Teeth being prepped for porcelain veneers

Porcelain Veneers and Root Canal Treatments

I had four porcelain veneers placed. Now I have a periapical abscess in one of them and am wondering how to keep the veneer from being ruined. My dentist is sending me to a root canal specialist to have this done and I don’t know if it should be different with a porcelain veneer. Any advice? Laurie Dear Laurie, I can definitely help you here. I am curious, though, why […]

Dentist’s Disastrous Treatment Plan

I went to see my dentist to get a crown and veneer placed and I have some concerns about his suggested treatment plan. First, some background. I have one dental crown and three porcelain veneers. The reason I wanted the crown replaced is two-fold. First, it has never looked that great. Second, now there is a dark line at the gumline. The porcelain veneer I want to be replaced is […]

Can You Whiten Dental Fillings?

I have very yellow teeth because of stains picked up over the years. I want to whiten them but I also have some white fillings. Will they match? Will they whiten with my teeth or will I need to replace them? Katie Dear Katie, When you whiten your teeth, the only thing which will actually whiten is your natural tooth structure. No dental work whitens with our current technology. When […]

Dentist Wouldn’t Fix Crown

I had a dental crown on a molar that already had a problem. It had a crack and a filling in it. I’ve learned now that there was always a possibility this tooth would need a root canal treatment, but I was never told that at the time. The crown hurt from the very beginning, so much so that I couldn’t bite down on that side at all. The dentist […]

Image of natural looking teeth with dental work

Can You Reduce the Shine on Porcelain Veneers?

I have a problem with my porcelain veneers having an unnatural shine. They are so shiny that it makes it obvious they are fake. Is there a way to reduce the shine some? Katherine Dear Katherine, When porcelain veneers are done correctly, the glazing makes them look very natural. It is also what enables them to be so stain resistant. In fact, they are more stain-resistant than your natural teeth. […]

When a Crown Feels Off

I have a dental crown that feels off. My dentist has tinkered with it and says there is nothing wrong. I can’t explain exactly what feels off, it just does. My dentist thinks I am just not used to having a dental crown there, but this isn’t my first crown. Is this in my mind or should I pursue it further? Meagan Dear Meagan, I would follow up with this […]

Dental Implant Crown Doesn’t Match

This is the third crown my dentist has done for my dental implant. He can’t seem to get it to match. The last exchange we had he accused me of being too picky and I should be happy that I have a tooth. Apparently my tooth color is between A1 and A2. I don’t understand why it is impossible with a crown if my dental flipper matched okay? Now he […]

My Veneers Keeping Coming Off

I need some advice. I’ve been in tears since getting my porcelain veneers. This has not gone as expected and I feel like a guinea pig. The first unexpected thing came when I discovered she ground my teeth down to little dark nubs. I thought porcelain veneers didn’t need to grind down your teeth that much. But, that isn’t the worst part. I start getting this bad smell, then one […]

Fixing Tetracycline Stains without Porcelain Veneers

I have tetracycline stains. I had bonding put on them several years ago, but they’ve gotten kind of old, bumpy, and stained. I can’t afford porcelain veneers. Is there any way whitening will help? Candace Dear Candace, For the benefit of those who do not know what tetracycline stains are, if you take tetracycline before you are 12 years old, it will deposit in the dentin of your teeth. This […]

An illustration of a dental implant next to a natural tooth.

Can I Get Dental Implants after Ten Years?

When I received dentures a little over ten years ago, I always planned on getting dental implants. I just needed to save up for them. I started right away, but of course, we’d have a car, dishwasher, and refrigerator all die during that time. Though I had to start over several times, I finally have the money. Is it too late for me or can I still get dental implants? […]