Lumineers to Whiten Teeth?

Posted on by .

I wanted to get my teeth whitened and talked to my dentist about it. He told me he was just certified in Lumineers and that could whiten my teeth while fixing a tiny chip I have on one of my teeth. The chip has never really bothered me until he brought it up. For some reason, it never occurred to me people will notice the chip. Now suddenly it worries me. However, the price of Lumineers is pretty high. Is there another option?

Beth

Dear Beth,

Teeth Whitening Trays

You definitely don’t want to move forward with your dentist’s plans. Not only is it a massive overtreatment, but you are likely to end up with a smile that is worse than what you started with. Lumineers is a brand of porcelain veneers that is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. While they don’t necessarily require tooth preparation the way other brands do, that doesn’t mean the dentist will know how to create a beautiful smile. While he is Lumineers certified, all that means is he attended a seminar. That doesn’t actually provide any training in doing smile makeovers.

Fortunately, I don’t think that is at all necessary for you. If your teeth need whitening, the logical procedure would be teeth whitening. Duh. This is significantly less expensive. As for the chipped tooth. It may not be as noticeable as you think. Your dentist is in your mouth up close. He is supposed to notice every little detail. If it didn’t bother you before I wouldn’t let the dentist’s comment change that.

before and after dental bonding

That being said, I realize sometimes once something gets our attention, it is hard to let go. The simplest and most affordable solution if you decide something has to be done is to have tooth bonding done to it. This is where a cosmetic dentist will hand sculpt composite resin onto the tooth to fill in the missing part. The image directly above shows what this can look like. However, you should be aware this procedure requires a skilled cosmetic dentist. Before I let anyone try it, I’d ask them to show you some before and after pictures of cases they’ve done to make sure they are up to the task.

If a dentist offers an option for a virtual smile consult, that can help you find out what they can do for you.

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

Can You Whiten Dental Bonding?

Posted on by .

I have dental bonding on my two front teeth because of chips. I liked how they looked at first, but it’s been a few years and they’re starting to pick up stains. Can I whiten them or do they require something else to get them back in shape?

Penny

Dear Penny,

before and after images of dental bonding for chipped teeth

Unfortunately, you won’t like the results if you use teeth whitening in this situation. What will happen is your natural tooth structure will whiten, but the dental bonding will remain the same. This will make them look even worse. You have a couple of options in order to get these back in shape.

The first thing you can do is have the dental bonding re-done. This is the most affordable option. It’s okay to whiten your teeth in that case, if you’re looking to make them brighter because your dentist can match the new bonding to your whiter teeth. As you know, based on your current experience, these last for several years.

You have a second option if you are looking for something which lasts longer than bonding. Porcelain veneers can last for at least a decade. However, they are much more expensive than bonding.

Who Should Do Your Cosmetic Dental Work?

When it comes to having any type of cosmetic dental work done, you don’t just want any dentist to do it. Instead, you need someone who has some expertise both in a technical understanding as well as some artistry. Dental bonding is done free hand, so an artistic eye is imperative.

So how do you know if your dentist has what it takes?

The first thing I would do is ask to see some before and after images of actual cases they’ve done. If you’ve decided to do dental bonding to repair your chips, ask specifically to see those type of cases. if you’ve decided to get porcelain veneers done, then I would ask to see his veneer cases.

If you don’t think they are stunning, don’t use that dentist. Be picky. These are your teeth. You want a perfectionist creating your smile.

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