porcelain veneers Archives

New Lumineers Over Old

Posted on November 22, 2022 by writeradmin.

I wonder if you can tell me what you think of the new Lumineers over old technique. My dentist originally gave me Lumineers that were not nearly as white as I wanted. At the time, the technology did not exist to make them as white as I wanted. I’ve tried whitening them with teeth whitening, but it’s never worked. My dentist did some research and learned the nature of Lumineers means that teeth whitening won’t work on them. Now, the technology has advanced that I can get my Lumineers whiter. I was thinking of having new ones placed on top of my old ones, which my dentist said is possible. I just don’t want to waste money if it is not a good idea, like the whitening we tried.

Callie

Dear Callie,

I’m going to tell you up front that your dentist is not qualified to redo your smile makeover. You should know that the technology was always available to make your Lumineers white. Your dentist probably just didn’t know how to do it. That doesn’t surprise me because the Lumineers brand is highly marketed to untrained and inexperienced cosmetic dentists. He should also have known that teeth whitening wouldn’t work. In fact, the whitening will only work on natural tooth structure. It is not limited to Lumineers. It will not whiten any type of dental work.

New Lumineers Over Old

While technically you can put new Lumineers over old ones, I don’t recommend it. It is just as much work to place Lumineers on top of one another as it is to completely redo them. However, it is double the risk because now you have two sets of bonding that can fail– the old bonding as well as the new bonding. You are safer just getting them redone completely.

It is perfectly okay to go to one dentist for your general dental work and another for your cosmetic work. This is because doing smile makeovers is not taught in dental school. Instead, a dentist has to study it post-doctorally. Because there is no recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry there is no way for patients to know who has invested in this training and who hasn’t.

What I would like you to do is to look at the smile gallery of some cosmetic dentists in your area to see who does beautiful work. Find a dentist whose smile makeovers are stunning. Don’t be surprised if the dentist you pick suggests a different brand of porcelain veneers. Many expert cosmetic dentists prefer a different brand.

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

Tetracycline Stains and No Money

Posted on August 15, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I have had tetracycline stains on my teeth since childhood. All the research says to put porcelain veneers on your teeth to cover them but my dentist doesn’t do porcelain veneers. He does do crowns, which he has suggested we use. Even that, however, is out of my reach. Are there any other alternatives?

Callie

Dear Callie,

I am very glad you wrote. For the benefit of others reading, who may not know what tetracycline stains are (pictured above), I am going to give a brief explanation. Tetracycline is a prescription medication. If you take it before your permanent teeth are formed, which generally happens at the age of twelve, it will deposit in the dentin of your teeth and show up as a dark brown or gray stains.

The best solution to this is porcelain veneers, which would need to be done in the hands of an expert cosmetic dentist. Covering tetracycline stains is one of the most advanced and tricky procedures dentists have to do. They have to make the cover opaque enough to cover the dark stains, but still translucent enough to look sparkling and natural.

Some family dentists who are not skilled in cosmetic dentistry try to make up for this by doing porcelain crowns. I will be honest with you, any dentist that suggests dental crowns for this is a big red flag. They are telling you, “I can’t do porcelain veneers, but I’m totally willing to grind down healthy tooth structure to rake in money for what I do know.” If they don’t do porcelain veneers, they are not skilled enough in cosmetic work to make these crowns look good. Even most dentists who do porcelain veneers don’t have the skills for tetracycline stains.

Tetraycycline Stains and No Money

You have a few options. First, you can leave the teeth as they are while saving up for the high-end (and higher priced) procedure. This obviously would depend on how long it would take you to reach your goal.

Second, you can have teeth whitening done. When you do this, know that it won’t be done in one tube of gel. In fact, you will have to be persistent, but if you are, it will work. One thing to note is I don’t recommend Zoom Whitening for this. It is more expensive than the take-home trays whitening. It is a fantastic whitener, but you will need too many sessions for it to be financially do-able for you. Of course, you could do one zoom appointment to get a jump start and then do the rest with trays. As far as tray teeth whittening goes, see if your dentist offers or is willing to purchase kör whitening for you. This is the most potent gel available.

Your final option is to have the teeth whitening done while saving up. This allows you to make some progress if it is going to take you a long time to get to the cost goal. If you choose this, you may even find you are happy enough with your whitening results that you no longer feel the need for porcelain veneers. Just bear in mind it will take a while for the whitening to really make a difference.

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

Can Teeth Be Bleached to Match My Eyeballs

Posted on May 2, 2022 by writeradmin.

I want to whiten my teeth to where they are as white as my eyeballs. Is that possible or am I being unrealistic?

Percy

Dear Percy,

I find some of the questions I get to be fascinating. This is one of them. The answer would depend on how white your eyeballs are. At some point, whitening hits a wall. Additionally, it is hard to pinpoint a specific color with teeth whitening. When you think you have reached the level of whitening you want and stop whitening, there is always some oxygen released that changes the color a bit.

The best way to get a specific color and match your teeth to something is with porcelain veneers. These are more expensive than teeth whitening. I will caution you against price shopping on them though. Porcelain veneers are used for complete smile makeovers. This skill is not taught in dental school. Because of that, dentists have to invest in post-doctoral training to learn to do them well. To make it even more challenging, there is a need for artistry in order for the results to look both natural and beautiful. Artistic skill takes time. Not all dentists are created equally in this. You will often find that those dentists who are significantly cheaper than the standard, there is a reason. You don’t want to end up as a cosmetic dentistry horror story.

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

Is Taking Tetracycline as An Adult Bad for Your Teeth?

Posted on December 21, 2021 by writeradmin.

My doctor has me on tetracycline for acne. My dentist recently noticed the brownish lines on the back of my teeth. My mother thinks these might be from the tetracycline. Is this medicine bad for my teeth? Is there a way to get rid of the stains?

Maggie

Dear Maggie,

You did not mention how old you are, so I am not going to make any assumptions. Generally, tetracycline only stains your teeth if they are still forming. So, if you are over thirteen years of age (and your writing certainly indicates that) then it is unlikely that tetracycline is the culprit. That being said, there is one study that did indicate a specific variety of tetracycline, called minocycline, can stain adult teeth after they are formed. That would be the first thing I would check.

A great toothpaste to help remove surface stains is Supersmile toothpaste. Please don’t try and use any other over-the-counter whitening toothpaste that you can get. They use abrasives to scrub off stains. While it will make your teeth temporarily whiter, the abrasives damage your enamel and make it much easier for them to pick up stains.

If these are true tetracycline stains, and you are in the early stages, you can try teeth whitening, but you will have to be persistent with it. Other than that, you would have to fix them by covering them with porcelain veneers, though veneers do not go on the back of teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.
Click here to learn how to get a free virtual smile makeover consultation.

What Else is Needed with Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Alex.

I had planned on getting a smile makeover with porcelain veneers but my dentist keeps adding other procedures I need before I can get the veneers. Getting a full checkup and cleaning I understood. Getting Invisalign and teeth whitening seems excessive. Are these really necessary? I was under the impression that porcelain veneers can make your teeth look straight. The only thing I have that could “possibly” need some orthodontics is one canine tooth that is a little in front of the adjacent tooth. It seems unnecessarily expensive to do that for one tooth.

Letticia

Dear Letticia,

I’m glad you wrote and can help give you some direction here. Let’s start with the teeth whitening. How much of this you need will depend on how many porcelain veneers you plan on getting as well as how wide your smile is. Let us say, just as an example, that you only plan on getting four porcelain veneers. However, when you smile, you can see ten teeth. If the veneers are very white, but your natural teeth are more of a taupe it will be very obvious that you have four “fake” teeth on your front teeth. If however, you whiten your teeth first, then the adjacent teeth will blend more naturally with your new smile makeover. If you are getting plenty of porcelain veneers on your top teeth, then the only teeth you may want to whiten is your bottom arch so it is not a stark contrast to your top arch. This is much more affordable.

The Invisalign is a completely different story. Based on what you described to me, you should not have to have any orthodontics before getting porcelain veneers. Your understanding of a smile makeover and what porcelain veneers can do is more solid than your dentist’s. The fact that your dentist does not know how to make those teeth look straight tells me he is not skilled enough in porcelain veneers. Don’t force him to do this. You will be unhappy with the results. Instead, find a dentist with more expertise. Look at some before and after pictures of work they’ve done to ensure you would be happy to have those results.

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

Whitening Non-Veneered Teeth

Posted on August 18, 2021 by writeradmin.

Will you give me some advice? I recently got porcelain veneers. I wanted them very white but did not think about how different the color would be from my natural teeth. When I smile, it is very obvious there are two different colored teeth. Could I use Crest Whitestrips to whiten the non-veneered teeth? Will it damage my porcelain veneers?

Brooke

Dear Brooke,

Teeth whitening trays

I’m surprised your dentist did not advise you to have some teeth whitening done before getting your porcelain veneers. It is pretty standard procedure when someone is planning on getting veneers that are a different shade than their natural teeth, but are not getting enough veneers to cover all their visible teeth when they smile. This is usually between eight and ten veneers. You did not mention how many you had placed, but I am guessing it was less than that.

While Crest Whitestrips will not damage your porcelain veneers, there will be some difficulties in using them. First, they are only designed to cover the front six teeth you have. In all likelihood, all or most of those teeth are now veneered. That means the bleaching gel won’t reach the teeth you actually need to be whitened. Additionally, the gel is so weak that it will take an extended amount of time to get them to match your veneers. It is possible that you could cut the strips so that they can be placed on just the teeth you need them, but that is a lot of trouble to go through for weak results.

I am going to suggest you have your dentist make you custom bleaching trays for you to whiten your teeth. He or she can even make them where they go around any teeth that have veneers on them. This will focus the whitening gel on your natural teeth.

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.

Crooked Discolored Teeth

Posted on May 28, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am 37 years old and recently divorced. I have discolored and crooked teeth. This is a point in my life where I really do not need to feel ugly. At this point in my life, braces are the last thing I’ll want. Are there other ways of improving my smile given my issues?

Joan

Dear Joan,

I am sorry to hear about your recent divorce. That is a difficult and trying time. You certainly deserve to feel attractive at any point in your life, but especially at a time when everything else feels up in arms. Fortunately, there is a way to improve both aspects of your smile at the same time, and you won’t have to wear a mouth full of metal.

You have a couple of options. I’ll start with the least expensive. Your crooked teeth could be repaired with Invisalign. These are sometimes called invisible braces. Instead of the traditional metal wires and brackets, it uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth. Not only does this allow you to straighten your teeth without anyone knowing, but it does so in a fraction of the time that the metal braces would.

They also have the additional benefit of allowing you to whiten your teeth at the same time you are straightening them. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This saves you additional money.

If the only thing you are concerned about is the discoloration and crookedness, this is the way I’d go. If, however, you have other things about your smile you would like to repair such as their length or character, then getting a complete smile makeover with porcelain veneers would be the way to go. These are high end and what celebrities use to give themselves that Hollywood smile. With porcelain veneers you can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth all at the same time.

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

Full Mouth Reconstruction for White Teeth

Posted on October 26, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have one dental crown and 3 porcelain veneers. The tooth with the crown had a root canal treatment, so it was already there. The gumline by this crown is showing a black/gray line. The veneers are starting to show their age as well. I asked my dentist about replacing these. He wants to do crowns on all my teeth because they’re not very white and this will take care of both issues at once. My concern is the choice. Why crowns instead of porcelain veneers?

Patty

Dear Patty,

I just want to make sure I’m understanding you correctly. Your dentist wants to crown all your teeth because they aren’t very white? Really? I have so many concerns about this. First, the solution for teeth that aren’t very white is to do teeth whitening. Not only does that preserve all of your tooth structure, but it is also significantly less expensive.

You brought up one of my second concerns. Why crowns instead of porcelain veneers? I can tell you why. Dentists who aren’t comfortable doing porcelain veneers, will steer their patients toward dental crowns. Here is the problem with that. Smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. Porcelain veneers should be a basic skill for any cosmetic dentist. However, there are plenty of cosmetic dentists who do them, but do them badly. You don’t want that either.

When you have a dentist already letting you know he can’t do porcelain veneers, run away from that dentist doing any cosmetic work on your teeth.

Crowning all your teeth is known as a full mouth reconstruction. This is one of the most advanced procedures a dentist will have to do. Not only is there the cosmetic aspect of it, which your dentist has already hinted he’s not qualified to do, but getting the proper occlusion of your teeth also takes significant post-doctoral training, which I doubt he has. If it is done wrong, you could end up with TMJ Disorder and a lifetime of pain and migraines.

My suggestion is you let him do the teeth whitening and then find a cosmetic dentist to replace the crown and veneers. Look at their smile gallery to see what type of results they get in order to get an idea of their skill level. Though, make sure it is their own work and not just stock photos. If they don’t have a smile gallery, they are not a cosmetic dentist at all.

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

Whitening Brown Spots

Posted on August 24, 2020 by writeradmin.

My dentist has been trying to help me whiten the brown spots on my teeth because she knows they are a source of embarrassment for me. They’ve been there since my adult teeth came in when I was much younger. We started with over the counter whitening and that didn’t work. It actually made the spots worse. Now she is offering to grind off the brown spots, but she isn’t sure how much surface will have to come off. If that does work, would the next step be dental crowns or would professional teeth whitening be more effective than what I used over the counter, which honestly was about every brand out there. I’m not sure what to do.

Malorie

Dear Malorie,

Your dentist certainly seems well-intentioned, but she has no idea what she is doing with this. In fact, she’s experimenting on you without the knowledge she needs in cosmetic work, including teeth whitening which is one of the most basic procedures in that aspect of dental care.

Any teeth whitening, including professional teeth whitening, will not work for your situation. Instead, because it whitens your teeth evenly, it will make the brown spots more obvious.

The type of treatment you need for the situation you are in will be either dental bonding or porcelain veneers. Both of these are advanced cosmetic procedures that will require a dentist with advanced training. Porcelain veneers and more expensive than dental bonding but will last significantly longer and can do more. They are the go-to procedure for complete smile makeovers.

Where do You Find a Dentist who is Qualified to do Advanced Cosmetic Work?

Because there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, it is difficult for patients to know who is qualified. Sadly, they do not teach how to do smile makeovers in dental school. For a dentist to learn how to do these procedures they have to invest in post-doctoral training. You want a dentist who has made this investment. But how do you find one?

My suggestion is to look for a dentist who has attained accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). AACD accredited dentists have passed stringent exams as well as had to prove their artistry with before and after photos of a large and specific number of cases they have performed.

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