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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Should I Get Invisalign or Porcelain Veneers for a Gap?

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I’ll be 17 yrs old in June. What are the chances that a gap between my two front will close when my wisdom teeth come in? My dad can’t really afford Invisalign, so I hope I don’t need it. Can a gap close on its own? Also, do those rubber bands I see on YouTube close a gap? My friend said I would wait until I get a job and get veneers. What do you suggest? Thank you. Dixon from AL

Dixon – A gap or space between your teeth is called a diastema.

Will Invisalign Work for a Gap?

Several factors determine whether the gap will close after your wisdom teeth erupt. If not, Invisalign or another form of orthodontic treatment can help.

One factor is the size of the space between your teeth. If the gap is small, and your wisdom teeth can erupt completely, the space may close. But many people don’t have enough room in their mouth for wisdom teeth to fully erupt, so a gap needs to be closed by orthodontic treatment or cosmetic dentistry.

At times, tissue between the teeth—labial frenum—stretches from the upper lip to the gums and prevents the gap from closing. If the frenum prevents the gap from closing, a dentist or specialist must remove the tissue. Braces or Invisalign can close the gap.

What About Rubber Bands for a Tooth Gap?

Closing a gap between your teeth is not something you should try on your own. Do-it-yourself orthodontics, such as rubber bands, can incorrectly move your teeth, causing them to twist or leave spaces between your teeth that didn’t exist before.

Porcelain Veneers for a Tooth Gap

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.After your permanent teeth fully develop, a dentist can place porcelain veneers on front teeth to hide the gap between them. You can receive veneers in a few weeks, but it will take months—up to a year for braces to close a gap.

Look for an advanced cosmetic dentist to get high-quality veneers and results that look so professional that no one can tell you had dental work.

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

Why Are My New Implant Crowns Beige?

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Last summer, I got three dental implants. In November of 2020, my dentist placed the final implant crowns. I gradually saw the crowns darkening and mentioned it to my dentist. He told me the crowns are white but not stark white and can look different depending on the lighting. The crowns are beige in sunlight, fluorescent light, bright light, and candlelight. The lighting does not matter. And I am trying not to be furious because I mentioned this to my dentist months ago. I am a suspicious person by nature, but when my dentist told me that crown color depends on the lighting, I felt he knew he was at fault. What kind of battle can I expect with a dentist who probably won’t admit he is at fault? – Thanks for your help. Angela T. from MD

Angela,

We understand your disappointment in receiving implant crowns that detract from the time, effort, and money you spent to improve your smile.

Why Are Your New Implant Crowns Discolored?

If your new implant crowns are discolored, it could be due to surface damage, faulty construction, or the composition of the crowns.

  • Faulty construction – If the glazed surface were damaged when the lab tech made your crowns, they would progressively darken.
  • Damage by your dentist – Sometimes, a dentist can grind away the glaze when adjusting the front surfaces to fit your mouth well.
  • Damage during a hygiene appointment – If a dental hygienist uses power cleaning instruments or acidulated fluoride treatment on your teeth, it will damage the glaze. Your crowns will attract stains and darken.
  • Crown composition – Some patients who complain of yellowing crowns or porcelain veneers discover that they have composite—not porcelain restorations. Although most dentists do not misrepresent your treatment, it happens.

Determining Why Your Implant Crowns are Beige

Look for an accredited cosmetic dentist and schedule an appointment for a second opinion. If you cannot find an accredited dentist, look for a dentist with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training. The dentist will examine your implant crowns to determine why they darkened.

You have good reason to request a refund from your current dentist. But before you ask for a refund, get a second opinion and documentation of the issues with your crowns.

Dr. Michael Szarek, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

Before and after dental implant photos from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Szarek

Dr. Szarek beautifully replaced a dark tooth with an implant and crown

Never Had a Cavity. How Does a Dentist Fill a Tooth?

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I never had a cavity in my life. Now I have 2! At least that’s what my dentist says. I admit I am a little skeptical because I’ve only had two appointments with this dentist, and I am seriously thinking about getting a second opinion. Dentists’ offices make me a little nervous, so can you tell me the steps of getting a tooth filled? Thanks, Samuel from Omaha

Samuel –

If you are skeptical about whether you have cavities, it is best to get a second opinion.

But if you need fillings, a gentle dentist can make filling a cavity a quick, pain-free process.

How Does a Dentist Fill a Tooth?

Molar teeth with composite fillings

A cosmetic dentist makes composite fillings look natural

A dentist fills a tooth by cleaning it, removing the decay, and cleaning it again. Below are typical steps that a dentist will use for a direct composite filling:

  1. Apply topical anesthetic to the injection site
  2. Numb your tooth and the area around it with a local anesthetic
  3. Your dentist may use a bite block to keep your mouth open. Insert a small rubber dam in your mouth to isolate your tooth. This will prevent your jaw muscles from tiring out while you try to keep your mouth open.
  4. Use a tool (drill, laser, or air abrasion) to remove the decay from your tooth quickly. You will not feel anything because your tooth will be numb. A dental assistant will work with your dentist and use a suctioning device to remove the debris from your mouth.
  5. Use an air/water unit to clean your tooth.
  6. Use a liner to protect the tooth nerve—mainly if the decay is close to a tooth nerve.
  7. Use a blue gel to create tiny holes in the tooth, to which dental composite will bond. Your dentist will remove the gel.
  8. Apply a bonding agent to the tooth and spread a preselected shade of dental composite over it
  9. Shape the composite and harden it with a curing light
  10. Check your bite to ensure the filling is not too high or too low
  11. If your bite (the way your teeth fit together when you bite or chew) is correct, smooth and polish the composite. Otherwise, your dentist will make further adjustments to ensure that your filling aligns with your bite.

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

Root Canal After Veneers

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I need a root canal after wearing veneers for 12 years. My left upper incisor is infected, so my dentist referred me to an endodontist. A root canal is my only option. My veneers look new, so I am concerned about my tooth turning dark after the root canal or losing the veneer altogether. Also, I got the veneers when I lived in Texas, but now I live in NJ. Although my dentist takes good care of my veneers, I haven’t seen any of her veneers’ cases, so I don’t know if I have confidence in her if I need a new veneer. Am I at risk of losing it? – Thank you. Linda from New Haven, CT

 

Linda,

It is unusual to need root canal treatment for a porcelain veneer tooth. But if a dentist aggressively prepared your tooth veneers and removed the enamel, the tooth is at greater risk for stress and decay.

How to Prevent a Root Canal from Darkening Your Veneer

Root canal after veneers can darken a tooth. But during treatment, your dentist can minimize the effects. After your endodontist performs your root canal treatment, they can preserve your tooth color with these steps:

  • Clean out root canal filling material from the portion of your tooth above the gumline
  • Place a flexible fiberglass post into the tooth root
  • Fill the space with a light shade of dental composite

Since leftover filling and cement darkening after root canal treatment usually causes darkening, the above steps will help. Cleaning out your crown can prevent your tooth from darkening for five to ten years. And your porcelain veneer can prolong the good results.

Will Root Canal Treatment Ruin Your Veneer?

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

A securely bonded veneer should stay intact during root canal treatment

Root canal treatment should not ruin your veneer. A dentist will access your tooth from the biting surface—not the front of a tooth where your veneer is located. If the dentist who placed your veneers bonded them securely, your veneer would stay in place during root canal treatment.

 

Michael Szarek, DMD sponsors this post. Dr. Szarek is an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Can I Trust My Dentist for a New Implant Crown and Dental Bonding?

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I agreed to extraction and a dental implant after three failed root canals on my top left first molar tooth. But I also have brown fluoride stains on my teeth. Although, I have never done anything about the stains. I do not want a blotchy brown implant crown to match my stained teeth. In 2018, my dentist bleached my stained teeth and applied dental bonding, but both look bad. Now that I need an implant, I am afraid of how my smile might look. My dentist asked me what I wanted to do about the fluoride stains, but I don’t think I want him doing anything. Neither do I want to see two dentists – my current one for an implant and another to lighten the stains. How can I handle this situation? Thank you. Daniel from Ithaca, NY

 

Thank you for your question, Daniel

Bleaching or Dental Bonding for Brown Fluoride Stains?

Bleaching your teeth does not help with fluoride stains. But neither does direct dental bonding if your dentist doesn’t have advanced training. Dentists apply dental bonding by hand, so you will not get good results unless a dentist has cosmetic dentistry training and an artistic eye to make the bonding look natural.

However, you can find a cosmetic dentist to replace your old dental bonding and hide your stains without making your teeth look pasty or opaque.

Dental Implant Crown to Match Bonding

Dental implant diagram of component, implant fixture in bone, and crown placement

A cosmetic dentist can match dental bonding and implant crowns

If you want your dental implant crown to match your new bonding, it is best to let one skilled cosmetic dentist do all the work. Crown matching requires specific instructions from the dentist to a ceramist. Together, they can ensure your bonding and implant crown match.

Unfortunately, your current dentist has not proven his ability with dental bonding. So, it is unlikely that you would get results if you allowed him to place your implant crown.

Look for accredited or advanced cosmetic dentists in your area. Schedule consultations with two skilled cosmetic dentists to discuss your options. The consultations will increase your comfort in switching dentists for a natural-looking smile that you can feel confident about.

 

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