I have a really hard time with my smile. First, when my mouth is relaxed you can’t even see my teeth. Even when I smile it has to be pretty forced in order for you to actually see my teeth. My jaw aches a lot. I do wear a night guard because I grind my teeth. You can see my smile a little better when I do. My dentist is suggesting porcelain veneers to fix this issue. That is quite a big expense. Before I invest in that, can you tell me if porcelain veneers are my best option?
Alana
Dear Alana,
I am very glad you wrote before going forward with any treatment. Bear in mind that I haven’t examined you, but what you have described sounds like you have a collapsed bite, along with some TMJ issues that have resulted from it. Porcelain veneers alone is not the right treatment for this. You would need to open up your bite. This is done with dental crowns. However, before you do this, don’t just go to your dentist and say, “let’s do this with dental crowns instead.”
This is one of the most advanced procedures a dentist can do and if it is not done carefully and methodically, it can leave you in massive pain for the rest of your life. Right now you have TMJ symptoms. If this is done incorrectly, you’ll have severe TMJ disorder.
In a situation such as yours, it would need to be done provisionally, working reversibly. Whatever dentist you have do this needs to start by getting the provisional crowns successful first. For you, success should look like the following:
- You are completely out of pain
- Your teeth meet together properly
- Your upper teeth should show normally
- There should be no difficulties speaking
- You should love how they look
This may seem like an impossible order. However, there are dentists with the right training to do this. Look for someone who has been to one of the following post-doctoral training institutions:
- The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies
- Dawson Academy
- The Pankey Institute
I cannot stress how important it will be that you find the right dentist for this. Do not feel guilty about using a different dentist for this than your general care. That is a common, and necessary, practice.
This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.