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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

How long does teeth bonding last?

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I have 2 chipped teeth. I am deciding on whether to fix it with porcelain veneers or teeth bonding. How long does teeth bonding last? Thanks. Veronica

Veronica – Dental bonding works well for small repairs in teeth. Although it is not as durable as porcelain, if taken care of, it can last up to ten years.

Smoking, coffee, and tea tend to stain bonding. Excessive alcohol consumption will weaken the bonding and cause it to wear away prematurely.

Find a skilled cosmetic dentist who uses quality bonding material and has a variety of material so that the bonding will match your natural teeth. Keep your appointment for regular checkups and cleanings. If your bonding stains frequently, your cosmetic dentist may be able to polish the stains away.

Take care of your bonding to help it last long.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek. Many consider Dr. Szarek to be the best Lowell dentist. Find out why.

Store-bought teeth whitening trays vs whitening strips

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Which is better store-bought teeth whitening trays or whitening strips? Thanks Ethan

Ethan – One of the common complaints about store-bought teeth whitening trays is that they don’t fit properly. The trays need to fit well for the whitening gel to penetrate your teeth. And one-size-fits-all trays won’t fit you well. You will end up wasting a lot of whitening gel.

Whitening strips fit snugly against your teeth to help the gel penetrate your teeth. But even the results from the whitening gel will be limited, because the gel is only a fraction of the strength of the gel you get from your dentist.

Dentists provide you with custom-made bleaching trays and professional strength teeth whitening gel to penetrate your teeth and break down stains. A cosmetic dentist can also determine the best way to get your smile brilliantly white, depending on the type of stains in your teeth.

Speak with your dentist about teeth whitening. He or she may be able to make it affordable for you.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Can my Lumineers be made shorter after they have been placed?

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I got Lumineers 8 on my upper teeth. They are a little too wide and noticeably too long. Can this be fixed? – Victoria

Victoria – Unfortunately, porcelain veneers cannot be altered after they are bonded onto your teeth.

Experienced cosmetic dentists know that Lumineers can often be too bulky, opaque, or long on patients’ teeth. So many cosmetic dentists use other brands of porcelain veneers.

When you receive porcelain veneers of a skilled cosmetic dentist, he or she will determine in advance how you want your new smile to look. You will be able to try in the veneers, and any adjustments you want will be made before the veneers are bonded to your teeth.

When the veneers are bonded to your teeth, changes can no longer be made to them.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

My porcelain crowns don’t match my natural teeth

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Last October I got 3 porcelain crowns for upper teeth in the front of my mouth. One of the crowns matches the color of my natural teeth but the other 2 don’t match. Twice my dentist attempted to make the color match. He keeps saying the lab didn’t get it right. Through the whole process I have not pretended to be pleased, so with my last visit he said that he could try it again or if I want to leave the teeth as they are, he will give me a discount. 3 attempts? I have no confidence in his ability to get the match correct. I am disappointed and frustrated. What next? – Jane H.

Jane – Unfortunately, your experience shows how different an outcome can be, depending on the dentist who does the work. An artistically inclined cosmetic dentist beautifully restores teeth with porcelain crowns.

Although your dentist says attributes the color-match issue to the laboratory, it is the dentist who supplies the technician with notes and instructions to create your dental crowns. Color-match photography is available to take a color-accurate photograph of your teeth. The photograph can be sent to the technician, along with the dentist’s notes to get an accurate match.

You must decide whether or not you want your dentist to try the color match again. You have the option of making an appointment with a skilled and credentialed cosmetic dentist who can provide you with crowns to perfectly match the color and translucency of your natural teeth.

Since your dentist offered a discount because you are displeased with the work, perhaps he will be willing to provide you with some sort of compensation if you decide to let a cosmetic dentist do the work.

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Finding a cosmetic dentist who does good bonding work

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How can I find a cosmetic dentist that does good bonding work? I know that the dentists aren’t making the porcelain veneers themselves, but I have two acquaintances that have had porcelain veneers fall off. So I know how important the bonding is. Before I select a cosmetic dentist, I need a little advice on how to find a good one for bonding. – Sheri M.

Sheri – Your choice of a cosmetic dentist matters for both the bonding work and for the porcelain veneers themselves.

The cosmetic dentist has to plan your treatment, take quality impressions, and give details about the shade, texture, translucency, and shape of your veneers. When the veneers are returned from the lab, the cosmetic dentist will approve the work and bond the veneers to your teeth, or return the veneers to the lab for adjustments—or for them to be completely re-made. The results of an expert ceramist at a lab are very dependent on the instructions received from the cosmetic dentist. It is the expertise of both professionals that result in a beautiful smile makeover.

Additionally, if a dentist does not have excellent artistic inclination, he or she is unlikely choose a ceramist with the same inclination. An expert cosmetic dentist knows how the ceramist will affect the end result. A cosmetic dentist with an artistic eye wants you to have a beautiful smile and will choose a ceramist and lab that will produce those results.

If you need assistance finding a skilled cosmetic dentist in your area, mynewsmile.com is an excellent resource. The website is run by a retired cosmetic dentist. Names are not randomly added to mynewsmile.com. Dentists’ training and credentials are checked, and photos of their work are submitted before their names are added to the website.

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.