porcelain veneers Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Drake & Wallace Dentistry

Will Rinsing with Peroxide Whiten My Teeth

Posted on December 24, 2020 by writeradmin.

If teeth whitening is done with peroxide, why can’t I just use the peroxide I have at home to whiten my teeth? It seems like it will be much less expensive and more convenient. Can’t I just swish it around my teeth every day?

Patty

Dear Patty,

You are correct that teeth whitening uses a peroxide gel to whiten your teeth. However, here are some important differences. The first is the strength. The peroxide you have at home is only 3% strength. Your dentist’s gel is between 22% – 35%. That is a significant difference.

Another issue is absorption. In order for the peroxide to have any effect, it will have to be on your teeth for a minimum of 15 minutes. That would be a long time to try to swish it on your teeth. Even if you could, it wouldn’t do much at the minuscule strength available to you.

Truthfully, you are better off getting your teeth whitening done through your dentist. You can do take-home whitening, which uses trays to comfortably keep the gel on your teeth for a long enough time for it to make a difference. Some patients sleep in them to get the most time with the gel on their teeth.

Another option is to get a total smile makeover using porcelain veneers. This can not only change the color of your teeth but also their shape and size. This is what celebrities go to for their Hollywood smiles. However, you mentioned saving money. Porcelain veneers are much more expensive than teeth whitening. So bear that in mind when you are weighing your options.

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

Whitening Non-Veneered Teeth

Posted on November 20, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have four teeth that have porcelain veneers on them. The adjacent teeth don’t match because I wanted white veneers. I wonder if there is a way to whiten the teeth next to my veneers without damaging them. Maybe something mild, like Crest Whitestrips?

Candace

Dear Candace,

You won’t have to worry about your porcelain veneers being damaged by whitening your teeth. It doesn’t matter whether you are using Crest Whitestrips or professional teeth whitening, the only thing which will be impacted is your natural tooth structure.

Most smiles are quite a bit wider than four teeth. Because of that, many dentists will recommend you get enough veneers to cover your entire smile. However, not everyone can afford that. In that case, your dentist should have suggested that you have your teeth whitened before getting your veneers placed. This would have made things much simpler for you. I am not sure why he or she neglected that, but that is water under the bridge at this point.

The problem you will face with the Whitestrips are three-fold: They only cover six teeth, they are quite weak, and they don’t stay on extremely well.

Coverage

Crest Whitestrips are designed to cover the front six of your teeth. If four of them are veneered, that means they will only reach two of the teeth you need to be whitened. It is possible you could cut the whitestrips in half, but that is a bit of a bother and it will take some of the gel with it.

Strength

While Crest Whitestrips do work, they are significantly weaker than what you would get with professional teeth whitening, by a large margin. This is for consumer protection. Because you are under the supervision of a medical professional when you do whitening through your dentist, they are allowed to use a more potent ingredient. The amount of boxes of Whitestrips you’d have to purchase to get the same level of whitening will end up not saving you much money at all.

Retention

With the Whitestrips, you just press them against your teeth. However, they aren’t sealed so your saliva will mix with the strips. This will not only weaken them further but will also make them slip and slide, making it harder for them to stay in place.

You’ll be much better off using a take-home tray from your dentist. It solves all three of these problems— it can cover all of your teeth. Your dentist can even make it where the gel won’t reach your veneers, though it won’t impact them if they do. As mentioned earlier, it is much stronger and because you are using custom-fitted trays, they are much more secure.

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

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.

Dentist Wants Me To Get 4 Crowns for Makeover

Posted on February 8, 2019 by writeradmin.

I told my dentist I was interested in getting a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. He said he doesn’t like the results you get with porcelain veneers and instead suggested I try dental crowns on the front four teeth after getting my teeth whitened. Is this a good option? I’ve heard so many great things about veneers.

Laura

Dear Laura,

I extremely glad you wrote and you will be too. First, let me start with what your dentist said correctly. You will want to whiten your teeth first. I’ll explain why later. However, the idea of doing a smile makeover with dental crowns, even beautiful porcelain crowns, is a major over-treatment, with one exception.

If the four teeth in question need repair work anyway from dental crowns then that will make sense. however, you seem to just be after a smile makeover. Getting crowns will mean grinding down healthy tooth structure. It’s in your best interest to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible.

My guess as to why your dentist is suggesting crowns instead of veneers is because he lacks skill in cosmetic dentistry. I say that not just because of the crowns (which is in itself a big hint) but because he’s only suggesting four. Unless you have a very unique smile, I’m guessing when you do flash your grin, there are more than four teeth showing. Most patients need between 8-10 porcelain veneers to truly reach all their visible teeth.

Alternatives to Your Dentist’s Suggestion

Here’s my Recommendation. If you’re serious about getting a smile makeover, go with your original idea of porcelain veneers. They can give you a truly gorgeous smile. However, go to a dentist who knows how to place them and get pretty results. Don’t force your dentist into doing a procedure he doesn’t have the skill and training for.

Look up some cosmetic dentists in your area and then check their smile gallery and reviews to see if they’re a safe bet for you. Remember, not everyone who does porcelain veneers, does them well.

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

Affordable Dentist for Cosmetic Dentist Work?

Posted on November 10, 2018 by writeradmin.

I’ve been looking for an affordable dentist to do my cosmetic work, but they’re all pretty pricey. Is there any way to get a pretty smile if you don’t have a trust fund?

Callie

Dear Callie,

There’s a difference between affordable and cheap dentistry.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You get what you pay for.” That is especially true with smile makeovers. If you’re looking for a smile makeover with porcelain veneers, it’s not going to be cheap. In fact, a dentist who was cheap on this procedure would NOT give you a gorgeous smile makeover. Instead, you might end up with something extraordinarily disappointing.

There are a number of patients who went to the cheapest dentist only to end up with a smile which was worse than the one they walked in to get repaired.

Instead, when you need an affordable dentist when it comes to cosmetic work, you need to look for affordable cosmetic procedures.

Affordable Cosmetic Dental Procedures

If you’re looking for a cosmetic treatment which will give you the most bang for your buck, I’d look at teeth whitening. This will take years off your appearance without costing much at all. The reason for this is our teeth pick up stains as we age. Whiter teeth give the appearance of youthfulness.

If you have crooked teeth, Invisalign costs significantly less than veneers. Plus, the aligners used with their procedure can double as teeth whitening trays allowing you to get two procedures in one.

If your heart is absolutely set on getting a makeover with veneers, don’t go for cheap. Instead, get your teeth whitened and save up for your veneers.

Now, maybe you’ve got something coming up, such a school reunion, and you just can’t wait. There is the option of getting Care Credit, which will allow you to pay it off over time. Just make sure you feel it’s worth going into debt for before you make a decision.

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