teeth whitening Archives - Susan M. Dennis, D.D.S

Do You Need Additional Procedures with Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on June 15, 2024 by writeradmin.

I am a bit confused. I went to my dentist for a smile makeover, asking for porcelain veneers. Here are the problems I am wanting to address. My teeth have discolored over the years and one is a bit longer than the other due to a fall I took in elementary school, and one of the front teeth is a little crooked, not much at all, just enough where I want it dealt with. My dentist is suggesting I get Invisalign first to straighten the one front tooth, then teeth whitening, then porcelain veneers. Do I really need all those extra procedures? I was under the impression that the porcelain veneers could make the front teeth look straight and they would be made any color I wanted, even very white. Am I missing something?

Lainey

Dear Lainey,

A single porcelain veneer being held up o a tooth

I am glad you wrote and can help here. Yes, you are correct that a skilled cosmetic dentist can use porcelain veneers to make teeth look straight. Invisalign should be completely unnecessary in your situation. If the issue with the front teeth is as minor as you say and your dentist does not feel comfortable using veneers to address that problem, then he is not a skilled cosmetic dentist. I do not recommend pushing him into doing it, though. You will not like the results. Instead, I’d find an expert cosmetic dentist who can do the job without needing to resort to orthodontics.

The teeth whitening, however, is a different story. Unless you are planning to place a porcelain veneer on every tooth, which would be very expensive, then you will want to whiten your teeth before having the porcelain veneers placed. Yes, the veneers will make your teeth whiter, but if the ones that don’t have the veneers on them are not whitened, you will end up with an odd looking smile where they can tell that you have some “false” teeth placed. Most smiles are eight to ten teeth wide. If you’re getting that many veneers, you may not need the upper arch whitened. When we smile, people see our upper teeth. When we talk, however, people see our lower teeth. You do not want those a vastly different color than your smile. Whitening them will make your smile makeover cohesive and natural looking.

I hope this helps. It’s actually significantly less expensive to whiten and then place veneers on the upper teeth, than it is to place veneers on every tooth.

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

Will Zoom Whitening Fix My Dental Bonding?

Posted on May 10, 2024 by writeradmin.

I had dental bonding done about ten years ago. They’re now looking pretty rough. I know that regular teeth whitening is not strong enough. I wondered however if the Zoom Whitening was strong enough. I was told that it is much stronger than the take home whitening.

Ben

Dear Ben,

The good news is that whoever did your dental bonding made sure it lasted. That is fantastic. Most dental bonding doesn’t make it nearly that long. The unfortunate news is the Zoom Whitening will not get it any whiter.

The reason for that has nothing to do with the strength of the whitening procedure. Instead, it has to do with the way teeth whitening works. It will only whiten natural tooth structure. That means whether you are using Zoom Whitening or at-home whitening, it will have no effect on your dental bonding.

You have two options for this. First, you can get the dental bonding replaced. If you do it with the same dentist, then I would expect it to last as long as these did, given the same set of circumstances, including how you care for them. If you end up with a different dentist, you should know these generally last only a few years.

If you are looking for something more permanent, than I would look into porcelain veneers. These are generally used for a complete smile makeover. They can last for decades if well cared for.

You didn’t say what the dental bonding was for. If it is just a chipped tooth or some other small surface, than you are better off just having the bonding redone even if it has to be redone periodically because it is less expensive. If it is a larger surface, then you will likely want to invest in the veneers.

I hope this helps you.

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

Should I Get Invisalign or Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on April 10, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have wanted to improve my smile for years. I have one tooth that is a little crooked and my teeth are discolored. I was hoping to get porcelain veneers but my dentist said because of the crooked tooth, I would need to get braces first and then the porcelain veneers. I’m not too keen on the extra time and money that would require. If that is the case, is there a way to get my teeth white with Invisalign as well? I know that porcelain veneers can change the color but I’m guessing Invisalign just straightens them.

Tammy

Dear Tammy,

I am a bit concerned that your dentist is suggesting you would need braces before doing your porcelain veneers. Bear in mind as you read this that I have not examined you. However, if all you have is a slightly crooked tooth, then porcelain veneers can be placed and make the tooth look straight. It can also change the color, as you mentioned, but also the shape and size of the tooth. This is why they are used for complete smile makeovers.

If all that is wrong with your teeth is the crooked tooth and discoloration, then you could save yourself a lot of money by using Invisalign paired with teeth whitening. The Invisalign aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. All your dentist would need to provide you with is the professional strength teeth whitening gel. In most cases, Invisalign works in a fraction of the time it takes traditional braces to straighten your teeth. Unless there were other things about your teeth that you want to change, or you are in a super hurry, this is the route I would go.

On the other hand, if there are other things about your teeth that you want to change, then porcelain veneers will be the correct choice. That being said, I would not recommend you pressure your current dentist into doing them. The fact that he was pushing your toward braces tells me he is not very comfortable with his skill level using porcelain veneers. This means you will not get the beautiful result you are likely hoping for. You will need to find a different dentist with significant post-doctoral training creating porcelain veneers. Also, make sure he or she is willing to use a temporary try in paste and allow you to get a good look at the veneers in several different types of lighting. Only if you are absolutely in love with them, should the dentist do the permanent bonding. If you’re not thrilled, they should go back to the lab in order to make the changes needed.

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

Solution for a Crooked Tooth

Posted on September 30, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have been looking for a solution to a crooked tooth. I’ve been to three dentists and each of them has suggested something different. Thus far I have been told to get braces, get porcelain veneers, and even to remove the crooked tooth and get a dental implant. I suppose my situation is more complicated because all my teeth are straight except for this one tooth. I feel like each of the dentists I have spoken to have given me the procedure THEY want to do. I’m hoping as you are not anywhere near my city and I can’t get traatment from you, that I can get an unbiased opinon from you. What should I do about this one crooked tooth?

Emile

Dear Emile,

For one crooked tooth, I see two good options for you. However, whatever you do, please do not allow them to remove this crooked tooth. Unless there is something seriously wrong with that tooth that you haven’t mentioned, that suggestion is the most aggressive, unnecessary overtreatment I have heard in a while.

Valid Option One— Invisalign

I know someone suggested braces. I don’t know if that was traditional braces or not but I do have a better option for you if that was the case. There have been incredible advancements in orthodontics these days. My suggestion, if you want to actually straighten the crooked tooth, is to use Invisalign.

Instead of metal wires and brackets that traditional braces use, Invisalign uses clear aligners. These are invisible even at a conversational distance. No one would even know you were straightening your teeth. They also have the hidden benefit of allowing you to whiten your teeth at the same time, if that is something you are interested in. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. Simply ask your dentist to provide you with the whitening gel and you can apply it while you wear your aligners. It’s like getting a mini smile makeover.

Valid Option Two— Porcelain Veneers

This option will not straighten the crooked tooth, but it can make the tooth look straight. Porcelain veneers use tiny wafers of porcelain to completely remake your smile, including the shape, size, and color. It is what celebrities use to get that Hollywood smile. Unless you want to place porcelain veneers on at least eight to ten teeth, depending on how wide your smile is, you will need to do teeth whitening as well. Don’t let any dentist do this. You need someone with advanced cosmetic dentistry training and artistry.

If you are on a tight budget, then Invisalign is the better option for you. If money is not an issue, then you can do either one. I’d only suggest porcelain veneers, though, if there are other things you want to change about your teeth. I would not consider it worth the cost just to fix one tooth.

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

Am I Too Old for Invisalign?

Posted on August 7, 2023 by writeradmin.

I was talking to this lovely teenager I ran into the other day. I told her she had a beautiful smile. We got to chatting and I mentioned I have always been embarrassed by my smile and I’m glad she has such a gorgeous one. She told me she didn’t have a pretty smile, but she’d been doing Invisalign. In fact, she took them out so I could see them. I couldn’t believe it! She was wearing braces and I didn’t even know. What a clever design. I am wondering if it is something only for teenagers or if an old biddy such as myself could get them. I’m 72.

Bridgette

Dear Bridgette,

I am so glad you ran into this young woman. You are definitely not too old for Invisalign. While they are very popular with the teenagers, they were originally designed for the older set. Adults generally have professional jobs where appearance is important. They often wanted to improve their smile but did not feel they would be taken seriously at work with a mouth full of metal. Hence, Invisalign. Eventually, Invisalign Teen came out but that was well after the orignial version.

I would simply go to your dentist and tell him you are interested in Invisalign. If he doesn’t offer it, don’t despair. You just need to do an internet search for “Invisalign Dentist” plus your specific city. A list of dentists will come up that offer it. Many patients go to one dentist for their general work and another for any cosmetic or specialty work they need.

There is a secondary benefit to Invisalign. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This means the dentist can provide you with a special whitening gel that you can wear with your aligners allowing you to straighten and whiten your teeth at a fraction of the cost it would take to do them separately. The teeth whitening is in no way required, but I thought I’d mention the possibility of saving money to you on the off chance it was something you were interested in.

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

SmileDirectClubComplications

Posted on June 7, 2023 by writeradmin.

A peer of mine came across a video done by someone called Rosie Posie. She had been video blogging her experience with SmileDirectClub.

*Note: The video has since been removed. I suspect this is because SmileDirectClub routinely squashes negative reviews. However, we can sum up what the video entailed.

Rosie spent about 20 minutes just trying to get her six month aligners in before finally giving up. A couple of months later, she posted a follow-up video explaining what happened. It turned out that SmileDirect sent her the five month aligners in month four then the four month aligners in month five. When her month six aligners arrived, there was too much of a difference from where she should have been positionally for the new aligners to fit. Once they got it straightened out, though with a slight delay in her treatment, she was able to get it to fit properly.

This is not a simple, no consequence, mistake. Going from aligners 3 to 5, put stress on her teeth roots, put her at serious risk for bone absorption. Then, going from 5 backward to 4, placed additional stress on her teeth. This again risked bone resorption. It would be useful to see before an after x-rays of Rosie to see what amount of damage had been done.

Just One of the Dangers with SmileDirectClub

The bigger problem, however, was that this poor young woman was left to figure all this out on her own. In fact, it was only the fact that the video she posted started gaining some traction and the company found out about it that she received any help at all. This is one of my big issues with SmileDirectClub. You do not get the observation and care you need. Even with Invisalign, which is much more carefully planned, you still are under the care of a dentist that you will see regularly throughout your treatment. This is all part of the package.

It is an importnat part of the package as well because the human body can be quite tricky and doesn’t always go along with the prescribed plans. Often, adjustments have to be made to the earlier treatment plan.

If you are looking to straighten your teeth, I highly suggest you do it under the care of a professional dentist, with a system like Invisalign. This will protect you in even more ways then I have mentioned here.

A Hidden Benefit to Invisalign

Some patients do not realize that the Invisalign Aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This means you can get a mini smile makeover by having your teeth straightened and whitened at the same time. Plus, you can do it more affordably because your dentist won’t have to make you any custom trays because you can simply use the aligners you already have.

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

Will Zoom Whitening Solve Uneven Tooth Color?

Posted on April 29, 2023 by writeradmin.

My 15 year old daughter just got her braces off. When she did, there were white spots on them which made her teeth uneven. We went to see our family dentist and she suggested we have Zoom Whitening done to even them out. We did that, but the white spots are still there and even more noticeable. Did something go wrong?

Callie

Dear Callie,

I’m glad you wrote. First, for those who do not know, Zoom Whitening is a way to quickly, in one appointment, dramatically whiten your teeth. However, it is not a treatment for uneven teeth. While it is an amazing way to whiten your teeth, it is not a treatment for uneven color. Teeth whitening, no matter the method, will whiten your teeth evenly. This is why your daughter’s white spots are still there.

Fixing White Spots After Braces

While I am certain your dentist has the best of intentions, I’m not sure how well she understands her field. When you have white spots after braces, that is a sign of decalcification, which is a precursor to decay. This is a common problem with braces because it is tricky brushing and flossing around all those metal wires and brackets. I don’t know if you have any other teens that will need braces, but if so, I would recommend Invisalign. It is much easier for them to keep their teeth clean.

The solution to white spots is microabrasion and dental bonding. However, I would not have your dentist do this. Teeth whitening is THE most basic cosmetic procedure and she did not understand the principles behind how that worked. Dental bonding is a very advanced cosmetic procedure and has to be done freehand. I would look for an advanced cosmetic dentist to do this for your daughter.

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

Am I Too Old for Invisalign?

Posted on April 14, 2023 by writeradmin.

I was never able to straighten my teeth growing up or even as an adult. I am now 63 years old and have come into some money. Is it possible for me to get my teeth straightened with that new Invisalign procedure or am I too old?

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

You are never too old for Invisalign as long as your gums are in good general health. In fact, we’ve had patients as mature as 80 have Invisalign done. This procedure was originally designed for the adult market. Though they have since expanded to the teen market, adult patients were who they had in mind from the beginning.

Some Unexpected Benefits of Invisalign

Most people do not realize that having a bite out of alignment causes pain and headaches. You can even develop TMJ disorder. You will find having a correct bite will decrease the pain you’ve experienced your whole life, both in your jaw and with headaches.

Another benefit is your self-confidence. When you have a smile you are proud of, you have more joy in sharing it. Many patients say they can’t stop smiling because they are so happy with their results.

As you are in your sixties, I will tell you that in addition to straightening your teeth with invisible aligners, you can also whiten your teeth simultaneously, giving you the equivalent of a mini smile makeover. Over the years, our teeth pick up stains that age our appearance. The aligners used to straighten your teeth can also double as teeth whitening trays. By the time you are done with your Invisalign treatment, you will have a straight, white smile making you look decades younger.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old to do something that makes you feel better about yourself.

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

Dentist Damaged My Porcelain Veneer

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Dr. Dennis.

I’m a little worried about my porcelain veneer. I had four placed on my top front teeth. They looked okay when I was at the office. However, when I got home, I realized there was a line going across one of them, like a scratch. I called the dentist and he said to come in the next day and he’d fix it. I did and he did some type of process which smoothed it out. It did do that, but I noticed later (why is it always when I get home?) that the part he smoothed looks dull. I’m kind of disappointed. I paid a lot for these and now they don’t match. While it is a small thing, it seems big because they’re my two front teeth. Is there anything I can do about it?

LeeAnne S.

Dear LeeAnne,

You have a right to be disappointed. Not just because of the money spent, but also because it is your smile we’re talking about. It’s the first thing people notice about you. When your dentist smoothed it out, he also removed the glazing from it. You’ll start noticing in a few days that it will pick up stains.

You need to contact your dentist right away. This way he can’t blame you for the stains. He may do that because he doesn’t really know how to fix it. If he did, he would never have removed the glazing from your porcelain veneers, to begin with. In order to fix this, he’ll need a special diamond polishing kit. Expert cosmetic dentists keep this on hand. Somehow I doubt your dentist does though.

I would ask him to pay for you to get this repaired by someone who’s familiar with the procedure to actually fix it. If he refuses there’s not much you can do except report him to the dental board or get the repair done and then take him to small claims court.

Though, it might help if you tell him you’re going to write several reviews about this incident to warn other patients about his lack of skill as well as his refusal to take responsibility to fix something he damaged.

I’m wondering why you only had four porcelain veneers placed. Most smiles would require between 8-10 veneers because of their width. Though, it is possible you have a narrow smile. Hopefully, your dentist recommended you have your teeth whitened before he did your smile makeover so your adjacent teeth could look similar.

If not, it’s not too late. You can still get them whitened. The whitening gel will not have any effect on your veneers.

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

Can You Get a Smile Makeover if You Have Crowns?

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Dr. Dennis.

If I have dental crowns can I still get a smile makeover? I wanted to get porcelain veneers but my husband doesn’t think crowns can be veneered. I’m not sure I want more crowns because they look so fake. Plus, they have a gray line at the gumline. I hate that so I rarely smile.

Caitlin

Dear Caitlin,

a before and after picture of a smile makeover done by Dr. Dennis

A Gorgeous Smile Makeover Done by Dr. Susan Dennis

While your husband is correct that you cannot place porcelain veneers on top of dental crowns, that does not preclude you from getting a smile makeover. In fact, you can get a gorgeous smile, even with dental crowns.

The key is finding the right cosmetic dentist who is a good listener to ensure you get the smile you actually want. One thing Dr. Dennis uses is a digital makeover so you can get an idea of what your smile will look like on you when it’s completed. That way you can know ahead of time if your both on the same page.

Smile Makeovers When You Have Dental Crowns

What you’ll end up with is a mixture of porcelain veneers and crowns. Unless there’s some particular need to do anything drastic to the bottom arch of teeth, all that’s usually necessary is to whiten the bottom arch with teeth whitening unless there are some obvious things you’d like to change. It’s completely up to you.

If your crowned teeth are visible, you’ll want to make sure they give you all-porcelain crowns. The crowns you have now aren’t all-porcelain. That’s why they don’t look natural and why there’s a gray line. You’ve currently got metal-based crowns which should never be placed on front teeth. Though, any halfway decent cosmetic dentist would know that. Then the other teeth, which aren’t crowned, can receive the porcelain veneers.

Choosing Who Should Do Your Smile Makeover

The first thing I’d look at is their smile gallery. You don’t want to end up with a dentist who doesn’t get the kind of results you’re looking for in your own smile makeover. When you see a gallery who’s dentist created smiles you adore, call the office to make sure their actual cases the dentist has done and not stock photos.

Next, I’d check their reviews to make sure people have been happy with the service they received. Maybe you’re willing to put up with someohe who’s a jerk to their paitents, but gets good results. I don’t think I would be. I’d want someone who has a good chairside manner along with artistic skills.

Finally, make sure they’re willing to stand behind their work. They should have some form of beautiful smile guarantee.

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