The Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

February 26, 2009

The impression got stuck in my mouth!

Filed under: Cosmetic dentistry mistakes — iowasmiles @ 5:17 pm

Dr. Hall,
I went to a dentist here in New Jersey to have a bridge to replace a missing molar. After the two adjacent teeth were prepared, the dentist took an impression of my lower teeth. After it set, he was unable to get the mold off my teeth. It took about a good half an hour of spraying all kinds of stuff in my mouth, rocking and pulling while i was thinking that all my teeth was going to be pulled out, or my jaw broken. My question: Have you seen this happen before and should I continue with this dentist or should I see another dentist.

Thank you very much,
Len in New Jersey

Dear Len,
I wouldn’t quit going to this dentist over this. I’ll bet many dentists have had something like this happen in their practice, especially if they use certain precise impression techniques.

What happens is that there is a stiff putty that is used in certain impression techniques, and it is used with a lighter-body wash impression material. The putty pushes the wash into fine crevices in order to pick up the tiniest details in the impression. If your teeth or your jaw have undercuts, or if you have another dental bridge in your mouth somewhere, it’s possible for the putty to get into the undercuts. If it does, it can be very hard to remove. It’s nothing the dentist did wrong, really. It’s just kind of embarrassing and it can really throw the schedule off.
- Dr. Hall

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Read about dental crowns and porcelain crowns.

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February 23, 2009

Why should I have my upper wisdom teeth removed?

Filed under: Braces, Wisdom teeth — iowasmiles @ 6:56 am

Hi Dr. Hall,
First I would like to say, “Thank You” for putting up this site. I was looking for more advice online and came upon your site. I am hoping you can help me.

I am 22 years old and my cosmetic dentist says that I should get my upper wisdom teeth extracted, both at the same time, in order to put braces on me.

I need braces because I have a missing right incisor so my canine is taking up the space in the middle between my front teeth and the molar; an unerupted left canine, and a baby incisor also on the left.

I am apprehensive (about the extractions) because my wisdom teeth don’t bother me and they are not crooked or impacted. They have just erupted about a month or so ago though. I also have my bottom wisdom teeth, but my dentist says that they can stay in. How come my upper ones have to go and the bottom ones can stay? I need some advice in order to make my decision before signing the consent form. I am very apprehensive about the procedure.

Thank you again.
Have a good day,
Jasmine from Wisconsin

Dear Jasmine,
First, I’m not going to call your dentist a cosmetic dentist automatically, because only a fraction of the dentists who claim to be cosmetic dentists actually are, in my opinion. They have to be a true artist, not just a good dentist, for me to call them a cosmetic dentist.

About your case. I’m assuming from what you’ve told me that the dentist is wanting to use the braces to make space for the unerupted canine and your missing permanent incisors, though I don’t know this is the case. I hope he or she is not going to put your canine teeth right next to the central incisors and then try to make the canines look like lateral incisors. That is very, very difficult to pull off without looking funny, because the canines are simply too big.

But I would have the wisdom teeth removal done, if that is what your dentist recommends. If they are already erupted, these tooth extractions will be very simple, and it seems reasonable that something has to give in order to make some space for moving the other teeth.

Having said that, I’m leery about having a general dentist do braces for your case. It sounds a little tricky. Maybe your dentist is truly expert with braces, but maybe not. I would lean toward having this done by an orthodontist who has had all that extra schooling. If your dentist truly knows what he or she is doing, then I apologize for raising this question.

Dr. Hall

February 18, 2009

What’s the best treatment for one dark tooth?

Filed under: Porcelain veneers — iowasmiles @ 5:20 pm

Dr. Hall,
My daughter plays basketball at the collegiate level. She fell at her game and fractured one of her front teeth. She underwent a root canal and now the tooth is grey. She is anxious to get veneers but I want to make sure we do the very best for her. Her current smile is gorgeous and I want to keep it that way. What is the best route for her and where should we have this done. We live in a small town, but she attends school near Chicago. Should she have multiple teeth done also? Please advise!
Thank you so much for your help!
- Renee
Renee,
Just going from what you’re saying, if your daughter’s smile is gorgeous, then for goodness sake, just treat the tooth that is the problem. And your first step is to find an expert cosmetic dentist. There is a real potential here, if this is done by a dentist who is simply a good dentist and not an artist, for her smile to go from gorgeous to mediocre.

This tooth wouldn’t be turning dark this soon had the dentist who did the root canal known how to prevent that. There are certain root canal filling materials that, if left inside the visible part of the tooth, will greatly accelerate the darkening process. But a good cosmetic dentist will know how to bleach this single tooth and then do a single porcelain veneer or an all-porcelain crown, depending on the situation, that will perfectly match the rest of her teeth and bring back this gorgeous smile you say she has.

Go to our list of Chicago cosmetic dentists. The work of each and every one of them has passed stringent tests of beauty and excellence, and she’ll be in good hands with any one of them.

Good luck,
Dr. Hall

Other links:
Find a cosmetic dentist who is really an artist, listed by state.
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February 6, 2009

Is there a soft denture?

Filed under: Dental implants, Dentures — iowasmiles @ 5:51 am

Dr. Hall,
Does anyone make an upper denture that has a “soft or flexible/pliable” feel? I hate the hardness in the roof of my mouth and the artificial feel.
- Eileen from Kansas

Eileen,
When I refer to ”soft dentures” I am meaning dentures with a soft lining. Many dentists are offering that in cases where patients have bony “bumps” along the bony ridges of their jaw that would easily become sore if the denture fit closely to those places. They are more comfortable, but they’re more expensive, don’t last as long, and are a little more trouble to keep clean.

But I’m not aware of anyone that is making a pliable complete denture that doesn’t have a hard surface over the roof of your mouth. A complete denture needs some firmness to its framework in order to fit right and to give a solid feel when you chew.

Your solution would be to go to dental implants. A hybrid implant restoration completely eliminates the part that goes over the roof of your mouth, because the teeth are completely supported by dental implants. It costs more money, but it completely restores your chewing efficiency, it feels like your own natural teeth again, and it prevents the facial collapse that is inevitable with complete dentures.

- Dr. Hall

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February 2, 2009

Thank you

Filed under: Thank yous — iowasmiles @ 5:15 am

Dr Hall,

I don’t have a question, rather I wanted to thank you for putting together and maintaining this excellent web site on cosmetic dentistry. I am currently looking into getting some cosmetic dental work done, and your web site has been an invaluable resource. All the content is very well written, easy to follow, and extremely informative.

Thanks and keep up the good work,
-Joe from Boston

Joe,
Thank you for your kind words, and taking the trouble to write just to say thanks. You’re a classy individual.
Dr. Hall

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