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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Teeth bleaching or veneers?

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My teeth are really really yellow. I have tried to get them white at home but maybe they are only one shade lighter of yellow. Still yellow though. I am wondering if teeth bleaching from a dentist will help or if I need to get veneers. Which is better? – S.W.

S.W. – Schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist. If your teeth can be whitened by a dentist, it is much more affordable that porcelain veneers.

Stains in your teeth are often embedded in them. Dentists have professional-strength whitening gel that will penetrate the stains and break them down. It is likely that whitening from a dentist will work for you.

Porcelain veneers are a last resort for teeth whitening. Some types of stains can’t be removed with teeth bleaching. Depending on the types of stains in your teeth, teeth bleaching can make the stains only more noticeable.

It’s best to see an experienced cosmetic dentist to let you know your options.

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

Is it true that I can’t use toothpaste on porcelain veneers?

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I was told that if I get porcelain veneers that I can’t use regular toothpaste on them. Do porcelain veneers require special care beyond natural teeth? Thanks. Bridget

Bridget – You should treat porcelain veneers as you would your natural teeth. Floss and brush them, but use a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste.

It’s important that you get your teeth regularly examined and cleaned by a cosmetic dentist with staff training in maintaining porcelain veneers. Some of the equipment used to clean and polish natural teeth will damage porcelain veneers, so it’s important to have a dentist who is skilled in caring for veneers.

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

Rough edge on porcelain veneer

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On the right side of my mouth, the third tooth from the front, there is a rough edge on the porcelain veneer. I noticed it about 3 weeks ago. I have had the veneers for 4 years. Is this normal? Thanks. Jan.

Jan – No, it’s not normal to have a rough edge on a porcelain veneer. But it can occur.

If veneers are polished at a dental office with abrasive instruments, or if acid fluoride treatments are used, the glaze on the veneers can break. The veneer will become porous and rough.

Biting hard objects, such as pins, nails, or bottles can cause the veneers to fracture.

Visit an expert cosmetic dentist to have your veneers examined. He or she will determine if your veneers can be polished, or if another treatment is appropriate.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek. Dr. Szarek is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentisty.

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.

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.