Why Are My New Crowns and Veneers Affecting My Speech?

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My dentist placed two crowns and ten porcelain veneers in late August. I had three sets of temporaries, and the final set looked and felt perfect. I’ve had permanent crowns and veneers since mid-September, and they disrupt my speech. My tongue feels too big for my arch and rests behind my lower front teeth. It feels so awkward.

My dentist can’t determine what’s happening with the crowns or veneers. Could the premolar crowns be the problem? – Thanks! Lou Anne from SC

Lou Anne,

We understand your concern about the impact of your dental treatment on your tongue and speech. An advanced cosmetic dentist would need to examine and x-ray your teeth to identify the cause of your discomfort.

Dental crowns

Dental crowns should fit and function confortabley

While properly placed porcelain veneers don’t interfere with speech or chewing, you may have received porcelain crowns instead. Crowns, which cover the entire tooth, can potentially affect speech patterns.

Experienced cosmetic dentists are skilled in creating restorations that minimize speech disturbances. They carefully consider tooth contour, thickness, and position to ensure a natural and comfortable result. Ideally, temporary restorations assess fit, function, and speech before proceeding with permanent restorations.

It’s concerning that your permanent crowns caused issues after a satisfactory experience with the temporaries. This suggests a potential discrepancy in the fabrication or placement process. It’s possible that the dental laboratory may not have accurately replicated the temporary restorations, or the dentist may not have properly positioned the permanent crowns.

While many patients adapt to new dental restorations over time, a dentist must address persistent speech difficulties. If the problem persists and your dentist can’t resolve it, we recommend seeking a second opinion.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post. Read why so many patients view Dr. Brooksher as one of the best dentists in Baton Rouge.

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.

My Dental Bonding Is Peeling

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My dentist whitened my teeth and later placed bonding on them last February to hide fluorosis stains. The color still wasn’t right after three tries, so I let it go. I figured I would keep the bonding because my dentist said it would last five years. After that, I planned to find another dentist to replace it. But within the past week, the bonding started peeling off like old paint. This is so embarrassing. I called my dentist, who said bonding on fluorosis sometimes doesn’t stick to your teeth. He never mentioned that the bonding might peel before he placed it. Now, I am concerned that I must live with these stains. If my dentist cannot get this right, what are my options? Thank you. Jay

Jay,

We are sorry to hear about your experience with dental bonding from your dentist. Fortunately, you have options for concealing fluorosis stains, but you cannot rely on your dentist for them.

Types of Fluorosis Stains

Fluorosis stains occur from consuming too much fluoride as a child while your teeth are still developing. Tooth stains are white in mild to moderate cases and brown in severe cases. The stains usually affect the tooth enamel only.

How Do You Conceal Fluorosis Stains?

Concealing fluorosis stains in teeth is one of the most challenging aspects of cosmetic dentistry. Depending on the stains and condition of your teeth, an advanced cosmetic dentist may recommend dental bonding or porcelain veneers.

Dental bonding

  • Applying dental bonding to tooth enamel securely requires these steps:
  • Etch the tooth enamel
  • Rinse and dry the enamel
  • Apply a liquid bonding agent to the tooth and use a curing light to cure it
  • Place the composite over the cured bonding

At least your dentist bleached your teeth before applying bonding, even though the color did not stay on. Bleaching teeth first is essential to matching bonding to your natural teeth. Whitening is an effective way to refresh your smile.

Porcelain veneers

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

Porcelain veneer

After removing a conservative amount of tooth enamel, a cosmetic dentist will complete these steps:

  • Take impressions of your teeth
  • Provide a wax-up of your veneers
  • Make temporary veneers for you to wear
  • After you approve the temporary veneers, send pictures and instructions to a dental ceramist to make the final product
  • Try the veneers on your teeth to ensure you are delighted with your smile makeover

Should a Dentist Repair a Gold Onlay with Silver Filling?

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I’ve had a gold onlay for one of my molars for about 20 years. It is wearing out. My dentist wants to save as much gold as possible and fill the damaged portion with a silver filling. I don’t like amalgam. White fillings look better, and I’m into holistic care anyway. Why would he even suggest silver? I am already anxious, but this treatment recommendation is making things worse. Thanks. F. Turner  – San Jose

Dear F. Turner,

Thank you for your question. Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your tooth and onlay to determine the best way to preserve your tooth.

What Is a Gold Onlay?

A gold onlay is a custom tooth restoration that covers one or more cusps or points of a tooth. Unlike a dental crown, it does not cover the entire tooth. Did your dentist explain why he does not want to use composite in the tooth?

Should a Dentist Repair a Gold Onlay with Silver Filling?

Photo of woman sitting back in a dental chair with her eyes closed; for information on Baton Rouge sedation dentistry during tooth extraction.

Sedation can help you relax and get the dental care you need

Repairing the tooth with white composite filling is preferable to amalgam (often referred to as “silver”). If your dentist uses amalgam, two dissimilar metals would be in the same tooth, creating a slight electric current that could cause the amalgam to corrode faster than usual. Also, the gold will absorb some of the mercury from the amalgam.

A dentist who recommends amalgam might be uncomfortable placing composite fillings. Insisting on having composite fillings from the dentist may give you an undesirable result that needs to be replaced.

If you want composite fillings, find a cosmetic dentist who regularly uses them on back teeth. Call the office and ask if the dentist does many silver fillings. If the office representative says that the dentist does very few of them or does not use them, it is likely that the dentist is comfortable placing composite fillings on back teeth.

If your dentist is not answering your questions to your satisfaction, look for a skilled cosmetic dentist and request an exam. Tell the dentist about your anxiety and ask about sedation options.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

Is my electric toothbrush damaging my porcelain veneers?

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Two of my porcelain veneers loosed three times within the past five months. My dentist rebounded them. But during my last visit, my dentist asked me what kind of toothbrush I use. I use an ultrasonic toothbrush and Supersmile toothpaste. My dentist blames my toothbrush on the loose veneers, but I know better. And if a toothbrush could cause loose veneers, I asked my dentist why he didn’t tell me that before I got veneers. Please tell me that I am right, and my toothbrush is not causing loose veneers. Thank you. Max from TX

Max,

Although ultrasonic cleaning devices in a dental office can damage dental bonding or veneers, an ultrasonic or sonic toothbrush will not harm them. Let us explain the difference.

Is Your Toothbrush Damaging Your Porcelain Veneers?

Your toothbrush is not damaging your porcelain veneers. And there is a difference between ultrasonic dental tools and your toothbrush.

Ultrasonic dental tools

Ultrasonic dental tools have metal tips that can damage bonding or veneers. The devices can crack the glaze on porcelain veneers. And professional ultrasonic speeds are much higher than your toothbrush.

Ultrasonic toothbrush

An ultrasonic toothbrush has soft bristles that will neither nick bonding or veneers. Instead, they polish your veneers and clean them. And toothbrushes are usually sonic—not ultrasonic—which means their vibration speed is slower and more gentle than dental equipment.

What Is Causing Loose Porcelain Veneers?

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

Porcelain veneers do not loosen if a dentist bonds them properly

Loose porcelain veneers result from failure of your dentist’s bonding technique, aggressive preparation of your natural teeth, or both.

  • Aggressive tooth preparation – Often, a dentist who lacks advanced cosmetic dentistry training removes too much tooth enamel when preparing teeth for porcelain veneers. As a dentist removes more enamel, it becomes difficult for the bonding to adhere to your teeth. And if a dentist grinds your teeth down to the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel), it increases the risk of veneers falling off.
  • Bonding technique – Dentists who take advanced cosmetic dentistry training after dental school learn techniques to bond porcelain veneers securely to your teeth. And they know the importance of removing excess bonding material to avoid irritation and inflammation.

Get a Cosmetic Dentist’s Opinion

Although your dentist is blaming your toothbrush for loose porcelain veneers, that is not the problem. We recommend that you schedule a consultation with a skilled cosmetic dentist to examine your teeth and veneers to identify the issue. A cosmetic dentist will explain the treatment options to keep your veneers intact.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.