Archive for the ‘Smile Makeover’ Category

Smile makeover without spending a fortune

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

I want to get a smile makeover. My problem is I can’t spend a fortune. My sister just got her smile done, but it cost her $35,000. I don’t have that kind of money. Personally, I think my sister was overcharged. She tends to want to only go to the top of the line for anything. My question is how can I find a highly qualified cosmetic dentist without spending an unreasonable amount of money? Oh, my dentist says I have a problem with grinding. I don’t know if that will affect my makeover. FYI, I don’t trust my dentist for cosmetic work. He’s a good regular dentist though.

Gail B.- New Mexico

Gail,

There are two ways to find a great cosmetic dentist. One is to go on the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD.com) website and look for someone who is accredited with them that practices in your area. There is a difference between accreditation and membership, so make sure you are looking up the right thing. Another avenue is to look on the mynewsmile.com website and see who they recommend in your state.

For a smile makeover you generally do porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. Sometimes a mix of both.  Because of your grinding issue, I’m guessing the dentist you choose will recommend mostly porcelain crowns.  It is good you are not just going to your family dentist to get your work done, because you would end up out of a lot of money as well as disappointed in the results.  Not all highly qualified cosmetic dentists charge a fortune, but they won’t be cheap either. I would make a list of potential cosmetic dentists from those two sources, then call and ask them how much they charge for porcelain crowns. You’ll probably be able to find one who is both qualified and reasonable in their fees.  I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, Louisiana dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

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Options for straightening teeth

Friday, December 14th, 2012

I’ve had crooked teeth my whole life. My parents could not afford to get them fixed. I’m now starting my career and have some discretionary money to fix my teeth. Could you list out some ways to fix my teeth at varying expenses. Don’t tell me what is the cheapest or most expensive. I want to just think about what I feel the best option is.

Thanks,

Cynthia F.- Alabama

Cynthia,

Here are three good options for you:

1. Invisalign: Not everyone is a candidate, but any Invisalign dentist can tell you and many dentists do a complimentary consultation so you don’t waste money figuring out if you’re a candidate.  These are aligners that work like braces, except that they are essentially invisible. No one will know you are wearing them. They’ll take about six months to a year to straighten your teeth.  When you’re done, you’ll have a beautiful, straight smile. You might ask your dentist if he’ll allow you to use the aligners as whitening trays. That will allow you to knock out two birds with one stone.

2. Cosmetic Contouring: This is a reshaping of your teeth that takes about one to three office visits. You’ll need x-rays to make sure your teeth are healthy enough for this procedure.  Sometimes just a couple of millimeters of tooth reduction can make your smile completely different. A sanding drill or laser can reshape them. Abrasive strips can shape the sides of your teeth.

3. Porcelain Veneers: In just two appointments, you can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.

Here is some important advice though, the last two methods need an expert cosmetic dentist.  Don’t settle for the average family dentist who knows some cosmetic procedures. He needs to have the expertise and artistry that only comes from extensive post-graduate training. Your safest avenue is to find someone who is AACD accredited.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

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Do your gums grow back after quitting chewing tobacco?

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

I chewed tobacco for about 10 years and recently quit. I noticed that my gums had receded quite a bit. Will they grow back?

Thanks, Steve

Dear Steve,

It’s great that you were able to quit such an addicting habit that affects the entire mouth as well as your general health. Studies have shown that 10% to 30% of regular chew tobacco users have gum recession and develop some bone loss around the teeth. Besides gum recession other risk factors for tobacco use are sores in the mouth, oral cancer, tooth decay and sensitivity.

Unfortunately our gums do not grow back. Gum recession is usually permanent and difficult to repair. Stopping your tobacco use will prevent further gum recession; however you also have to make sure you have good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing daily as well as visiting your dentist every six months for your dental cleanings.

We advise you to address your gum recession concerns with your dentist who may recommend surgery of a more cosmetic or restorative nature to make your smile look more aesthetically pleasing.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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What can be done about damage to teeth from bulimia?

Monday, October 24th, 2011

I am a recovering bulimic. I’ve been pretty stable for the last two years, and have a great counselor, so I feel like I can really beat this illness. I am having this issue, though, and it seems kind of vain in light of all the other health problems I’ve been dealing with, but here it is – my teeth are an embarrassment. I’ve had bulimia for more than half my life. My front teeth are worn, and really thin and chipped. They are shorter than they should be, too.

I know this might sound like something that should be low priority, but I feel like I am finally starting to live again, and my total lack of smile is holding me back. I am not capable of smiling without my hand over my mouth. I mumble. I always look tight-lipped, because I am.

What can be done? Are the teeth too damaged for porcelain veneers? What about porcelain crowns? I have even considered just having them pulled and getting a bridge. I don’t think dental implants are an option I can afford.

Thoughts? I appreciate your help.

Patricia in Erie, PA

Dear Patricia,

Congratulations on working so hard to improve your health and well being. It is absolutely normal to want to express your new-found joy with a radiant smile.

The best recommendation is to seek the services of a skilled cosmetic dentist. Porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns could work for you, but you want to make sure you have someone who is experienced and highly artistic do the work. Generally speaking, a cosmetic dentist will also be more sensitive to your cosmetic concerns.

Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone’s office sponsored this post.

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Porcelain crowns for a smile makeover?

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

This may seem like it is coming after the fact, but I am curious about something. I recently had a smile makeover done. I thought I was going to have all porcelain veneers placed, but when I look at the backs of my teeth, it looks like the porcelain goes all the way around. Is it normal to place porcelain crowns instead of porcelain veneers for purely cosmetic reasons? I thought crowns were just for teeth that were damaged. I guess the reason this concerns me is that maybe my teeth were in worse shape than I though, if they needed crowns.

I’ve since seen my general dentist, and she seemed very impressed with the work, so I am not concerned about the quality of the workmanship. Is this standard, to have crowns instead of veneers for a cosmetic smile makeover?

Thanks for your insight,

Ben in Oregon

Dear Ben,

Porcelain crowns and veneers differ only in degree–there really is no specific line of demarcation where a veneer becomes a crown. The fee for a porcelain veneer is usually the same or nearly the same as that for a porcelain crown, because the effort to place each type of restoration is about the same.

It is actually quite common to see porcelain crowns used on the front teeth for cosmetic reasons rather than protective ones. If your teeth were not weakened or damaged, your dentist might have decided to go with crowns to control your bite.

It is surprising that the dentist did not discuss this in detail with you during the course of your treatment. Typically, smile makeovers involve a great deal of give and take between the dentist and the patient, because the dentist will want to make absolutely sure he or she knows exactly what the patient wants.

The simplest solution is simply to ask your cosmetic dentist why he decided to go with porcelain crowns rather than veneers. Crowns are the more aggressive form of treatment, and require more reduction of the natural tooth structure. Veneers require only a little bit of shaving on the front of the tooth. For that reason alone, I would expect your dentist to have a sound reasoning for choosing the crowns. Most dentists will always pursue the least aggressive form of treatment and strive to preserve as much of the natural tooth structure as possible.

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Question about Snap-On Smile

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

Is there some kind of temporary dental appliance that gives the illusion of straighter, whiter teeth? It fits over your teeth like a mouth guard would. What is something like that called? Is it expensive? Does it take a long time to be fitted for such a device, and does it hurt?

Alan in Sacramento

Dear Alan,

The dental apparatus you are referring to is called a “Snap-On Smile”, and it fits snuggly over your existing teeth. Such a device is used sometimes for a big event like a wedding, or by actors in the theater. Though it is not durable, it can improve your smile nicely for a short time. A Snap-On Smile is considered a very temporary smile makeover, and should not be confused with porcelain veneers or crowns.

It probably takes at least two weeks, maybe a little more, to complete the entire process to get a Snap-On Smile. A dentist will make a model of your teeth, which is then sent to a dental lab in New York where the appliances are manufactured. Your Snap-On Smile should be shipped to you about two weeks after the lab receives the model from your dentist.

When you receive your Snap-On Smile, no preparation is necessary for your teeth—the appliance just snaps into place. Expect the appliance to make your teeth look bulkier and larger, and remember that it needs to be cleaned after each time you eat.

We strongly recommend that you consult an expert cosmetic dentist to help you acquire such an appliance. He or she will help you get the best results.

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