Baton Rouge Dentist

How Much Ibuprofen Can I Take for Dental Pain?

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I got 8 porcelain veneers and three crowns three weeks ago. Since that time, two crowned teeth and my lower jaw have hurt. I’ve talked to my dentist on the phone, and she recommended taking ibuprofen because she completed most of the work in one appointment. I’m concerned because I have taken 800 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours for the past 2.5 weeks. My stomach is upset. I’m generally healthy and usually don’t need over-the-counter or prescription medicine. How much ibuprofen do dentists usually recommend? How much longer might it take for the discomfort in my teeth to calm down? Thanks. Bayleigh from IL

Bayleigh,

We understand your concerns and recommend getting a second opinion right away.

How Much Ibuprofen Can You Take for Dental Pain?

Taking ibuprofen for an extended time can damage your liver or your kidneys. According to GoodRX,1,200 mg of over-the-counter ibuprofen is the maximum daily dose. However, the maximum daily dose for prescription ibuprofen is 3,200 mg per day, depending on the health condition it treats.  Instead of taking ibuprofen for ongoing dental pain, find a dentist who can resolve the source of your discomfort.

How Long Will You Feel Pain After Getting Dental Crowns or Veneers?

picture of a porcelain veneer being placed on a prepared tooth
You should not feel lingering discomfort after getting cosmetic dentistry work.

After getting dental crowns or veneers, you may feel tenderness for a few days. However, lingering pain after cosmetic dentistry is not normal.

Schedule an appointment with an advanced cosmetic dentist if you have lingering pain after cosmetic dentistry treatment. The dentist will take X-rays and examine your teeth and dental work to identify the cause of your discomfort. It is essential to resolve the issue so you can discontinue ibuprofen.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

My Gums Are Still Swollen Around My New Porcelain Veneers

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Since I got veneers last fall, my gums have been swollen around my porcelain veneers, and my teeth look horrible. When I had a dental cleaning two weeks ago, the hygienist implied that I was not flossing between my teeth or brushing them too hard. She is wrong. When I saw my dentist last Wednesday, he removed some cement around the veneers and told me to call if it didn’t improve. My gums are swollen, and I am concerned that the problem will worsen if my dentist does not take responsibility. Should I insist that he take another look or get a second opinion? Why would I have lingering swelling after getting veneers? Thanks. Yasmin

Yasmin,

Although Dr. Tostado would need to examine your teeth, gums, and veneers, we can explain the possible causes of your gum inflammation.

What Causes Swollen Gums After Getting Porcelain Veneers?

picture of a porcelain veneer being placed on a prepared toothSwollen gums after getting porcelain veneers can result from one or more of these factors:

  • Excess cement left around the veneers
  • Improper porcelain veneer position
  • Irregularities where a veneer meets your tooth
  • Sensitivity to dental ceramics

We will explain.

Excess cement left around the veneers

When a dentist cures the cement in the middle of a tooth and removes the excess around the porcelain veneer immediately, it is unlikely that the bonding agent will irritate your gum tissue.

Improper porcelain veneer position

A porcelain veneer that fits too far beneath your gumline can inflame the tissue and lead to infection.

Irregular margins

Unevenness where the veneer and a tooth meet can irritate gum tissue. If inflammation or infection lingers, you may need to see a periodontist (gum specialist).

Ceramic sensitivity

Sometimes, sensitivity to dental ceramics can cause inflammation or infection.

We recommend consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist for an exam and a second opinion. A cosmetic dentist will identify the cause of the irritation around your porcelain veneers and recommend treatment.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

 

 

Why Are My Porcelain Veneers Turning Dark?

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Why are my porcelain veneers turning dark? Although I got them in 2005, should they be darkening? I got the veneers to hide calcium deposits on my teeth. But now, when I compare current pictures with some from a few years ago, my teeth almost look gray. Is this something that a dentist can correct, or will I need new veneers? Thanks.  Thu from TN

Thu,

A dentist with cosmetic dentistry experience would need to examine your teeth and veneers to determine why they look darker. But we can provide some insight.

Do Porcelain Veneers Change Color?

Porcelain veneers do not change color unless they are damaged. Porcelain is more stain resistant than tooth enamel. But your teeth behind the porcelain veneers can make them look darker.

  • Damaged porcelain veneers – If a dental hygienist mistakenly uses power polishing equipment on porcelain veneers, it will destroy the glaze. Within a few weeks, the veneers will attract stains and become darker. In addition, acidulated fluoride treatment or other harsh chemicals can erode the glaze and cause veneers to attract stains and darken.
  • Darkening natural teeth — Porcelain veneers are translucent, so the color will show through if your teeth get darker behind the veneers. If your veneers are leaking and bacteria is seeping between them and your teeth, your teeth will look darker. Leaky veneers promote tooth decay, which will darken teeth and show through.

Schedule an Exam

Find an advanced cosmetic dentist in your area to examine your teeth and veneers and determine why your veneers look darker. The dentist will explain your treatment options. Some possible options include:

  • Lightening your teeth beneath the veneers – Teeth bleaching may lighten your teeth.
  • Polishing the veneers – Sometimes, diamond polishing instruments and polishing paste will improve the veneers’ appearance.
  • Replacing the veneers – You may need new veneers if yours are extensively damaged or worn.

 

Best wishes.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post.  Read how Dr. Perry strives to provide some of the best dental care in Baton Rouge.

Why Are My Gums So Puffy Around My Veneers?

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A woman's close-up smile, portraying healthy, not puffy, gums around porcelain veneers
Well-bonded porcelain veneers promote healthy gums

Since I got porcelain veneers in May, my gums have been puffy and tender around them. I had an appointment with my dentist last month, and he told me I probably need to improve my flossing technique. Before he left the treatment room, he said that his hygienist would show me how to floss and watch me as I did it. I have been flossing correctly all along but have not returned to my dental office, although my gums are still irritated. Now, I feel sensitivity in my teeth with veneers, and I am afraid I will need root canals or have gum disease before it’s over. Why are my gums so tender around my veneers? Thank you. Cyan

Cyan,

We’re sorry to hear about your discomfort and challenges after a smile makeover with porcelain veneers.

Why Are Your Gums Puffy Around Your Porcelain Veneers?

When your gums are puffy around your porcelain veneers, excess cement between the veneers and your gums is usually the cause. Many cosmetic dentists follow a process to minimize complications and remove excess bonding composite.

The steps may include:

  • Prime the tooth surface with etching and bonding agents
  • Place the bonding composite in a veneer and press it onto the corresponding tooth
  • Allow excess composite to ooze out the side
  • Remove the excess composite before curing the composite with a high-intensity curing light
  • Use an ultra-small light tip to cure the composite in the center of the tooth, tacking the veneer in place
  • Floss around the teeth to remove any residual composite
  • Smooth the surfaces between all teeth
  • Use a larger light curing tip to ensure the veneer is attached to the tooth
  • Use fine polishing tips to ensure smoothness

Can Puffy Gums Around Veneers Lead to Gum Disease?

Excess cement around porcelain veneers can irritate your gum tissue and lead to the beginning stages of gum disease or gingivitis. If left untreated, gum disease will advance. A tooth infection can result, which will require root canal treatment.

If your dentist thinks your flossing technique is causing puffy gums around your porcelain veneers, we recommend getting a second opinion. Look for a skilled cosmetic dentist and schedule an exam. If your dentist’s bonding techniques are questionable, you can present the findings of the second opinion dentist to the one who placed your porcelain veneers. You can decide if you want your dentist to remove, clean, and re-bond your porcelain veneers or if you want him to refund you or pay for the cost of having another dentist remove, clean, and re-bond the veneers.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

My New Porcelain Veneers Are Too Small

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In July 2022, I had a bottom right molar tooth break. I had not seen a dentist in the seven years prior, so I made an emergency appointment with a dentist near my job. He said the tooth was too damaged and decayed to save, so he recommended a crown. I made an appointment with the same dentist who placed a crown. I didn’t have any problems with the crown or my bite.

After a dental cleaning and a conversation with my new dentist in early December, I decided to do something about the rest of my misaligned, crowded, and worn teeth. The dentist explained that cosmetic dentistry could correct the issues without dentistry, so I agreed.

The dentist recommended cosmetic reshaping, dental bonding for my top left incisor and canine teeth, and two veneers. When my dentist finished the work, I noticed that he left a gap near the gumline above the porcelain veneers, which were too small. My teeth were still crowded and uneven, and the bonding was peeling, so I don’t know what kind of reshaping and bonding he did.

I told my dentist that the results were not what we agreed to, and I asked what he needed to do to achieve it. He said that I would need root canals and four crowns. Of course, I did not agree to the treatment because the dentist lied about what he could do.

A co-worker had Invisalign and recommended the cosmetic dentist who did her Invisalign and new crowns on her front teeth, which look natural to me, although I am not trained to know what to look for. Anyway, I scheduled a second opinion with the cosmetic dentist, and she said she recommends five veneers to correct the crowding and alignment. She thinks she can resolve the problems with veneers without root canal treatment or crowns.

I don’t know who to trust, but I would like to ask my previous dentist for a refund. And can just five veneers correct the misalignment issue, as the second dentist recommends? Thank you. Jessica

Jessica,

Although the dentist resolved your emergency with your broken tooth, he failed with your smile makeover. You deserve a refund because the dentist did not deliver what he promised and asked for more money to correct it.

Getting a Refund for Faulty Cosmetic Dentistry

Ask your dentist for a refund based on these facts:

  • Your porcelain veneers are too small
  • The issues with your teeth remain despite the dentist’s work
  • Your dental bonding is peeling

If your previous dentist refuses to issue a refund, you can follow these steps:

  • Find a skilled cosmetic dentist for your new dental work and ask if that dentist will help you request a refund
  • Threaten to report the issue to the state dental board
  • Seek legal advice

How to Find the Right Cosmetic Dentist

Although a cosmetic dentist can provide affordable work, you can still get quality results

A dentist’s ability to handle emergencies doesn’t automatically make them an artistic cosmetic dentist. Before you choose a dentist to correct your smile, find answers to these questions:

  • Does your second-opinion cosmetic dentist have post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training?
  • How many porcelain veneer cases has she completed?
  • Did the new dentist show you porcelain veneers photos of her patients?
  • What do patients say about the dentist’s work?

If you cannot verify that the second-opinion dentist is skilled in a cosmetic dentist, keep looking for a dentist with experience in smile makeovers.

Best wishes.

 

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry 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

Can I Go Back To This Dentist?

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Hello,

I went to see a cosmetic dentist in my area. I wanted to straighten my teeth and whiten my smile, so he recommended getting porcelain veneers. I was all set to make my first appointment when I got the estimate for my treatment. It was thousands of dollars over my budget! I asked if there was an affordable or alternative option, and they seemed upset with me.

I haven’t been back since. I had my heart set on having him as my dentist, but I don’t think he wants to work with me. What can I do?

Beatrice, from Lexington, Kentucky

 

Hello Beatrice,

Being able to speak honestly with your dentist is important. Since you voiced concerns over payment, your dentist should have mentioned other options. You can straighten and whiten your teeth without veneers. You can try orthodontics, or get a take-home whitening kit. You could start with a couple veneers and get more as you can afford them. Since he refused, he’s not willing to work with you, and isn’t doing what’s best for you. Dentists may be comfortable with certain solutions, but a ‘my way or the highway’ attitude will not get them very far.

You should get a second opinion from another dentist. Being upfront about your cost concerns is best. Hopefully, your next dentist will work within your limits to create the best treatment plan for you.

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

What is the best way to whiten my porcelain veneers?

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I had kind of a wild youth. I have made lots of changes in the past few years and my sweet mother has been there for me the whole time. She sent me to see a dentist since I haven’t been in for a cleaning in a long time. My teeth were so bad that the dentist did work I needed. He then suggested that I get porcelain veneers to fix my front teeth, to help them not be so crooked and to look better to get a job. My mom paid for them and they look better than they did before. Now that they have been on for a few months, I’d like to whiten them. I just want to make sure I do it the right way. What is the best way to whiten porcelain veneers?

Thanks,
Mariah

Dear Mariah,

Teeth whitenedIt is great that you have made changes for the better in your life. Unfortunately, you will not be able to make changes for the better to your porcelain veneers. Whitening your teeth isn’t the same as whitening your veneers. Your porcelain veneers can’t be whitened once they are placed on your teeth.

How porcelain veneers are made

When you decide to get porcelain veneers, your dentist will match the shade of your new veneers to the teeth surrounding so your new teeth don’t stick out and look unnatural. The dentist sends the specs, along with the shade the new teeth should be, along to a ceramist to be made. The veneers are then made in the shape and shade the dentist specified.

If your dentist was experienced or really wanted you to have the smile you desired, he should have suggested that you whiten your teeth before you got your veneers. That way your new teeth could have been a whiter shade, matching the whiter teeth around. It’s unfortunate that he didn’t make sure you were completely happy with how your porcelain veneers were going to look before they were bonded on.

At this point, the only way to fix them is to basically start over. A good cosmetic dentist could carefully grind off the porcelain veneers you have had placed. He could then help you with new ones, but you would experience the cost again.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Ryan Perry.

How do I fix my all gums, small teeth smile?

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My smile is all gums and I hate it. I have small teeth, too, so whenever I smile, you see a little bit of teeth and a lot of pink gums. Is there anything I can do to change it? Could I somehow use porcelain veneers and at least have bigger teeth?

Sara, Grand Rapids

Dear Sara,

There is something you can do to fix your “gummy” smile, but it’s not a correction any regular dentist could accomplish.

If you have spoken to a dentist in the past about changing the way your gums or teeth look when you smile, it may have been recommended to see an oral surgeon to have your entire upper jaw shortened to fix it. This is a very extreme and unnecessary procedure that can lead to other complications. It can change your bite, which could then lead to problems with your upper jaw or TMJ.

Thankfully there are cosmetic dentists, dentists who have gone above and beyond the training of a regular dentist, who can perform what is called a “gum lift.” The dentist would remove a small amount of gum tissue and some of the supporting bone that was beneath the gum line for each upper front teeth. This would expose some of the roots of those teeth.

Porcelain veneer going onto tooth

A porcelain veneer would then be placed over the tooth and the exposed root section. Cosmetic dentists can make the veneers look as natural as your existing teeth, with matching coloring. You then have a smile with less gums and more teeth that you desire.

Because this is not an easy procedure, you want to find the right experienced dentist to perform it. Don’t hesistate to call cosmetic dentists’ offices and ask if they have performed a gum lift before. If so, ask if they have a portfolio that would show pictures of the before and after cases.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge.

Can I go to a dental school for porcelain veneers?

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I have always hated the stain on my teeth from the antibiotic tetracycline. I have hidden my teeth when I smile for as long as I remember. We just retired and all the kids are gone, so I’m ready to do something for me and fix my smile. I think I want to get porcelain veneers. My daughter mentioned that they took my granddaughter to a dental school for orthodontics and it saved her a lot of money. I am wondering if I can go to a dental school for porcelain veneers? What are the drawbacks?

Thanks,
Ann, Birmingham, AL

Dear Ann,

Porcelain veneers are a great way to cover tetracycline stains since teeth whitening isn’t effective. They can help you get a beautiful smile–if it is done by the right dentist.

Dentists who create a smile that you would be proud to show off have completed extensive training after dentistry school to learn the artistic aspect of veneers. They learn coloration, shaping, size, and opacity. These cosmetic dentists listen to what you want your smile to look like, what you want to change. They will often create a “mock up” so you can see what your veneers will look like on your teeth before they bond on your permanent veneers. This ensures that you are happy with the final product.

Unfortunately, a dental school is not the place to get porcelain veneers. Students there are learning the fundamentals of dentistry. They are learning how to fix your teeth. That is the priority, not aesthetics. Likely, if you went to a dental school for porcelain veneers, you would have a student doing it for the first time and you would get what you paid for.

If you want porcelain veneers, a better option would be to save your money and do it right the first time with a cosmetic dentist rather than spending the money and having to still pay the greater amount later to have them fixed.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge Family Dentist.