Kathleen J. from Idaho

Kathleen,

If you have dental insurance, you won’t have to pay the entire fee. How much you pay will depend on where you need the filling. If you need it on a front tooth, then your insurance will probably cover it. They consider composite fillings (white fillings) on a visible front tooth a legitimate expense. However, if it is on a back tooth, then they may only cover the amount it would have cost to get an amalgam (silver) filling. You can still get the composite filling. You would just have to pay the difference.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Mercury-free dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Haley M. from Wyoming.

Haley,

I’m a little confused why your dentist is recommending four crowns instead of two. You said you only had two chipped teeth. Is there some other pertinent information I don’t have?  If not, I’m questioning having this dentist do your treatment.

Assuming I have all the information I will say that I agree with you. Porcelain crowns are just too aggressive a treatment for healthy teeth. However, you’ve got the problem of dental bonding not working for you already. If you got more bonding on, chances are they wouldn’t last that long the second time around either. To me, it sounds like you are a great candidate for porcelain veneers. That will take off a very minimal amount of tooth structure, and they will last.

Let me give you a word of caution though. Make sure you go to an expert cosmetic dentist to have these done. With them being your front teeth, they will be a very visible part of your smile. You’ll want them to be as artistically done as possible.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Debbie- Chicago

Debbie,

Yes, dental bonding can be reversed fairly simply. There is a special sandpaper that most dentists should have on hand, that is used to file the bonding off. The sandpaper will take it right down to the original enamel.

Your dental bonding can be done to look both beautiful and natural, however to get that kind of result you will need to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentistry is an unregulated field. Any general dentist can learn how to do a procedure or two and call themselves a cosmetic dentist. You want someone who has real artistry. Dental bonding has to be done free hand, so that takes an even greater skill. I would suggest after getting it sanded, to find one of the mynewsmile.com recommended dentists from Chicago and get the new  bonding done by them. These dentists are screened for their credentials and artistry, so you’ll be safe with them.

This blog is sponsored by New Jersey Cosmetic dentist Dr. Hurley.

Bethany H.- San Francisco

Bethany,

It is possible to do porcelain veneers with tetracycline teeth, but it is very tricky. You will need to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. There are several common errors with veneers for this kind of situation:

• The dark stains show around the edges of the work.
• The veneers aren’t opaque enough and the stains show through.
• The veneers are too opaque and don’t look natural.

One way to find a dentist with enough training to avoid these errors, is to look for  dentist recommended on mynewsmile.com.  Dr. Hurley is a recommended dentist with them, and she had to submit her training credentials, along with samples of her work. Anyone on that site, should be able to handle your case.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Hurley.

Thanks in advance.

Gena B.- Staten Island

Gena,

If you just want to do teeth whitening on your lower teeth, then there is no problem at all. What you bleach on your lower arch won’t affect the upper arch. Hopefully your dentist had you get your Lumineers to the level of whiteness you want all your teeth to be, because there is no way to change the color once they are bonded on. That will be your permanent color.

This blog is sponsored by New Jersey Cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Jennie- Alvadore, Oregon

Jennie,

Lumineers, or any type of porcelain veneers, are bonded on with a special technique for bonding porcelain. Unfortunately, this type of training isn’t always taught in dental school, and has to be learned with post graduate continuing education for cosmetic dentists. Though I can’t be certain, because I am not present when your dentist is bonding your veneer, it sounds to me like he or she is unfamiliar with the proper technique for doing this. Once a veneer is bonded on, it should stay put for many years.

My suggestion to you is to look for another dentist who is qualified to place this properly. One of the ways to do this, is to look on the mynewsmile.com website. They check the educational qualifications and work quality of cosmetic dentists and recommend ones they feel are up to snuff. Dr. Hurley is a recommended dentist for New Jersey on their site. She has to verify her training and submit pictures of work she’d performed. Any dentist listed on that site would be more than capable of permanently placing your Lumineer.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Thanks,

Jennifer R. -Maumelle, AR

Jennifer,

What you’re describing doesn’t sound normal with Invisalign. The aligners should feel tight when you first put them on. As a matter of fact, they may not  quite fit down all the way. Then, the teeth only take 2-4 days to move to their new position, and the rest of the two weeks is needed to give the teeth a rest period before the next movement. During this rest period, your body is busy remodeling the bone that supports your teeth. During this period, they should feel looser than at first, but not as loose as you’re describing. Though you could possibly use a denture adhesive, the first thing I would do is talk to your dentist and have him call the invisalign company. They may have encountered this before and have a fix for it.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic dentist Dr. Hurley.

Mark S.- Kansas City.

Mark,

What a great question. The answer is yes, IF they are done properly. The thickness and position of teeth not only affect your appearance, but your speech, your ability to sing, and your ease of playing an instrument. If they are not done properly, you may have to deal with a lisping or whistling sound. It is important you have your porcelain crowns ( or even porcelain veneers) done by an expert cosmetic dentist.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Wallace-Alabama

Wallace,

You can use Snap-On Smile with missing teeth if you have enough teeth to hold the appliance in place. It sounds like you might. The cost varies from dentist to dentist. The variations are based on how much time they spend with your smile design. I certainly wouldn’t go with the cheapest, because you want your new smile to look as beautiful as possible. Ask for pictures showing samples of their work.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Jay J. – Fordyce, AR

There are several reasons why your dentist wants you to wear a temporary crown.  Be assured it will not cost the equivalent of your permanent crown, so you are not paying for two. It is made of a less durable material and is less esthetic than an artistically shaped porcelain crown, which cuts down on the costs.

First,  it will need to cover your tooth to prevent sensitivity. Once your dentin is exposed it can be quite painful. Sweets can be painful, but also cold, and even air. Covering the live dentin protects you from that painful sensitivity.  Secondly, it is important the temporary crown both touches the teeth on either side of the crown and occludes with its opposing tooth. The reason for this is that without that contact the teeth will move between appointments and your crown won’t fit once you return.

I hope this helps you understand your dentist is trying to protect your mouth and investment, and isn’t just racking up unnecessary expenses.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic dentist Dr. Hurley.