I have a chipped tooth and my teeth are pretty stained because of my coffee habit. My dentist suggested I get all of my teeth crowned. It’s pretty expensive to do that. Is there a better solution that will make my teeth look just as good?
Audrey
Dear Audrey,
Getting a gorgeous smile makeover requires a skilled cosmetic dentist
I want to make sure I understand you correctly. The only thing you are concerned about fixing is the color of your teeth and a chip to repair. Is that right? In that case, what your dentist is suggesting is a major overtreatment. Crowning every tooth is known as a full-mouth reconstruction. This is a very advanced procedure and is really only necessary for the most serious TMJ cases or if your teeth have been ground down to nubs from bruxism.
The solution for whitening your teeth, surprisingly enough, is just teeth whitening. Once that is done, then you can have dental bonding done to repair the chipped tooth. These two procedures together would be thousands of dollars cheaper than what your dentist is suggesting.
Now, let’s say your teeth are ground down and that is why he is suggesting something so drastic. That would be appropriate. However, you need to ensure this dentist has the type of training that will lead to a healthy and attractive result. If it isn’t done correctly, it could cause significant bite problems leading to painful TMJ issues.
You will need a dentist who has done significant post-doctoral training in these type of procedures. For instance, Dr. Rothwell has done post-doctoral training at the Seattle Institute for Advanced Dental Education, as well as the famed L.D. Pankey Institute. Some additional reputable schools for this type of training would be the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and the Dawson Academy.
You don’t want to have to choose between the correct function and beautiful form. It is possible to get both. So, in addition to the training mentioned above, look for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country and can provide you with a stunning smile.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
