Archives for August 2023

Get Porcelain Veneers or Bonding for My Peg Laterals?

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I paid $1,500 for dental bonding on my left and right peg laterals, but I would like to know if I should have gotten porcelain veneers instead. The bonding was a waste of money because the shape of the peg laterals is weird, and the color doesn’t match my teeth. My dentist says she could try again, but I don’t have the time or money to waste on her attempts.

Should I see another dentist to remove the bonding and ask for porcelain veneers instead? What are the chances that I can get a refund from my current dentist? At least the $1,500 could go toward the cost of porcelain veneers. Thank you. Borys from IL

 

Borys,

When you pay for cosmetic dentistry, but the results are teeth that look fake and don’t match your surrounding teeth, you deserve a refund. You can request a refund without being confrontational because you paid for cosmetic dentistry to improve your peg laterals, but now they look worse.

Porcelain Veneers or Dental Bonding for Peg Laterals?

Porcelain veneers or dental bonding can reshape peg laterals. However, we encourage you to find a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training rather than request a specific treatment to improve your smile. Asking a dentist to become an artist when they lack the training or artistic talent will result in further disappointment.

Start by scheduling consultations with at least two cosmetic dentists, preferably accredited. After an exam, each dentist will explain your treatment options to reshape your lateral incisors and what to expect.

Dental bonding for peg laterals

Applying composite by hand, a cosmetic dentist can layer dental bonding to adapt the size of your peg laterals while matching your surrounding teeth. Dental bonding is less expensive than porcelain veneers, but it doesn’t last as long. It is also susceptible to stains, but a cosmetic dentist can polish the bonding for you to help it last.

Porcelain veneers for peg laterals

A skilled cosmetic dentist and dental ceramist can create porcelain veneers to reshape your peg laterals and mimic your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are dental ceramics that are more durable than tooth enamel. Custom porcelain veneers are stain resistant.

A cosmetic dentist will consider these factors before recommending treatment:

  • Your goals
  • The condition of your teeth
  • The extent of the imperfections in your teeth
  • The dentist’s experience with porcelain veneers or dental bonding in lateral incisor cases like  yours

Best wishes for a happy resolution with your smile makeover.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Read about his education and training, and learn what he does to provide some of the best dental care in Baton Rouge.

Before and after peg lateral cosmetic dentistry photos from Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher

Peg lateral patient photos from Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

 

 

 

Will My Snap-On Denture Be Too Small?

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Snap-on denture diagram

Snap-on denture

I am concerned that my snap-on denture arch will be too small, not going back far enough in my mouth. My new denture doesn’t fit right. Can I get it lengthened, or should I get my dentist to fix it before it’s too late? I found a dentist whose presentation convinced me I would get good-quality affordable implant dentures because he would do the work in phases. I would get a denture first and implants within 6-10 months or as soon as I could afford them. It sounded good to me, but the new denture is too small. Won’t my snap-on denture be too small? With the new denture, I feel my upper and lower gums touching when I chew. When I open my mouth and look in the mirror, I can tell that the denture stops short of where my wisdom teeth were. This won’t get better just because I have dental implants, will it? – Thank you. Alysha from VA

Alysha,

Although a removable denture will not feel perfectly comfortable, a dentist can ensure it extends far enough to prevent you from chewing on your gums. If your new denture is too small and your dentist’s plan is to fit it with implants, your snap-on denture will not fit correctly.

How Far Back Should a Denture Extend?

A denture should extend just beyond the retromolar pad, your wisdom teeth’s former location. Accurate impressions of your mouth help a dentist and dental lab produce a denture that fits well without covering too much or too little of the retromolar pad. A denture that extends too far back upper and lower denture teeth to clash. However, when the denture arch is too short, you can feel chewing on your gums.

Denture impression tray (upper) and Dental impression tray (lower)Your dentist must take new impressions of your mouth using a stock impression tray for dentures. It will require more work from him and the dental lab. You can see from the photos on this page that the denture impression tray extends farther than the impression tray for teeth, registering the retromolar area and broader parts of the lower jaw. Ensuring that a denture extends back far enough improves denture fit and stability.

We cannot speculate on the details of your case, including how your dentist took impressions of your mouth or if he consciously decided to shorten the arch length. Still, you have the right to be satisfied with your current denture before planning to secure it with dental implants. Otherwise, getting affordable implant dentures can cost you a lot of time and money in the long term.

You may give your dentist a chance to resolve your concerns, or you can get a second opinion.

 

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Read about his education and training, and learn what he does to provide some of the best dental care in Baton Rouge.