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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Cracked 2 teeth playing musical chairs. Which cosmetic dentistry is best?

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Over the weekend I was bar hopping with some friends. We ended up drinking more than I thought we would, singing karaoke and playing musical chairs until late. I didn’t make it in a seat and my feet slipped out from under me. When I fell I also slid and my teeth hit the metal on one of the chairs. I now have a crack to in two different teeth. Won’t be repeating that performance. What cosmetic treatment will work best for me a veneer or a crown? – Tim

Tim – Your teeth need to be examined by an experienced cosmetic dentist. The treatment that will be recommended will depend on the length and severity of the crack in each tooth.

It is possible that your teeth can be restored with dental bonding. After your teeth are roughened, composite bonding that matches the color of your teeth will be applied to them. The bonding will be smoothed, shaped, and polished for a natural look. You will have to be careful to avoid an excess of food and drink that can stain your bonding, such as berries, coffee, tea, and colas. Tobacco use can also stain bonding.

Porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns are more stain resistant. They are also more durable than dental bonding, which will wear and need to be replaced in a few years.

If you are fortunate enough to find an accredited cosmetic dentist, the results with the restoration of your teeth will be so beautiful that you won’t be able to tell the teeth were once damaged.

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.

My permanent teeth are too small

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My permanent teeth are embarrassingly small. I am 38 years old, but my teeth are the size of a 7 year old child’s teeth. I am a corporate banking professional, and I am frequently giving presentations at our branches. I feel very self conscious when I smile. What can be done to make my teeth look the size of adult teeth? Thanks in advance for your help. – Michaela T.

Michaela – Your concern about the size of your permanent teeth and the embarrassment that your teeth causes is understandable. Genetics or the environment can cause teeth to develop incorrectly.

There are two permanent procedures for which you might be a candidate—porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers.

A porcelain crown requires the natural tooth to be shaved down. The crown is placed over the natural tooth and it completely covers the tooth. A cosmetic dentist will make crowns that look like your natural teeth.

Porcelain veneers cover only the front of the teeth. Usually, teeth are lightly shaved before the veneers are placed. Veneers from a cosmetic dentist will have the color and translucency of natural teeth. They will give you a beautiful smile makeover.

You can schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist to find out your options and to get the best results. Cosmetic dentists are dental artists. Find one who has been specifically trained in cosmetic dentistry. You also can check the dentist’s credentials and his or her smile gallery for pictures of smile makeovers that the dentist has completed.

The blog post is courtesy of Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.