Lowell cosmetic dentist Archives - Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

My dentist is violating my tooth-extraction rights

January 31, 2021 by AllSmiles

I asked my dentist for teeth whitening, but he doesn’t want to do it because he recommends a root canal and crown on a second molar. My point is that teeth whitening is much cheaper. If I can’t afford a root canal and crown, why should I do it? I have dental insurance, but it will only cover half of the cost. And then if the root canal doesn’t work, my dentist will have to extract the tooth anyway? Why not just get rid of the tooth, eliminate the future problems, and whiten my teeth? I’m thinking about switching dentists. – London

London,

Thank you for your question. We understand your concerns about your budget and want to improve your smile without creating debt.

Extracting a second molar tooth

Extracting a second molar tooth causes the least complications. A second molar does not have a tooth behind it that will drift after the extraction.

Some facts to consider:

Lower second molar – The upper molar opposite to the tooth you want your dentist to extract will have no tooth to meet it. It will begin to drift, bite into your gum, and eventually require extraction.
Chewing efficiency – If you have your premolars and front teeth, you can chew adequately without your upper and lower second molars.
First molar – If you later lose a first molar, it will disrupt your bit on that side of your mouth and reduce your chewing efficiency.

It’s Still Best to Save Your Teeth

But we understand your budget is limited. If your dentist is skilled with root canal treatment and crowns, the risk of it failing is minimal.

We recommend that you have another discussion with your dentist about the pros and cons of keeping the tooth or removing it. Ask about the urgency of root canal treatment and determine if you have a little time to save money. Some dentists offer no-interest financing that allows you to pay for care over time.

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a case, for information on DIY teeth whitening from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Resolve dental issues before whitening your teeth

If you and your dentist cannot reach an agreement, you can get a second opinion on your second molar and teeth whitening options. Some dentists offer free or discounted whitening to patients who keep regular dental cleaning and exam appointments.

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

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

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.

Cosmetic dentist can’t get my crown right

January 15, 2017 by AllSmiles

I have been waiting for decent crowns from my cosmetic dentist for 6 months. I got a temporary crown on July 12 of last year. 3 times a crown came in from the lab but it didn’t fit right. Both times the crown was shoving against the tooth behind it and the one in front of it. It was like the crown was too big. After the crown was removed the dental assistant took impressions of my mouth again. I have had 4 different impressions. My dentist told me not to worry because the temporary crown will hold up. How long am I going to have to wear this thing? Is it normal to take so long to get a crown to fit right? Is it too late to get out of the commitment with this dentist? Thanks. Ian

Ian – Although your dentist practices cosmetic dentistry, he or she might not be a skilled cosmetic dentist. A well-made and fitted temporary crown can last several months, but the force of chewing on an imbalanced crown can affect your bite. In most cases, a permanent crown is received and placed in about three weeks. When a temporary crown needs to worn for a prolonged period, some dentists replace it with a new temporary crown to ensure it doesn’t wear out and put your oral health in jeopardy. A misaligned bite can cause tooth, head, and neck pain.

Below are some things to consider:

If four impressions of your teeth were taken, it is likely that the previous three impressions were not taken correctly. This raises concern about the ability to correctly fit your crown.
We encourage you to speak frankly with your dentist about your concerns, and ask for his or her estimate on when you will receive your permanent crown.
You can also consider receiving a second opinion from an experienced, accredited cosmetic dentist. Precise, digital images or impressions of your teeth will be taken to help produce a crown that fits correctly. With current technology, a skilled cosmetic dentist can accurately take impressions of your teeth. He or she will also work with a talented ceramist to give you beautiful crowns that fit well.

We hope that your issue is resolved soon and that you will be very pleased with the results.

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

How meth affects oral health

January 28, 2015 by AllSmiles

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health more than a million Americans abuse methamphetamine in a single year. The destructive physical effects of meth are devastating to teeth and gums.

Photo courtesy of American Dental Association

Meth causes vomiting, which creates acid in the mouth; diarrhea, which dehydrates the body; and craving for sugar and junk food, which promotes further acid in the mouth. All of these factors contribute to a dry mouth, rob teeth of nutrients, and make the mouth a breeding ground for bacteria, plaque, and rapid tooth decay.

Some reports also attribute tooth decay to corrosion caused by chemicals in the drug. When ingested, meth causes blood vessels to shrink, which decreases the blood supply in your mouth. The result is oral tissue that decays. Jawbone and gum tissue become too weak to support your teeth.

As teeth rot and gum tissue and bone are destroyed, tooth loss is rampant. The picture on this page shows how devastating meth use can be. The degree of tooth loss does not necessarily coincide with how long a person has been using meth. In as few as four months, some users have teeth that have rotted to the roots.

The picture on this page shows how damaging meth can be on teeth. While meth is still in use, teeth can be minimally protected with fluoride treatments. Patients should be encouraged to drink lots of water. But most importantly, professionally help is needed to help control the addiction.

If a meth patient recovers, a skilled cosmetic dentist can make recommendations to prove natural-looking restorations for the patient’s teeth. Depending on the condition of the teeth, dental crowns or dental implants can be used to restore them. An attractive smile can go a long way to make the patient feel renewed.

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

Teeth bleaching or veneers?

March 31, 2014 by AllSmiles

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.