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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

What kind of teeth whitening will help my veneers?

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My veneers are turning yellow. I have only had them 4 years. This is really weird to me and I am not getting straight answers from the dentist who put them on. Since they started turning yellow I asked him if they are really porcelain. His answer was a fast “of course they are.” I don’t believe it. I know veneers aren’t supposed to stain and I don’t have any habits that would make them stain. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol, coffee, or tea. Nor am I eating anything that would make them stain like this. So now I am down to trying to get the veneers to at least lighten in color a bit. I have tried whitening strips and I bought some Opalescence gel online but there is no change in the color. What kind of teeth whitening will help my veneers? Thanks. Diana

Diana – There is no form of teeth whitening that will brighten your veneers. Porcelain veneers are colorfast. Although you suspect that your veneers are not made of porcelain, the material they are made of isn’t responding to teeth whitening.

You can find out whether or not your veneers are porcelain by visiting an experienced cosmetic dentist. But the dentist won’t be able to change the color. At times, the condition or color of natural teeth beneath the veneers can cause them to look darker. If that’s not true in your case, it is possible that a skilled cosmetic dentist can polish the veneers and make them look better. Otherwise, your solution is to replace them.

Photo of a porcelain veneer, which cannot be whitened, held against a natural tooth for Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek

Porcelain veneers are bonded to your natural teeth. They are colorfast and cannot be whitened.

Quality porcelain veneers can last ten to twenty years or longer. They will remain white if you properly care for them at home, and only have your veneers and teeth cleaned by a dentist and hygienist who have been trained to clean veneers.

Whenever you decide to replace your veneers find a talented, accredited cosmetic dentist to do the work. Accredited cosmetic dentists have received extensive training in aesthetic dentistry (making your teeth look beautiful, not just functional), and they have passed exams and submitted patient cases to demonstrate their expertise. You’ll get the smile you want, and it will last.

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

What would a cosmetic dentist do for buck teeth?

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I have buck teeth that I have always hated. Now I can do something about it but I want it done quickly. I don’t want a slow track with braces. In Feb. I will be 32 yrs old and being in braces for years is not something that interests me at all. I can deal with a month of cosmetic dentistry to make it all go away and look like I have a new smile. It’s worth whatever it costs to me to find the best cosmetic dentist around to get the work done right. What I am not sure of is what treatment will be recommended. What do cosmetic dentists do for buck teeth and on average how long does it take? Thanks! London M.

London – When a patient has overbite or overjet, a cosmetic dentist will recommend orthodontic treatment. If you are totally against metal braces, low-profile clear braces or Invisalign will be recommended.

Cosmetic dentistry in the form of porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers will make the color or shape of your teeth look better, but they won’t correct protruding teeth. You will need orthodontic treatment. The good news is that today’s orthodontics has ways of reducing treatment time. Products like Invisalign move teeth more efficiently, and the process can be accelerated with special appliances.

If your cosmetic dentist doesn’t provide Invisalign, he or she can refer you to an orthodontist. After your teeth are aligned, your cosmetic dentist can whiten them and further enhance their appearance with dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or porcelain crowns.

So an experienced cosmetic dentist is a good place to start. Discuss your goals for your smile, and he or she will develop a treatment plan for you to reach them.

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

How do I find a cosmetic dentist for 3N no-prep veneers?

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I have been doing a lot of research on no prep veneers other than Lumineers. I wanted to have information on more than just one brand. I found out from an acquaintance on social media about 3N which I had never heard of. Now I know why because it doesn’t look like they are U.S. based. I found the 3N veneers website but I don’t see anything about how to find a 3N U.S. cosmetic dentist. I really like the way they look, much more so than Lumineers. How do I find a cosmetic dentist who uses 3N? Thanks. – Shona

Shona – Although 3N veneers are not familiar to us, through an Internet search, we found that 3N Veneers Limited is based in the United Kingdom. Other websites that reference the brand indicate that this brand of veneers is used in the Middle East.

Although we don’t have information on U.S. cosmetic dentists who use 3N, we can assure you that the results you get from porcelain veneers depend significantly on your choice of cosmetic dentist and his or her choice of laboratory to makes the veneers.

The laboratory that makes Lumineers is often criticized for the pasty, bulky look of the veneers. But the same results can occur with any other brand—unless you have a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist who also uses an artistic master ceramist.

Dental patients get great results from porcelain veneers, not by choosing their own brand of porcelain veneers, but instead, by choosing an artistic dentist who knows what brands are best for your case. And who understands how to the manipulate color, translucency, and shape of the veneers to produce lifelike results.

Find a cosmetic dentist who is an artist. How? Start by locating an accredited cosmetic dentist. If there isn’t one in your area, find one who is a member of a cosmetic or aesthetic dentistry organization, and who is participates in on-going training. Check the dentist’s credentials. Schedule a consultation and ask to see before-and-after pictures of smile makeovers the dentist has completed. Let the dentist know your concerns about porcelain veneers and the smile you want to achieve. Watch and listen closely to how the dentist addresses your questions. Then you can decide if this is the dentist for you, or if you want to have a consultation with a second or third cosmetic dentist before making a decision on your provider.

It’s the artist in the dentist—not solely the brand he or she uses—that will produce beautiful results you want.

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

2 minute tooth brushing but teeth aren’t noticeable whiter

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I’ve followed the 2 minute tooth brushing guideline for about 3 to 4 months but my teeth aren’t noticeable whiter. They feel cleaner than when I quickly brushed them. They are just not whiter though. How long will it take to see some results? Pilar T.

Pilar – Although two-minute tooth brushing is a way to ensure your teeth are clean and that debris is removed from them, it won’t necessarily make your teeth whiter. If you’re using peroxide-based toothpaste, you may eventually see the results, but they will be minimal.
Whitening your teeth and breaking down the stains below the surface is successful with carbamide peroxide bleaching gel. Professional-strength gel comes from a dentist, along with bleaching trays to keep the gel in contact with your teeth. It’s the prolonged contact on your teeth helps the gel break down stains in them.

Some people have tried self-whitening only to find that the bleaching gel wasn’t strong enough, or in some cases, that it made stains more noticeable. That’s where a dentist helps—anticipating the results you will get and recommending the correct treatment based on the type of stains in your teeth

We encourage you to continue to thoroughly brush your teeth, but if you really want them whiter, consider getting them professionally whitened. Ask your dentist how whitening your teeth can be made affordable for you.

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

 

One of my veneers hurts

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I’ve had 8 porcelain veneers since May 2014. For the past 2 months or so, I’ve been feeling pain in one of the veneered teeth. I’ve had a dental appointment about it, and my dentist says that he doesn’t see a problem. What could be going on? Marci

Marci – The problem with the tooth can be due to a change in your bite. It is also possible that there is a problem with the tooth itself.

The pulp in the tooth may be infected and irritated. A closer examination is needed, and a diagnostic study—an x-ray may be required to identify the problem.

If necessary, the veneer can be removed and re-made. An infected tooth is addressed by a root canal treatment.

Ask your dentist to take another look at your tooth. You can also choose to receive a second opinion from another dentist. He or she will need to examine your tooth and perhaps perform an x-ray to identify the cause of the pain.

 

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