Archives for March 2019

Is It OK That I Got Porcelain Veneers While I was Pregnant?

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Hi,

I recently finished getting a set of porcelain veneers. I didn’t know it during treatment, but I was pregnant at the time. I’m just in my first trimester, but could this have hurt my baby? I’m freaking out that I did something wrong.

Thank you,

Juno, from Frankenstein, Missouri

 

Hi Juno,

During the first trimester, you often don’t know you are pregnant. The only possibly harmful thing you could have been exposed to is local anesthetic. However, this is one of the safest medications around, and has been used on pregnant women before with no problems for years. The most common local anesthetic is Lidocaine, and it has been proven to be safe to use during pregnancy.

The good news is, you probably don’t have anything to worry about. Dentists are taught in dental school to avoid scheduling pregnant women during the first and third trimesters. The first trimester, you are most sensitive to chemicals and foreign substances like metal, and the last trimester it’s best to avoid stress. You have not harmed your baby, but it would probably be best to avoid any further work at this time.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge porcelain veneer provider, Dr. Steven Brooksher, of Dentistry by Brooksher.

 

Is Invisalign the Best Way to Close a Gap Between Your Teeth?

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A gap or space between your teeth is called a diastema. There are several factors that will help your dentist decide if Invisalign, another form of orthodontic treatment, or cosmetic dentistry can help.

Photo of the a woman's hand holding an invisible teeth aligner similar to Invisalign.
Invisalign or another brand of invisible braces might not be needed to close your gap

Size of the Space

The size of the space between your teeth can determine your treatment options. If the gap is small, treatment with Invisalign or another type of clear braces might not be necessary. Small gaps can be concealed with dental bonding or porcelain veneers.

Dental bonding

Skilled cosmetic dentists use dental composite to conceal imperfections in teeth, including small gaps. Your cosmetic dentist will blend together shades of composite to match your teeth. After your teeth are lightly etched, the bonding will be applied, shaped, hardened, and polished. People won’t be able to distinguish the composite from your natural teeth. Bonding stains over time and will need periodic polishing. Depending on how well you take care of it, it will need to be replaced every five to ten years.

Dental bonding can help you avoid months of treatment with Invisalign or other types of orthodontic treatment. Bonding is applied while you’re sitting in the dental chair and usually only takes one visit.

Porcelain veneers

Thin shells of lifelike porcelain can be bonded to the fronts of the affected teeth. Adjacent teeth might also need veneers to create symmetry and natural-looking results. Porcelain veneers are permanent. Your natural teeth have to be prepared for veneers, and the preparation cannot be reversed. Although Invisalign doesn’t require any work on your natural teeth, treatment can last many months. It only takes a few office visits to receive porcelain veneers.

Is There Labial Frenum Between Your Teeth?

At times, there is tissue between the teeth—labial frenum—that is suspended from the upper lip to the gums. It can prevent the gap from closing. If the frenum prevents the gap from closing, the tissue will need to be surgically removed. If the gap is large, Invisalign can be used to close it. Otherwise, porcelain veneers or dental bonding can hide a small gap.

What about Invisalign for Closing a Gap?

If any of your teeth are misaligned, invisible braces will correct the misalignment and close the gap. There are other considerations:

  • Unlike dental bonding or porcelain veneers, no material will be permanently applied to your teeth.
  • When your treatment with invisible braces is complete, you will need to wear a retainer to maintain the alignment of your teeth.
  • Invisalign treatment takes longer than dental bonding or porcelain veneers.
  • If you have a gap along with wisdom teeth that are erupting, the movement of your teeth can affect the size of your gap. Your dentist will determine the best time to start treatment.

What About DIY Methods?

Closing a gap between your teeth is not something you should try on your own. Do-it-yourself orthodontics, such as rubber bands, can incorrectly move your teeth, cause them to twist, or leave spaces between them that didn’t exist before.

Schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist to learn more about Invisalign and your other treatment options.

This post is sponsored by Steven Brooksher, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, LA.

3 Reasons Your Gums Won’t Get Numb at the Dentist and 3 Ways Sedation Can Help

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“My dentist can’t get me numb.” That’s a common concern that many people have about their next dental appointment. And delayed, rescheduled, or cancelled appointments follow. If you have a history of difficult dental appointments during which local anesthetic just didn’t work, you might benefit from knowing some possible causes. And you might be surprised to know why sedation dentistry can make a difference.

3 Reasons Your Dentist May Have Trouble Numbing Your Gums

Anxiety

Adrenaline flow increases with anxiety. It can overwhelm your nervous system and prevent local anesthetic from working at all.

Dentist’s Error

If the local anesthetic is mistakenly placed in the wrong location, it can make it seem as if your gums aren’t getting numb at all. If your dentist proceeds with treatment, the sensitivity or pain can make it feel as if no area is numb at all.

Genetic Factors

Genetics can cause a variety of conditions make it difficult to numb your gum tissue including:

  • Resistance to dental anesthetic in your peripheral nervous system
  • Abnormal location of your tooth nerves that make it difficult to precisely inject anesthetic
  • High resistance to anesthetics and low pain tolerance

Sedation Dentistry Can Help

  • Photo of a young woman relaxing in a hammock that is tied to palm trees on the beach; for information on Baton Rouge sedation dentistry from Dentistry by Brooksher.
    Sedation dentistry creates relaxing experiences

Sedation allows your dentist to accomplish more dental work than usual. Fewer interruptions and your prolonged comfort will maximize the productivity of your dental appointment. And sedation can be used whenever you need it—whether it’s for dental cleaning and exam, a new crown, or a dental implant.

  • Relaxation – Sedation dentistry relaxes you. It helps you avoid a surge of adrenaline that can interfere with the effectiveness of local anesthetic. It will also help you remain calm as your dentist locates any difficult-to-find nerves so that anesthetic can be injected in the correct location.
  • Pain reduction – In your relaxed state, you will be less sensitive to pain.
  • Perspective – After a series of relaxing pain-free dental appointments, your perspective about dental visits will change. Many patients have found that after positive experiences with sedation, they actually look forward to dental visits.

Nitrous oxide – Nitrous oxide is also referred to as laughing gas. As you breathe it in throughout your appointment, you’ll have a sense of well-being and calmness. When your procedure is complete, the effects of nitrous oxide are quickly reversed as you breathe in pure oxygen.

Oral conscious sedation – This method uses mild commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medication to help you relax. You will be given the medication to take in advance of your appointment so you can arrive at the office relaxed and ready for treatment.

The success of numbing your gums will greatly improve with sedation dentistry. And it will improve the way you feel about going to the dentist. Schedule a consultation with a sedation dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Steven Brooksher of Dentistry by Brooksher in Baton Rouge.