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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Archives for December 2019

What Should You Do If the Only Thing That Relieves Your Toothache Is Cold Water?

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I have four fillings on molar teeth that I received 10-12 years old. I didn’t get them all at once, though. Two of them don’t bother me at all, but one of them is loose, and another tooth throbs on occasion. When the pain gets severe, I hold water in my mouth to get some relief. It’s almost as if the water pressure is soothing. Last week I started using a tooth whitening kit that I bought online. I wanted to whiten my teeth before I got the silver fillings replaced with white ones. Today, the pain in the throbbing tooth got stronger and more persistent. Am I going to have to get the fillings replaced before I finish whitening my teeth? I haven’t selected a dentist yet! Thanks. Carver

Carver,

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a case, for information on DIY teeth whitening from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Discontinue teeth whitening if you have a lingering toothache

You should discontinue whitening your teeth. The symptoms in your throbbing tooth indicate that the tooth pulp is dying, and you’ll need a root canal treatment for it. You also need to find a dentist to replace the loose filling before that tooth dies.

Why Does Cold Water Relieve Your Toothache?

When a patient tells us that cold water relieves a toothache, there is no doubt that the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth) is gangrenous and has almost died. Also, when your tooth is sensitive to heat, the pulp is dying.

  • When decay gets beneath a filling, it spreads until it infects the tooth pulp.
  • The pulp becomes gangrenous, gives off gases, inflames, increases pressure inside the tooth, and causes a toothache.
  • If you cool your tooth with water, the swelling decreases somewhat and eases the pain.
  • There isn’t enough room in your tooth for swelling and infection, so if left untreated, the pulp will die.

Treating the Tooth

You’ll feel relief from the pressure tooth when your dentist creates an opening for root canal treatment. Only root canal treatment will remove the infected pulp. Your dentist will clean the tooth deep into the roots, use dental material to fill it, seal it, and protect it with a dental crown.

Teeth whitening gel will irritate your teeth and cause more inflammation and pain. After your dentist treats the issues with the infected tooth and the loose filling, you can speak with him or her about your goals for whiter teeth.

Search online for an experienced dentist and schedule an appointment right away. If you’ve delayed getting treatment because you’re anxious about dental visits, look for a gentle dentist who will help you relax.

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

5 Facts About Tetracycline-Stained Teeth that You Shouldn’t Ignore

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Many people are tempted to self-treat severe tetracycline staining by whitening their teeth or asking their family dentist for porcelain veneers. But this aesthetic issue requires much more skill than most dentists have.

1. What Causes Tetracycline Stains on Teeth?

If you took the antibiotic tetracycline as a child while your permanent teeth were still forming, the antibiotic might be discolored. Most likely, your teeth are grayish brown, and in severe cases, they are very dark.

2. Does Teeth Whitening Help Tetracycline Stains?

The KöR whitening system is so powerful that it can lighten tetracycline stains. Other teeth whitening systems are ineffective for these stains. Although KöR might not completely resolve the issue, it’s less expensive than porcelain veneers and can improve your smile. Keep in mind that your cosmetic dentist might not use KöR as treatment, or it might not be an option for your case.

3. Will Porcelain Veneers Help?

Although some dentists try to cover tetracycline stains with porcelain veneers, the results often don’t look good on your smile. There are several reasons:

  • Porcelain needs to be translucent to look natural – But translucency allows the dark stains to show through your veneers.
  • Opaque porcelain veneers don’t look natural either – If a dentist chooses to reduce the translucency in your veneers to conceal tetracycline stains, your teeth will look chalky or pasty.
  • Full coverage is needed – Often, dentists who lack experience in concealing tetracycline stains cover the fronts of the teeth—not the sides. This technique leaves dark shadows on the edges of your teeth.

The above scenarios attract attention to your smile for the wrong reasons. And that’s what you’re already trying to avoid. But in the hands of a skilled dentist, porcelain veneers can transform your smile.

4. Your Choice of Dentist Matters

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

Only advanced cosmetic dentists can conceal tetracycline stains with veneers

Porcelain veneers can conceal tetracycline stains. But it requires the skill of an accomplished cosmetic dentist who understands how to block dark discoloration in your teeth while maintaining translucency in your porcelain veneers. It’s an art that most dentists lack. Aesthetic-driven laboratories craft opalescent porcelains that advanced dentists use to help you smile with confidence.

5. Consult with an Advanced Cosmetic Dentist

We recommend that you search for an accredited cosmetic dentist. Avoid asking your family dentist to try to resolve this issue for you. Most family dentists will taper your teeth and place porcelain crowns over them. Still, if the stains are very dark, crowns won’t completely conceal the discoloration. An accredited cosmetic dentist will preserve most of your natural tooth structure by treating the tetracycline stains with veneers or KöR whitening if appropriate.

During your consultation and exam, ask the accredited cosmetic dentist a few questions:

  • What treatment will you use to conceal the tetracycline stains in my teeth?
  • What results can I expect?
  • How many cases like mine have you completed?
  • May I see before-and-after photos of tetracycline cases you’ve treated with porcelain veneers or KöR whitening?

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