Baton Rouge Dentist

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.

Are Veneers Truly Necessary with Dental Implants?

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I went to a dentist to get dental implants. I needed two on my front most teeth because of an accident I had in my teens. I’ve been wearing a flipper. My family dentist when I was younger told me as soon as I reached my mid-twenties to get implants placed. Well, the time has come. I specifically looked for a dentist who advertised affordable dental implants and was known for doing good work.  He also promotes himself as an expert cosmetic dentist, which I felt would bode well for me getting natural looking implant crowns. However, when I went in for my consult he said I’d also need porcelain veneers (two on either side of the front teeth) in order to get my smile to match.  I don’t have that kind of money. Is this an actual necessity?

Steve O.  – Michigan

Steve,

This dentist sounds dubious to me. Let’s start with his status as an “expert” cosmetic dentist. A truly expert cosmetic dentist can match a single implant or porcelain veneer to the rest of your smile. He (or she) wouldn’t need you to get a full set of veneers in order to match the smile. If he does, he’s no expert.

Next, we’ll discuss the affordable dental implants. Veneers aren’t a necessity for dental implants. In fact, they’re not done with the treatment unless the patient specifically has cosmetic work they wanted done. In other words, if there are things you’re unhappy with about the adjacent teeth which you want changed, then get the porcelain veneers. Otherwise, just get the dental implants.

It sounds like this dentist is drawing patients in with his affordable prices and then makes up the profit margin by pressuring you to add other services. If I were in your place, I’d ask to see before and after pictures of cosmetic work he’s done. Don’t let him show you stock photos. Make sure you’re happy with the type of results he provides. These are your front teeth and will be very visible. I’d also be interested to know how many successful dental implant cases he’s completed before proceeding. This is an advanced procedure with serious complications if done incorrectly. I’m concerned with his perceived dishonesty. It might be in your benefit to check into other dentists before making a final decision.

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

Is There An Affordable Way To Re-do Porcelain Veneers?

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I’m hoping you can help me figure out how to find an affordable dentist to re-do my porcelain veneers. I’ve been ashamed of my smile since childhood. I called around to get the best deal after I got my first real job, but to be honest, it doesn’t look natural. In fact, it looks almost wooden, which is worse than my old smile.  I need to get it redone, but I’ll need to find an affordable dentist to do it.

Mary P. – West Virginia

Mary,

You’re definitely going about this the wrong way. There are quite a few procedures where finding the most affordable dentist is feasible. Cosmetic dentistry, such as porcelain veneers, isn’t one of them. In fact, you’re almost guaranteeing yourself bad results, which is what you have now.

In all honesty, if you want a beautiful smile, you’re going to have to change the way you approach it. When you consult with the dentist, I want you to ask to see their smile gallery. That is a group of before and after pictures of cosmetic work.  Ideally, you’ll want to see full face and close-ups.

Be certain that they’re showing you actual photos of their work.  Some less scrupulous cosmetic dentists will just show stock photos and pass them off as their own.

This blog is brought to you by 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.

Whitening bonding

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I had some composite bonding done on several years ago, but they’re starting to stain. I had just gotten the bonding to match my natural teeth at the time, because I was short on funds and couldn’t whiten also.  Now I’m in a position to whiten and wondered if it will also whiten my bonding.

Jennifer S. – Wyoming

Jennifer,

No, unfortunately your bonding will not whiten with the teeth whitening. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have gorgeous teeth. I would go ahead and whiten your teeth. When you have them the shade you want, then you can have the bonding re-done.

If you’ve had them for several years and they’re starting to stain, then you’d likely need them re-done anyway. Now you can have it match your new white color.

Not to add expense, but in case there are other things with your teeth that have bothered you, you may want to talk to your cosmetic dentist about porcelain veneers. They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth simultaneously.

If you’re happy with everything but the color, then just stick with the whitening and bonding.

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

My dentist says my teeth are too far gone for teeth whitening

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I have stains on my teeth from medicine I took as a child. My dentist said because of that I’ll need to get porcelain veneers. That my teeth are too dark for teeth whitening. Porcelain veneers are much more expensive than teeth whitening. I am tired of my dark teeth, but is that really my only option?

Nicole K. – Detroit, MI

Nicole,

I suspect you have stains from tetracycline. They do tend to make the teeth so dark that it is hard to repair them.  I am suspect of your dentist’s advice though. As difficult it is to get your teeth to whiten with tetracycline stains, it is more difficult to get them to look natural with porcelain veneers.

If you don’t want to spend that much money, I would ask him to try the teeth whitening first. Some dentists have had remarkable success, experimenting with different brands and systems.

Because of the depth of the stains a cosmetic dentist has to strike a delicate balance.  You need them to be opaque enough to cover the stains, but not so opaque that they lose the translucent look of natural teeth.

I’d have to be confident that your dentist was an expert in the cosmetic field. He would need significant post-graduate training in porcelain veneers with a great eye for artistry. Ask him how many tetracycline cases he has done and ask to see the results.

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

Do I Need Crowns or Veneers on My Front Teeth?

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My top two front teeth were ground down for crowns but there is no crowns on the teeth. Can veneers work on my teeth now?
– Tim from Louisiana

Tim,
When a tooth has been prepared for a crown, the only restoration that works for the tooth is a crown.

The difference between a crown and a porcelain veneer is the veneer covers the front of the tooth and not the back. A crown covers the entire tooth but there are some slight exceptions as veneers can also include the sides of the tooth. Some dentists charge the same fee for a veneer as for a crown.

Whenever a lot of tooth structure is removed, that is considered to be aggressive dentistry. It seems better when the dentist removes the least possible tooth structure so it’s minimally invasive and still accomplishes the desired result. Excellent cosmetic dentists will be conservative when they work on teeth.

A crown strengthens a back tooth against tooth fracture in almost every situation in which it is used. With front teeth, they are more subject to horizontal stresses and a crown can weaken an otherwise healthy tooth, making it more susceptible to lateral shearing forces. This is why it’s important to be as conservative as possible in treatments to front teeth. A porcelain veneer that’s well-placed and conservative won’t weaken a tooth.

In your case, you will need to have crowns placed for your two front teeth as they have been ground down for crowns. Had they been minimally prepared, you could have had veneers.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Ryan P. Perry of Baton Rouge Family Dentistry

Do they do smile makeovers with crowns?

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Not long ago, I decided to have a smile makeover. I thought I received porcelain veneers, but when I look at my teeth, the porcelain appears to go all the way around my teeth. I’m wondering if this was completed like this because my teeth weren’t strong enough before the makeover. Is it normal to have my entire tooth covered even though my procedure was done for cosmetic reasons?
– Anton in Louisiana

Anton,
There isn’t a big difference between porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns. In fact, it’s hard to determine when a porcelain veneer becomes a crown. In terms of fees, most cosmetic dentists have fees that are close to the same for either procedure because both types of dental work take about the same amount of work to finish.

When you receive cosmetic work, it’s quite common to have porcelain crowns done across your front teeth. Your dentist usually has a good reason to have the whole tooth done in the makeover. In fact, there are many reasons your tooth may be crowned.  If your tooth was weak in any way, if there were fillings in the teeth or if your bite needed improvement, you would need more extensive treatment.

It’s important that dentists discuss with you why they might recommend crowns. The majority of cosmetic dentists do their best to be conservative with their work. They do this by trying to preserve as much or your natural tooth structure as possible. They know that crown work is more aggressive and requires a substantial amount of tooth reduction all the way around and they do their best to avoid it whenever possible. However, sometimes the tooth is too weak and needs more stability with crowns. Veneers require only a slight shaving of the front of the tooth.  This is why you need to have a proper explanation for why you might need crowns.

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

Which would be best – porcelain veneers or Invisalign?

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For years I have dreamed of having a really beautiful smile. I recently came into some money and decided to get porcelain veneers on my upper teeth. There is nothing major wrong with my teeth. They are a little small, and pretty stained, but overall structurally OK. One tooth is crooked, but it is not so bad that I ever considered braces.

And that is kind of why I am confused. The dentist I am working with says I should do Invisalign braces before we place my veneers, and that is kind of confusing to me. I thought the porcelain veneers would take care of any crooked teeth. Aren’t they also referred to as “instant orthodontics”? My dentist says that after I have the Invisalign treatment, the prep required to place the porcelain veneers would be minimal, which certainly sounds like a bonus, but is it really worth the time and expense? A year of treatment, and thousands of dollars don’t seem like a good trade for a few millimeters of tooth that will be under a veneer anyway. He wants to place Lumineers, but I’ve been reading kind of negative things about them on the web.

Do you have any advice?

Cecelia in Shreveport

Dear Cecelia,

Without seeing your case, it is impossible, of course to make definitive recommendations. It may be that you have a bite problem you are not aware of, or serious crowding issues. You really need to pursue this inquiry with your dentist, as it is quite unusual to recommend both procedures. Normally you would do porcelain veneers OR Invisalign, but not both together.

In this case, a second opinion is necessary. Go to a well recommended, experienced, artistic cosmetic dentist, and tell them what you want to have done. For the most accurate results you really should see a cosmetic dentist that also does Invisalign treatments. Don’t tell the second dentist about the recommendations of the first dentist until after he or she has offered an opinion. In this way you can get the truest assessment of the second dentist’s opinion on the best treatment options.

Best of luck.

This blog post is courtesy of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry.

Just one crooked front tooth – what are my options?

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I’ve been reading through all of your blog posts, and think you have a great site. I feel like I could really trust your advice, so I am going to ask what you think about my situation.

I have one crooked front tooth, and when I say crooked, I mean SERIOUSLY crooked. It has always been embarrassing to me, and now that I am getting ready to enter a new career, I want to get it fixed. The problem is that I keep getting different advice from different dentists! This makes me really distrustful. I don’t know who to believe, and was hoping you could help shed some light on the situation.

One dentist said I should go with conventional braces, and another said that I could try Invisalign. I was wondering about just pulling it and replacing it with a dental implant, but neither dentist would discuss that option. A third dentist said that I could consider a porcelain crown, but that it would be really challenging to match to my other teeth and that I would really want to talk to an expert cosmetic dentist about getting this work done. Does it really make that much of a difference? And why the three different answers? It makes me suspicious that this is all some big conspiracy.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Alberta in Seattle

Dear Alberta,

Let us put your suspicions to rest. You received three different answers (all of them perfectly viable) because the three dentists you consulted all have different areas of expertise.

Conventional braces would certainly straighten your crooked tooth, but it could take up to two years to complete treatment. Invisalign treatment is usually shorter, and there are many advantages to that type of invisible braces. And finally, the dentist who advised you to talk to an expert cosmetic dentist was absolutely correct in stating that matching a porcelain crown or a porcelain veneer in the front of the mouth can be quite tricky. It is commendable that he or she recognizes this challenge and is giving you excellent advice.

Any one of the three solutions could work for you, so now it is time to decide which course of treatment would be best. It might be best to talk to an expert cosmetic dentist who also does Invisalign, as they could offer you the pros and cons of each solution.

The dental office of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry sponsored this blog post.