May 2016 - 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

How do I find the top dentist to help me determine if I need crowns or veneers? My dentist isn’t a cosmetic dentist but she suggested that I just get braces for my teeth. My teeth are twisted inward. Braces might be an option but I am not really interested in them. The other thing is that my teeth are smaller than normal adult teeth. I am 39 yrs old so there is no chance that the situation will improve. I don’t want just straight teeth. I want celebrity teeth. I am not the most attractive woman so I want my teeth to make up for my appearance. My dentist is trying to refer me to a colleague of hers who is a cosmetic dentist and graduated dental school with her, but I am worried that this is just the buddy system. The colleague might be a good dentist but I need some definite markers to help me choose the top dentist for the work that needs to be done to get my smile where I want it. Thanks much. Symone T.

Symone – Your concerns are valid. Although many dentists claim to be cosmetic dentists, not all of them have the training, skill, or artistic talent to produce the celebrity smile you want. In fact, very few dentists can produce that kind of smile. So you will have to do a little work to find the top dentist for your case.

In your search for the top dentist for your smile makeover, look for a cosmetic dentist who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, or who has high credentials in another association for aesthetic dentistry. Have a few consultations with cosmetic dentists. Find out how long each dentist has been practicing cosmetic dentistry, and ask to see before-and-after photos of cases similar to yours.

Braces are one solution to aligning your teeth. A combination of braces and gum contouring may produce the results you want. But so can porcelain veneers. Veneers will not only perfectly align your teeth, but they will also perfectly shape them. Porcelain crowns require more aggressive preparation of your natural teeth, so they are not the preferred option.

Ask each dentist about the pros and cons of your treatment options. Compare each cosmetic dentist’s work, experience, and credentials. And then you can make an informed decision about the top dentist for the celebrity smile you want.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

In December 2013 I got 8 porcelain veneers. I had my lower teeth straightened with braces and I got teeth whitening before the veneers were placed. I chipped one of the veneers in June of 2015 while I was running. I am not a professional runner but I run daily. The dentist I went to shortened the tooth and the one next to it so that it would blend well. Last week I started noticing that both veneers are starting to look bluish gray. I didn’t notice it before, but the more I look at my teeth in the mirror the more noticeable it is. Am I going to need new veneers or is there maybe something going on with the teeth behind them since I fell? Thanks. Lib

Lib – From your description it seems that the two veneers may be leaking. This occurs when the bonding at the margin of a veneer isn’t properly sealed. Blood, saliva, or anything else that has been in your mouth can get between your natural tooth and the veneer and cause discoloration. Sometimes during the bonding process, the gums bleed slightly, so don’t be unnecessarily alarmed. You don’t have to experience active or recent bleeding for the discoloration to occur.

It is possible that a skilled cosmetic dentist can remove the veneers, clean your natural teeth and the veneers, and rebond them. When the veneers are removed, your teeth will be examined to ensure that trauma from your accident didn’t do any damage that wasn’t detected right away.

If the veneers still look the same, or if the problem worsens, the veneers will need to be removed and replaced with new ones. If you are comfortable with your cosmetic dentist and his or her ability to restore your teeth, be sure that you understand what will be done to correct the issue. You may also choose to get a second opinion from a skilled cosmetic dentist.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ top cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Archives for May 2016