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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Ultra-Thin vs. Traditional Porcelain Veneers – What Matters?

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If you are interested in porcelain veneers, you may have discovered that traditional and ultra-thin veneers are available. How can you determine which type is appropriate for you? We will compare veneers and factors to help you decide which is best for your oral health and smile.

Ultra-Thin Porcelain Veneers

A porcelain veneer being bonded to a tooth

Consult with an advanced cosmetic dentist about porcelain veneers

Ultra-thin porcelain veneers are half the thickness of traditional veneers. Manufacturers market some brands as requiring no preparation, meaning a dentist can apply them to your teeth without removing any tooth enamel. Nevertheless, sometimes failure to remove s small amount of tooth enamel can make your teeth look bulky.

Features of ultra-thin porcelain veneers

  • Thickness – Ultra-thin porcelain veneers can measure 0.2 mm, while traditional veneers are 0.5 mm
  • Tooth preparation – A cosmetic dentist will remove a fraction of a millimeter of tooth enamel.
  • Limitations – Ultra-thin veneers are ideal for patients requiring slight tooth color, shape, or alignment adjustments.
  • Aesthetics – They look natural and allow natural tooth color to show through. Many patients choose to replace old dental bonding with ultra-thin veneers.

Traditional Porcelain Veneers

Traditional porcelain veneers are thin but thicker than ultra-thin types and require more tooth preparation. Still, a skilled cosmetic dentist collaborates with a dental ceramist to skillfully craft customized, natural-looking veneers for each patient.

Features of traditional porcelain veneers

  • Thickness – Traditional porcelain veneers are about 0.5 mm
  • Tooth preparation – While remaining conservative with tooth preparation, a cosmetic dentist must remove more tooth enamel than ultra-thin veneers.
  • Limitations – They are well-suited for more complex tooth discoloration, misshape, and alignment cases.
  • Aesthetics – A skilled cosmetic dentist and expert ceramist create beautiful smiles with traditional veneers.

Should You Choose Ultra-Thin or Traditional Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers vary in thickness. Your cosmetic dentist may recommend ultra-thin veneers slightly thicker than 0.2 mm but not as thick as 0.5 mm.

Whether you choose ultra-thin or traditional veneers depends on several factors, including:

  • Your smile goals
  • The condition of your teeth
  • Your teeth alignment
  • Your cosmetic dentist’s recommendation

High-quality dental ceramics are dense and virtually stain resistant. Your cosmetic dentist will explain the results you can expect with each type of veneer that may suit your case.

Schedule a Porcelain Veneers Consultation

Look for accredited cosmetic dentists or advanced cosmetic dentists with extensive post-graduate training. Schedule consultations with at least two dentists to discuss your smile goals and treatment options.

 

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

Why Do My Teeth Look Worse After Whitening?

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Why do my teeth look worse after whitening? My dentist recommended whitening after braces left white spots on my teeth. My teeth are super white, but the areas from braces look brighter than ever. Now my teeth are blotchy. My dentist said that maybe she could try bonding. I feel like a guinea pig in a clinical trial. What treatment should I ask my dentist to use next? Thank you. Miranda from Charleston, SC

Miranda,

Thank you for your question. Without advanced cosmetic dentistry training, a dentist may not understand how to treat spotted or stained treat based on the cause of the discoloration.

Will Teeth Whitening Improve White Spots?

Teeth whitening usually makes white spots worse. The bleaching gel removes stains embedded in teeth but does not improve uneven discoloration, stains, or spots.

How Can You Treat White Spots on Teeth?

Treatment for white spots on teeth depends on their cause. Decalcification around brackets on braces can cause white spots. These factors cause decalcification:

  • Food debris or bacteria trapped beneath braces or around brackets
  • Plaque buildup decreases the calcium that teeth need
  • Calcium depletion that causes white spots

Treatment options

A cosmetic dentist may recommend remineralization, microabrasion, or dental bonding for white spots on teeth.

  • Remineralization – Fluoride treatments or remineralizing gels can improve teeth over time.
  • Microabrasion – After removing discolored tooth enamel and applying an abrasive substance to your teeth, a cosmetic dentist will clean, rinse, and polish them.
  • Dental bonding – A cosmetic dentist can remove areas of decalcification and apply dental bonding to replace them. Cosmetic dentists have an inventory of bonding materials and tools to achieve a perfect match and blend the bonding with your tooth color.

We recommend scheduling an appointment with an advanced cosmetic dentist for an exam and an explanation of your treatment options.

Before and after dental bonding photos from Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek

Dental bonding photos from Dr. Michael Szarek of Lowell, Massachusetts

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

 

Why Do My Dental Implants Hurt When I Chew?

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In August 2020, my dentist finished my full-mouth reconstruction, including five implants, seven crowns, and veneers. Two of the crowns on my natural teeth fell off last week, and I have an infection around three of the five implants. My gums are swollen around the implants, and chewing hurts. My dentist relocated last December, and I cannot find a listing for his new dental office. I am anxious about finding a new dentist to reattach the crowns and worried that I would need to repeat the full-mouth reconstruction. Where do I begin? Thank you. Baldwin from CT

Baldwin,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Szarek’s office.

We are sorry to hear about your stressful experience. You can benefit from an exam and a 3-D CT scan to identify the cause of your discomfort. Also, a skilled restorative dentist can determine why your crowns have fallen off.

What Causes Dental Implants to Hurt When You Chew?

Model of a dental implant, including the crown, abutment, and artificial rootDental implants can hurt when you chew if you have an infection around the implants. Usually, the condition is a form of gum disease that can lead to dental implant failure. Signs and symptoms of infection include:

  • Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
  • Bleeding around the implants
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Loose implants
  • Pain, aches, or discomfort around the implant
  • Pus around the implants
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Visible implant threads

Treatment for Infection Around Dental Implants

Depending on the cause and extent of infection around dental implants and the quality of your dental implants, treatment options may include:

  • Antibiotics
  • Antimicrobial therapy
  • Laser therapy for your gums
  • Surgery
  • Implant removal, bone grafting, and implant replacement

Find a Skilled Implant Dentist

Look for dentists with advanced implant and cosmetic dentistry training. Dentists who restore implants but do not perform surgery partner with an oral surgeon or periodontist for implant surgery. Dentists with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training are skilled at identifying the cause of faulty crowns and restoring dental implants.

We recommend scheduling consultations with two advanced cosmetic dentists to discuss your options.

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

Can I Get My Crowns Replaced with Veneers?

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I am concerned about the toxicity of my metal crowns because they contain palladium. I want all six crowns replaced with veneers, so I will know that I don’t have metal in my mouth. How do I find a dentist who will replace them? Thank you. Len from Manhattan

Len

Thank you for your question.

Palladium is a moderately biocompatible noble metal in the platinum group. Sensitivities to the metal are rare, but it is possible to react to palladium. Most dental crowns and bridges with a metal framework contain palladium.

Still, if you want a metal-free alternative, consider these factors:

Can You Replace Dental Crowns with Veneers?

A porcelain veneer held next to a tooth

Porcelain veneers require minimal tooth preparation and do not work for teeth that had crowns on them

A dentist is unable to replace dental crowns with veneers. Preparing teeth for crowns requires shaving each tooth on all sides to allow the crown to fit over it. Porcelain veneers only cover the fronts of your teeth and require minimal preparation. After a dentist shaves tooth structure in preparation for crowns, you will not have enough tooth structure for veneers. You can only get new crowns.

The Role of Metals in the Human Body

Our daily nutrition and life rely on metal ions.

  • Sodium – As a pure metal, sodium is toxic. It becomes salt when combined with chlorine.
  • Iron – We cannot consume metallic iron, but iron ions in our hemoglobin give our blood its red color and help our muscles store and use oxygen.
  • Other metal ions – Other metals that we need for a healthy diet and nutrition include:
    • Calcium
    • Cobalt
    • Copper
    • Magnesium
    • Manganese
    • Molybdenum
    • Potassium
    • Zinc

What about Ceramic Crowns?

  • Lithium – Sodium-based is in ocean water. Lithium disilicate is a high-strength ceramic. E.max crowns contain lithium disilicate.
  • Zirconium – Zirconium dioxide or zirconia is so strong that engineers use it in aerodynamics. It is more durable than other ceramics for dental restorations. Zirconia crowns make exceptionally durable dental bridges.
  • Porcelain – Cosmetic dentists mainly use porcelain crowns for front teeth because porcelain is not as strong as lithium or zirconia. Dental porcelain contains kaolin, a clay that contains silica and the ion aluminum oxide, which is not a metal.

We recommend scheduling a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist to discuss your concerns about your metal-based crowns and alternatives for replacing them.

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

Will Porcelain Veneers Work for Overlapped Teeth?

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My center front teeth overlap. I also have two teeth on the left side that overlap. I know braces will work, but I am not sure about the time commitment. It seems like a lot of trouble to spend more than a year getting four teeth straight. My other teeth look okay. Will four porcelain veneers work to get rid of the overlapping, or will I have to get braces? Thanks. Everett from Lansing, MI

Everett – Thank you for your question.

Porcelain veneers can correct overlapped teeth, but a skilled cosmetic dentist must examine your teeth first to determine whether veneers will enhance your smile.

Will Veneers Work for Overlapped Teeth?

A porcelain veneer held next to a tooth

A skilled cosmetic dentist can determine whether porcelain veneers will correct overlapped teeth

An advanced cosmetic dentist may be able to reshape your teeth to accommodate veneers. You may need a combination of cosmetic dentistry treatments to ensure your smile looks natural.

Although only four teeth might seem to be affected, other teeth might be shifting. If so, you will need to compare orthodontic treatment vs. porcelain veneers. If your teeth are moving, cosmetic dentistry will not stop the movement. Orthodontics might provide a longer-lasting solution.

Even if you are a candidate for porcelain veneers, you may need more than four veneers to produce natural-looking results. Sometimes adjacent teeth require veneers to balance out your smile.

Finding a Cosmetic Dentist for Overlapped Teeth

Correcting your smile with cosmetic dentistry and porcelain veneers requires much skill. Schedule an appointment with at least two experienced cosmetic dentists to receive an exam and discuss your treatment options. Remember to prepare questions about your treatment options, including:

  • Ask to see before-and-after pictures of similar cases the dentist has completed.
  • Ask about the results you can expect if you receive porcelain veneers.
  • Other than the four teeth you are concerned about, ask if there are any apparent issues with other teeth that need attention.

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