October 2014 - Allyson K Hurley, DDS

Keeping Our Patients Safe

Dear Friends:
I am excited to announce that we are accepting new patients again. To insure that our patients and staff stay safe myself and the full staff have received the Covid-19 vaccination . We would like to ease your concerns about coming to the office.

Click here for our new office safety protocol

I’ve had veneers for 2 years. I did the try in before the permanent ones were made, but I swear the try ins were not this white! When the permanent ones came in, I told my dentist that they were too white but she said that they are the same color as what I tried in and I just needed to get used to them. 2 years later and I hate them. People actually tell me how white my teeth are. Then they ask me if they are my real teeth. I just avoid the story and say Yes. My question is: Can my veneers be darkened or am I stuck with them? Thank you. Kamal

Kamal – Unfortunately, your veneers cannot be darkened. Veneers are stain resistant, and they also resist changes in color. When your veneers are exactly what you want, those are both positive things.

What do you do now? The only option to receive veneers that look natural is to receive new veneers. If you decide to get new veneers in the future, only accept the work of a skilled cosmetic dentist. We recommend an accredited cosmetic dentist. What assurance does this give you? A cosmetic dentist who is accredited by the American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry has completed and passed rigorous oral and written tests. He or she has submitted cosmetic dentistry cases of his or her own patients. These cases were reviewed by long-time experts in cosmetic dentistry. Only with approval of tests and submitted cases can a cosmetic dentist become accredited. It’s not a quick process that any dentist can achieve.

A cosmetic dentist has an artistic approach to designing your smile and will not be satisfied until it is perfect and exactly what you want.

Find a few accredited cosmetic dentists in your area. Request a consultation with each of them. You can ask to see photos of smile makeovers that each dentist has completed. You also can ask questions and discuss your payment options.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley. Dr. Hurley has been voted a top NJ dentist for seven consecutive years.

I think I want veneers and I am lining up the dentists that I want to see about them. I have 2 appointments scheduled with prosthodontists, but my roommate says that I should see a cosmetic dentist too. Which is the top dentist for porcelain veneers, a cosmetic dentist or a prosthodontist? By the way I am asking the same thing on a prosthodontist’s site to see how your answers differ. Thanks much! – Gwen

Gwen – The best dentist for your porcelain veneers is an artistic dentist—a dentist who not only knows and has the tools required to give you a beautiful smile, but also has an artistic approach to it.

A prosthodontist is trained in the restoration and replacement of teeth. Many prosthodontists have artistic inclination—but not all of them do. A cosmetic dentist has taken training to give you a smile that looks beautiful and natural, but not every cosmetic dentist is an artist.

With each dentist that you visit, ask to see before-and-after pictures of smile makeovers that he or she has completed from start to finish. Look for the color, shape, style, and size of the teeth. Do they look natural, personalized, and beautiful? Find out how much input you will have on the look of your new smile. The dentist’s willingness to listen to your preferences will give you an idea of whether or not you will get the smile you really want. Ask questions about how the steps each dentist will take to ensure that your veneers are not too thick or too white, and that get the smile you really want.

Before you schedule appointments look for credentials for both the prosthodontist and the cosmetic dentist. A cosmetic dentist who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has successfully completed written and oral exams, submitted beautiful cosmetic cases, and participates in ongoing training to even further develop his or her skills.

This post is sponsored by a NJ top dentist (voted by NJ Monthly Magazine) and accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Archives for October 2014