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Archives for October 2019

3 Reasons Porcelain Veneers Can Lose Their Shine and How to Get the Gloss Back

October 28, 2019 by AllSmiles

Have your porcelain veneers lost their shine? If your veneers are new, it’s unusual for them to lose their gloss. There are a few possible causes of the change in the appearance of your smile.

Dental Tools or Chemicals

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

Porcelain veneers are harder than tooth enamel

Porcelain veneers are harder than tooth enamel. A substance must be extremely abrasive to dull the gloss on your teeth. Although toothpaste is abrasive, it is unlikely to cause your veneers to lose their shine. But dental tools and chemicals can damage them. A hygienst who has been trained in how to care for porcelain veneers knows which instruments and substances to use.

Power polishing equipment – Dental hygienists use specific instruments, including the prophy jet, that will blast the glaze off veneers and cause them to dull.

Some fluoride treatment – Some fluoride contains hydrofluoric acid, which will etch porcelain, dull the surface of your veneers, and cause them to stain.

Your Veneers Might Not Be Porcelain at All

If your veneers are made of dental composite—not porcelain—they are much more likely to stain. Several substances will scratch composite, including:

  • Abrasive toothpaste – As you brush your teeth, the toothpaste will create tiny scratches on the composite, which attract stains.
  • Polishing pumice – At the end of professional dental cleaning, most hygienists use polishing pumice to make your teeth shine. The abrasive polish doesn’t harm tooth enamel, but it can scratch composite veneers.
  • Alcohol-based mouthwash – Alcohol softens dental composite and makes it easy to get scratched and stain.

How to Care for Your Porcelain Veneers

  • Brush them with a non-abrasive toothpaste, and floss between them.
  • Don’t use your teeth to bite or open hard objects.
  • Ensure you receive dental cleanings from a hygienist who is trained to care for porcelain veneers. He or she knows which dental tools to use—and which tools to avoid—to maintain the luster of your smile.
  • Visit a cosmetic dentist who will safely polish your veneers and give them a glossy shine.

What Can You Do If Your Veneers are Already Stained?

Schedule an appointment for an exam with an advanced cosmetic dentist to determine the cause of your dull porcelain veneers. Look at a few cosmetic dentist’s websites to read about their training and experience. You’ll receive the best results from an accredited cosmetic dentist.

A cosmetic dentist might be able to polish your veneers to improve their appearance. If not, he or she will explain your options. If your porcelain veneers are permanently damaged, they will need to be replaced to regain your bright smile.

This post is sponsored by accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Szarek, DMD. His Lowell, MA office is conveniently located near Dracut, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Billerica, Pelham, Westford, and Andover.

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An 8-Step Guide to Whitening Your Teeth Before You Get Dental Crowns

October 17, 2019 by AllSmiles

Are you trying to determine the best way to whiten your teeth before getting dental crowns? Several keys will ensure your crowns match your newly brightened smile.

1. How Much Is Enough?

Although there is no specific limit on how long to whiten your teeth, the longer you use the bleaching gel, the whiter your teeth will get. Keep in mind that sensitivity can become an issue. And the pace of whitening will decrease over time.

2. Questions to Ask Yourself Before Teeth Whitening

  • How satisfied am I with the color of my teeth?
  • How much have I bleached them in the past?
  • Has the bleaching gel I’m using made a difference?

3. How Much Time Should You Whiten Each Day?

In general, you should keep the bleaching trays on your teeth for a minimum of 20-30 minutes. But it can stay on longer. The length of your daily whitening time depends on whether the bleaching gel is causing a lot of sensitivity in your teeth.

4. What Time of Day Is Best?

Photo of a woman's mouch with custom teeth whitening trays being placed on her teeth; from Lowell MA accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Szarek, DMD.

Custom teeth-whitening trays seal bleaching gel against your teeth

You can whiten your teeth during the day or at night. One advantage of nighttime use is that while you’re sleeping your, saliva flow decreases. The bleaching gel will stay in the trays longer. Although daytime use is effective, increased saliva flow can water down the gel. Custom bleaching trays fit snugly and keep saliva out, but if you don’t have them, the bleaching gel will get diluted. You will need to rinse the trays and replenish the gel.

5. What If You Overdo It?

Your teeth will let you know if you’ve whitened them too much. They will become sensitive to heat and cold. But you can manage the sensitivity in one or more of the following ways:

  • Take ibuprofen daily
  • Ask your dentist for fluoride gel
  • Use Sensodyne toothpaste, which is for sensitive teeth.

6. When to Stop Whitening Your Teeth Before Receiving New Dental Crowns

After you’ve completed the whitening sessions, oxygen bubbles from the peroxide gel will continue to disperse and whiten your teeth. It takes about two weeks for the color to stabilize. If you’re receiving crowns on your front teeth, wait the full two weeks before visiting your dentist to match them to your natural teeth.

7. Before You Receive Your Crowns

It’s best to find a skilled cosmetic dentist who will guide you through the whitening process and provide lifelike dental crowns that perfectly match your natural teeth. A dependable cosmetic dentist will never be satisfied with taking a chance on matching the crowns with your whither teeth. Ask yourself, “Is this the right dentist to give me a new smile?”

Although you might think crowns are the best solution for the issues with your teeth, an experienced cosmetic dentist will explain your options. Look for a nearby accredited cosmetic dentist. Accredited cosmetic dentists have demonstrated their skill by completing rigorous exams and submitting successful patient cases to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

8. After You Receive Your Crowns

Over time, your teeth will pick up stains from coffee, tea, wine, smoking, and certain fruits. Every six months, you can whiten your teeth for a few days to restore their brightness. Be careful not to overdo it because they will no longer match your dental crowns.

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

Filed Under: Teeth whitening Tagged With: 01852 teeth whitening, day or night teeth whitening, how long to whiten teeth each day, Lowell teeth whitening, teeth whitening cosmetic dentist, teeth whitening dental crowns, teeth whitening sensitivity

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