Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog
Existing Patients: (978) 454-9332 | New Patients: (877) 790-5172 |
  • Blog Home
  • Main Site Home
Natural Beauty
Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Archives for May 2019

7 Keys to Choosing a Dental Implant or a Bridge

May 30, 2019 by AllSmiles

The root canal that I received this past March didn’t work. My dentist did a second root canal last month, but she could not save the tooth. She extracted it. The tooth is a right lateral incisor, so I have a tooth missing in the front of my mouth. It’s there for everyone to see. I’m debating on whether or not to get a dental implant or a bridge. An implant costs so much, but my dentist said it could last for the rest of my life. And then I’m not sure if my dentist knows how to handle complex cases. She is young, and this is only her fourth year in practice. I’m four hours away from Dr. Szarek’s office. Otherwise, I would come there. Can you give me some things to consider before I say and make a commitment to the wrong dentist? Thanks. Teresa

Teresa – Below are a few things to consider.

Dental Implants

  • Surgery – Minimally invasive surgery is required to place implant fixtures in your jawbone.
  • Healing time – It takes several weeks for the implant to fuse to your jawbone.
  • Effect on adjacent teeth – No work is required on your adjacent teeth.
  • Cost – Dental implants cost more than other forms of tooth replacement, including a dental bridge.
  • Long-term results – Depending on your age, implants can last a lifetime.
  • Effectiveness – They look and feel like your natural teeth.
  • Bone shrinkage – Implant fixtures stimulate the jawbone and prevent shrinkage.
Diagram of dental implant phases, including 1) implant insertion in bone, 2) healing process, 3) abutment attachment, 4) crown attachment.

Dental implant phases

Dental Bridge

  • Surgery – No surgery is required to place a dental bridge.
  • Healing time – There is no healing time, so your dentist can place the implant right away.
  • Effect on adjacent teeth – Your dentist will shave down the tooth on either side of the missing. The adjacent teeth will serve as anchors for the bridge, and a dental crown will be placed over each of them.
  • Cost – A bridge doesn’t cost as much as a dental implant. In some cases, a dental implant can cost twice as much.
  • Long-term results – A dental bridge can last 10 to 20 years.
  • Effectiveness – Dental crowns can be made to look like your natural teeth, but a bridge won’t feel as natural as a dental implant.
  • Bone shrinkage – A dental crown is suspended in the middle of the bridge to replace the missing tooth. But since there is no implant fixture to stimulate the bone, the beneath the crown will gradually shrink.

 

Whether you choose a dental implant or a bridge, find an experienced implant dentist who is also a cosmetic dentist. You will receive a quality dental implant that looks natural.

This blog is sponsored by Michael Szarek, DMD of Lowell, MA. Dr. Szarek is an implant dentist and an accredited cosmetic dentist.

Filed Under: Dental implants Tagged With: Chelmsford MA dental implants, dental implant or bridge, how long do dental implants last, how long does a dental bridge last, Lowell MA dental implants

Porcelain veneers have ruined my teeth

May 6, 2019 by AllSmiles

I hate that I got porcelain veneers. My teeth are ruined. They are too everything wrong – too wide, too long, too white, and too thick. There is nothing that I like about them. I keep thinking back about what went wrong. These are not the veneers I tried on and now they are stuck to my teeth. I am miserable about the thousands of dollars that I spent on this disappointment. My dentist kept telling me that I would get used to my veneers and eventually like them. It has been 4 months, and I am still just as disappointed as I was the day they were bonded on. Can this be reversed? – Genesis

Genesis – We are truly sorry to hear about your experience with porcelain veneers. Many general dentists are willing to provide you with a smile makeover although they only complete a few cases a year. That’s not enough experience to provide you with beautiful results.

After your teeth are prepared and the veneers are bonded to them, the process cannot be reversed. Only a minimal amount of your tooth enamel should have been removed in preparation for veneers. But many dentists who are not smile-makeover artists often remove too much enamel. In either case, your tooth enamel cannot be replaced, and it won’t regenerate. Your smaller-than-normal natural teeth are without sufficient enamel and can’t remain exposed without some type of cosmetic dentistry treatment to protect them.

How Can Your Porcelain Veneers Mistake Be Corrected?

We highly recommend that you schedule a consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist. If there isn’t one in your immediate area, it might be to your advantage to find one within a reasonable distance. An accredited cosmetic dentist has passed written and oral exams and submitted patient cases to demonstrate proficiency in designing beautiful smiles with porcelain veneers and other forms of cosmetic dentistry. What will a cosmetic dentist do?

  • Examine your porcelain veneers.
  • Examine your teeth.
  • Determine how much tooth enamel was removed.
  • Explain your options.

New porcelain veneers

In most cases, the only solution is to receive new porcelain veneers. As the photos below show, a skilled cosmetic dentist can produce lifelike results.

  • Porcelain veneers before photo of a woman's smile is discolored and brown, but was restored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek.
    PORCELAIN VENEERS BEFORE
  • Porcelain veneers after photo of a woman's smile that was restored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek.
    PORCELAIN VENEERS AFTER

Composite veneers

If only minimal amounts of tooth enamel were removed from your natural teeth, it is possible that composite veneers can be applied instead of porcelain veneers. But that’s a decision that should be left to your cosmetic dentist. Although composite bonding can be less expensive than porcelain veneers, there are several disadvantages if you want long-lasting results:

  • Composite veneers are not as durable and will need to be replaced every ten years or so. If you take good care of veneers, they can last 20 years or more.
  • Composite will stain, while porcelain veneers are stain resistant.
  • Depending on how much chairside time is required to complete them, composite veneers can be almost as expensive as porcelain veneers.

Although most dentists don’t provide composite veneers, a highly skilled cosmetic dentist like Dr. Szarek can produce beautiful results with bonding.

  • Dental bonding before photo of mottled, yellow, and uneven teeth that were restored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek.
    DENTAL BONDING BEFORE
  • Dental bonding after photo of a smile that was restored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek.
    DENTAL BONDING AFTER

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

Filed Under: Porcelain veneers Tagged With: accredited dentist porcelain veneers, Lowell porcelain veneers, porcelain veneers cosmetic dentist, remove porcelain veneers, replace porcelain veneers with composite, ruined porcelain veneers

Recent Posts

  • Are Veneers My Only Option for Tetracycline-Stained Teeth?
  • Is Whitening the Right Way to Remove Brown Teeth Stains?
  • My Tooth Broke at the Gumline and the Repair Is Unresolved
  • Can Dental Crowns Be Replaced by or Covered with Veneers?
  • Should I Get Invisalign or Porcelain Veneers for a Gap?

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • December 2010

Categories

  • Cavities
  • Cosmetic dentist
  • Dental bonding
  • Dental bridge
  • Dental Implant Failure
  • Dental implants
  • Dentures
  • General dentistry
  • Gum Disease
  • Health Issues and Teeth
  • Implant overdentures
  • Mini implants
  • Oral cancer
  • Oral Health
  • Porcelain crowns
  • Porcelain veneers
  • Root Canal Treatment
  • Snap-On Smile
  • Teeth whitening
  • Uncategorized
  • White fillings
Welcome
You're going to love it here. We hope to see you soon.
Address
Michael Szarek, DMD
Cosmetic & General Dentistry
75 Arcand Dr
Lowell, MA 01852
Phones
Existing Patients:
(978) 454-9332
New Patients:
(877)790-5172
Information
Office Tour
New Patient Information
Financial Options
Office hours
Monday, Thursday: 10:00am - 8:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Reviews
Google
Yelp
Facebook

©2012-2022 Michael Szarek, DMD, MS • All rights reserved
Website Design and SEO by Infinity Dental Web IDW Copyright Logo

Menu
Michael Szarek, DMD, MS logo
Phones
  • Blog Home
  • Main Site Home
  • New Patients Click to Call
    (877) 790-5172
  •  
  • Existing Patients Click to Call
    (978) 454-9332