finding an expert cosmetic dentist Archives - Page 2 of 4

Are Snap-on Veneers a Good Alternative

Posted on January 13, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have a bunch of discoloration on my teeth and want to get a smile makeover. My dentist quoted me quite a bit of money for that. Someone told me you can get snap on veneers online. I looked and some of them are only $500 for the whole set. Is this a good alternative?

Ivan

Dear Ivan,

It really depends on what type of expectations you have. As you probably gathered from the name, porcelain veneers are made of porcelain. That is not the case with snap-on veneers. These are generally made of acrylic. They will not look nearly as natural. Additionally, because they snap over your teeth, they will look bulky. So, if you go into it with expectations of an “okay” smile, you may be satisfied. However, I would not do the DIY ones online. They will fit even worse and could cause you some pain.

The best brand is Snap-on Smile. You would do it through a dentist who can fit your bite properly. Even then, they always need some adjustments when they come in that require special tools. You would not be able to do that on your own.

In general, these are recommended for someone with a horrible smile who is going for a job interview, or maybe someone doing a special photoshoot. For you, I would recommend if you do decide to get them, do it as a temporary measure while you save up for a better smile makeover. Truthfully, these snap-on veneers only last about three or four years anyway, so you’d have to keep buying them over and over or work to get something more permanent.

I know this probably isn’t what you wanted to hear, but I didn’t want to give you false expectations.

Who Should Do Your Porcelain Veneers

Because true porcelain veneers are so costly, I want to make sure you get the smile you really want. You should be aware that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. As a result, any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the training they have or do not have. To make matters even more difficult, smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. It is up to the dentist to invest the time and money in that training.

One sure way you can get a cosmetic dentist who does have both the training and artistry to give you a stunning smile is to go to an AACD accredited dentist. These are the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

My Porcelain Veneers Look Shiny and Fake

Posted on November 15, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am not too thrilled with my porcelain veneers. I know this sounds weird, but my smile makeover looks flat and way too shiny, which makes them look fake. I don’t understand why it looks like this. Is there anything that can be done to fix them? I was thinking we could take off some of the shiny glaze.

Stacey

Dear Stacey,

While taking off the glaze will take away some of the shine, it won’t make them look better. In fact, it is the glaze that protects your porcelain veneers from picking up stains. If the glaze is removed, they would not only look matte, but would also quickly begin to pick up stains and turn yellow.

I think I know what is going on with your smile, though. If you look at the smile pictured above, you will notice that the teeth are not uniform. Not only are there textures on the teeth, but the color has varying levels of opacity and translucency. Believe it or not, one of the teeth in the image is fake. It takes an expert cosmetic dentist to make them match and blend so well.

Without that expertise, a dentist may not know how to create the textures, which will make your smile look flat and too white. My guess is that is what happened to you. Though, I haven’t actually examined you. I am just speculating here.

A true cosmetic dentist would have placed your veneers on with a temporary try-in paste so that you could have gotten a very good look at them and approved them before they are bonded on. Then, you could have had a chance to say what you didn’t like and they could have been sent back to the lab to make changes.

My suggestion is you ask your dentist to redo your porcelain veneers. If they care about the quality of their work, they will not have a problem making certain you are satisfied. You paid for a beautiful smile and should get one. There is always the possibility that the dentist does not have the skills. In that case, you may be better off just asking for a refund and then going to see a dentist who is AACD accredited. These are the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

However, I’d give your dentist a chance first. We all start somewhere and need opportunities to learn. Just make sure this time they use that temporary try-in paste I mentioned earlier.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Picking my Cosmetic Dentist With Yelp!

Posted on October 29, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am having a hard time picking between three dentists highly rated for cosmetic dentistry on Yelp! Here is what I am thinking of doing for my smile makeover. First, I’ll get Zoom Whitening because that’s faster and I think I need to whiten either before or immediately after getting the smile makeover done. Then, I want to have bonding done on eight teeth. I chose bonding over veneers because it is cheaper. Now, the color I am thinking should be BL2. I’m 55 with a medium skin tone and dark blonde hair. Is there a way to pick a dentist based on this information when they all have 5 stars?

Kelli,

Dear Kelli,

I can tell you have put a lot of thought, time, and effort into this and you are committed to getting the best outcome possible. With that in mind I want to slightly change the direction you are taking here. First, don’t worry about what specific color to give the dentist. The two of you can go over that together when you design your smile. There will be many more decisions aside from color and an expert cosmetic dentist can guide you through all of them. You don’t have to figure those out on your own.

As for whitening, you will definitely want to do that before your smile makeover, not after. You are correct that Zoom Whitening is the fastest, so going that way is fine. Just make sure to leave between one and two weeks for the whitening color to settle before going to your cosmetic appointment.

The key to a beautiful smile makeover is not the materials and shade you choose, as much as it is the dentist. You need an expert, artistic cosmetic dentist who knows how to get a stunning result. Yelp! isn’t the best place to locate that dentist. They are great for things like a plumber, or a washing machine repairman. But, their algorithms don’t work well for what you need. For instance, they do not distinguish whether a dentist has 5 stars for being a nice dentist who is good at fillings or an excellent cosmetic dentist. As a test, I did a search for an expert cosmetic dentist in an area where I know of a few great ones. Yet, none of them were listed on the top three cosmetic dentists listed on Yelp! Of the ones who were, two of them don’t even do cosmetic work. The third one says she does but does not have a smile gallery, which is a bad sign.

My suggestion is you go to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry webpage (aacd.com), and look for an accredited cosmetic dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. You can also do an internet search in your area for an AACD accredited dentist.

One final thing. You mentioned wanting bonding for financial considerations. Dental bonding is cheaper when it is for something like a chipped tooth or closing a tooth gap. However, when you are talking about covering an entire surface area of a tooth it actually gets more expensive than porcelain veneers because it has to be done freehand.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Can I Get Dental Implants After Twelve Years in Dentures?

Posted on October 16, 2021 by writeradmin.

I’ve never been able to afford good anything and that included my dental work. When I lost my teeth, I could only get dentures. It was humiliating but it was all I could do. Now it is twelve years later and I have just come into a lot of money. I mean a LOT. I have always hated these dentures. Is it too late for me to get dental implants?

Callie

Dear Callie,

First, congratulations on your windfall! It says a lot that the first thing you are trying to do with your money is to invest in your health. Now to answer your question. Technically, it is never too late to get dental implants. But, (isn’t there always a but?) the length of time you’ve been wearing dentures will mean that you may need an additional procedure before proceeding.

When your teeth were removed, your body began a process of resorption. Recognizing you no longer have teeth, your body begins to take the minerals that were in your jawbone supporting your teeth to use elsewhere in your body. This is in order to be as efficient as possible with your body’s resources. Somewhere between ten and fifteen years, depending on the speed of the resorption, you may no longer have enough bone to support your dentures. This process is called facial collapse in dental ciricles (pictured left). In addition to the problems it causes with your dentures, it will age your appearance by decades.

In order to retain your new dental implants, you will need that bone back. The good news is there is a procedure that can help you get that structure back, known as bone grafting. Once you’ve done that, after a period of healing, you will be ready to get those implants!

The important thing for you is to find a dentist with post-doctoral training in dental implants. It is an advanced procedure and you don’t want just any dentist. Then, once the dental implants have had time to integrate with your bone, your dentist can anchor a new set of dentures to them. These are known as implant overdentures. Unlike the dentures you’ve had for the last decade, these will be completely secure. You will find your quality of life goes up significantly, including your ability to eat. Even the best fitting removable dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. That will no longer be true.

I want to mention one other consideration. Dentures can be beautiful, but you will need an expert cosmetic dentist to do that. After you make a list of qualified dentists with dental implant training, I would consider looking at their ability to provide beautiful results. The best cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited, so I’d start there.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Getting a Pretty Smile with Dental Anxiety

Posted on September 30, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am so tired of being ashamed of my smile. At the same time, I am terrified of the dentist. Absolutely terrified. I get a panic attack every time I’ve tried to go. Have you encountered someone who struggles as much as I do? What would it take to get my smile pretty? My teeth are yellow, two of them are chipped, and the front two are crooked. I’m sure there are cavities too, but I don’t see any.

Kallie

Dear Kallie,

How would you like to never fear the dentist again?

You are not alone in your dental anxiety. Many Americans struggle with going to the dentist. Often, this stems from a traumatic experience during childhood with their pediatric dentist. While we can’t do anything about the past, we can help you with your future. There are dentists who are particularly good at working with fearful patients. In your place, I would look for a dentist who advertises as a sedation dentist. They are great with fearful patients. To make things even easier for you, they can provide medication that will completely relax you. Given your level of anxiety, I am going to recommend you see someone who offers oral conscious sedation. It’s administered by a pill. This pill is so strong, though, that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment until you are lucid and steady on your feet again. Most people sleep through their entire appointment.

Another benefit to dental sedation is it enables you and the dentist to get more work done at each sitting. That will help you get the smile you want even faster. One you can be proud to share. As to the work you need, you have several choices. Before those, your first order of business is to make sure you don’t have any decay and if you do, deal with that first. Once that is established, the first thing I recommend is teeth whitening. Not only will that make a dramatic difference in your smile, but it is a precursor to most other work. The easiest and most dramatic fix will be porcelain veneers. You have other options as well, but this is the top-of-the-line smile makeover and what gives celebrities that Hollywood smile.

One important thing to be aware of. While you can go to any sedation dentist to get your oral health on track, cosmetic dentistry is different. It requires extensive post-doctoral training. Don’t be fooled into thinking dental school is enough. In your place, I would look for a dentist who has reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Your smile will be stunning.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Smile Makeover Lost It’s Shine

Posted on July 9, 2021 by writeradmin.

A little over two months ago, I had a complete smile makeover done. I was thrilled with the results. Because of how beautiful they were I took even more care of them than I did with my natural teeth. I found the best toothpaste possible at the store, Crest 3D Glamorous White toothpaste. I also use a mouthwash once a week. In the last week, I have noticed that my beautiful smile makeover has lost its shine. Is there any way to get it back? Do you think my toothpaste caused the problem? What do I do?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

I wish I had a bit more information about your smile makeover, specifically who was your dentist and do you know what type of material he or she used. Without that information, I see two basic possibilities though you’ll have to figure out which one with the help of an expert cosmetic dentist.

I will say I don’t think your toothpaste is the problem. Porcelain is even more stain-resistant than your natural teeth. It would not become dull and stained that quickly from simply using a new toothpaste.

One possibility is that your dental hygienist did something to remove the glaze from your porcelain veneers. This protective glaze can be damaged by your hygienist using either a power prophy jet or acidulated fluoride during your cleaning and checkup. Some hygienists and dental assistants are not as well-versed in care for cosmetic dental work and may be unaware of the damage they can do.

A second option, when it comes to your smile makeover losing its shine, is that your dentist did not actually provide you with porcelain veneers. Instead, he or she may have made composite veneers. This is not nearly as resistant as porcelain. Composite is actually softer than tooth structure and will easily damage. Even just a whitening toothpaste could take off its shine.

I would like you to see a dentist who has received accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They will be able to look at your smile makeover and tell you whether or not your dentist provided porcelain or composite. If you thought you were getting porcelain and did not, that is fraud and you can get your money back with ease, then have this done correctly with a skilled and artistic cosmetic dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

New Lumineers over Old Lumineers

Posted on March 25, 2021 by writeradmin.

I had Lumineers placed years ago. At the time, I wanted them whiter than I was given but my dentist explained the tech told him that isn’t available. I’ve noticed these days you can get them very white. I realize that I cannot use teeth whitening to get them whiter, but wondered if it would be possible to get new Lumineers placed over my old ones?

Caryn

Dear Caryn,

Above is an advertisement the Lumineers brand put out years ago promoting this idea of new cosmetic work over old. What you are suggesting is pretty much the same thing. While you can do this, I do not recommend it. First, bonding porcelain to porcelain is much less secure than bonding porcelain to natural tooth structure. That means you have a real risk of bonding failure with the new set of Lumineers. Because your previous Lumineers are getting on in age, you have double the risk of bonding failure — one part from your old set and one part from the weaker bonded new set.

A second consideration is the margins will be vulnerable. Because you will have an older set of porcelain under the new, there is no way for them to be flush against the margins. This leaves a trap for food and other bacteria.

Finally, there is the thickness. You’ve got your natural teeth below the old veneers, which will be below the new veneers. This is very likely to have way too much bulk to it to look natural.

The Best Solution to Your Dingy Lumineers

With all that bad news you will be glad to know I have some good news as well. It is the same amount of work to re-do your smile makeover as it is to build one over the other. My suggestion is you just get a brand new smile makeover. However, I don’t think you should go to the same dentist. The ability to have very white Lumineers has been around from the beginning. It sounds like your dentist and his tech have not kept up with their field very well.

Cosmetic Dentistry is not a recognized specialty so any general dentist can do it regardless of their training and experience in these type of procedures. In order to become skilled, a dentist has to invest in a significant amount of post-doctoral training. It also helps to have some natural artistry. After all, doing a smile makeover is an art form in itself.

In your place, I would look for a dentist who is AACD accredited. These dentists have gone the extra mile to not only receive that training, but also to put their skills to the test through a rigorous accreditation process. Any one of them will be able to give you a stunning smile.

Don’t be surprised if they suggest NOT using Lumineers. They are just one brand of porcelain veneers and many expert cosmetic dentists do not like them. This is mostly because the company that owns Lumineers insists dentists use the company’s laboratory, which is not known for its skill or artistry.

A great cosmetic dentist will know the strengths and weaknesses of each brand and will pick just the right one to give you the desired outcome.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Can I Have a Pretty Smile After 30 Years

Posted on September 16, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’ve had dentures for a little over 30 years. I’ve never had a pretty smile with dentures and wondered if it is too late for me to get dental implants? There is someone I know who has them and they seem to be prettier.

Avalon

Dear Avalon,

It is absolutely possible to get a beautiful smile, even after 30 years in Dentures. You should be aware that there are a few steps to make this happen. First, when you have been in removable dentures as long as you have, then it is long enough for you to have a significant amount of bone loss leading to facial collapse. I’m guessing you’ve found it hard to keep them in recently, even with denture adhesives.

This is because when your teeth were first removed, your body recognized that and immediately began resorbing the minerals in your jawbone in order to use them elsewhere in your body where it perceived they’d be more useful. Eventually, there is no longer enough bone to even retain your dentures.

Your first step is going to be to have some bone grafting done in order to build back up that missing bone structure. Once that is done you can then get your dental implants.

Implant Supported Dentures

Once your bone grafting is healed, you can then have the implant overdentures placed. The more you have, the more secure your bite and the more you will preserve bone structure. Generally, patients place between four to eight dental implants. Once the bone has had a chance to integrate with the implants, then you’ll be ready to have a denture anchored to them.

The key to your dentures looking both natural and beautiful is to have a skilled cosmetic dentist to create them. There are two places you can look to find skilled cosmetic dentists. The first place is mynewsmile.com. This site is run by a retired cosmetic dentist who prescreens anyone who wants to be listed for both their technical knowledge and skill as well as their artistry.

A second place to check would be on aacd.com. This is the website for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. They also have a “find a cosmetic dentist” link. However, you need to make certain you check that you’re looking for an accredited dentist. Any dentist can pay to be a member. AACD accredited dentists have been through rigorous testing. Either they or a dentist listed on the previous site I mentioned will provide you with a stunning smile.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

How White Should I Get My Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on February 29, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have very white teeth. Yet, when I got porcelain veneers they weren’t quite as white as my teeth. I asked my dentist about it and he said both he and the lab are willing to re-do them. However, they warned me that to get them that white will require some opacity. I don’t want them to look fake. Should I do them that white?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

You aren’t alone in wanting very white teeth. If you talk to dentists who do a lot of work for celebrities, you’ll hear they do the same. The key to having this work out beautifully is to make sure you have an experienced and artistic dentist. The cosmetic dentists who are in the top 1% of their field are AACD accredited. I’m a tad concerned that your current dentist seems to be mildly discouraging you from your desired smile.

Cosmetic dentists know that you are creating the dream smile the patient wants. Their job is to find the most beautiful way to do that. Some cosmetic dentists have a term for the type of white you want— ballistic white. There is a slight trade-off with opacity, but that is generally noticeable only at a very close distance. A good cosmetic dentist will still get that natural sparkle in there.

My experience has been people don’t get their porcelain veneers very white and wish they had it more “natural” looking. However, there have been many patients who have had a more natural-looking smile who regretted not getting a whiter one. Get the smile you want.

If you can’t find an AACD accredited dentist in your area, you can look on the mynewsmile.com website. They screen cosmetic dentists for both their technical knowledge and training as well as their artistry. Many of them are either accredited or on their way to accreditation. A cosmetic dentist from either group should be able to get your porcelain veneers as white as your teeth have gotten with your teeth whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Cosmetic Dentistry Horror Story

Posted on December 31, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’m at my wits end. I paid a small fortune to get a beautiful smile makeover and I ended up with horse teeth. They are way too bulky and don’t look natural. When I first got them I noticed that right away. I mentioned it to my dentist and he said it’s the shock of seeing the difference in my old “thin” teeth and these better full teeth. Though, he told me he was using ultra-thin veneers. He was sure once I saw them for a few days I would love them. Well, it’s been two weeks and I still hate them. I’ve called the office asking to speak with the dentist four times and never get a call back, which says they are avoiding me. Is there anything I can do?

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,

A single porcelain veneer

What you are learning, unfortunately, is there is a real difference between a family dentist who does cosmetic work and a dentist who is passionate about cosmetic work. You would never have gone through this with a true cosmetic dentist. They would never be satisfied with their work if you were anything but absolutely thrilled.

You said your dentist used an ultra-thin veneer and the results ended up looking like horse teeth. Is there any chance you heard him say he was using Lumineers? This is a specific brand of porcelain veneers which is marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. They say this because they are an ultra-thin veneer and as such may not require tooth preparation.

In reality, that only works for some cases, Many, even with an ultra-thin veneer will end up looking like horse teeth if the dentist doesn’t do any tooth prep at all. This may be what happened to you.

Another thing you wouldn’t experience with an expert cosmetic dentist is him saying “You’ll get used to how they look.” Nope. If you weren’t absolutely thrilled, a real cosmetic dentist would send those puppies back tot he lab to be re-done with any changes you think are necessary to obtain the smile of your dreams.

Before they were even bonded on, they would be placed on your teeth with a temporary try-in paste. You’d get a good look at them on your teeth in several different lightings. Your complete approval and satisfaction would be obtained before they were bonded on.

What you need it to get a refund so you can have your porcelain veneers re-done by a true, artistic cosmetic dentist. To do that, you’ll need to get an expert cosmetic dentist on your side who will say the porcelain veneers you did get aren’t satisfactory.

I would look either on the mynewsmile.com website or search for an AACD accredited dentist in your area. Either one of them has the expertise and artistry necessary to create beautiful smiles. In fact, most of them even have a beautiful smile guarantee.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

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