Archives for November 2023

Did Braces Damage My Teeth Enamel So Bad That I Need Porcelain Veneers?

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I’m almost 24 years old. I wore braces for two years, and after my dentist removed them, my upper front teeth looked so bad. I almost wish I could wear braces again to cover up my teeth. My dentist said the enamel eroded and permanently damaged my teeth. Now, my dentist wants to do porcelain veneers. I grind my teeth, too, so I think veneers are risky. My orthodontist never mentioned anything about this damage during any of my checkups. I’m pretty upset about this because I spent so much money on braces, and now I need to spend thousands of dollars on veneers. I don’t trust my orthodontist, and I’m not sure I should trust my dentist. Should I get a second opinion? Thank you. Kam from NJ

Kam

Your concerns are understandable. We will share information that can help you avoid overtreatment.

Do You Need Porcelain Veneers for White Spots After Braes?

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

Consult an accredited cosmetic dentist before agreeing to porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are an aggressive way to treat white spots after braces. Rather than enamel erosion that requires porcelain veneers, you probably have decalcification spots from the braces. A cosmetic dentist can use bonding to conceal the marks.

Get a second opinion from an experienced cosmetic dentist. Even if you need porcelain veneers, you could avoid having an awful experience by finding a skilled cosmetic dentist. Although dental bonding is likely the solution, it takes an artistic dentist to match the bonding with your teeth and conceal the spots perfectly.

We don’t know why your orthodontist or hygienist didn’t mention the decalcification spots during follow-up appointments, but they should have. When you wear braces, you must brush around the braces and brackets to remove food debris every time you eat. Otherwise, bacteria will collect, release acid, and decalcify your teeth.

It’s not too late to improve your smile. However, don’t let your dentist prepare your teeth for porcelain veneers. Find a cosmetic dentist with advanced orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry training and get a second opinion.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post. Request a consultation with Dr. Brooksher today.

What Are My Options for Chipped Tooth Repair?

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What are my options for chipped tooth repair? I was mountain biking with friends two weeks ago, hit a bump too fast, and hit the ground face-first. Thank God we wear biking helmets, but I chipped five teeth, including my top center teeth. The chips are noticeable, but fortunately, I lost no teeth. I saw my dentist last week, and he suggested porcelain veneers. I should mention that I have crossbite and was considering braces. Now that my teeth are chipped, I cannot afford braces and veneers. What are my options, and will the chipped teeth interfere with braces?

Rick,

It’s good to know that you didn’t have serious injuries from your biking accident.

What Are Your Options for Chipped Tooth Repair?

Options for chipped tooth repair include dental bonding and porcelain veneers. A cosmetic dentist can skillfully apply bonding to your teeth or work with a dental ceramist to craft custom porcelain veneers that cover the fronts of your chipped teeth. Consider how dental bonding and porcelain veneers compare.

Dental bonding

Dental bonding is a mixture of plastic resin and quartz or glass. Cosmetic dentists have an inventory of dental composites and blend and layer them for seamless chipped tooth repair.

  • Application – A dentist etches your teeth and applies dental bonding by hand while you sit comfortably in a dental chair.
  • Longevity – Dental bonding can last five years or longer if you take care of it. However, it is not as durable as porcelain veneers. It is not stain resistant.
  • Cost – The average cost of dental bonding in the US is $300 to $700 per tooth.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are dental ceramics custom made to cover the fronts of your teeth. After taking impressions of your teeth, a dentist will make temporary veneers for you to try on. A dental ceramist will craft the veneers.

  • Application – A skilled cosmetic dentist will conservatively remove a small amount of enamel from the fronts of your affected teeth. The preparation ensures the veneers fit well without looking bulky. Then, the dentist will bond the veneers to your teeth.
  • Longevity – According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, porcelain veneers last seven to twenty years.
  • Cost – The average cost of porcelain veneers in the US is $1,000 to $3,500 per tooth.

Orthodontics After Chipped Tooth Repair

Consult a cosmetic dentist and explain your goals for chipped tooth repair and correcting your crossbite. The dentist can develop a treatment plan for your smile makeover and explain the healthiest ways to restore your smile.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post.

Before and after dental bonding pictures from Baton Rouge cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher

Before and after dental bonding photos of Dr. Brooksher’s work on a patient’s chipped tooth.

Should I Switch to an Endodontist If I Need a Repeat Root Canal?

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Hello,

Should I switch to an endodontist if I need a repeat root canal? I had a root canal on my upper right canine, which is a porcelain veneer tooth. I have six veneers on my upper front teeth from canine to canine. My dentist did a root canal on the tooth a year ago, but the filling fell out. This was not a temporary filling. Anyway, the tooth has an abscess, so I saw my dentist last week, and she says I need another root canal. I am concerned about this tooth because of the porcelain veneer on it. I don’t want to risk losing the veneer or the tooth. I wish my dentist had noticed the filling was loose before it fell out. Should I switch to an endodontist? Thank you. Mikayla

 

Hi Mikayla,

Your tooth is infected and needs treatment. An infection may have remained in your tooth after the root canal last year. Losing the filling may have let saliva and bacteria leak into the tooth. Over time, saliva will weaken the seal in your tooth, infecting it or causing a new infection to flare up.

Should You Switch to an Endodontist for a Repeat Root Canal?

Tips of dental forceps holding a porcelain veneer next to a woman's teeth

Get a second opinion from an endodontist if you have concerns about root canal treatment on a porcelain veneer tooth

If you are uncomfortable with your dentist’s ability to resolve your tooth abscess, ask for a referral to an endodontist. Root canal treatment weakens a tooth, so you increase the chance of success with an endodontist since they specialize in root canal treatment.

The treatment should not harm your porcelain veneer. However, you can consult the endodontist before your treatment and express your concerns about keeping the porcelain veneer and tooth intact.

Schedule an appointment with the endodontist as quickly as possible to prevent the infection from spreading into your jawbone and affecting other teeth. An untreated infection will erode the tooth, making it unrestorable. That scenario would cause porcelain veneer and tooth loss, creating a need for tooth replacement, such as a dental implant.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Learn more about the porcelain veneers process.