Archives for October 2022

Can Whitening Trays Replace a Retainer?

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I just finished my Invisalign treatment and my dentist wants me to wear a retainer for about a year. I’m not too keen on wearing something visible after having my teeth straightened invisibly, but didn’t see that I had much of a choice. Now, I’ve lost it. I’ve torn the house apart looking for it to no avail. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have a ton of money I’d like to wait until after the holidays to get a new one made. I happened to find my whitening trays while looking for my retainer. Can I wear those until I have money? They fit well.

Laura M.

Dear Laura,

teeth whitening trays

Congratulations on finishing your Invisalign treatment. I bet you’re loving your new smile. I’m sure it feels conspicuous wearing a metal retainer after Invisalign. I’m surprised your orthodontist didn’t mention there are clear retainers available. When you talk to your dentist about replacing your retainer, be sure to ask him or her to list all the options available to you, even the ones they don’t do at their office.

Unfortunately, your teeth whitening trays won’t make a good substitute. Whitening trays are purposefully made soft and flexible. This makes them quite comfortable to wear, which is great if you’re whitening your teeth but no so great if you need something to hold them firmly in place. The longer it’s been since the completion of your treatment, the better. Your teeth will be more firmly in place.

Your teeth are always on the move in some fashion and will start to shift again. You’ll need that retainer to keep them in place. A retainer is designed to give your teeth time to get used to remaining in the correct position.

I realize you don’t have much money, but this is important. If you still have your Invisalign aligners, it might not be a bad idea to wear the final set while your dentist makes you a new retainer. Many dentists have options for paying out services. For instance, Dr. Dennis uses Care Credit, which allows patients to get interest-free payment plans. This gives patients time and helps to break up the financial burden without the penalty of interest you’d get with traditional credit cards.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Holistic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Fixing a Single Crooked Tooth

Posted on October 29, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I have one tooth which is crazy crooked. It’s also way behind the tooth next to it. That wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t one of my front teeth. I’ve seen several different dentists. The two most common solutions I’m getting is pulling the tooth and braces. I feel too old for braces, but the idea of pulling the tooth seems weird too. Which solution do you think is better?

Roy

Dear Roy,

I can understand why you feel too old for metal braces. No one wants a mouth full of uncomfortable metal wires and brackets. Nor do I think pulling the tooth is a solution. There probably isn’t enough room there for a good tooth replacement such as a dental implant. You wouldn’t want to have an uneven amount of teeth in your mouth. That would make your smile quite weird. In order to make room for an implant, you’d need some type of orthodontics to open up the space.

However, I have two possible solutions for you, neither of which requires yanking your front tooth or a mouth full of metal.

Solution One: Invisalign

These are orthodontics which use clear aligners instead of metal wires and brackets. Some people call them invisible braces. That is because they are truly invisible while you’re wearing them, even at a conversational distance. This will straighten your crooked tooth.

It has an additional benefit. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time.

This is actually the way I’d go unless there are other things you want to fix about your teeth. If there are other things that bother you, there is another option.

Solution Two: Porcelain Veneers

With porcelain veneers, you get a total smile makeover and the go-to procedure for celebrities. Using tiny wafers of porcelain, a skilled cosmetic dentist can remake the shape, size, and color of your teeth all in one go. It will not straighten your crooked tooth, but it will make it look straight.

This blog is brought to you by Michigan Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Are Holistic Dentists the Same in the US as they are in Taiwan?

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I’ve been in the US for three years while I go to university. I haven’t been to the dentist in that time, but recently began a toothache. My nainai wants me to come home over winter break so I can have toothache treated. My nainai said that in the US they still use mercury fillings. I don’t want mercury fillings, but I also don’t want to use my whole break that way. Are there holistic dentists here in US like in Taiwan. Are there differences?

Bai C.

Dear Bai,

someone holding an aloe vera plant in their hands

Holistic Dentists Consider the Health of the Whole Body

It’s great that your nainai cares so much about you. It always feels wonderful to have someone whom you know is looking out for your best interests. While your grandmother is correct that we still use mercury fillings in the United States, that doesn’t mean you have to get a filling which contains mercury. Instead, you could get a composite filling, which is completely mercury-free.

We do have holistic dentists in the U.S. All of them will be mercury-free. Beyond that, each one is a little different in their philosophy of dental care. But, they will all consider your views and what you feel is important for healthy care.

Waiting until winter break is a bad idea for three reasons. First, this could blow up into an infection very quickly. In fact, it could turn into a dental emergency. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections even with all our modern advancements. Those who do, it’s because they put off treatment and the infection spread to their heart, lungs, or brain, which are all quite close to your jaw.

Secondly, even if it didn’t turn into a dental emergency, traveling with a toothache is absolutely miserable. Your body adjusts to the changing air pressure in a plane as you rise and fall. Most often, you’ll experience ear popping as part of that adjustment. Your mouth experiences changes too. With healthy teeth, you don’t feel the differences, but if you have an infected tooth the change in pressure is painful.

A final reason not to wait on treatment is financial. The sooner you have the tooth worked on the more affordable the treatment will be. Right now you may only need a filling. But, if you wait, it could turn into a root canal treatment or dental crown. Even worse, things could get so bad that you lose the tooth and have to pay for tooth replacements such as dental implants.

Bottom line…don’t wait. Tell your nainai that we have holistic dentists here and get seen.

This blog is brought to you by Holistic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

An Emergency Dentist Refused to Fix a Crown Done By Someone Else

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I’ve got a broken crown which has been a disaster since day one. My dentist gave me a crown. It didn’t feel normal when he first put it in but he said it’s just because it’s new to me. So, I decided to try and get used to it. I didn’t. It was so painful, I couldn’t bite down and eat. He adjusted it a few times, it never helped. Then I chipped it. Not sure how, I was just eating chicken. Now it broke off completely. I don’t trust my dentist anymore, so I went to an emergency dentist. But, he refused to bond it on and said he’d need to make me a completely new one. That sounds a little pretentious to me. So what if it wasn’t his crown? It’s just a bonding. I don’t want to re-do something I’ve already paid for. What are my options?

Livvy E.

Dear Livvy,

Why Wouldn’t the Emergency Dentist Help You?

I completely understand your frustration. It doesn’t sound like your dentist took you seriously at all. Not to mention his skill seems to be lacking. However, I’m not sure the dentist you saw during your emergency was refusing because he wasn’t the original designer of your dental crown. Though I’m not a mind reader, I’d be willing to guess that he didn’t think the crown would hold up and he felt it needed replacing.

You already mentioned that it had chipped, which tells me something is definitely wrong with this crown if all you were doing is eating chicken.

What Should You Do Now?

You have three possible choices right now. First, give your current dentist another chance to make things right. Though, I do understand your reluctance to work with him after your experience. If you’re adamant not to, your second choice is to ask him for a refund.

You haven’t mentioned how long you’ve had the crown. But, at a minimum, a dental crown should last at least five years. Anything less than that and it shouldn’t be too hard to get a refund, especially if the other dentist will vouch that it was in definite need of replacement. If you don’t like either of those, you’ll be stuck just paying to have someone else do the crown.

Due to your dentist’s lack of skill, I also worry he doesn’t think ahead to his patient’s needs. I’m going to mention something to you in case he hasn’t. If teeth whitening is something you’ve ever considered and the dental crown is on a visible tooth, there are two things to be aware of. 1. Visible teeth require an all-porcelain crown. Metal-based crowns end up looking poorly. They have to be made more opaque which looks unnatural and they always develop a gray line at the gumline. 2. Once the crown is completed, you cannot change its color. If teeth whitening is to be done, you should do it before the crown is permanently bonded on. You can have your teeth whitened in just one appointment with Zoom Whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Portage, MI Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Would a CEREC Crown Have Saved My Tooth?

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I had a root canal some time back. I wanted to have a CEREC crown placed on it, but my dentist didn’t have the machine. I was disappointed, but he’s been my dentist for years so I felt guilty considering going to someone else. I agreed to get the regular kind of crown. Though, he wanted to see how my tooth would do without a root canal first. We waited a couple of weeks and then I decided I’d rather not wait any longer. I had the temporary made and then went out of town on business. On the first day out, the temporary crown broke. I was going to be gone for over a week so I called my dental office. They told me it was no big deal and don’t stress over it, the tooth would be fine. But, by the time I returned to town and went to see them they told me the tooth couldn’t be saved. I was furious. If I’d gotten the crown sooner maybe this wouldn’t have happened. He said it wouldn’t have mattered, it was brittle from the root canal. Should I get a second opinion? Would I have saved the tooth if I’d gotten a CEREC?

Felicity J.

Dear Felicity,

CEREC Restorations

Yes, you should definitely get a second opinion. It’s always better to save a tooth whenever possible. Plus, there are some things your dentist is saying that doesn’t quite fit. Your tooth wouldn’t have been unsavable that quickly. It’s possible he’s covering for the fact that he didn’t take the care with you he should have. In addition to providing a crown sooner, he should have sent you to a dentist who sees non-established patients in the case of dental emergencies after your temporary crown broke, especially given how long you were going to be away. Even if your tooth can still be saved, it’s very likely your teeth have shifted and the permanent crown will no longer fit.

Hopefully, your second opinion dentist will tell you the tooth can be saved. Otherwise, you’re talking about also having to deal with a tooth extraction and researching tooth replacement options. If that does become necessary, I’d suggest you look into getting a dental implant. They’re much better than removable partial dentures. A dental bridge is okay, but it also means grinding down two other teeth. If they’re healthy, I don’t see the point. It’s much better to save whatever tooth structure can be saved.

It’s true, a CEREC crown would have prevented all of this to begin with. You would have had a crown the same day. But, there’s nothing that can be done about that now, unfortunately.

Hopefully, things will work out with a different dentist. Never stay with a dentist out of guilt. Either they can provide you with the care you need or they can’t. It’s your health, so don’t feel guilty.

This blog is brought to you by Emergency Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis of Michigan.

Is Orthly a Legitimate Way to Save Money on Invisalign?

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I just learned about a way to save a bunch of money on Invisalign. It’s an app called Orthly. Is it a safe way to go? If so, I’d have enough money for teeth whitening too!

Laura O.

Dear Laura,

I can certainly understand wanting to get the most bang for your buck. You asked a great question, which was is it safe? The answer is, “It depends.” If everything goes exactly according to plan. I mean perfectly throughout the entire time of treatment, then it could be safe. But, here’s the catch. Orthly has no one to check that for you.

This app was developed by two college students who wanted to find a cheaper way to get Invisalign treatments. While I do applaud their initiative and heart, there are some key things they left out that could be dangerous to patients.

Why is Orthly Less Safe than Invisalign?

The founder has no dental experience. You’re having a dental treatment developed by a young man with no dental training. In fact, he makes it clear himself. In an interview he said, “Orthly does not practice dentistry nor do any employees in the company.”
The main way they keep the price down is by limiting visits with an actual orthodontist. I think you go in to one of their contracted dentists to see if you’re a candidate and then the rest is done by sending photos to the dentist throughout the treatment. Here’s the HUGE problem with that. How can they determine things such as mobility, root absorption, periodontal disease, and oral hygiene through a photo? If they don’t catch these problems quickly you can not just damage your teeth, but lose them altogether.

You Can Do Teeth Whitening and Invisalign at the Same Time

One of the reasons you wanted to save money was so you could afford teeth whitening at the same time. In most cases, you can allow your Invisalign aligners to double as teeth whitening trays. Then the only cost to you is the whitening gel. That significantly cuts your costs for whitening. It also allows you to do both procedures at exactly the same time.

I hope this helps answer your question.

This blog is brought to you by Invisalign Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis of Portage, MI.

Dentist or Oral Surgeon?

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I need an extraction. I did this to myself by letting my dental anxiety get in the way. It kept me from getting my tooth taken care of when it could still be saved. Instead, I waited until it needed a root canal treatment, then avoided coming back for the crown. Now it is infected. I went to see a different dentist because I was too embarrassed to go back to the first one. He agreed that it was infected and said it needed to be extracted. He did mention it would be an involved extraction and asked if I’d rather have it done under anesthesia. Anesthesia would cost a fortune and involve surgical fees. Am I putting myself in danger doing it the cheap way?

Carrie

Woman sleeping in a dental chair from dental sedation, wearing a blue cloth cover

People with dental anxiety often prefer sleep dentistry.

Your dentist put you in an unfair position. It makes you feel unsafe and insecure. The better question would be whether or not this dentist is concerned the procedure is over his head.

I would put the question to him. He should be honest with you. There is a way to get this done without anesthesia. I suggest you see a sedation dentist. Though most dentists offer two levels, in your position I’m going to suggest oral conscious sedation (OCS). This is administered with a simple pill. However, it is so strong you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for several hours afterward until you are lucid and steady on your feet again.

This has changed the lives of people with dental anxiety, saving them thousands of dollars. As you know, if you would have been comfortable seeing the dentist, you could have had this cavity dealt with when it first popped up. That would have eliminated the need for either the root canal treatment or this, now necessary, extraction.

Your Tooth Replacement Options

You will need to replace your tooth. The top tooth replacement is a dental implant. This is like having a healthy, natural tooth back in your mouth again.

The next best option is to get a dental bridge. It suspends a false tooth between two dental crowns. This may actually make more sense for you if one of the adjacent teeth needs a dental crown anyway.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Sedation Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Will CEREC Crowns Handle Grinding?

Posted on October 17, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I have a tooth which has cracked and my dentist wants me to get a CEREC Crown. The only thing I’m worried about is I grind my teeth at night. How do crowns hold up with teeth grinding?

Cory S.

Dear Cory,

CEREC Restorations

CEREC crowns are a great solution when you need a dental crown, but they won’t hold up long under the stress of tooth grinding. It’s not because there’s anything defective in the crowns themselves. Your normal teeth aren’t going to hold up with grinding either. In fact, that is likely why your tooth cracked to begin with.

Your dentist should have warned you about this. I’m concerned this didn’t happen. In fact, it puts you at risk not just of needing a mouth full of crowns, but of losing your teeth too.

A grinding habit can loosen your teeth to the point they even come out. Then, you’re not just looking at crowns but possibly a dental implant as well.

This can be solved simply. All your dentist has to do is fit you with a mouth guard designed to protect your teeth from grinding. It won’t cost that much and certainly will cost you significantly less than replacing your teeth from cracks or extractions.

Two things to be aware of if your crown is in a visible place. The color the crown is made with is permanent and cannot be whitened. If you’ll eventually want whiter teeth, now is the time to whiten them so the crown can be made to match your new white color.

Secondly, if it’s a very front tooth, you may consider getting a traditional porcelain crown. CEREC crowns, while beautiful and convenient are milled out of a single block of porcelain which makes the color rather flat. An artistic cosmetic dentist will create the crown for a front tooth out of different porcelain to give the tooth the same subtle variations you find in a natural tooth.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

She Needs a Second Opinion

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I am quite worried about what’s going on. I will be the first to admit I do not like going to the dentist. I avoid it as much as possible. A couple of weeks ago I started getting a toothache. I went to see a dentist who is new to the area and has cheaper prices. He did an x-ray and said the tooth has a massive cavity under a previous filling. He also said he wouldn’t be sure if he could save the tooth until he got in there. He said if it had to be removed he would provide either a dental implant or a bridge. I have a few questions. Is it normal for a tooth to go bad this quickly? I am not good at the dentist at the best of times. If the tooth has to be removed, should I have it done at a hospital? Finally, which tooth replacement do you recommend?

Cady

Dear Cady,

Before you move forward on this I want you to get a second opinion. If your tooth was really as bad as he indicated, it would be a dental emergency and you would have been in pain for quite some time.

Plus, if the cavity was really that large he would not have needed an x-ray. There would have been a large hole and the filling likely would have fallen out.

When you get a second opinion make sure it is a blind second opinion. That means you don’t tell the second dentist who the dentist was or what he recommended for treatment. You want his unbiased opinion.

About Your Dental Anxiety

You are not alone in your fear of the dentist. The good news is, even if you had to have your tooth extracted (which I’m not convinced of) you won’t need to go to a hospital to have it done.

Instead, I would see a sedation dentist. Depending on the level of your anxiety you can either do nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation. With the right sedation, you can get an anxiety-free appointment.

Replacing a Tooth

The top-of-the-line tooth replacement option would be the dental implant. However, if any of the adjacent teeth are in need of dental work, like a crown, it may make more sense to get a dental bridge. If the adjacent teeth are healthy, then go with the dental implant.

This blog is brought to you by Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Botched Dental Implants are Starving Me

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I need help and absolutely do not know what to do. I haven’t been able to eat in over a year. This started when I first started my dental implant procedure. I’ve been on a liquid diet ever since and have lost 70 lbs. It hurt before they placed the implant-supported denture; however, ever since they placed the actual denture I’ve been in constant, excruciating pain. They say everything’s fine and I’ll adjust but I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m starving to death.

Conner M.

Dear Conner,

Wow! I’m so sorry that you’re facing this and appalled at how your dentist is handling the situation. First, tell your dentist you’ll be contacting the dental board and you want a full refund. Then, follow through. Next, go see your medical doctor. I don’t want you starving to death. He may be able to get you a port to help you eat until this is repaired.

The next step is to get a second opinion from a different dentist, one who’s invested a significant amount of post-graduate study in implant training. Look at Dr. Dennis’ dental implants page to get an idea of the type of investment I’m talking about.

Getting Your Dental Implants Fixed

When you get your second opinion, I’m going to highly suggest you don’t tell them who the dentist is that placed them until AFTER they give their opinion on your case. The reason for this is human nature. It’s very likely the two dentists know each other and are even friends. If they know who it is they may feel awkward saying something negative about a friend’s work.

Hopefully, the solution will be simple and maybe it’s just the dentures that need to be adjusted. If it turns out the implants were placed incorrectly, you can have them done again but you’ll have to have bone grafting done in order for there to be enough bone structure to support the implants.

This blog is brought to you by Portage Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.