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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

6 Questions to Ask Yourself before Choosing Dental Implants

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If you’re reading this post, you probably know that dental implants are the most effective form of tooth replacement. That’s because they mimic natural teeth.

The components of a dental implant include:

  • Artificial root – A root form, usually made of titanium, is surgically implanted in your jawbone. It’s a simple procedure.
  • Abutment – This connector is attached to the artificial root to support a crown.
  • Dental crown – A dental crown is attached to the abutment.
Diagram of dental implant phases, including 1) implant insertion in bone, 2) healing process, 3) abutment attachment, 4) crown attachment.
Dental implant phases

Questions to Ask Yourself before Dental Implants Are Placed

1. What are the implant dentist’s qualifications?

Although many dentists offer dental implants, not all of them meet the following qualifications:

  • Post-graduate training in implantology
  • Regularly place dental implants
  • Use advanced technology, including 3-D images to ensure optimal implant placement
  • Provide natural-looking dental crowns or implant overdentures

2. What are my other options?

Dental implants are the best form of tooth replacement, but they are also the most costly. If they are not within your budget, you should be aware of the following:

  • Other options, e.g., dental bridge, partial denture, implant overdentures
  • Cost of the options
  • Longevity of your options
  • Results you can expect

3. What’s involved with getting dental implants?

Dental implants have a 98% success rate, but they require diligent oral hygiene. Ask yourself if you’re willing to do the following:

  • Brush your teeth twice daily and daily floss between them
  • Keep appointments for regular dental cleanings and checkups
  • Quit smoking or tobacco use—or avoid those habits before and after dental implant surgery to allow proper healing

4. What Are My Long-Term Goals for My Smile?

If you have multiple smile goals, dental implants can be added to the treatment plan. But timing is everything. Your dentist will let you know at what stage dental implants will be scheduled in your overall treatment. For example, if you want your teeth whitened or aligned, let you dentist know before you receive dental implants.

5. Am I Willing to Wait?

  • Surgery and healing – Receiving dental implants is a process. After the implants are placed, it takes three to four months for the implants and your jawbone to fuse and provide a solid anchor for dental crowns or dentures. Meanwhile, you will wear temporary crowns or dentures.
  • Bone grafting – If some of your teeth have been missing for an extended period, your jawbone might be shrinking. Adequate bone is needed to support dental implants. If you don’t have enough bone, grafting might be required. The grafts need to heal before dental implants are placed.

A successful outcome requires patience. Don’t expect a quick fix with dental implants.

6. Am I Willing to Consult with More than One Dentist?

Much of the success of dental implants depends on the training, skill, and experience of the dentist. We recommend that you schedule consultations with more than one dentist. Only schedule consultations with providers who have post-graduate training in implantology, years of experience in placing implants, and many patients for whom implants have been provided.

During your consultations ask each dentist about the following:

  • Advanced training and credentials
  • Years of experience
  • How many dental implant cases he or she has completed
  • Before-and-after photos of patient cases
  • Cost of the entire procedure, including surgery, bone grafting if needed, and crowns or dentures
  • How he or she ensures accurate placement (3D imaging, computer-guided placement, etc.)

Cost alone should not determine which provider you choose for dental implants. Compare all of your options and weigh them carefully.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek. Dr. Szarek’s office is convenient to the following towns:

  • Dracut, MA
  • Chelmsford, MA
  • Tewksbury, MA
  • Billerica, MA
  • Pelham, NH      
  • Westford, MA
  • Methuen, MA
  • Andover, MA
  • Lawrence, MA
  • Wilmington, MA            
  • Bedford, MA
  • North Andover, MA
  • Burlington, MA
  • Hudson, NH
  • Windham, NH

3 Factors to Consider if Your Porcelain Veneers Don’t Match

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Porcelain veneers are an investment in your smile. Teeth that are worn, crooked, misaligned, or discolored can be beautifully transformed with these thin wafers of porcelain. But what if you’ve been waiting to get your dream smile only to find that your porcelain veneers don’t match? Consider three factors before making a hasty decision.

1. Have They Been Bonded On?

If your porcelain veneers don’t match but have not been permanently bonded in place, stop. Don’t allow your dentist to bond them on. The try-in is your opportunity to let your dentist know whether or not you’re completely satisfied with your veneers.

Porcelain is colorfast, so the color can’t be changed. Once they have been bonded on, it’s too late. Before they are bonded, let your dentist know that you’re aware of the mismatch and you’re dissatisfied. The veneers should be removed and sent back to the laboratory to be remade. Don’t hesitate to let your dentist know there is a problem with your smile makeover.

2. Insist on a Match

Don’t let anyone convince you that the mismatch in color is okay or that you’ll get used to it. It won’t take long until you’re completely dissatisfied and looking for ways to get the off-color porcelain veneers removed and replaced. You paid for smile enhancements, so insist on a match. Settling for less will detract from your smile and become stressful as you find yourself hesitant to smile.

3. Get a Second Opinion

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

Porcelain veneers cannot be lightened or darkened.

If you have given your dentist a reasonable amount of time to correct the veneers that don’t match but have not received positive results, it’s time for a second opinion. A true cosmetic dentist is an artist who knows how to manipulate porcelain so all veneers will match.

Schedule appointments with at least two cosmetic dentists—preferably accredited dentists—to examine your veneers. Unfortunately, your porcelain veneers will need to be replaced with new ones. An accredited cosmetic dentist will work with a master ceramist to produce beautiful veneers that match and make you feel confident—not embarrassed—about smiling.

It is possible that the dentist who originally placed your veneers will be willing to negotiate with you on the expense of having the veneers replaced.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek. If you’ve received faulty cosmetic dentistry, schedule an appointment with Dr. Szarek for a consultation or an exam.

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

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Head-and-shoulders photo of Ariana Grande smiling. Her hair is in a ponytail, she is wearing diamond earrings, a diamond necklace and a black spaghetti-strap top or dress; for information on cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers from Dr. Michael Szarek an accredited cosmetic dentist in Massachusetts.

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.

How long should porcelain veneers last?

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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

I got 6 porcelain veneers in June 2012 when I lived in Chicago. At first, I was pretty happy with them except they didn’t look as white as I wanted. I got my teeth whitened BEFORE I got veneers and the veneers are not quite as white as my teeth. Anyway, everything was going well until the veneers started chipping in last summer. There is a little chip on my right incisor and a small one on my right front tooth. I called the dentist’s office where I got the veneers (I now live in MA) and she told me that it’s probably time to replace the veneers. I was furious. At $1200 per veneer and not even 6 years later, she tells me I probably need to replace them. I asked her how long veneers should last and she told me that the brand I chose (I didn’t choose the brand. I know nothing about how to choose a brand of porcelain veneers.) is known for chipping. First I am wondering how after 6 years she even remembers what brand I have and why she is lying about it being my choice. So I am guessing that there is another issue that she is not going to talk about. Shouldn’t porcelain veneers last longer than 6 years? Ceyda

Ceyda,

Yes, porcelain veneers should last longer—much longer—than six years. If quality veneers are properly bonded to your teeth, and if you take proper care of them, they can last 15 to 20 years. You are nowhere near the lifecycle of quality veneers, so quality must be the issue.

  • Brand – It is possible that the dentist who placed your veneers chose an inferior brand. That occurs sometimes to keep costs down and make getting veneers more enticing for patients. But as you have experienced, if they don’t last, what good is it?
  • Bonding – Another possibility is that your veneers were not correctly bonded to your teeth. It takes a lot of skill and the expertise of a highly trained cosmetic dentist to bond veneers to last. If they are poorly bonded or weak, they can chip.

Unfortunately, you probably do need new veneers. This time find an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area. If you can find one who is accredited, or who has extensive training in aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry, it will help you get amazing results. Select a few top cosmetic dentists first, have consultations with them, and compare your options before you select a provider for your new veneers.

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

Can a cosmetic dentist to anything about my walrus teeth?

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After doing a lot of research online I think a cosmetic dentist might be the only one to help me. You know how a walrus looks with teeth that look way too long? That’s how I look now. My teeth really used to be beautiful but now all my gums have receded. No exaggeration – every tooth looks way too long now. Is this something a cosmetic dentist can correct? How many options do I have? Thanks Ashley

Ashley – A cosmetic dentist can help with the appearance of your teeth, but first, he or she will identify the cause of your gum recession.

A Cosmetic Dentist Will Look for Causes of Gum Recession

  • Periodontal (gum) disease – This is the most common cause of receding gums. Gingivitis and periodontist can cause gum tissue to recede and break down. Brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing daily are essential to preventing gum disease. If you have periodontal disease, it will be treated before any cosmetic treatment is done on your teeth.
  • Vigorous tooth brushing – If you brush your teeth too aggressively, it can weaken your gums and cause them to recede.
  • Plaque accumulation – Plaque can cause gums to become inflamed and recede.
  • Genetic predisposition – Some people naturally have thin gums, which recede with time.

As gums continue to recede, tooth roots will be exposed, and you may experience sensitivity in your teeth. A cosmetic dentist can perform gum grating tissue to fill in your gumline and protect your tooth roots. Grafted gum tissue will be contoured to give you a natural-looking gumline.

Contact at least two accredited cosmetic dentists for an examination and to find out your treatment options.

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