AllSmiles, Author at Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Is Replacing My Veneer with a Crown the Solution for a Cavity?

Posted on June 26, 2024 by AllSmiles.

My dentist wants to replace my porcelain veneer with a crown because I have a cavity in the veneer tooth. I have eight veneers. Is this my only option? Thank you. Stacie from CT

Stacie,

A cavity in a porcelain veneer tooth is rare. Consult a cosmetic dentist.

We recommend getting a second opinion before allowing your dentist to replace your porcelain veneer with a crown. A second opinion can help you feel confident about your treatment choice.

Several reasons for concern are:

Matching the Crown to Your Veneers – Matching a dental crown to surrounding veneers is challenging for most dentists. Perhaps 2% of dentists have advanced cosmetic dentistry training and experience to do it.
Determining Treatment Based on Cavity Size—A dentist should only recommend replacing a porcelain veneer with a crown for a cavity if the cavity is large. In that case, removing the decay may require removing so much tooth structure that the tooth cannot retain a porcelain veneer. If the cavity is on the edge of your tooth, your dentist may not have the training or equipment to fill the cavity. Preparing a tooth for a dental crown will require grinding it on all sides to ensure it fits over it.
Your Dentist’s Experience = Most family and general dentists don’t do cosmetic dentistry often enough to skillfully remove a cavity from a porcelain veneer tooth. Often, the dentist will recommend a crown instead because they are more comfortable with crown placement.

We cannot say that your dentist’s treatment recommendation is wrong. However, if you are uncomfortable with replacing your porcelain veneers with a crown, get a second opinion from an advanced cosmetic dentist. Search online for cosmetic dentists, look at their bios on their websites, and check for extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry.

It is unusual to get a cavity on a porcelain veneer tooth because it covers the front of the tooth. Floss diligently between your teeth and limit snacking. You may also want a cosmetic dentist to check the quality of the bond between your tooth and the porcelain veneer.

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post. Read how Dr. Szarek strives to give his patients the best dental care in Lowell.

My Root Canal Filling Fell Out

Posted on May 22, 2024 by AllSmiles.

I did not return to the dentist after getting a root canal last September. I still can’t afford a dentist, but the cover on the root canal tooth fell off. When I looked at the tooth in the mirror, I could see a metal rod that moved when I touched it. I don’t want to swallow the rod, but is it safe to remove it myself? Thanks. Drew

Drew,

If a root canal filling or crown falls off, see a dentist promptly instead of trying do-it-yourself methods.

What Is Root Canal Filling?

Root canal treatment steps, including opening the tooth, removing the infection, adding a post, filling the tooth, and covering it with a crown

A dental crown is the final step to protect a root canal tooth and prevent reinfection

Following a root canal, a dentist will replace the infected tooth pulp with a filling material. This filling needs protection to prevent future infection from saliva and fluids. If the filling gets compromised, the tooth can become reinfected, and you might need another root canal to save the tooth.

Protecting Your Root Canal Tooth

Dentists keep bacteria out of a root canal tooth with these steps:

Metal Post and Filling: Insert a metal post into the tooth for extra support and fill the tooth with dental bonding.
Temporary Crown: A temporary crown over the tooth provides immediate protection.
Permanent Crown: A permanent crown offers a durable long-term solution.

What Happens If Root Canal Filling Falls Out?

If your root canal filling comes loose, get it replaced by a dentist ASAP to save the tooth and avoid another root canal. Don’t pull the post from your tooth or wait until it falls off. Arrange financing or payment plans for your dental care and save your tooth.

Schedule an appointment with a dentist for an exam and X-ray do assess the condition of your tooth and treatment recommendations to save it.

Why Are My Gums Sensitive Between Two Teeth?

Posted on April 29, 2024 by AllSmiles.

I have gum sensitivity between my top right first and second molars. I’ve repeatedly told my dentist that the sensitivity is in my gums, not my teeth. After multiple exams, my dentist recommended removing the second molar. Why remove a tooth when it doesn’t hurt? – Thanks, Fermin from Cathedral City, CA

Fermin,

Ask your dentist to refer you to a gum specialist (periodontist). If you feel discomfort in your gums between teeth, don’t allow a dentist to remove a tooth without an accurate diagnosis. Preserving your teeth is the best way to protect your oral health.

When a patient complains of gum discomfort, a dentist should check the gum pockets between the teeth. You may have a periodontal abscess, which can occur with deep pockets between the teeth. Food particles and bacteria can irritate your gum tissue. When the debris in the pockets disintegrates, your discomfort resolves until something else gets trapped in the pockets.

Deep cleaning to remove debris and bacteria might help, but you won’t know unless you get a second opinion or see a specialist.

Regular flossing should remove trapped food particles between your teeth. If you don’t floss daily, make time to do so. Ask the periodontist’s hygienist to watch your flossing technique if you already floss daily. The hygienist will give you instructions for more effective flossing.

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post. Read how Dr. Szarek strives to give his patients the best dental care in Lowell.

Why Are My Gums Inflamed Around My Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on March 15, 2024 by AllSmiles.

My gums are inflamed around all four of my four-month-old veneers. I have no inflammation over my teeth without veneers. My dentist’s assistant said it must be because I don’t floss, but that’s not true. My gums burn some and stay inflamed. I saw my dentist last week, and she removed some cement around the veneers and smoothed some rough surfaces behind my teeth. It helped somewhat.

I would like to know what to do next and what could have happened during my veneer placement to cause puffy gums. My dentist didn’t seem too concerned. Last week, I saw a periodontist who said my gums are healthy, so something else must be causing the inflammation. Thanks. Lyla

Lyla,

Most patients who work in cosmetic dentistry are conscientious about taking care of their teeth. We understand how frustrating it can be when you brush and floss as instructed but are blamed for problems with your cosmetic dentistry restorations. Although we can’t identify the cause of your gum inflammation without an exam, we can explain some possibilities.

Why Are Your Gums Inflamed Around Your Veneers?

When your gums are inflamed around your veneers, the most likely cause is excess cement left around the veneers. The cement can get beneath your gumline and irritate it. Cosmetic dentists who regularly place porcelain veneers cure the cement in the middle of the tooth and clean off the excess to prevent overflow around your porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers should not cause gum inflammation

If your dentist removed some cement during your follow-up visit, the cement may still be causing inflammation.

Margin irregularity

Margin irregularity is unevenness where the porcelain veneers and teeth meet. Although a periodontist said your gums look healthy, they are inflamed. You will get a better diagnosis from a cosmetic dentist who is not associated with the dental practice you have visited.

Porcelain veneer position

If your veneers are too far under your gumline they can reach the gingival attachment and cause inflammation.

Sensitivity to porcelain veneers

Although porcelain veneers rarely provoke a reaction, some patients experience sensitivity.

Schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist for a second opinion on whether your gum inflammation relates to your new veneers.

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

Why Does My Temporary Bridge Make My Face and Jaw Hurt?

Posted on February 15, 2024 by AllSmiles.

I have had a dental bridge since 2017 that includes my lower right first premolar through my second molar. Although the bridge was still comfortable, my dentist recommended replacing it before I began to have problems. She took impressions of my mouth and placed a temporary bridge. I take ibuprofen every day because the bridge hurts. The entire left side of my mouth and jaw hurt. It hurts to speak and chew more than anything, and my gums are slightly swollen. My dentist took x-rays and said they looked okay. She cannot explain my pain. Of course, I am not allowing my dentist to order the final bridge because this temporary bridge hurts so badly. My dentist recommended an endodontist, but I do not have an appointment until early next month. Why would I suddenly need a root canal? Based on my description, why would a temporary bridge cause ongoing pain? Thank you. Kurt from NH

Kurt

Thank you for your question. One of our dentists would need to examine your bridge, teeth, and X-rays for an accurate diagnosis. However, we will explain three factors that might cause a temporary bridge to hurt.

Why Would a Temporary Bridge Hurt?

Dental bridge

A temporary bridge can hurt because your teeth are sensitive after preparation, irritated by bacteria, or the bridge is not optimal.

Sensitive teeth after preparation – Placing a bridge requires shaving down teeth on the sides and top so the bridge ends will fit over them. Teeth prepared for a bridge can ache and be sensitive to cold and hot temperatures, food, and drinks. Removing a bridge and preparing teeth for a new one are traumatic events.
Irritation from bacteria – If a dentist finds decay beneath a dental bridge or its components, bacteria could have infected and irritated your teeth.
Bridge position – A bridge that does not fit well can affect your bite. When you eat, the opposite teeth (upper or lower) can hit the bridge teeth harder than usual and make them ache. You can feel jaw or neck pain and get headaches, too.

Referring You to a Root Canal Specialist

When a dentist cannot identify the cause of your pain, they may refer you to a root canal specialist (endodontist). The endodontist will examine your teeth, possibly x-ray them, and test their sensitivity.

Although some dentists delay making the permanent bridge, others place it with temporary cement. It gives the dentist time to observe your teeth and see if the sensitivity resolves. An X-ray will show whether the tissue inside the tooth is infected or died and requires root canal treatment. Prompt care can help preserve the tooth, preventing the spread of an infection or the need for a dental implant.

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