Archives for March 2021

Going Directly to the Dental Lab for a Partial Denture

Posted on March 19, 2021 by writeradmin.

I needed a new partial denture and wanted to save money. My last partial was done a little over ten years ago. I went directly to the lab my dentist used at that time as I was pleased with the work they did last time. This time, it has been a completely different story. For some reason, the plate is too short and it is sitting in the hole where my old tooth was. Whenever I chew, the fixture rocks back and forth. I’ve been back several times and nothing they have done so far fixes it. The last time, they told me not to come back. Is there any way for me to get my money back for this? I need to have it re-done somewhere else at this point.

Brad

Dear Brad,

The rocking back and forth you are experiencing with your denture, happens when there is a distorted framework. This is often the result of a poorly done impression. My guess is, because you went directly to a lab instead of through your dentist, that the lab technician is the one who made the impression.

Without an accurate impression, there is no way for them to make an accurate framework that will be steady and secure on your teeth. Unfortunately, while dentists have special training in how to do these impressions accurately, lab techs have no such training.

I don’t know if you were aware when you decided on this route, but it was illegal for the lab to deal with you directly, instead of working through your dentist. This is to protect you from the very situation you’ve found yourself in. The tech is in over his head and you are paying the price.

The first thing I would try is simply to ask for a full refund. He was supposed to deliver you a fully functional tooth option. He didn’t. Therefore, you deserve your money back!

If he gives you a hard time with the concept of a full refund, remind him that he broke the law and you will be contacting the authorities and will testify for the prosecution if need be. I’m fairly certain he’ll gladly give you that refund you want. I don’t know if he mentioned to you that it was illegal to skip the dentist or not. If he didn’t, that is even worse for him. He holds the greater responsibility for knowing the law in this case.

After you get this refund, make sure you do this safely through a dentist.

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

Porcelain Veneers AND Invisalign??

Posted on March 6, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have always wanted a prettier smile and I’d been saving up for porcelain veneers. I have discolored teeth and I have one crooked front tooth. It’s not that bad, but overlaps the other tooth a smidge at the bottom. I’d finally saved up enough and my dentist told me that I had to get Invisalign first to straighten out those two teeth and then I can get the porcelain veneers. I may have misunderstood, but I thought that porcelain veneers can make crooked teeth look straight. Was I wrong about that? Do I need both procedures?

Elaine

Dear Elaine,

You did not misunderstand. When a dentist is skilled in porcelain veneers they can make crooked teeth look straight. This is especially true with the type of misalignment you described. Your dentist is not comfortable doing this, so instead he is trying to get you to pay for another procedure so he can have an easier job in front of him.

Don’t pressure your dentist into doing the veneers though. When a dentist is forced out of their comfort zone, the results are rarely what you want. Instead, I see two good options for you.

Your first option is to go forward with porcelain veneers, but with a different dentist. Make sure you look at their smile gallery to see before and after pictures of cases they’ve actually done. Ask especially to see cases where the teeth were a little crooked before the veneers.

Your second option is to do Invisalign and teeth whitening. I only mention this because the only two things you mentioned wanting to fix about your teeth are the color and the crooked one in the front. Both of these can be taken care of with a lot lower of a cost to you just by using these two procedures instead. They can be done simultaneously as well because the Invisalign aligners can double as teeth whitening trays.

So when would you invest in porcelain veneers? These are more designed for someone who is looking for a complete smile makeover. They can not only change the color of your teeth, but their shape, size, and character as well.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentist Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Sudden Pain with Teeth Bleaching

Posted on March 3, 2021 by writeradmin.

I’ve been doing at-home teeth whitening for a bit and everything was going fine until a couple of days ago. I had a sudden sharp pain. It only lasts for a few seconds and then eases up. It always happens right where I have some old dental bonding done. Does this mean the whitening is weakening the bonding?

Barry

Dear Barry,

I don’t think your teeth whitening is damaging the bonding. Teeth whitening has always been safe for bonded teeth. My suspicion is you have some old bonding that came off and there is an exposed part of the tooth there.

Hopefully, you are under the care of a dentist while doing your teeth whitening. That is important, especially for when these unexpected complications happen. In your position, I would simply ask your dentist to look over the bonding and see if there is an exposed bit. He or she can cover it back with some bonding.

I want to make sure you are aware of the limitations of teeth whitening. Hopefully, your dentist let you know that, while your bonding will not be damaged by the teeth whitening, it will not whiten the bonding either. Once you reach the level of whiteness you want for your teeth, give it a week for the color to settle and then have your dentist re-do your dental bonding to match the new color.

I’m also going to suggest that you invest in some Supersmile Toothpaste. It is the best toothpaste for keeping teeth white and is specifically designed for people who’ve had dental work done on their smiles. Unlike almost all whitening toothpaste, it has no abrasives at all.

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