braces Archives - Cheek Dental

White Spots on Teeth

Posted on October 8, 2021 by writeradmin.

I’ve had white spots on my two front teeth my whole life. I like how they look, but my other teeth are dingy in comparison. My dentist is suggesting Lumineers, but I think that is more than I am wanting to pay. Can I not just whiten my teeth without whitening the two front teeth?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

Teeth whitening trays

I am glad you decided not to go with Lumineers. If all you want to do is whiten your teeth, that would be a massive, not to mention expensive, overtreatment. Additionally, Lumineers in particular are highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists. That is the last person you would want to have do a smile makeover for you. It takes significant post-doctoral training, not to mention an artistic eye, to do it well.

In your case, I would go with teeth whitening. However, teeth whitening works on teeth evenly. Ask your dentist to provide you with at-home bleaching trays. These should be custom fit to your bite. However, because of your two front teeth, you’ll want him or her to cut out the front teeth from the trays. This way the only thing being whitened are the teeth without the white spots.

For the benefit of others, I want to mention there is another type of white spots that takes a completely different treatment. If someone has white spots, they could have been there from childhood, as Laurie; but, often white spots appear after braces. These spots are different. They are decalcification spots, which are a precursor to tooth decay. Those who are wearing braces, often don’t realize how difficult it is to adequately brush around all those wires and brackets. This is why we recommend Invisalign whenever someone is a candidate. These are removable and make it super easy to upkeep your dental hygiene.

The solution for the type of white spots from braces, requires a skilled cosmetic dentist. The white spots have to be gently removed and then they can be recovered with composite bonding.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Invisalign for Protruded Teeth

Posted on July 27, 2021 by writeradmin.

My mother has had protruding teeth her entire life. I know she’s been ashamed of her smile, but was never able to do anything about it. My parents worked hard but were quite poor due to not having much education. They sacrificed their own future to make sure I’d have one and gave me a great education. I’m in a place now where I can take care of myself and them. I don’t know if cosmetic dentistry can work or if she’ll need something else. Can you point me in the direction of some options to consider?

Patricia

Dear Patricia,

You brought tears to my eyes in your love and compassion for your parents and what you want to do for your mother. Often you will find when patients have a misaligned bite, they also have headaches. Fixing her teeth will not only help her feel more beautiful, but it can also improve her quality of life. I haven’t examined your mother or even seen a photograph of her teeth so I’m going to give you all the options I think may work. She’ll need an examination to see what will work best in her situation.

Traditional Braces

This is a tried solution, though most adults are not too thrilled with a mouth full of metal. It is what I would use if her case were too complicated for any of the other solutions.

Invisalign Braces

For older patients, I prefer Invisalign. This uses clear aligners to straighten teeth. They are invisible even at a conversational distance.

Because the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays, they will allow her to straighten and whiten her teeth at the same time, giving her a mini smile makeover.

Porcelain Veneers

A final option is porcelain veneers. This is the most expensive. It doesn’t actually straighten her teeth but can make them appear straight. It can also change the shape, size, and color of her teeth at the same time. However, it will only work if her teeth are not too protruded.

I’d take her to see an excellent cosmetic dentist and discuss each of these options. Personally, I favor the second option, but it really is up to you guys to decide what is best for her.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.
Click here to learn about our free virtual smile makeover consult.

Dental Flipper for Straight Teeth?

Posted on November 9, 2019 by writeradmin.

I have some crooked teeth. One of them sticks out more than the others as well. I don’t want to spend years in painful and ugly braces. I’d be happy if they just looked straight. Would a dental flipper work for me in that case?

Danae

Dear Danae,

In your situation, you have two good options and one so-so option; however, a dental flipper isn’t one of them. This is used as a temporary tooth replacement. It won’t make any of your other teeth look different.

Options for Straight Teeth Without Traditional Braces

Option One: Snap-on Smile

This is the so-so option I mentioned above. It may be what you were thinking of when you said a dental flipper. Snap-on Smile fits over your teeth and will make them look straight. They are not going to be a stunning smile, though. They’ll just be okay. Also, because they fit over your teeth, they can look a bit bulky. This will especially be an issue for you because you have a tooth which you said sticks out.

Option Two: Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers will also cause your teeth to look straight without actually straightening them. When done by a skilled cosmetic dentist, they can provide you with a stunning smile makeover.

This is the go-to procedure for celebrities who want that Hollywood smile. They’re quite versatile and can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth simultaneously.

Option Three: Invisalign

a side by side comparison of traditional braces and Invisalign on someone's teeth

Braces compared to Invisalign

These will actually straighten your teeth. Using a sophisticated software program that carefully plans out your treatment, they can work in about half the time as traditional braces. Another benefit is their comfort. You won’t have to wear any painful metal wires and brackets.

Plus, they use clear aligners which are invisible even at a conversational distance. Because of that, some people call them invisible braces. Unlike porcelain veneers, you won’t need an expert cosmetic dentist. Any dentist who has invested in the technology can provide them for you.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.