Baton Rouge Dentist

What should I do if I have a small budget and a chipped tooth?

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Recently, I fell down some stairs, smashed my face and chipped my front right tooth. The tooth suffered damage on the corner innermost to the front left tooth in approximately 1/8 of an inch. I need to get this repaired but finances are an issue and I don’t want to spend a lot of money on porcelain veneers but I also want to repair the tooth properly. What is the best solution for my chipped right tooth?
– Steven from Louisiana

Steven,
A small chip like this doesn’t require a porcelain veneer. Instead, the best procedure would be a simple direct bonding repair.
Be sure to do your homework and get the best dentist for this procedure. You don’t need to be “upgraded” to porcelain veneers and at the same time, you want a dentist who has the artistic skills to effectively do a beautiful job with direct bonding.

This blog brought to you by Baton Rouge family dentist, Dr. Ryan P. Perry.

Can you Whiten Hypoplasia?

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I have a small yellowish white spot on my front tooth. If I use Crest Whitening Strips would it change the color of the spot to where it blends in with the rest of my teeth?

Thanks, Annette

Dear Annette,

Hypoplasia is known as a condition when the enamel does not form properly leaving a discoloration on the surface of the tooth ranging from a yellowish white to brownish color. Whitening your teeth will not make this spot blend in more with your natural color. In repairing enamel hypoplasia there are some options however it depends on the severity of the condition and its location in the mouth. If the condition is mild then most dentists will most likely use a composite filling material to bond to the tooth that matches the rest of your teeth. If the tooth is lacking a lot of enamel in the area then a composite filling may not bond properly to the surface so a porcelain veneer or porcelain crown would be your best choice for dental treatment. We recommend you consult with your dentist to find out which treatment option meets your needs.

Post courtesy of Dr. Perry, Baton Rouge Dentist.

Son with a broken tooth

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My ten year old son was playing lacrosse and got hit in the mouth with a stick. One of his top front teeth broke off, about 2/3 of the way up, and the other has a diagonal crack in it. I took him to the dentist’s office today, but the dentist wouldn’t even see him. The receptionist says he won’t have time to fix the tooth for 3 more weeks. That is just crazy!

I don’t want to wait for treatment on this. Is it customary to wait this long? Is there some medical reason why it should NOT be treated right away?

Thanks,

Suzy in St. Paul, MN

Dear Suzy,

No medical reason exists to wait. If you still have the piece that broke off, that could help the situation. A talented cosmetic dentist will be able to reattach the piece of tooth.

You should absolutely choose an excellent cosmetic dentist for this procedure, as you want these teeth to look as good as possible.

If you do not have the piece of tooth, direct dental bonding may be an option to repair the broken tooth, or he may need a porcelain crown or two, depending on the severity of the crack in the other tooth. If the roots of the teeth are cracked, he may need root canal treatment. If you consult with an excellent cosmetic dentist, he or she will be able to offer you all of the possible options to get the possible aesthetic result.

Posted courtesy of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry.

Fluorosis stains on my kid’s teeth

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I’m writing for some clarifying advice, I hope. I am pretty sure I will need to find a new dentist, but could use a more educated opinion.

My youngest daughter has pretty bad staining on her teeth, from fluorosis. Her bottom teeth in the front are really yellow (they are permanent teeth), and her top teeth are blotchy and in some cases almost jagged on the side (those are still baby teeth, though).

She wears braces right now, to try and fix issues related to a long thumb-sucking habit. We put braces on before her 12-year molars came in to try and give her some more confidence in her smile sooner. She is REALLY self-conscious about her teeth, but I think now the discolorations and staining bother her more than the overbite. She is very shy.

Henri from Augusta

Dear Henri,

It is hard when your child suffers from confidence issues, and hopefully you can get connected with a skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist who understands the psychology behind appearance as well and the best techniques to enhance her smile.

If her staining is indeed severe, then the teeth must eventually be covered with porcelain veneers. Fluorosis is caused when the teeth are forming, by over-consumption of fluoride. This is sometimes caused by drinking water from public or private wells that has a naturally high level of fluoride over the course of several years when the teeth are developing. It can also be caused by a child repeatedly swallowing too much fluoridated toothpaste. Just as a note, your family dentist should reiterate each time you visit that a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is appropriate, and that you should make sure your child spits it out rather than swallowing.

It is important that you are confident your dentist knows the source of the staining before treatment. If your daughter’s bottom teeth are a uniform yellow (no blotchiness), it may not be from fluorosis, and a simple teeth whitening treatment may be sufficient. If the fluorosis staining is mild, it is possible that a skilled cosmetic dentist could cover the spots with dental bonding.

The key theme here is “skilled experienced cosmetic dentist”. Any dentist can say they do cosmetic work. But you want someone who can prove their skills with before and after pictures and evidence of accreditation and coursework. If you choose your dentist well, they will do a good job choosing the best treatment option for your daughter.

This blog post is a courtesy of the dental office of Dr. Perry, Baton Rouge dentist.