Archives for December 2023

Is Peroxide Ruining My Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on December 31, 2023 by AllSmiles.

I’ve had two porcelain veneers loosen within the last four months. My sister said it’s probably because I’ve been rinsing my mouth with peroxide to whiten my natural teeth. I drink a lot of coffee, so I’m trying to keep my teeth as white as my veneers. Can peroxide ruin veneers? I’m embarrassed to tell my dentist what I’ve been doing. Thanks. Trudie

Trudie,

“Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide.” That’s advice that many people have heard for years. Is it good advice? We will explain how hydrogen peroxide can affect your mouth and smile makeover with porcelain veneers.

How Does Peroxide Affect Your Mouth?

As you rinse your mouth with it, hydrogen peroxide bubbles and releases oxygen. What’s the result?

The oxygen kills harmful bacteria that promote gum disease.
Beneficial microbes are also killed.
The absence of good bacteria causes other microorganisms, including yeast, to thrive.
Extended use (approximately two weeks or longer) of hydrogen peroxide to rinse your mouth will cause candida albicans to grow. The result is an oral yeast infection that will cause the tissue inside your mouth to become white and peel. The tissue will be red, raw, and painful.

If you want to keep your natural teeth as white as your porcelain veneers, get teeth whitening from a dentist.

Will Hydrogen Peroxide Ruin Porcelain Veneers?

Short-term use of hydrogen peroxide will not ruin porcelain veneers but don’t overdo it. However, it can irritate the gum tissue around the veneers and irritate. Still, if you wear porcelain veneers, caution is needed with the type of mouthwash you use. Mouthwash that contains alcohol softens the bonding that secures veneers to your teeth, and it will promote staining. Diligent oral hygiene limits the need for mouthwash.

Brush your teeth with non-abrasive toothpaste twice daily.
Floss daily.
If you still need mouthwash, ensure it’s alcohol-free.

How Can You Help Porcelain Veneers Last?

Porcelain veneer

You can prolong the life of your porcelain veneers with these steps:

Maintain regular exam and cleaning appointments – Ensure that your exam and cleaning are only completed by a dentist and hygienist trained in properly maintaining porcelain veneers. Power polishing equipment should never be used on veneers.
Wear a mouth guard – Wear a custom mouth guard if you play contact sports.
Wear an oral appliance at night – Tell your dentist if you grind your teeth at night. Wearing an oral appliance at night will protect your teeth.
Use a sonic toothbrush – A sonic toothbrush’s soft, vibrating bristles will clean and polish your porcelain veneers.
Limit snacks and sugar intake – Sugary foods and drinks promote bacteria and decay, as does frequent snacking.

Consult a cosmetic dentist to determine why your porcelain veneers are loosening.

Baton Rouge cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post.

My Dental Bonding Makes Fluorosis Stains Look Worse

Posted on December 15, 2023 by AllSmiles.

It might be hard to believe, but my dentist’s dental bonding job worsened my fluorosis stains. The bonding color is uneven, the stains still show through, and the bonding is peeling off. The day I got the bonding, it fell off two teeth the same evening. I returned to my dentist to replace the bonding and told him that the color is off. He added another layer of bonding that fell off. Unfortunately, my dentist implies that I must grind my teeth or have a habit of weakening the bonding. He recommended that I wear a night guard. I tried it, but the bonding will not stay on. This situation is more stressful and embarrassing than my fluorosis stains. Bonding should not fall off, but how long should it last? Is it unrealistic to expect bonding to stay on fluorosis-stained teeth? I will try again with another dentist if my dentist gives me a refund. Thank you. Alicia

Alicia

We are sorry to hear about your experience. It is frustrating when you are excited about a solution for your teeth, but the results worsen things. Without cosmetic dentistry training, fluorosis stains can be challenging to conceal.

What Is Fluorosis?

Dental fluorosis is a condition that results from consuming too much fluoride as a child—while permanent teeth are still developing. Although fluorosis does not affect the health of your teeth, it can spot and discolor them. The stains are usually limited to the tooth enamel and do not affect the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel). See the Center for Disease Control’s website for information on fluoride supplements and toothpaste use.

Types of Fluorosis Stains

Fluorosis stains can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Mild fluorosis – White specks, spots, edges, or lines randomly appear on teeth. The stains may be limited or extensive.
Moderate fluorosis – Moderate stains cover a wider area of your teeth. The stains are often brown.
Severe fluorosis – Brown spots or streaks dominate your teeth. Fluorosis can make the tooth surface feel rough.

Concealing Fluorosis Stains

Porcelain veneer

An expert cosmetic dentist can conceal fluorosis stains. After a thorough examination and x-rays, the dentist will let you know the results you can expect from dental bonding vs. porcelain veneers for fluorosis stains.

Most general or family dentists do not stock the tools and composites to achieve beautiful results. But a cosmetic dentist can get beautiful results with steps like these:

Grind out the discoloration
Bond high-quality composite to replicate your tooth enamel
Apply a base layer that has some opacity
Overlay the base with translucent composite

Whiten Your Teeth Before Dental Bonding

If you want to whiten your teeth overall, ask your dentist for teeth whitening treatment before composite is applied. Afterward, your dentist will apply bonding that matches your whitened teeth.

Why Does Dental Bonding Fall Off?

Dental bonding requires specific steps to keep it intact:

Etch, rinse, and dry the tooth enamel
When fluorosis stains are severe, increase the etching time
Apply a liquid bonding agent and cure it with a curing light
Place composite over the cured bonding agent

Your dentist must ensure that your bonding is so firmly in place that the only way to remove it is by grinding it off. If your cosmetic dentist does bonding correctly, it will not fall off.

Asking Your Dentist for a Refund on Bad Bonding

You paid for a service that you did not receive. That is the basis for asking your dentist for a refund. Depending on your dentist’s response, you have these options:

Reporting the issue to your dental insurance company
Asking your new dentist for help in requesting a refund
Filing a complaint with the state dental board
Leaving negative online reviews
Hiring an attorney

Schedule a Consultation

Consult an advanced cosmetic dentist if you want your fluorosis stains concealed without anyone noticing your dental work.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post.

Do I Need Invisalign to Close a Tooth Gap?

Posted on December 11, 2023 by AllSmiles.

My dentist started doing Invisalign two years ago, so last week, I asked him for Invisalign to close a small gap between my teeth. He did the 3D scan and found other minor issues with the alignment of my teeth. He is recommending upper and lower aligners. The whole process is going to take just over a year. I told my dentist that minor alignment issues with my teeth are less important than closing the gap. I only want to close the gap for now. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone into the office asking for Invisalign. My dentist mumbled something about veneers. I looked online at the cost; they are almost as expensive as Invisalign. How can I convince him only to correct my upper teeth with Invisalign? – Thanks. Harper from SC

Harper – A dentist who insists that Invisalign® is the only way to close a small gap lacks the skill and artistic ability to conceal the gap with dental composite.

Do You Need Invisalign to Close a Tooth Gap?

Clear aligners or dental bonding can close a tooth gap.

Brace, Invisalign, and other clear aligners, including ClearCorrect®, are not the only way to close a gap. Although cosmetic dentists may provide Invisalign, they may use bonding technology to close small gaps between teeth when appropriate.

Dental Bonding vs. Invisalign to Close a Gap

Dental bonding is easier, faster, and cheaper than Invisalign to close small gaps between teeth. However, only an advanced cosmetic dentist can make your teeth look proportionate and match the bonding with your natural teeth.

Artistic cosmetic dentists mix shades of composite to mimic the characteristics of your natural teeth. This process results in highly accurate, long-lasting bonding.

We suggest looking for an advanced cosmetic dentist to skillfully close the gap with bonding. Search a few cosmetic dentists’ websites and look for patient photos of their work with composite bonding.

Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Read a related post to understand why adulthood is not too late to close a tooth gap.