemicals for which you do not have a known allergy or sensitivity, you may need testing to determine the culprit.

Consider Getting a Second Opinion

We are also concerned about your dentist’s approach to the irritation and sensitivity you have experienced. Although fluoride remineralizes teeth, it is not an antibacterial that removes infection. Instead, a peroxide rinse or chlorhexidine (antiseptic and disinfectant) is appropriate.

Given your circumstances and the fact that you still need dental crowns to restore your teeth, we recommend finding an advanced cosmetic dentist and schedule an appointment for a second opinion. After an exam and the second-opinion dentist’s findings, you can decide whether to switch dentists to complete your crowns.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Will My Permanent Canine Tooth Ever Erupt?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Will my permanent canine tooth ever erupt, or should I ask a dentist for an artificial tooth to fill the space? At age 17, I still have a baby canine tooth on the top right. My dentist took an X-ray last year and said that the permanent canine tooth is there, but it’s taking longer to erupt because my mouth is small. There has been no change or sign that the tooth is erupting. Should I be concerned? I prefer to fill the space if the tooth isn’t going to erupt. Thanks. – Finn from OK

 

Finn,

Canine teeth typically erupt between ages 10 and 12. If a canine hasn’t emerged by age 14, it’s essential to investigate. Impacted canines, which cannot erupt on their own, require intervention. The earlier the intervention, the better the chances of successfully moving the tooth into its correct position.

Addressing this issue earlier, perhaps a couple of years ago, would have been more beneficial for the health and appearance of your teeth and your confidence.

A panoramic X-ray will show how much the root of the unerupted canine has developed. If the root isn’t fully formed, the tooth may still have the natural force to erupt. Removing the baby tooth can create space for the permanent canine to erupt.

If the baby canine is loose, the permanent canine is likely positioned directly beneath it and may erupt. If the baby canine is not loose, the X-ray will show how close the permanent canine is to the surface.

A spring-and-chain attachment on an impacted canine tooth (Image courtesy of Manhattan Oral Surgery & Implant Center)

A spring-and-chain attachment on an impacted canine tooth
(Image courtesy of Manhattan Oral Surgery & Implant Center)

It’s vital to avoid prematurely filling the space with a replacement tooth (e.g., a partial denture or dental flipper), as this could prevent the canine from erupting.

If intervention is necessary, an orthodontist may surgically expose the canine crown and attach a bracket. Attaching a spring-and-chain mechanism to the bracket can guide the tooth’s eruption. The orthodontist would tighten the chain as the canine moves into position to guide it further. This process typically takes about a year to complete.

We recommend consulting an orthodontist for a second opinion. They have specialized training in tooth movement and can provide a more comprehensive assessment.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.

 

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