Kaleen- Detroit

Kaleen,

I hate telling patients this, but your dentist wasn’t honest with you. The color on your porcelain veneers will never fade. It sounds like he or she just didn’t want to be bothered sending them back to the lab to adjust the color. You have a couple of options. First, you could go back to this dentist and tell him you’d like him to replace your veneers, because they weren’t honest with you. They have a legal responsibility because they did not put them on with your informed consent. Another option is for you to get your other teeth whitened to match the color of your veneers. Many dentists do this at a very reasonable fee. Some even do whitening for free when you sign up as a new patient.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Sharp.

Josephine- Staten Island, NY

Josephine,

I don’t like that treatment option either.  The biggest problem is his age. Once your teeth are extracted, your body realizes the bone used to anchor the tooth root is no longer necessary, so it begins reabsorbing all the minerals, getting rid of that bone structure. With him being in his 20s, that means by the time he’s in his 40s all his jawbone will be reabsorbed and he’ll be faced with facial collapse. Not only that, but he’ll be a dental cripple, unable to keep his dentures in any longer. It will be possible to have bone grafting done at that point to restore some bone, but that is very expense and the process will just start all over again.

My first priority would be to save as many teeth as possible. I haven’t examined him, but even if there are only a few teeth that can be saved at least that is something. Then that bone will be retained. Secondly, instead of dentures I would work toward getting dental implants. The implants anchor into your jawbone, like his tooth roots, so his body won’t get rid of any minerals in his jawbone.  They also look a lot more natural and function just like healthy teeth. He can eat whatever he wants and won’t have to worry about any of the awkward social situations that dentures cause.

Don’t just go to any dentist. There are many horror stories about dental implants placed by dentists without the correct training.  You want someone with extensive training. It also helps if they are AACD accredited, as Dr. Sharp is, because then you know your son will get the most artistic, natural looking smile possible.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Sharp.

Thanks in advance,

Karlyn M.- Roland, AR

Karlyn,

Yes, it is possible, but only by an expert cosmetic dentist. By that I mean someone in the top 2% of their field. You’ll really want to look for someone who is AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) accredited. These are cosmetic dentists that have passed rigorous exams and had the artistry of their work thoroughly examined. Any one of them would be able to do what you want.

You’ll want to have the dental implant placed first, then after the healing is completed have the implant crown and the porcelain veneers placed at the same time.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Sharp.

Gina E.- North Carolina

Gina,

I have great news for you. Not only will you be able to get all these things fixed, but you’ll be able to get them all fixed in time for your reunion. Using porcelain veneers, you can fix all the problems simultaneously. The catch is, you don’t want to go to your average family dentist. Instead you’ll want to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. It is important to get someone who not only knows the correct procedure and technique, but who also does it with artistry. I can’t tell you how many horror stories there have been from people who went to a dentist who did cosmetic procedures, but was not artistic.

One of the safest roads to take, in finding a qualified cosmetic dentist, is to look for a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). You don’t just want a member, but an accredited member. These dentists had to go through extensive training, and demonstrate their knowledge and skill in order to get accredited. It is a grueling process and not many dentists get through it. You can be assured that those who do, will be able to give you the kind of smile a celebrity has. It is even worth it to drive to another city, or a nearby state to get the work done, if there isn’t one in your immediate area.  Porcelain veneers can be completed in only two appointments, so you’re not talking about having to drive out of town often–just twice.

This blog has been brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Sharp.

Betty W.- California

Betty,

I’m hesitant to advise you definitively, because I haven’t seen the fracture or the bridge. Is the fracture the only problem? At over 30 years old, there may be other issues your dentist factored in. However, to answer your question, yes, a fracture can sometimes be repaired. It is a highly technical process that will require the skills of an expert cosmetic dentist.

Here is a rundown of the process:

• The porcelain has to be etched with hydrofluoric acid
• Then primed with a silane coupling agent
• Coated with a suitable bonding agent
• After that a composite can be bonded to it.

It is also possible to etch the metal with a mini sandblaster and then bond to the metal substructure of the bridge using a metal bonding resin such as Panavia.

Your average dentist, even one who calls himself or herself a cosmetic dentist may not be skilled enough for this particular procedure.  I would look for someone who is AACD accredited.

You may also be interested in looking into dental implants.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo cosmetic dentist, Dr. Michael Sharp.

Ben F. – Seattle

Ben,

I can’t give you specifics for your case, because I haven’t examined you. I can give you some basic principles that can help you make a decision. If your cavities are from soda, they probably started at the gumline. Hopefully the incisal edges of your teeth are still intact.  If so, and the cavities aren’t extensive, there is a chance you’re just dealing with decay spots. If that is the case than you can solve the appearance issue with dental bonding. Because the fillings will need to be shaded and blended to match the rest of your teeth and look lifelike, it will be important to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. It takes an artistic touch to make it attractive and natural, so you don’t want to just go to your average family dentist, who hasn’t had enough cosmetic training.

If the damage is more extensive you have two other options: If it is just the fronts of your teeth with the damage, then porcelain veneers will work. If the backs are affected also, you can have porcelain crowns put on them. Veneers are a more conservative option, as it preserves your teeth. With porcelain crowns you’ll need to have your natural teeth filed down to make room for the crowns. As with the dental bonding, you’ll need to find an expert cosmetic dentist. One way to do that is to go to mynewsmile.com. The author of that site researches cosmetic dentists in each states and recommends those that have quality work. Dr. Sharp is recommended on their site for Michigan. He had to submit his training credentials, along with photos of his work, so you can be assured if the dentist is on that site, you’re safe.

Casey W.-Arkansas

Casey,

I haven’t seen your case, but my guess is the incisal edges of your upper front teeth have been placed incorrectly. Whenever major dental work is done, such as having six porcelain crowns placed, either the incisal edges should be placed in the same position they were before, or the placement of the edges should be tested to make sure it doesn’t adversely affect your speech.

Most people think the only reason for going to a qualified cosmetic dentist is because they are the only ones trained to give you an artistic smile. While that is true, another important reason is their training in phonetics. It includes how the positions, shapes, and thickness of the teeth affect your speech.

Fixing the problem you have is probably going to require re-doing the crowns.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Sharp.

Sylvia H. – Staten Island, New York

Sylvia,

I think dental implants are an excellent option for you.  All the problems you mentioned with your dentures are very common. While some people have no problems with their dentures, many people do. Some even have trouble with a gag reflex because their upper partials have to cover their palate, making their lives miserable. Dental Implants do not have any of those issues. In fact, after you’ve recovered from the surgery and had the crowns placed, it will be like having your own natural teeth back.

There is a possibility you will need some bone grafting before you have them placed. Once your teeth are pulled your body starts to reabsorb the minerals from the attached bone in your jaw throughout your body. As yours have been out for 15 years, it is very possible you’ve lost a significant amount of bone structure. It is nothing that cannot be overcome, but wanted to warn you of the need for bone grafting.  A second word of warning is to make sure you go to a qualified dentist. Implants are an unregulated field of dentistry. Anyone can claim to place implants without enough training.

Enjoy your new teeth!

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo dentist Dr. Michael Sharp.

Jeremy- In New Orleans

Jeremy,

You are in a tough position, but I cannot stress enough the importance of taking care of gum disease. If you already have loose teeth, it may be too late to save them and you may have other teeth not far behind. The sooner you get in to a dentist, the better chance you have of slowing down and possibly even stopping your gum disease. If you absolutely cannot afford an appointment, sometimes you can find a dentist with payment plans. There are also dental schools that will have their students treat patients for a nominal fee.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Holistic Dentist Dr. Sharp.

Amy P.- United Kingdom

Amy,

Yes, your crowns are supposed to touch their opposing teeth, so you should talk to your dentist about that. There is something else to consider too. If your bite is not lining up properly, it could lead to TMJ disorder. I don’t know where your crowns are, but here are some general ways to tell.

In the science of occlusion (how your teeth come together), there are two acceptable patterns. First, is canine protected occlusion. When you clench your teeth together and grind from side to side, only the canines are touching. This is acceptable because they have very long and steady roots that can bear grinding stress. The second pattern is called group function. When all your posterior teeth meet together, they all touch evenly.

You’ll want your dentist to consider these factors as well.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo TMJ dentist Dr. Sharp.