Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

I got my braces off and there are spots on my teeth. Now my teeth are straight but people are still looking at them funny because of the spots. Is there a cosmetic something that a dentist can do to get the spots off? – Muriel

Muriel – When a person who wears braces gets white spots on his or her teeth, the spots are the first signs of a cavity. When acid demineralizes the outer surface of the teeth, white spots appear. Acid comes from soda, sugary snacks, and inadequate flossing and brushing while wearing braces. So, the white spots can be prevented with diligent oral hygiene and avoiding or limiting drinks and snacks that produce a lot of acid. While wearing braces, your dentist or orthodontist can recommend fluoride treatments or prescription toothpaste to help fight decay.

Generally, within six months of removing your braces, the white spots will either get better or stay the same. There are several ways to treat the spots, and a cosmetic dentist can help.

• Remineralizing  –  High doses of fluoride can help remineralize teeth. Remineralizing toothpaste can be prescribed, or remineralizing treatments can be done in the dentist’s office. Sometimes this process causes the white spots to turn brown. But a cosmetic dentist can anticipate the results of remineralizing and determine whether this is the right treatment for you.
• Microabrasion- This is another treatment that can remove white spots. This treatment uses a mixture of hydrochloric acid along with an abrasive to gently remove the outer layers of enamel where the stains exist.
• Restoration – Placing a veneer on the outer surface of the tooth can restore it. This treatment can be used when other options don’t remove the stains. It is very effective, but it is also the most expensive way to conceal the spots.

Schedule an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist who will examine your teeth and let you know your options for uniformly whitening your teeth.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

So my dental implant crown came off for the 3^rd time. The first 2 times I super glued it back on and I could chew fine. I had to glue it back on again 2 weeks ago and my bite is off and now my teeth are starting to hurt. I never had to take the crown off before, it just fell off. How can I get it off and try again? Joseph

Joseph – You need to have an implant dentist remove your dental crown. You could damage the implant, the crown, or nearby teeth if you try to remove it yourself.

An implant dentist will remove the crown and ensure that it is properly placed and secured so that it doesn’t continue to fall off of the implant.

If the dentist who placed the implants is unable to secure it, seek a second opinion from an experienced implant dentist.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.