Baton Rouge Dentist

Archives for July 2021

Will dental insurance pay for teeth whitening and bonding after braces?

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 I was born with a lack of tooth enamel. After wearing braces for the past two years, my teeth are finally straight, but they are blotchy. Will dental insurance pay for me to get my teeth whitened and then get composite bonding to hide the blotches? Thank you. Kasey

Kasey,

Thanks for your question. And congratulations on completing your treatment with braces!

 

What Causes Blotchy Teeth After Braces?

Blotchy teeth after wearing braces often result from a lack of brushing after eating while braces are on. It is good to keep a toothbrush handy if you wear braces. Wherever you are, after you eat, you can brush your teeth and prevent bacteria from collecting around your braces and damaging your tooth enamel.

 

Will Dental Insurance Pay for Tooth Enamel Repair After Braces?

Some dental insurance companies offer benefits toward tooth enamel repair. But they may not cover the full cost. Instead, they will pay for part of the repair. And an insurance company’s concern is that the results of your composite bonding are functional.

 

But after treatment with braces, you want your smile to look natural. And you probably want the composite bonding to match your teeth after they are whitened. Contact your dental insurance company to ask about benefits toward composite bonding to repair tooth enamel.

 

Will Dental Insurance Pay for Teeth Whitening?

Before-and-after teeth whitening smile
After braces, teeth whitening is a small investment to enhance your smile

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment for appearance—not function—so your insurance company will not offer benefits for it. Still bleaching will enhance your straightened teeth after braces and show off your smile. So you might want to pay for it anyway. Your dentist may offer discounted whitening services or payment plans.

 

Regardless, only let your family dentist whiten your teeth and match dental bonding to it if they have advanced cosmetic dentistry training. You will get natural-looking results that you love.

Ryan Perry, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

Is it too late to save my broken tooth?

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Three days ago, my tooth broke off at the gumline. I didn’t go to a dentist right away for reasons that I don’t want to talk about online. Will you please tell me if it is too late to fix the tooth? Also, what is the least expensive and easiest fix? Thanks for your help. Tim C. from GA

 

Man frowning and holding the side of his face; for Baton Rouge emergency dentistry from Dr. Ryan Perry.Tim – Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, a cheap, easy fix for a tooth broken at the gumline will not last. The priority is a lasting solution. And you may want it to look natural; neither is cheap or easy.

When Your Tooth Breaks at the Gumline

When your tooth breaks at the gumline, possible solutions include root canal treatment and a crown or a dental implant.

Root Canal and Crown for a Tooth Broken at the Gumline

Sometimes root canal treatment and a crown can restore a tooth broken at the gumline. But the treatment works if the tooth is not subject to a lot of stress. For example, if you have a strong bite (the force of biting or chewing) or deep overbite, it would be challenging for the crown to stay on.

Root canal treatment – A dentist must complete the root canal on what remains of your tooth. A flexible fiberglass post in the tooth root can help stabilize the tooth. In some cases, a dentist will place two side-by-side fiberglass posts to withstand stress on the tooth and keep the tooth intact. The dentist would build up the tooth with composite and bond a dental crown to it.

Dental Implant for a Tooth Broken at the Gumline

A dental implant is a long-term solution for a tooth subject to a lot of stress from a deep overbite or a strong bite. Although an implant can cost twice as much as root canal treatment, posts, and a crown, it will last. An implant dentist or oral surgeon anchors a dental implant in your jawbone, and it takes three to four months to heal. But when it heals, it is a solid foundation for a natural-looking crown.

Although you might choose a root canal and crown, you will need a dental implant anyway if it doesn’t work.

It helps to see a dentist right away after tooth trauma, but it is still possible to save your tooth. We suggest that you schedule an appointment with a skilled dentist to examine your tooth. The dentist will explain your treatment options and what you can expect from them.

 

Ryan Perry, DD, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.