Lowell MA cosmetic dentist Archives - Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Porcelain Veneers Needed after Chemotherapy?

Posted on September 4, 2018 by AllSmiles.

I have two months of chemotherapy to complete after successful colon surgery. I’ve found a chemo side-effects fact sheet online, but it doesn’t say if my teeth will be affected. Will I need porcelain veneers or some other kind of cosmetic dentistry? Maybe I shouldn’t worry, but I’m concerned about the added expense of needing dental work. I’ve already incurred so many out-of-pocket expenses, and I want to know what to expect. Thanks, Gene.

Gene,

Chemotherapy can affect your teeth. But whether or not you will need porcelain veneers after treatment depends on several factors, including:

Length of your chemo treatment
The condition of your teeth before and after treatment
Whether or not other cosmetic dentistry options will be effective

Chemotherapy Can Affect Your Teeth

There are side effects of chemotherapy, such as vomiting and dry mouth that can affect your teeth. Dental problems increase with the length of the chemotherapy treatment.

The acid in your mouth – The acid from vomiting can erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. If chemotherapy causes you to vomit, you can neutralize the acid. Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth with the mixture. After 30 minutes, brush your teeth with an extra soft toothbrush.
Dry mouth – If the chemotherapy causes your mouth to be dry, the dryness can promote plaque and tooth decay. Keep your mouth moist throughout the day by chewing sugarless gum, sucking on sugar-free candy or ice chips, or by sipping water. Ask your dentist for prescription fluoride toothpaste to help prevent decay, and floss your teeth twice daily.
Other oral side effects – There are other oral side effects of chemotherapy. Speak with your dentist and your oncologist about the side effects and what can be done to preserve your teeth and oral health.

Will You Need Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneer

We recommend that you speak with your dentist before you start chemotherapy. Let he or she know when you’ll start treatment. Your dentist will be able to anticipate your oral health needs and monitor the effects of treatment on your teeth.

If you need cosmetic work after you’ve finished chemotherapy, there might be alternatives to porcelain veneers. At times, chairside dental bonding can conceal signs of wear and discoloration on teeth. Dental bonding is less expensive than porcelain veneers. An experienced cosmetic dentist can produce beautiful results with bonding and make it blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. He or she will examine your teeth and let you know your options.

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

Why do porcelain veneers turn gray?

Posted on January 31, 2017 by AllSmiles.

In June last year I got 8 porcelain veneers on my front teeth. 3 of the 8 veneers are light gray. I noticed the color change in October but it was so slight I was wondering if it was the lighting in my bathroom. Two Thursdays ago I looked because the sun outside was bright and I took a close look in the rearview mirror of my car. I asked my sister to look at them too and she agrees that the same three teeth are gray. I didn’t tell her what was wrong with veneers. I just asked her to look at them and she noticed the exact problem that I have seen. Last week I had an appointment with the dentist who did my veneers. My regular dentist doesn’t do them, so she referred me to someone else. This dentist is a cosmetic dentist. When I returned to him, he said that the 3 teeth must be darker than the others so he needs to make the veneers thicker. I’m not sure he knows what he is talking about. I’m wondering isn’t this something he should have taken into account before he had the veneers made. Can I trust him to do the replacements? Also, why do porcelain veneers turn gray? Thanks for your help. Connie

Connie,

Your cosmetic dentist clearly lacks the skill to give you porcelain veneers that have the right color and translucence. If he provides you with thicker veneers, they will look thicker than your other teeth. That’s not the solution. Any dentist can claim to be a cosmetic dentist, but a true cosmetic dentist would know how to determine why your veneers are turning gray and what to do about it.

What’s a true cosmetic dentist? It’s a dentist who has received extensive, hands-on training in cosmetic dentistry and who has experience in the art. He or she has an artistic inclination to produce beautiful results. Your work was done by a cosmetic dentist in name only.

We suggest that you not leave the replacement of your porcelain veneers in the hands of the dentist who originally placed them. Look for a cosmetic dentist with several years of post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. If you can find an accredited cosmetic dentist, that’s even better.

Why Do Porcelain Veneers Turn Gray?

Porcelain veneers don’t turn gray unless there is a problem. Consider a few possibilities:

Some of your natural teeth might be dark, and they weren’t properly prepared before the veneers were placed, or the veneers weren’t design to conceal them. Your new cosmetic dentist will want to examine your natural teeth and determine if some of them really are darker than the others. If so, bleaching might help. Otherwise, the dark teeth might require careful preparation to lighten their appearance before the veneers are placed. A skilled cosmetic dentist will work with a ceramist to produce porcelain that conceals the darkness and still looks natural.
There might be micro-leakage beneath the veneers. When veneers aren’t properly bonded, food or drink can seep behind them and cause discoloration. In this case, they will have an uneven gray color. It also promotes a buildup of bacteria and can cause tooth decay. In either case, an expert cosmetic dentist can identify the problem and resolve it.
There might be a problem with the glaze of the veneers. The veneers might not have been glazed at all, they might have been improperly glazed, or the glaze might be damaged.

Schedule a consultation with one or two accredited cosmetic dentists to help you decide which provider will restore your smile.

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

Do I really need to replace all of my crowns so they match?

Posted on October 17, 2016 by AllSmiles.

I have 8 crowns on my top front teeth that are 17 years old. I know that I am fortunate that they lasted so long, so no complaints here. One of the left canine crowns is lose. I am worried that it will come off. I saw my dentist and he said rather than replacing one crown he really needs to replace them all. I went into the office expecting to have the one tooth fixed, but not needing a new crown on every tooth. Do I really need to have all of the crowns replaced at the same time? Do they all need to be replaced anyway? Thank you. Anita

Anita – One lose crown doesn’t mean that all of your crowns need to be replaced. In general, it might be easier for a dentist to ensure the crowns match by replacing them all, but a skilled cosmetic dentist can perfectly match the replacement crown.

If you’ve had crowns for 17 years, it might be time to replace them. A cosmetic dentist will need to measure your crowns at the margin, their overall condition, and your bite to determine if they are wearing out. If any part of your natural teeth is exposed due to wear from the crowns, tooth decay can occur.

Another consideration is the color of your crowns. If they look worn, or if you want a brighter smile, eventually all of your crowns will need to be replaced. If you want a whiter smile and only replace one crown at a time, keep in mind that your new crowns will be noticeably whiter than the others.

It’s more affordable to receive crowns in phases, but the crowned teeth won’t match until all of the work is done.

Speak with your current dentist and with two accredited cosmetic dentists. An accredited cosmetic dentist has extensive post-graduate training in designing smiles that look completely natural.Let each dentist know your goals for your smile and find out how treatment can be made affordable for you. Remember that an examination is required to determine the condition of your crowns and teeth. Each dentist should let you know your options. Compare your options and decide which dentist you want to replace your crowns.

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

Porcelain veneers or crowns for my worn teeth?

Posted on March 24, 2016 by AllSmiles.

My teeth are worn and discolored. I am going to make appointments with 2 different dentists to see what they recommend. I just need some direction before I see the dentists so I don’t get oversold or undersold. Should I go with one who recommends porcelain veneers or one who recommends porcelain crowns? Jon

Jon – A conservative, conscientious dentist will first examine your teeth to identify the cause of the wear and discoloration.

If the wear is caused by bruxism, or teeth grinding, that issue must be addressed first. Many patients who grind their teeth are not good candidates for porcelain veneers. The force on the teeth from grinding can fracture a veneer.

An experienced cosmetic dentist will recommend the most conservative treatment. If you do not grind your teeth, and if you have adequate healthy tooth structure, porcelain veneers are a more conservative treatment than porcelain crowns. Teeth are minimally prepared before the veneers are bonded to them. If preparation is required, only 0.5mm to 1mm of the enamel surface is removed. A disadvantage is that veneers cost more than crowns. Porcelain crowns require reducing the size of natural teeth so that crowns will fit over them. This is a process that reduces a significant amount of tooth structure, and it cannot be reversed.

It is possible that your smile can be rejuvenated with teeth whitening and dental composite. An artistic cosmetic dentist can manipulate composite to match the characteristics and translucence of your natural teeth. This is a minimally invasive treatment that will last for years if you take proper care of it. Some patients only require cosmetic contouring, which shapes the teeth to help them appear symmetrical and balanced.

When looking for dentists with whom you can have a consultation, we recommend that you find experienced cosmetic dentists who have artistic talent. A cosmetic dentist’s goal is to help you achieve a smile that is both healthy and beautiful. He or she may recommend one or more treatment options to help you achieve your goals for your smile. An examination and diagnostic studies are required to accurately inform you of your options.

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

Can I get my teeth white by 2nd week of June?

Posted on May 30, 2014 by AllSmiles.

I should have planned better but I am in a wedding the 2^nd weekend of next month and I really want my teeth white. Is it too late to start? What is the strongest formula that will work the best? – Bridget

Bridget – The strongest teeth whitening you can get is from a dentist. Unfortunately, you don’t have a lot of time to get it done.

If a dentist offers in-office teeth whitening, it can whiten your teeth quickly. In-office treatment is the most expensive form of teeth whitening available, but it will also give you quick results.

Take-home treatment from a dentist will give you professional-strength whitening gel. But you need customized whitening trays for it, and there may not be enough time for the dentist to have the trays made and for you to start your whitening treatment. A few days of whitening may make your teeth a little whiter.

You can start calling a few dentists’ offices in your area to find out what type of teeth whitening is offered and how soon you would be able to receive it.

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