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Archives for March 2018

Cosmetic Press-on Veneers

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I need to improve my smile. They’re really stained. I also have a chipped tooth. I’m thinking porcelain veneers will fix both those things, but they’re pretty pricey. I read online about these press-on veneers. They’re only about $1,000. Though that’s less than porcelain veneers it’s still a lot of money to invest. You save money by not seeing a cosmetic dentist. The lab makes them and sends them to you. If they’re legitimate, it sounds like it could save me a ton of money. What do you think?

Delaney

Dear Delaney,

A porcelain veneer being placed on teeth

Real Porcelain Veneers Look Completely Natural

Press-on veneers are similar to another low-cost cosmetic procedure called Snap-on Smile. They temporarily press-on (more like fit over) your teeth. Because they fit over your teeth they add a bit of thickness and length. Even the company admits that. I’d say they’d do fine for something like a photo shoot where you want to improve your smile quickly. However, they don’t look completely natural.

When a cosmetic dentist does your porcelain veneers, it’s a completely different experience. You meet with the dentist and discuss the type of smile design you’re going for. For instance, maybe you want to look more youthful. Or maybe looking more authoritative and confident is what you’re going for. Both of those would require completely different techniques on how to shape your veneers.

With an expert cosmetic dentist, they can tailor design every aspect of your smile to your specific desires. Then, when your veneers are ready you get to try them on before they’re permanently bonded to make sure they’re exactly what you’d dreamed of.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

If you decide to get porcelain veneers, you’ll want to make sure you go to a highly skilled and artistic cosmetic dentist. Two dentists can do the exact same makeover, but depending on their level of artistry the two smiles will end up completely different. There are way too many cosmetic dentistry horror stories. So, if you do it, do it right.

I’d look on the mynewsmile.com website to find a highly skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist. They check both the technical knowledge and training as well as the artistry of the dentists before allowing them to be listed on their site. Be assured a dentist just can’t pay to be recommended by them.

Options That Aren’t Porcelain Veneers

Given what you described about the stained teeth and a chipped tooth, you have other options which won’t cost you as much as porcelain veneers. You could have your dentist use professional teeth whitening on you. There’s even an in-office whitening that can be done completely in one appointment.

After your teeth are whitened, the chipped tooth can be repaired by dental bonding. It uses a composite resin. Your dentist can sculpt the missing part of your tooth directly on to the rest of your tooth structure. It will blend in so perfectly, no one will know it’s bonded on.

It won’t give you a complete smile makeover the way veneers will, but it will solve the problems you mentioned.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Warren Krutchick.

Dental Sedation and Anxiety Meds

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I haven’t been to the dentist in a while because of anxiety. I think if I went to a dentist who uses sedation it would be easier. But, my dentist doesn’t use any form of sedation. When I asked him to recommend someone to me he said it would be almost impossible for me to find someone who’d do sedation on me given the amount of anxiety medication I’m on. Is that true? What if I didn’t tell them what I was on and check a medicine list to make sure the sedation and my meds were safe together?

Laura

Dear Laura,

Person cowering behind a chair

Dental sedation is a great solution for patients with a high amount of anxiety

It seems your dentist gave you some misinformation. Dental sedation is the perfect solution for patients in your situation. I wouldn’t recommend hiding from any dentist medication you’re taking. That’s quite dangerous because you never know if something is going to come up that will require an unexpected medication. If he doesn’t know what you’re taking it can cause serious complications.

Another thing to consider is there isn’t just one sedation medication. Each sedation dentist uses a different medication so there’d be no way for you to know which specific meds he uses. But, you don’t need to worry. They won’t turn you away as your current dentist implied.

When it comes to dental sedation, they will always have a consultation with you first to go over things such as medical conditions and prescriptions. If he happens to use a sedation medication that is contraindicative with your medications, he will make sure to use a different one in your case.

Benefits of Dental Sedation

You Can Have an Anxiety-free and Stress-free Appointment
People who’ve avoided the dentist for years find they’re finally able to handle regular dental appointments.

You Can Get Much More Work Done in Each Appointment
You’ve avoided the dentist for years. Don’t feel guilty about that. Instead, you should feel proud that you’re finally taking steps to change that. Just be aware that you will likely need a lot of work when you first start back. The good news is sedation allows your dentist to get a lot more done in each appointment, while you relax in complete comfort. In fact, you’ll probably sleep through it!

Fewer Dental Emergencies
Many patients with dental fear end up only going to the dentist for dental emergencies. They seem to survive between guilt for not going and tolerating unnecessary pain until they can’t take it anymore and finally go in. Now that you’ll be able to go regularly, you’ll find yourself in a lot less pain. You’ll probably even feel better overall. Not many realize there’s a direct correlation between oral health and physical health.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Warren Krutchick.