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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Archives for August 2019

Pregnant and Thinking About Porcelain Veneers? 5 Facts to Know Before Asking Your Dentist for Them

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A smile makeover with porcelain veneers can be lifechanging. But what if you’re concerned that after you have the baby, you’ll have little time to focus on dental esthetics? Is it okay to receive porcelain veneers while you’re pregnant? Consider the facts.

1. Timing

During the first trimester, your baby is rapidly developing and sensitive to foreign substances. After that time, there is minimal risk of the baby being affected by dental treatment. If you have a dental emergency that requires immediate attention, find a cosmetic dentist to discuss your treatment options.

2. X-rays

Before you receive porcelain veneers, your dentist will x-ray your teeth to determine if they are healthy and to determine if veneers are the right treatment for you. Modern digital dental x-rays emit a very low dosage of radiation. A single x-ray should not affect the growing baby.

3. Anesthesia

Local anesthesia ensures you’re comfortable as your dentist prepares your teeth for porcelain veneers. Are you anxious about dental appointments? If so, sedation dentistry is available. Many expecting mothers who have dental anxiety and need sedation decide to wait until the baby is born to receive treatment.

4. Your Gums

Your body is more sensitive when you’re pregnant. Care must be taken with veneer placement to ensure your gums are not irritated. Otherwise, they can become infected, and an untreated infection will spread. It’s essential to find a skilled cosmetic dentist who will precisely prepare your teeth and place the veneers to prevent lingering gum irritation.

5. Your Comfort

Dental treatment can create anxiety for some people. Also, consider your comfort during pregnancy in the following situations:

  • if you’re in the dental chair for extended periods
  • the number of visits required to receive porcelain veneers
  • your general anxiety level about receiving cosmetic changes

It’s best to limit your stress during pregnancy.

Schedule a Porcelain Veneers Consultation

Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist to discuss your options for porcelain veneers and to learn what you can expect throughout the process.

You can expect great results with porcelain veneers from a cosmetic dentist.

 

Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this blog post.

3 Causes of Yellow Dental Crowns and Why Teeth Whitening Won’t Help

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Teeth whitening can rejuvenate your smile and help it look younger. Some people try to whiten their dental restorations, such as dental crowns or veneers. Have your crowns started to yellow? Consider some possible causes and why teeth whitening won’t help.

Damage During a Dental Cleaning

Power instruments: When you receive a dental cleaning, power instruments are used to blast away stains on your teeth. But these same instruments can damage dental restorations, including crowns. One example is the Prophy Jet. It uses sodium bicarbonate to clean and whiten natural teeth. But this powerful treatment removes the glaze on your dental crowns and leaves them unprotected from stains. The crowns can turn yellow but treating them with teeth whitening won’t help.

Acidulated phosphate fluoride: This fluoride treatment is applied to teeth to prevent cavities. But if the chemical is in contact with your dental crowns, it will etch away the glaze on them and cause your crowns to stain. And a tooth whitening kit won’t improve the color.

Damage When You First Received Them

If your dentist adjusts the front surface of your crowns, special care is needed to avoid damaging the glaze. It’s also possible that the laboratory that made the restoration didn’t properly glaze them. In either case, your crowns will darken over time, and bleaching gel won’t improve the color.

Material Used to Make the Crowns

Sometimes people think they are receiving porcelain or ceramic crowns, but later learn the crowns are made of dental composite. Dental composite doesn’t resist stains.

Why Won’t Teeth Whitening Help?

Whitening treatment only works on natural teeth. Bleaching gel penetrates through tooth enamel and breaks down stains in the layer beneath it, or dentin. But the gel won’t penetrate porcelain or ceramic. Dental crowns are colorfast.

Before and after teeth whitening photos

Teeth whitening works on natural teeth only

If your dental crowns are discolored, visit an accredited cosmetic dentist for an examination. He or she will explain the cause of discoloration and explain your options for regaining a bright smile.

This post is Michael Szarek, DMD a Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist.