Archives for June 2019

Do I Need a Cosmetic Dentist for Teeth Whitening?

Posted on June 28, 2019 by writeradmin.

I want to get my teeth whitened but didn’t know if I needed to see a cosmetic specialist for something like that. My dentist is a general dentist and is not interested in getting into any cosmetic work.

Patty

Dear Patty,

Truthfully, there is no recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. That means that a cosmetic dentist is just a general dentist who has an interest in doing cosmetic work. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t require some expertise and additional training.

One example of that would be with porcelain veneers. Doing smile makeovers aren’t taught in dental school. A dentist has to invest time in post-doctoral training to develop the skills and technique necessary to do this well. Different dentists have more (or less) artistic ability than others, so it is important you ask to see before and after pictures of cases they’ve done.

Any Dentist Can Provide Teeth Whitening

Fortunately, teeth whitening is different. Just about any dentist can do this procedure. It doesn’t take artistic ability to whiten teeth. It is the special gel that does all the work.

You should know ahead of time that the only thing the whitening gel affects is natural tooth structure. If you have any visible dental work, it won’t whiten. For instance, if you have a dental crown on a visible tooth, it will stay the same color. The crown will need to be replaced when you’re done. If you were to replace it, just make sure your dentist replaced it with an all-porcelain crown, which will match much more naturally.

You’ll love having your teeth whitened. It’s one of the simplest and most affordable things you can do to drastically improve your smile, making you look years younger.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Cracked Porcelain Crown

Posted on June 22, 2019 by writeradmin.

I have a porcelain crown which has always had a divot of sorts which I could kind of see in the front. I talked to my dentist about it and they said it is solid so there’s nothing to worry about. Truthfully, there hasn’t been. It’s eight years old, so it did serve me well. The problem is now the divot has changed. I can see and feel it and it feels like it’s cracked a bit. I’m worried this is going to fall completely apart while I’m in public. Would this be considered a dental emergency?

Katherine

Dear Katherine,

I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a dental emergency, but you will want to get it looked at. Porcelain crowns, like our natural teeth, can have divots and other oddities in shape. That doesn’t make it defective. However, this seems to have changed. If you are feeling it differently it needs to be looked at.

If you trust your current dentist to deal with this, then go back to him or her and have them look at it. It is probably best to just replace it. Though a hassle, this could be a blessing in disguise.

Updating Your Smile When You Replace Your Crown

Often when people get a crown it is because of a dental emergency, which usually accompanies a root canal treatment. They don’t have money to worry about whitening their teeth. Then the color of their crown is permanent so they can’t do anything about it after without replacing their crown.

Because you may be needing to replace the crown anyway, this is an ideal time to do some teeth whitening. Now your teeth can be white and your new porcelain crown can be made to match.

I hope this helps. This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Scared to Go Back to Dentist to Fix Tooth.

Posted on June 6, 2019 by writeradmin.

I will be the first to admit all of this is my fault. I have a hard time going to a dentist. That apprehension caused me to ignore a filling which fell out. I knew I should probably have it fixed, but I just didn’t want to deal with a dentist. Now the tooth feels like it is on fire and I know I’ll need something drastic. I’ve been using leftover pain meds from a previous surgery. They’re about to run out and I don’t know how to deal with this pain. Is there anything that can help a coward?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

A man grabbing his jaw in need of an emergency dentist

Dental anxiety often leads to a dental emergency

The good news is I would never call anyone who knows they have a fear yet is willing to face it a coward. The even better news, however, is that even if you were there are actually dentists who cater to cowards.

You are in a bit of a pickle because of this situation and will need to see a dentist right away. The tooth which lost its filling is infected. This is considered a dental emergency. The infection will continue to spread and can even become life-threatening. I know it seems crazy, but people still die from tooth infections, even in this day and time.

Hopefully, you can get it treated in time to save the tooth. Otherwise, you will be facing an extraction and tooth replacement. You will definitely need a root canal treatment and dental crown.

Finding a Dentist to Help with Your Anxiety

There are dentists who have tailored a part of their practice to aiding anxious patients feel comfortable in the dental chair. You can find them using several different search terms. In your place, I’d search under the term “sedation dentist”. Most dentists who use sedation will have two different levels. Though some only do one level.

The first is nitrous oxide. It’s sometimes dubbed laughing gas. It doesn’t make you laugh as much as relax you and give you a floaty feel. The second level is much stronger. Oral conscious sedation is administered by a pill. It will relax you so much that you’ll need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment, as well as stay with you throughout the day until you are lucid and steady on your feet again. This is best used for patients with seriously high levels of anxiety.

I hope this helps. This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.