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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Archives for September 2019

4 Top Causes of Swollen Gums After Getting Porcelain Veneers

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Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

Porcelain veneers must be correctly bonded and placed

Are swollen gums detracting from your porcelain veneers and your smile? What’s causing the gum irritation? Some possibilities are listed below. And we’ll explain what you do about it.

1. Excess cement

When your porcelain veneers are bonded on, the dentist should clean off any excess before it hardens. Otherwise, it can get beneath your gumline and cause irritation and swelling. Dentists who don’t place a lot of porcelain veneers often fail to remove the excess cement. Advanced cosmetic dentists cure the cement in the middle of the tooth and remove the excess while it is still soft.

2. Wearing temporary veneers too long

If you wear temporary veneers for an extended period, it can cause gum irritation and inflammation. When your dentist removes the temporary veneers, the inflammation can make it difficult to bond on your porcelain veneers.

3. Messy margins

A dentist should precisely place veneers at your gumline. A fit that’s less than precise can irritate your gums, cause them to swell, and promote infection. If a veneer is too far away from your gumline, bacteria can leak in and cause infection. But if it is too far beneath your gumline, it will rub and cause irritation and inflammation.

4. Sensitivity or allergies

An allergy or sensitivity to porcelain is rare. But if you react to the dental ceramic, your gums can be irritated. Some patients choose to schedule an appointment with an allergist for testing.

What’s the solution?

Ask acquaintances or family members for a recommendation of a cosmetic dentist—preferably accredited—in your area. Otherwise, you can search online to find a cosmetic dentist. Look for his or her training, experience, and credentials in cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment for a second opinion for an exam of your veneers and gumline.

A highly skilled cosmetic dentist will determine the cause of the irritation and explain your options.

This post is sponsored by Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA. Dr. Szarek guarantees his work.

5 Reasons It’s Not Too Late for Dental Implants

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A lot of people think that it’s too late for dental implants if they’ve already been wearing dentures for many years. But what are the facts?

1. Time Doesn’t Matter

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been wearing dentures for ten months, ten years, or longer. You can still be a candidate for dental implants.

2. Delay Can Result in Dentures That You Can’t Wear

Without dental implants to stimulate your jawbone and prevent further shrinkage, over time as your jawbone continues to shrink, it won’t be possible to keep a denture in your mouth. Your dentures will progressively lift, slip around, and fall out. Dental implants can slow down the progression of bone shrinkage and improve your experience with dentures.

3. Bone Grafting Can Help

Although it’s not too late for dental implants, long-term denture wearers usually need bone grafting for several reasons:

  • Jawbone progressively shrinks when all your teeth are missing.
  • Dentures that rest on your gums accelerate bone shrinkage.
  • Grafting builds up the bone and provides support for dental implants.
  • The tissue for bone grafts can come from another part of your body or artificial bone.
Photo of angled dental implants for information on why it's not too late for implants in Lowell, MA

Angled dental implants can eliminate the need for bone grafting

4. Angled Dental Implants Might Be an Option

All-On-4 or All-On-6 implants are placed at angles to increase contact with your bone and decrease the chance of implants becoming displaced due to lack of bone density. The technique eliminates the need to build up the bone with grafting. Your provider will tell you if it is an option for you.

5. The Right Provider Can Help

A general dentist, an oral surgeon, or a periodontist (a specialist in gum health) can perform implant surgery. Carefully select a provider who has the following qualifications:

  • Advanced training in implantology
  • Advanced technology to provide 3-D images of your oral anatomy to ensure optimal placement of the dental implants.
  • A history of dozens of successful cases of placing implants for patients with bone shrinkage

 

It’s not too late for dental implants. We suggest that you schedule consultations with at least two implant dentists. Each dentist should discuss your options and the results you can expect. He or she will answer your questions about this dental procedure.

 

Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.