Lumineers for Tetracycline Stains
I went to a cosmetic dentist to get porcelain veneers for tetracycline stains. He said if I got porcelain veneers they would have to grind my teeth down. Instead, he suggested I get Lumineers. Will those work for me or do I need something else? I want a smile I can be proud of. I’ve spent years hiding my teeth. Katie Dear Katie, I am going to implore you to […]
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Whitening Teeth Near Porcelain Veneers
I have porcelain veneers on my front four teeth. They’re fine, but the teeth surrounding them have yellowed some. Would I be able to use over-the-counter whitening strips to whiten them without them damaging the porcelain veneers I have? Callie Dear Callie, One of the problems with dentists only providing four porcelain veneers in smile makeovers is what you are experiencing right now. Most patient’s smiles are much wider than […]
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Dental Bonding Yellow in 5 Days
I’m worried about my dental bonding. I’ve just had them five days and now they seem to be turning yellow. I wonder if I wasn’t supposed to brush with baking soda. I thought it would keep them super clean, but the change in color has me concerned. Did I do something wrong? Katie Dear Katie, Baking soda as a toothpaste is quite abrasive. That could have damaged the polish on […]
Read More Porcelain Veneers with an Overbite
I have a double whammy against my smile. First, there is my overbite. Then I have horrible tetracycline stains. I went to my dentist in order to get porcelain veneers. He said my overbite means I’m not a candidate for dental implants. I was disappointed to hear that. He wants to do six porcelain crowns instead. If he does, should I whiten my bottom teeth? I don’t think crowns will […]
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Should All My Son’s Teeth Be Removed
My son is 25 years old. He’s in recovery for drug addiction. He’s doing really well in his recovery and now we’re trying to get the rest of him into shape. I’m writing to you specifically about his mouth. It’s a complete mess. We’ve already taken out six teeth while he was in rehab. He’s home now and we’re going to our family dentist now. He wants to remove the […]
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Should a Dentist Cover the Cost of Grafting for a Dental Implant?
I went in for a consultation with my dentist to find out if I could get a dental implant and what the cost would be. I lost the tooth about ten years ago and the dentist said that I had lost some bone in the area, so I would need grafting on top of everything else. After reading information about the procedure, I’ve learned that the dentist could have treated […]
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Vampire Teeth for Halloween
With Halloween coming up I am planning my costume. I am going as a vampire and thought that, instead of getting those cheap, uncomfortable, not to mention fake-looking costume teeth, I could go all out and get Lumineers for just those teeth and then have them removed after the holiday. Is this do-able? Jay Dear Jay, This is a request dentists get every year at this time. It can be […]
Read More Why Does the Cosmetic Dentist Matter if they Outsource their Ceramic Work
I’m planning on getting a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. Everyone keeps warning me that I have to choose the cosmetic dentist carefully. I would understand that if I were getting dental bonding, which the dentist does himself. But, I’m getting porcelain veneers. Isn’t that sent out to a ceramist to do the work? Why would the dentist matter? Corrie Dear Corrie, You’ve asked a good question. You’re right that […]
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Dental Bonding Disaster
I’m trying to figure out what to do. I’ve had these spaces toward the top of my teeth that look like dark triangles. I got so tired of that being the thing I see when I smile. My dentist said he could just close those spaces with dental bonding and it would be an easy fix. That has not been the case. When he first did the bonding it looked […]
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Problem with Amalgam Fillings
I had to get a dental filling. It was my first one. I’ve been with the same dentist for years, since I was a child actually. He still does those amalgam fillings. I’d asked for a white filling, but he said they’re not a good idea on back teeth. I’m wondering if I could be allergic to the filling. Ever since I had the filling placed, my cheek has been […]
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