Baton Rouge Dentist

Teeth whitening made white spots look worse

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Close-up smile, portraying teeth whitening vs bonding for white spots on teethI had braces for 18 months, and when my orthodontist took them off, I had white spots on several teeth. Whitening toothpaste didn’t help. So, at my last exam and cleaning, my dentist recommended Zoom. After Zoom treatment, my teeth are super white, but the white pots look brighter. My tooth color is uneven now and looks worse to me. My dentist said she would think of something else to try, but it scares me that she thought Zoom would work, but it did not. What are my options? Max from Virginia

Max,

Thank you for your question. Without advanced cosmetic dentistry training, a general dentist may not understand how to correct white spots on teeth and achieve even tooth color.

Will Teeth Whitening Improve White Spots?

Teeth whitening effectively removes stains embedded in teeth and makes your natural teeth whiter. But it usually makes white spots worse because it will not change the white areas but can make them more noticeable.

How Can You Treat White Spots on Teeth?

The treatment for white spots on teeth depends on their appearance and cause. If you have white spots after braces, decalcification around the brackets usually causes it. These factors cause decalcification:

  • Lack of oral hygiene around braces
  • Plaque buildup robs the teeth of calcium
  • Lack of calcium leaves white spots

Treatment options

Treatment options for white spots on teeth after races include remineralization, microabrasion, or dental bonding.

  • Remineralization – Fluoride treatments from your dentist and a calcium-rich diet may mineralize teeth over time. Also, remineralizing gels can help.
  • Microabrasion – During this process, a dentist will remove discolored tooth enamel and apply an abrasive substance to your teeth. Afterward, the dentist will clean, rinse, and polish your teeth.
  • Dental bonding – After removing the decalcified enamel, a cosmetic dentist can apply dental bonding to fill in spaces. Cosmetic dentists understand how to blend dental bonding to mimic the color and gloss of natural teeth.

We recommend scheduling an appointment with a dentist who has advanced cosmetic dentistry training to discuss your options. Your cosmetic dentist will ensure the bonding matches your newly whitened teeth.

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

My son fell and broke his front tooth. Can a dentist save it?

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My son fell on his face last night and broke one front tooth and cracked the other. He is ten years old. I’m in an odd situation because I quit our family dentist and had not found a new dentist since the pandemic, so I called a few friends and we saw a dentist this morning. The dentist took a quick look at the tooth, said it looks okay and added that he can’t fix the tooth until March, but he also said that the tooth root needs time to desensitize. What does that mean? Should I wait or find another dentist who will see him right away? – Kristen

Kristen,

There is no reason to wait. The dentist you saw would need to explain why he recommends allowing time for your son’s tooth to desensitize. Before treatment, a dentist will desensitize the tooth for a painless procedure. Sometimes a tooth has internal damage that you cannot see. But it seems that the dentist’s exam was too quick to evaluate your son’s tooth. It’s best to get the tooth thoroughly examined and treated.

Repairing a Child’s Broken Tooth with Dental Bonding

A skilled cosmetic dentist can often repair a child’s tooth with dental bonding. Hopefully, you saved the piece of the tooth that broke off. A cosmetic dentist can bond the piece back in place. But if you don’t have the broken piece, we recommend direct dental bonding to fill in the tooth. A cosmetic can seamlessly restore the tooth so you won’t be able to tell where the bonding and tooth meet. The dentist will do the following:

  • Clean the tooth
  • Etch the tooth
  • Apply dental bonding and shape it
  • Harden the bonding with a curing light
  • Further shape and polish the tooth

When your son is older and the tooth pulp shrinks, he may need a dental crown. But for now, find a dentist who will see your son right away and has cosmetic dentistry training and experience.

Before-an-after dental bonding photos for a broken tooth
A cosmetic dentist uses dental bonding for emergency chips and breaks

 

Dr. Ryan Perry, a Baton Rouge dentist, sponsors this post.

Looking for a dentist to bring out the best in a Snap-On Smile

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After my online research about getting an affordable smile makeover, I know that I cannot afford cosmetic dentistry. So, I looked at other options and learned about a Snap-on Smile. It’s clear that this isn’t the best option, but anything will look better than my teeth.

Many dentists online criticize the Snap-on Smile, but when you don’t have money for porcelain veneers, there are no good alternatives. The shape of my teeth is irregular, and they look mismatched. Based on everything I read, I hope to find a dentist who can adjust the Snap-On Smile to make it look better and not so bulky.

Is it possible to find a dentist with reasonable fees to flatten the Snap-On Smile teeth, especially near the gumline and deepen the grooves between the teeth so it looks more natural? And does any dentist have the tools to do this, or should I look for a Snap-On Smile dentist? I was hoping for a dentist with an artistic eye who won’t make the appliance look worse. I know that my regular dentist is not willing to do this. I already asked, and she refuses. Thanks for your help. Elysia from TN

Elysia,

Our priority is to protect patients’ oral health, so we must be upfront about your expectations from a Snap-On Smile. It will not give you the smile makeover you’re hoping for. The appliance is not designed to do that.

Reasons a Snap-On Smile Won’t Give You a Smile Makeover

As you read during your research, many dentists criticize the Snap-On Smile. And it’s because they or their peers have used it with disappointing results. Any honest dentist will tell you that a Snap-On Smile will give you an acceptable smile—not an attractive smile. Although the smile might look natural from a distance, when you’re close enough to talk to anyone, it will be easy to tell that your smile is not real.

  • Tooth color – The teeth have a uniform flat whiteness with no variation in color like natural teeth.
  • Tooth shape – The shape of the teeth in a Snap-On Smile does not look real. Think of artificial flowers that look artificial. You understand their purpose to provide decoration, but you know they are fake. It’s the same with this oral appliance.
  • Limitations of the appliance – Although you feel confident about helping a dentist get the smile just the way you want, the appliance’s limitations will not allow it. And an artistic dentist will not want to be involved in helping you create a cosmetic dentistry nightmare.

A Snap-On Smile is designed to be a quick way to make a lousy smile look half-way decent. It won’t last if you wear it every day.

Dental Bonding – An Affordable Alternative to Porcelain Veneers

Before-and-after dental bonding photos
A dentist with cosmetic dentistry training can use dental bonding to reshape teeth and fill small gaps

Your comments suggest that you found no solution between porcelain veneers and a Snap-On Smile. Were you able to find information on cosmetic dental bonding? An artistic dentist can apply dental bonding to your teeth to conceal chips, reshape your teeth, and fill small gaps.

Cosmetic dentists know how to blend composite to match your natural tooth color, translucence, and gloss. Although bonding doesn’t last as long as porcelain veneers, it is a fraction of the cost.

We recommend looking for a cosmetic dentist, scheduling a consultation, and discussing your treatment options. You can also ask about the dentist’s financial options for making treatment affordable.

 

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge sponsors this post

Does my son’s broken tooth need an emergency dentist?

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My son slid into third base and was hit by the ball last night. The force of the ball broke one of his upper front teeth and cracked the other. We took him to the dentist today, but he indicated he could not make an appointment to fix the problems for several months. I want it fixed now and am wondering if we should see an emergency dentist. Is this necessary, or would it be best to wait for the tooth to lose its sensitivity?

Thank you,
Rachel

Rachel,

Your son should be seen by an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Waiting will do you/him no good. If you have have piece that broke off, that will be even better. If you can find an emergency dentist who is also an expert cosmetic dentist, that would be the best case scenario. You don’t want too much time to pass, but you also need to be sure you find someone who has the experience to remedy this issue. You see, you want the broken tooth to look good and natural, and match the other front tooth. However, if you no longer have the broken piece of the tooth, direct dental bonding would be the next best method, depending on where the damage is on the other tooth.

This post is brought to you by Baton Rouge emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Will teeth stains from braces ever come off?

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I am horrified. I paid a lot of money to get braces for my son because he had such crazy, crooked teeth. They stuck out in the front. We felt that braces were our best option for him. He had the braces on for two years and just got them off the end of last month. His teeth were straight and the alignment was great, but his teeth have stains around where the brackets were. Apparently he didn’t brush well. He’s happy to not have his teeth stick out, but what good are straight teeth if they have stains. He doesn’t want to smile still. Will those stains come off? What can we do?

Stacie, San Diego

Dear Stacie,

Your son is not the first to not take care of his teeth with his braces on. It is common to see staining on kids’ teeth when the brackets come off. There is hope! It depends on what type of stain your son’s teeth have, but here are some options.

  • Teeth polishing. First, if the stains are just on the surface, sometimes just a good polishing from the dentist will be enough to take care of the stains. This can sometimes help with cement residue from the brackets, as well.
  • Teeth whitening. Next, if the stains are deeper in the teeth, whitening may help. This can be done in the dental office or through at-home bleaching trays. teeth whitening tray
  • Bonding. Finally, if the stains were caused by decay where the braces were, dental bonding may help. Fortunately, bonding can be done after tooth polishing or dental whitening if they don’t work to match the coloration of the teeth.

To get started, it may be best to visit a cosmetic dentist to understand what caused the stains so you can create a path to a white smile your son will want to show off.

This blog is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Ryan P. Perry.

How long does bonding from an emergency dentist last?

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I had a fall and chipped my tooth. I went to see an emergency dentist. He put some kind of bonding on it to close the chip and sent me home.  How long will that bonding last?

Sadie M. – Alabama

Sadie,

It’s likely that the emergency dentist did composite dental bonding to repair your chipped tooth. If that’s the case, then it will last for years.  However, I hope your emergency dentist suggested you go to your dentist for follow up treatment. Not because of the bonding, but because of the trauma.

There’s always a chance the blood flow was cut off in accident. It may not show up right away, but it will cause the tooth to die and need a root canal.

You’d want to be aware of this before it causes an abscess.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Teeth Whitening and Dental Bonding

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I had a chipped tooth repaired with bonding several years ago. Can I whiten my teeth?

Nicole N. – Boston

Nicole,

You can whiten your teeth, but your dental bonding won’t whiten with them. It’s an unfortunate aspect of any type of cosmetic work. Only your natural teeth will respond to teeth whitening.

Then doesn’t mean you can’t do it. You’ll just have to have the dental bonding re-done.

To be honest, if you’ve had the bonding for several years, it’s likely time to have it re-done anyway. Just be sure to do the whitening first, then have your dentist match the bonding to the whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.

Can’t afford to fix my chipped tooth

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I fell. I survived—my tooth didn’t. At least, it’s not the same anymore. It was chipped. I went in to see my dentist and he said there was an easy solution. He told me to get two porcelain veneers. He said two because he said it’s hard to match just one tooth. I was excited that I would not have this ugly chipped tooth anymore. Than I saw the price. My jaw almost fell open. Is there no more affordable treatment?

Micah B. – South Dakota

Micah,

Well, your dentist was right about one thing, but wrong about a couple others.

First, yes, it is hard to match just one porcelain veneer. So two would be easier. Actually, the standard is six. However, you don’t even need porcelain veneers.

If you just have a chipped tooth, the standard solution is dental bonding. This is a much more affordable procedure than porcelain veneers.

Your dentist is also ethically obligated to give you all your treatment options. I’m supcicious that he didn’t do this.  Unless there is something about your case I’m not aware of, it sounds like he was just trying to get you to do the most expensive solution.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.

Smile makeover without much money

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I only have about five hundred dollars, but I really want to do something about my teeth.  They’re old and have a little chip in the front. What can I do with that kind of money?

Giada O. – New Jersey

Giada,

You can easily do professional, take home teeth whitening in that price range.  To be honest, teeth whitening is one of the easiest (and dramatic) things you can do to brighten up your smile.  Having whiter teeth takes years off your appearance.

Depending on the size of the chip on your tooth (and the prices of your dentist), it’s feasible that you can have dental bonding done on the chip on your tooth. Depending on what exactly will need to be done with the tooth, it will generally cost between $100-$600 per tooth.

Be sure you get the tooth whitening done before you do any bonding. That way it will be matched to your new white color.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.

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.