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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Should I Get Invisalign or Porcelain Veneers for a Gap?

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I’ll be 17 yrs old in June. What are the chances that a gap between my two front will close when my wisdom teeth come in? My dad can’t really afford Invisalign, so I hope I don’t need it. Can a gap close on its own? Also, do those rubber bands I see on YouTube close a gap? My friend said I would wait until I get a job and get veneers. What do you suggest? Thank you. Dixon from AL

Dixon – A gap or space between your teeth is called a diastema.

Will Invisalign Work for a Gap?

Several factors determine whether the gap will close after your wisdom teeth erupt. If not, Invisalign or another form of orthodontic treatment can help.

One factor is the size of the space between your teeth. If the gap is small, and your wisdom teeth can erupt completely, the space may close. But many people don’t have enough room in their mouth for wisdom teeth to fully erupt, so a gap needs to be closed by orthodontic treatment or cosmetic dentistry.

At times, tissue between the teeth—labial frenum—stretches from the upper lip to the gums and prevents the gap from closing. If the frenum prevents the gap from closing, a dentist or specialist must remove the tissue. Braces or Invisalign can close the gap.

What About Rubber Bands for a Tooth Gap?

Closing a gap between your teeth is not something you should try on your own. Do-it-yourself orthodontics, such as rubber bands, can incorrectly move your teeth, causing them to twist or leave spaces between your teeth that didn’t exist before.

Porcelain Veneers for a Tooth Gap

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.After your permanent teeth fully develop, a dentist can place porcelain veneers on front teeth to hide the gap between them. You can receive veneers in a few weeks, but it will take months—up to a year for braces to close a gap.

Look for an advanced cosmetic dentist to get high-quality veneers and results that look so professional that no one can tell you had dental work.

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

Root Canal After Veneers

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I need a root canal after wearing veneers for 12 years. My left upper incisor is infected, so my dentist referred me to an endodontist. A root canal is my only option. My veneers look new, so I am concerned about my tooth turning dark after the root canal or losing the veneer altogether. Also, I got the veneers when I lived in Texas, but now I live in NJ. Although my dentist takes good care of my veneers, I haven’t seen any of her veneers’ cases, so I don’t know if I have confidence in her if I need a new veneer. Am I at risk of losing it? – Thank you. Linda from New Haven, CT

 

Linda,

It is unusual to need root canal treatment for a porcelain veneer tooth. But if a dentist aggressively prepared your tooth veneers and removed the enamel, the tooth is at greater risk for stress and decay.

How to Prevent a Root Canal from Darkening Your Veneer

Root canal after veneers can darken a tooth. But during treatment, your dentist can minimize the effects. After your endodontist performs your root canal treatment, they can preserve your tooth color with these steps:

  • Clean out root canal filling material from the portion of your tooth above the gumline
  • Place a flexible fiberglass post into the tooth root
  • Fill the space with a light shade of dental composite

Since leftover filling and cement darkening after root canal treatment usually causes darkening, the above steps will help. Cleaning out your crown can prevent your tooth from darkening for five to ten years. And your porcelain veneer can prolong the good results.

Will Root Canal Treatment Ruin Your Veneer?

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

A securely bonded veneer should stay intact during root canal treatment

Root canal treatment should not ruin your veneer. A dentist will access your tooth from the biting surface—not the front of a tooth where your veneer is located. If the dentist who placed your veneers bonded them securely, your veneer would stay in place during root canal treatment.

 

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

How much longer will my composite veneers last?

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I’ve been using Supersmile toothpaste for years on my composite veneers. I’ve heard that they only last a few years, but I’ve had mine for nine years. How much longer will they last? I want to plan to find a cosmetic dentist who will do them as well as my dentist in NJ. – Thank you. Amanda from Erie, PA

Amanda,

Thank you for your question. The longevity of your composite veneers shows how well you have taken care of them and that you received high-quality veneers.

How Long Do Composite Veneers Last?

Although the average lifespan of composite veneers is about five years, they can begin to attract stains within a year or two. You can extend their life by taking care of them with a non-abrasive toothpaste and non-abrasive dental cleaning. Composite veneers require more maintenance than porcelain veneers. But they require less tooth enamel removal than porcelain veneers. And, they cost less than veneers.

How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

Porcelain veneers have an average lifespan of eight years but can last ten to twenty years. Porcelain is stain resistant.

When it is time to replace your composite veneers, whether you choose composite again or porcelain—only get them cleaned by a trained dental hygienist. Hygienists who understand how to care for porcelain and composite will not use chemicals or polishes that damage the surface.

Look for an Advanced Cosmetic Dentist

Skilled cosmetic dentists mix dental resins and apply and harden layers on your teeth. They sculpt the composite to match the characteristics of your natural teeth. After refining tooth shape, your cosmetic dentist will polish your teeth to a natural-looking gloss.

 

Michael Szarek, DMD sponsors this post. Dr. Szarek is an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA.

Before-and-afte composite bonding photos from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Szarek

Dr. Szarek beautifully restores teeth with composite bonding

 

Will porcelain veneers help an adult’s primary adult teeth look larger?

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Two of my upper left permanent teeth grew behind my baby teeth. I’m wondering if two porcelain veneers will work to make the baby teeth look larger. I’m 26 years old and more conscious about my smile than when I was younger. Are porcelain veneers or some other type of cosmetic dentistry best for making my teeth look larger? Thank you. Zenoah from PA

Zenoah,

Thank you for your question. Dr. Szarek would need to exam your teeth for a complete diagnosis and treatment options. But we will explain how dentists, in general, handle permanent teeth that grow behind primary teeth.

What Can You Do About Primary Teeth that Grown Behind Permanent Teeth?

When primary teeth grow behind permanent teeth, a dentist can correct the issue with orthodontics if the permanent teeth have erupted. Brackets attached to your permanent teeth will help move them to the correct position.

  • Remove primary teeth – Your dentist or orthodontist must remove the primary teeth to make room for the permanent ones and help them erupt in the correct position.
  • Possibly remove a few permanent teeth – If your teeth are crowded, your dentist might recommend removing some permanent teeth.

When Permanent Teeth Never Develop

When permanent teeth never develop due to disease, a medical condition, or genetics, a dentist or orthodontist can

  • Use braces to correctly position the tooth on either side of the missing one
  • Remove a permanent tooth to make room for replacing the missing tooth if necessary
  • After orthodontic treatment, replace the missing tooth with a dental implant and crown

Will Porcelain Veneers Help Primary Teeth Look Larger?

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

At times, porcelain veneers are an option for helping small adult teeth look larger

Although a porcelain veneer can help a primary tooth look larger, it may not be the solution when a permanent tooth is behind the primary one. But at times, porcelain veneers can improve the appearance of primary teeth in adults. Read the March 2017 Operative Dentistry article, Ceramic Veneers for Esthetic Restoration of Retained Primary Teeth, for details.

Conclusion

Each patient’s case is unique, so you will need an exam for a dentist to determine which treatments will work for your case. We suggest scheduling a consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist and an orthodontist to discuss your options.

Look for accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry or the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. Rather than tell either doctor that you want porcelain veneers, let them examine your teeth and explain your treatment options.

 

Michael Szarek, DMD sponsors this post. Dr. Szarek is an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA.

I thought porcelain veneers didn’t stain

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Well, my porcelain veneers are stained. And they are only two years old. I am not finished paying for them yet. Should I stop payments until my dentist figures out what is going wrong? – Thank you. Monica from NJ

Monica,

Thank you for choosing our office to ask your question.

Porcelain veneers are stain resistant. Although Dr. Szarek would need to examine your veneers and teeth, we can discuss several factors that can cause stains as an exception.

What Causes Porcelain Veneers to Stain?

Porcelain veneers might stain if the surface is damaged or a gap exists between your veneer and your tooth. We will discuss why either might occur.

Porcelain veneer surface damage

When a dental hygienist cleans your teeth and mistakenly uses power polishing equipment on your veneers, the glaze can crack. Your veneers would be at risk for attracting stains. Or, if someone in the dental office uses acidulated fluoride on your veneers, tiny scratches will form. And your veneers can stain.

Gap between the veneer and the tooth

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

Porcelain veneers are stain resistant unless they are damaged or placed incorrectly

If you notice stains on the sides of your teeth, a dentist might have left a tiny gap where the porcelain and your teeth meet. The gap can allow bacteria in, and your teeth or veneers can stain. Your dentist will need to check for areas of bonding composite near those gaps and polish them to smooth them away. Ultra-fine polishing strips and ultra-fine or fine aluminum oxide polishing paste will help your dentist smooth the area.

Schedule an Appointment with a Cosmetic Dentist

Any accumulated stain on porcelain veneers is usually minor. So if you notice stains, schedule an appointment right away. If the glaze on your veneers is damaged or a gap exists between the veneers and your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can correct it. But it is essential to see a dentist soon to prevent it from getting worse.

 

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA, sponsors this post.