Cosmetic dentist Archives - Page 2 of 13 - Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

How to Resolve It If Your Dentist Grinds Your Crown Down to the Metal

Posted on May 14, 2020 by AllSmiles.

In the late 1990s, my cosmetic dentist in NJ gave me a beautiful Maryland bridge. It’s held up well even though I grind my teeth at night and rarely wear my night guard. I’m not bragging about going without my night guard – my former dentist’s work is impressive. Even my current dentist in CT admitted it. In mid-April, I had some dental work completed. I couldn’t delay getting two crowns.

In the process of trying to adjust my bite with the new crowns, my current dentist reduced the Maryland bridge tooth. A few days later when I was looking at my teeth in the mirror, I noticed a silver dot showing through that same tooth. I scheduled an appointment for my dentist to look at the tooth, and he said the metal is finally showing through because I don’t wear a nightguard. He covered the dot with composite filling, but the metal is showing again. Could the metal suddenly show through the Maryland bridge tooth, although I didn’t have any problems before? Thank you – Tamar

Tamar,

Your dentist doesn’t want to admit that grinding down the tooth in your Maryland bridge caused the metal to show through. If he admits it, he’s obligated to replace your bridge. It is possible that after he thinned the bridge that your teeth-grinding habit exposed more of the metal. But the evidence suggests that the problem occurred after your dentist adjusted your bite.

When Your Dentist Grinds Your Crown Down to the Metal

Get a second opinion – Many dentists will give you a second opinion at no charge. How will a second opinion help?

Ask the dentist if there are signs of grinding on the porcelain where the metal is showing. A dental bur leaves distinct marks on porcelain, and it will be easy for the second-opinion dentist to see the marks.
Return to your dentist with the report form the second-opinion dentist. But don’t accuse your dentist of intentionally grinding down the porcelain. It’s a mistake that many dentists have made in the past.

Below is a photograph of three crowns on back molar teeth. The porcelain was adjusted so much that the metal shows through.

Lower molar teeth with metal showing through the crowns

An advanced cosmetic dentist can try to conceal metal showing through a crown or replace the crowns

Will You Need a New Maryland Bridge?

Your dentist bonded composite over the metal, but you didn’t mention if he prepared the surface of the metal first. Without preparation, the composite won’t hold.

Panavia is a dental cement that bonds to metal if a dentist takes these steps:

Grind away a little of the metal to allow room for the cement
Etch the metal with a micro-etcher, or small sandblaster
Prime the metal, coat it with a thin layer of opaque Panavia, and cure it
Place the correct shade of composite would over the cement and shaped and polish the composite

There is no guarantee that the composite will adhere to the metal for an extended time. But perhaps an advanced cosmetic dentist can use composite to resolve the issue with metal showing through on your Maryland bridge Schedule an appointment with an accredited cosmetic dentist to discuss your options.

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

Should Your Cosmetic Dentist Use a Crown or Veneer After Root Canal?

Posted on February 29, 2020 by AllSmiles.

When I received a root canal from my cosmetic dentist in 2018, she wanted to place a porcelain veneer over the toot, but I declined. The tooth is dark now, and I’ve relocated to Burlington, which is 400 miles from my former dentist. My new dentist recommended a crown for the tooth because he said a veneer wouldn’t work anymore. I didn’t realize that he would have to file down the tooth for a crown. I know it’s probably too late, but was my dentist too aggressive in recommending a crown? Elyssa from Burlington, VA

Elyssa,

Dental schools train dentists to restore a tooth with a crown after root canal treatment. Your dentist was likely doing as he was taught. Crowns require shaving your tooth to ensure it fits without negatively affecting your bite.

When Do Cosmetic Dentists Use Crowns After Root Canal?

Extensive damage – If a tooth has a lot of its structure missing, dentists place a crown. After root canal treatment, a tooth can become brittle, and the risk of fracture increases. A crown protects the tooth.
Back teeth – Daily, back teeth are subject to the pressure of biting, chewing, and grinding food. If a back tooth is severely damaged, broken, or split, a crown will prevent further damage and withstand the forces of biting and chewing. Less pressure is exerted on the front teeth.

Do Front Teeth Need a Crown?

An impact on your front teeth is usually lateral. So front teeth are most likely to snap off at the gumline. A dental crown removes about a millimeter of structure around the entire tooth and can weaken it.

Although most dentists prepare teeth more aggressively, the photo below shows very conservative preparation for a dental crown. The tooth will be stronger and less likely to break.

What About a Porcelain Veneer After Root Canal Treatment?

After root canal treatment, some cosmetic dentists choose to restore a front tooth with a porcelain veneer whenever possible. Only 0.5 mm of the enamel is removed.

Most general dentists don’t place veneers on front teeth after root canal treatment because it requires more skill. The dentist and the laboratory technician must understand how to conceal the darkness of the tooth and make the veneer look natural. Most general dentists like the skill and artistic ability to provide aesthetic results.

The photos below are an example of the amount of tooth structure that dentists with conservative porcelain crown preparation vs. conservative porcelain veneer preparation.

Photo of prepared tooth that was shaved for a dental crown

Dental crown preparation

Photo of a tooth that was conservatively prepared for a porcelain veneer

Porcelain veneer preparation

What Causes Discoloration After Root Canal Treatment?

Rather than darkness from the tooth drying out, root canal filling materials inside the tooth can darken it. Advanced cosmetic dentists prevent premature darkening with the following steps:

Clean out the filling materials
Place a white fiberglass post into the root
Seal the opening with tooth-colored composite

The technique delays discoloration for five or ten years and prevents the need for a veneer until then.

Michael Szarek, DMD of Lowell, MA sponsors this post.

Will I be able to find a cosmetic dentist to reverse my gap closure?

Posted on January 12, 2019 by AllSmiles.

I visited a cosmetic dentist to have a gap closed. I lived with the gap for 40 years but finally decided to close it because it looked like it was becoming larger. The dentist recommended 6 dental crowns. He seemed like he knew what he was doing. I’m sorry that I wasn’t told that closing the gap would change my speech and that I would have to practice pronouncing certain words to make them clear. Also, it might be a coincidence, but I’m now having neck and jaw pain. My dentist claims it just takes time to get used to my teeth without a gap between them. I received the crowns in November. Is this a long-term adjustment? I’m certainly not asking him to do anymore work on my teeth, but is it possible to have the crowns removed from my center front teeth so I can just live with the gap and be able to speak clearly again? Thanks. Austin

Austin,

It is likely that the dental crowns you received from the cosmetic dentist are the cause of your speech problems and your neck and jaw pain. True cosmetic dentists close gaps with dental crowns and their patients have no speech issues or neck and jaw pain.

Before we continue with an explanation of a possible cause of your discomfort, let us explain what we meant by a “true cosmetic dentist.”

What Is True Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry involves enhancing the appearance of teeth. Any dentist can claim to be able to repair or fix your teeth—any dentist can claim to be a cosmetic dentist. But a true cosmetic dentist has several qualifications, including:

Extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry
Artistic inclination
Participates in on-going training for cosmetic dentistry to stay current with the latest tools and techniques needed to give you a natural-looking smile

A small amount of cosmetic dentists in the United States are so passionate about producing beautiful results that they set the goal of becoming accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Accreditation attests to a dentist’s clinical skill and artistic ability, because it includes:

A written exam
An oral exam by the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry
Completing, extensively documenting, and submitting five patient cases that demonstrate a broad range of cosmetic dentistry work

What’s Causing Your Discomfort?

Although Dr. Szarek would need to examine your teeth, crowns, and bite, it seems that your cosmetic dentist opened your bite too far. Crowns that are too thick or too long can prevent your lips from closing together naturally. If your crowns are too thick, your bite—or the way your teeth fit together—could be misaligned and jaw and neck pain can result.

Can Your Gap Closure Be Reversed?

We realize that you’re disappointed and frustrated. When a patient receives dental crowns, his or her natural teeth are prepared—significantly shaved down—to ensure the dental crowns fit over the teeth. The tooth reduction cannot be reversed. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to have your natural teeth as they were before. If the issue cannot be corrected with your existing crowns, you will need new crowns.

What’s Next?

You’ll need a consultation and a second opinion.

Before you schedule a consultation, try to find an accredited cosmetic dentist. If you can’t find an accredited dentist, select a cosmetic dentist who has extensive training, beyond dental school, in occlusion/bite and cosmetic dentistry. Look on the dentist’s website for information on his or her education, training, and credentials.
Schedule a consultation; it will likely last 10-15 minutes. Some patients decide to schedule consultations with two different cosmetic dentists so they can compare options, costs, office environments, the dentist’s interaction with them, and whatever is important to the patient to have a positive experience.
During the consultation, ask to see before-and-after photos of the work the dentist has completed on multiple patients whose gaps were closed with dental crowns.
If you’re pleased with your interaction with the dentist, you can schedule an appointment for an examination to determine the cause of the issues you’re experiencing.
After an examination, and possibly digital x-rays, the dentist will explain the source of the problem, as well as your treatment options.

The before-and-after photos below show how cosmetic dentistry with dental crowns can beautiful close gaps between teeth.

BEFORE
AFTER

This post is sponsored by Dr. Michael Szarek. Dr. Szarek is located in Lowell, MA and is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Love Ariana Grande’s Smile? 3 Things to Know Before Asking Your Cosmetic Dentist for a Makeover

Posted on August 30, 2018 by AllSmiles.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande is one of the most followed celebrities on social media. And millions of girls say they love Ariana Grande’s smile. While it’s not realistic for fans to become patients of Ms. Grande’s cosmetic dentist, many of them want to know how they can get a smile like Ari’s. What’s the attraction?

Cosmetic Dentistry for a Perfectly Imperfect Smile

Many people who want a smile makeover ask their cosmetic dentist for perfectly even, perfectly symmetrical, perfectly white teeth. But that’s not what Ari’s smile is about. Her central incisors (front center teeth) are noticeably longer than her surrounding teeth. And the teeth on either side of her smile lack perfect shape. Her smile is bright, but not stark white. Youthful girls like the look of Ariana Grande’s teeth because they are different and natural looking, and fans want to copy it. But what should you know before asking your dentist for a smile makeover that will resemble that of your favorite celeb?

1. It Starts With a Consultation

If you’re thinking about changing your smile, it is highly recommended that you schedule a consultation with at least two accredited cosmetic dentists. Why an accredited cosmetic dentist? There are several reasons:

Before applying for accreditation, a dentist has completed extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry and has years of experience in the field.
Accreditation requires very high levels of clinical skill.
Written and oral examinations and extensively documented patient cases are required by applicants.
Highly aesthetic results are only produced by dentists who are artists and understand the tools and techniques required to achieve the results you want. Accredited cosmetic dentists are accomplished artists.

2. What to Expect

A cosmetic dentist will listen to your smile goals and provide the following input:

How the smile you want can be achieved
Digital models of how you’ll look with your new smile
How your facial structure and genetics will affect your desired results
Suggestions for a smile design that will really compliment your facial features—whether it looks similar to Ariana Grande’s smile or is an expression of your own personality
An explanation of the cosmetic dentistry options for your smile makeover, which might involve a combination of treatments

3. Which Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment Will Be Used?

If you want a look that resembles Ariana Grande’s smile—or one that is authentically yours—the treatment you receive will vary based on your oral health, the condition, and shape of your teeth, and of course, your budget. Treatment might include one or more of the following:

Porcelain Veneers – Customized thin wafers of porcelain are bonded to the front of your teeth. Often, your teeth must be prepared for porcelain veneers so they look natural from the gumline to the edge. Porcelain mimics natural teeth, and an accredited cosmetic dentist can produce stunning results with it.
Dental Bonding – Cosmetic dental bonding is less expensive than porcelain veneers, but it doesn’t last as long. Still, a dentist who is an artist understands how to manipulate bonding so the color, shape, and gloss look natural. In time, bonding picks up stains and needs to be periodically polished by your cosmetic dentist and eventually replaced so it stays fresh and vibrant.
Teeth Whitening – Teeth whitening is recommended before you receive veneers or dental bonding. The cosmetic work is then crafted to match the shade of your newly whitened teeth.
Contouring – The skilled hands of an artistic, accredited cosmetic dentist can contour, or shape, your teeth into the desired look.

Interested in a Smile Makeover?

If you want to transform your smile with cosmetic dentistry, don’t schedule an appointment with a dentist and insist on a certain look or treatment. Schedule a consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist to discuss your goals, your options, and the results you can expect. You will get amazing results that just might give Ariana Grande’s smile a little competition.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Michael Szarek, a Lowell MA dentist who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

If you’re interested in new trends in cosmetic dentistry, read about San Diego Bioclear—a technique that improves tooth shape, spacing, and color.

Six Things You Should Know About Porcelain Veneers before You Get Them

Posted on January 30, 2018 by AllSmiles.

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

Porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth

Porcelain veneers can provide a stunning smile makeover, but there are six things you should know about them before making the investment.

1. Great Results Require a Cosmetic Dentist

Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic improvement to your teeth. So the dentist you choose for your smile makeover should be a cosmetic dentist—an artist. Whether you want a super-white celebrity smile or a simple, natural-looking smile that complements your face, you need a cosmetic dentist. Why? Consider the facts:

Porcelain doesn’t automatically produce natural-looking results. If you want a smile makeover that looks natural, you need a dentist and ceramist who know how to manipulate porcelain so it has the color, characteristics, and translucency of natural teeth.
Bonding techniques are critical to the life of your porcelain veneers. Veneers that are improperly bonded to your natural teeth can slip, loosen, or fall off.
The shape and form of your veneers determine whether they complement your lips and other facial features. Only a cosmetic dentist can refine the details.

2. They Are Permanent

Your natural teeth are prepared before you receive porcelain veneers. This involves lightly shaving them to prevent the veneers from looking bulky over your teeth. After your teeth are prepared, it isn’t possible to reverse the process. You will always need veneers or some other form of cosmetic dentistry over your teeth.

3. Don’t Ask for a Specific Brand

Dentists become comfortable with various brands of veneers for a variety of reasons.
The dentist’s skill level, the results produced, and other factors determine which brands a dentist uses.
Avoid asking your dentist for a specific brand. You might choose a brand the dentist isn’t comfortable with, and if you insist on it, the results might not look good.
Ask your dentist which brands he or she uses and why. The response can build your confidence in the dentist, instead of in a certain brand. If you select a cosmetic dentist, you can trust you’ll get great results.

4. Try Them On

You won’t have to ask a true cosmetic dentist to let you try on a trial set of your customized veneers. It will be part of the process. But you should know that in order to really see how the finished product—your porcelain veneers—will look and feel, you have to try on temporaries. If your dentist doesn’t offer you the opportunity to try on trial veneers, beware. And be certain to try on the final product before it’s permanently bonded to your teeth.

5. Ask About a Guarantee

A skilled cosmetic dentist can guarantee that you’ll love your new smile with porcelain veneers. Several factors make it possible to guarantee your satisfaction:

The dentist’s training, skill, and eye for beauty
Your dentist should ask for your feedback and preferences throughout the process of designing and creating the veneers
Skilled dentists use a master ceramist to craft the final product

Ask your dentist what he or she does to ensure your smile makeover will be exactly what you want.

6. Don’t Let Cost Alone Make the Decision for You

Porcelain veneers are an investment. So don’t let cost alone determine which dentist you choose. A highly skilled cosmetic dentist who uses quality materials and who is picky about the results will have higher fees than other dentists.

We recommend that you schedule consultations with at least two cosmetic dentists. If you can find an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area, you’ll likely get amazing results. Ask to see before-and-after photos of smile makeovers with porcelain veneers for actual patients of the dentist. You can get the celebrity smile—or the simple, but stunning smile makeover—you’ve always wanted.

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