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Porcelain Veneers for Overlapped Teeth Instead of Invisalign?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Will you please tell me if porcelain veneers can straighten my teeth? I understand that Invisalign is an option, but at age 52, I prefer something faster than a year of orthodontic treatment. My upper teeth overlap. The overlap affects six teeth, but I realize that a dentist may see that other teeth are involved. Is there any chance that veneers might work? Thank you. Antonia from Northbrook, IL

Antonia,

Thank you for contacting us. Sometimes, porcelain veneers can straighten teeth without braces.

Can You Get Porcelain Veneers Instead of Invisalign?

One porcelain veneer held by dental forceps

Porcelain veneer

Porcelain veneers can sometimes straighten teeth instead of Invisalign, but they have limitations. If you have mild overlap, porcelain veneers may be an option. Veneers can improve tooth shape and shade, too. After an examination and x-rays, a cosmetic dentist will determine whether veneers can help. These steps may improve your overlapped teeth:

Will You Need Orthodontics Before Veneers?

A cosmetic dentist may recommend orthodontics before veneers in these cases:

  • Cross-bite
  • Your palate requires expansion
  • The degree of tooth rotation
  • Missing teeth
  • Extra teeth

Mispositioned opposing teeth can break or displace porcelain veneers.

Are You a Porcelain Veneers Candidate?

You may be a porcelain veneer candidate if your teeth and gums are healthy. Otherwise, a dentist must resolve tooth decay or gum disease before recommending cosmetic dentistry. Also, the dentist will explain alternative treatment methods for a healthy and aesthetically pleasing smile.

Request a Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation

During a cosmetic dentistry consultation, you can meet with the doctor to discuss your concerns about your teeth. The dentist may take pictures, scans, and x-rays of your teeth to assess their condition and whether porcelain veneers, Invisalign, or another treatment will give you the best results.

 

Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read details about how Dr. Delaune strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie.

Will Bonding Work for My Peg Lateral Teeth?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I have peg teeth on my left and right incisors. Also, the left tooth sticks out a little farther than my other teeth. I am self-conscious about my small teeth and do not smile for pictures. Is bonding enough to correct them, or will I need additional treatment? Thank you. Brielle from Spokane, WA

Brielle,

Thank you for choosing Dr. Delaune’s office for your question. Dr. Delaune would need to examine and x-ray your teeth to determine your treatment options, but we will discuss treatment in general.

What Are Peg Lateral Teeth?

Peg lateral teeth are lateral incisors located next to the central incisors (center front teeth). According to the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, peg laterals affect about two percent of the U.S. population. More women than men have small, misshaped lateral incisors. What cosmetic dentistry treatment can correct peg laterals?

What Are the Treatment Options for Peg Laterals?

Treatment options for peg lateral teeth may include cosmetic bonding, contouring, orthodontic treatment, porcelain crowns, or porcelain veneers. A dentist will examine your teeth and gums and x-ray them to evaluate their health and position. Your case may require one or more of these treatments:

  • Cosmetic bonding – A cosmetic dentist can blend composite to match the color and translucence of your natural teeth. Bonding is not as stain resistant and durable as porcelain veneers. The dentist will clean and lightly etch the tooth before applying a bonding agent to it. Afterward, the dentist will shape the composite to lengthen your small teeth. After hardening and further shaping your tooth, the dentist will polish it. Your lengthened teeth will seamlessly blend with your natural teeth. If you take diligent care of your teeth, the bonding can last ten years or more.
  • Gum contouring – Gum contouring is an option if it will not expose tooth roots and create sensitivity in your teeth. At times, dentists use gum contouring with porcelain veneers. A dental laser can shorten your gumline around your lateral incisors so they appear longer.
  • Orthodontic treatment – If your lateral incisors have not fully erupted or if they are not in the correct position, a cosmetic dentist may recommend orthodontic treatment.
  • Porcelain crowns – Dental crowns can cover peg lateral incisors. Your dentist may recommend crowns if your teeth are weak or otherwise unhealthy. Crowns require aggressive tooth preparation, so cosmetic dentists use them as a last option for restoring teeth. A dental ceramist can manipulate ceramic crowns to match your natural teeth.
  • Porcelain veneers – After preparing the fronts of your lateral incisors, a dentist can apply custom-made porcelain shells to them. Veneers are stain resistant and can last 15 years or longer if you take care of them and get regular maintenance from a cosmetic dentist.

Whether a dentist restores your peg laterals with porcelain veneers or another cosmetic dentistry treatment, the aesthetics and durability depend on the skill of your cosmetic dentist. We recommend scheduling consultations with two advanced cosmetic dentists to discuss and compare your options.

Dr. Duane Delaune, a Metairie, Louisiana, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Before-and-after small teeth photos from Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie, LA

Porcelain veneers photos from Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie, Louisiana

What Tools Can I Use to Remove Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I hate my porcelain veneers and am tired of talking to my dentist about them. I asked her to remove them, and she told me that I couldn’t go back to my natural teeth, so there was no need to remove them. She also insists that the veneers I have are what I ordered, but that is not true. I tried on veneers that I liked. The things she bonded onto my teeth look like fake model sets of teeth I used to see in the dentist’s office when I was a kid. They look that bad. I want to know how I can get the veneers off myself and what tools I can use. I can’t imagine my natural teeth looking bad because these were no-prep veneers. Please tell me how I can get the veneers off without hurting my teeth? I don’t want to pay another dentist to do anything to my teeth. Thank you. Walt

Walt – Thanks for your question.

What Tools Can You Use to Remove Porcelain Veneers?

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

Only a skilled cosmetic dentist can remove veneers safely

There are no tools that you can use to remove your porcelain veneers. Unless a dentist has the proper training, they would not be able to remove your veneers either.

A skilled cosmetic dentist has an inventory of dental tools to carefully etch the veneers off your natural teeth without damaging them. After the dentist removes your veneers, they will clean your teeth. The dentist can polish your natural teeth and rejuvenate them if you have no-prep veneers.

What If You Do Not Have No-Prep Veneers?

If your new dentist discovers that your teeth were prepared for porcelain veneers, you will need new veneers to replace them. You cannot leave your natural teeth exposed. They will be vulnerable to decay and fractures, so your new cosmetic dentist must cover and protect your teeth.

Find an experienced cosmetic dentist to examine your veneers and teeth. They will explain your treatment options.

Dr. Duane Delaune, a Metairie, Louisiana, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

How Can I Correct My Overlapped Teeth Without Braces?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Young woman pondering - portrying concern over overlapped teeth and correcting them without bracesWhat is the best kind of dentist to improve my smile without braces? I travel extensively for business, so I do not have the time to commit to years of treatment and the progress-check appointments that go along with it. I have three upper teeth that slightly overlap the tooth next to them. A few of my bottom teeth are skewed also. What type of dentist would know how to correct all of this without braces, and how can I tell if the dentist is really qualified without trial and error? – Thank you. Bethany from NJ

Bethany,

Thank you for contacting our office. Although Dr. Delaune would need to examine your teeth and gums before recommending treatment options, we can offer a few suggestions.

Can You Correct Overlapped Teeth Without Braces?

You can correct overlapped teeth without braces by consulting a skilled cosmetic dentist. We will discuss why the treatment works and how to find the best dentist for your needs.

  • Porcelain veneers – A skilled cosmetic dentist can bond veneers to the fronts of your teeth to make them appear straight. They can give you a beautiful smile design with veneers that have the color and translucence of natural teeth. You can choose the shade you want, so your smile will also be brighter, too.
  • Cosmetic contouring – After a dentist takes x-rays to determine whether your teeth are healthy enough for this treatment, they can re-shape your teeth. A dentist can use a laser or sanding drill to remove minimal amounts of tooth structure. After re-shaping your teeth, the dentist will smooth and polish them.
  • Teeth whitening – Teeth whitening can make your smile brilliantly white before you receive porcelain veneers or after contouring. Brighter teeth will enhance a smile makeover. Whenever you receive porcelain restorations for your teeth, your dentist must complete whitening first to ensure the veneers match your newly whitened natural teeth.

Do not leave your cosmetic dentistry treatment to chance. An experienced cosmetic dentist is the best dentist for a smile makeover.

Finding the Best Dentist for Your Case

Use these steps to find the best dentist for your case:

  • Schedule consultations with at least two advanced cosmetic dentists.
  • Ask to see before-and-after pictures of smile makeover cases like yours.
  • Ask the dentists how they would resolve the issues with your teeth.
  • Ask how long the dentist has been practicing and how many cases like yours they have completed.
  • Check each dentist’s website for information on post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry and their credentials.

You will get beautiful, long-lasting results from a skilled cosmetic dentist.

 

Dr. Duane Delaune, a Metairie, Louisiana, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Should I Get Crowns or Porcelain Veneers for 7 Teeth?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I have seven bad teeth and would like to know if I should ask for crowns or veneers. My teeth look horrible. Part of it is genetic and poor shape. But my teeth have never been anywhere close to white. Nobody in my family has good-looking teeth. The other part is my not caring for them like I should have when I was younger. Now that I am 33 and have dental coverage and the money to fix them, my teeth matter. If I get caps on the 7 teeth, how long will they last? Joelle

Joelle – If you take good care of crowns, they can last 15 years or more. But your teeth may not need porcelain crowns. We recommend that you have your teeth examined by a cosmetic dentist. Depending on the condition and location of your teeth, you may be able to receive porcelain veneers, which cover the front of your teeth. Back, or molar teeth, can be covered with crowns.

Benefits of porcelain veneers

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

Porcelain veneers are thin as a fingernail

Benefits of porcelain veneers include:

  • Preserve tooth structure. They require less removal of your natural tooth structure. A dental crown requires tapering the entire tooth so it will cover the tooth from the gumline to the biting surface
  • Lifelike, thin restorations. You can receive ultra-thin veneers that look just like natural teeth.
  • Quick smile transformation. A dentist can transform your smile in as few as two visits with this treatment.
  • Long-lasting results. Porcelain is durable, so if you take good care of your veneers, they can last 15 years or longer.

Many dentists can give you crowns or veneers, but only a dentist with an artistic eye and extensive training in cosmetic dentistry can give you beautiful results. A skilled cosmetic dentist will ensure your veneers match the characteristics of your natural teeth. If you invest in renewing your smile, be sure to visit an experienced cosmetic dentist for quality results.

 

Dr. Duane Delaune, an cosmetic dentist in Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post.

Is teeth grinding breaking my porcelain veneers?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

In July, my dentist replaced four old crowns on my front teeth and the two beside them. She recommended veneers on four more teeth – two on each side of the crowns because my teeth were worn. Within two weeks of getting the work completed, two of the veneer teeth started to hurt. I returned to the dentist, and she said that I grind my teeth so much that one veneer is loose. She made a mouth guard for me to wear at night. But the pain did not stop, and one veneer fell off. My dentist offered to replace the veneers with crowns, with I declined. So far, I have returned to her office twice to bond the veneers back on. I do not want her to grind down any more of my teeth for crowns. Neither do I want to keep going back to the dental office to bond veneers back on. Are crowns the only solution for this issue? I never had so many problems before the veneers. – Thank you. Robert M. from KY

Robert,

Thank you for your question.

porcelain veneer being held up by dental tool

Well-bonded porcelain veneers should not loosen

Well-bonded porcelain veneers do not fall off. If you have a problem with teeth grinding and your bite, your dentist should have identified it before placing your crowns and veneers. Her response makes us wonder whether some aspect of your treatment is too complex for her.

Can You Wear Porcelain Veneers If You Grind Your Teeth?

Generally, you can wear porcelain veneers if you grind your teeth. A dentist should bond the veneers so well that they do not loosen. But you must wear a mouth guard while you sleep to minimize the impact of grinding on your veneers. However, some cases of teeth trading are so severe that the veneers weaken anyway.

Preparing teeth for veneers takes skill and much post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. Many dentists provide cosmetic dentistry without getting enough training, and the results show it.

Get a Porcelain Veneers Second Opinion

We recommend that you find a dentist in your area with post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. Replacing porcelain veneers with crowns is aggressive treatment that you do not want unless it is necessary. Look for affiliation and training from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry or the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. Look for a few cosmetic dentists’ websites for information about their post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry.

Duane Delaune, DDS, of Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post.

Why Did I Need Root Canal Treatments After Porcelain Veneers

Posted on by writeradmin.

I had ten veneers placed on my upper teeth and the same number placed on my bottom. During the diagnostic stage, I was told everything was fine and there were no real risks involved. Since the procedure, I’ve had a lot of pain. My dentist made a few height adjustments, but that did not seem to help. Then, two of the teeth developed an abscess and, when he did the x-rays, it showed my nerves have died, even though they were fine before. Now I have had to have root canal treatments. I’m still in pain and worried more of my nerves will die. My dentist said he’s never had this happen with veneer crowns. What is going on?

Jayla

Dear Jayla,

The first thing I am wondering about is whether you actually received dental crowns instead of porcelain veneers. There are a couple of things that make me things this. First, you called them veneer crowns. That is not a thing. Either you have porcelain veneers or you have dental crowns. There is not a combination. A second inconsistency here is the height adjustments that were made. That is something done with dental crowns. Finally, it is the damage to the nerves.

The Difference in Preparation between Crowns and Veneers

tooth preparation for porcelain veneers.

Tooth preparation for porcelain veneers

When a tooth is prepared for porcelain veneers, there is hardly any of the tooth structure removed. Here is an example in the image above. Notice only the surface is affected. Now contrast this with the image below.

Preparation for a dental crown

Preparation for a Dental Crown

Notice with this tooth, much of the tooth structure had to be removed. It is a much more aggressive preparation and your nerves are at a greater risk as a result. I think this is the treatment you received.

One way to tell is by how far around the tooth your restoration is. With porcelain veneers, it just covers the very front of your teeth and will hug the sides slightly. But, with porcelain crowns, the restoration goes around your entire tooth, including the back.

If your dentist told you that you were getting porcelain veneers, but then gave you porcelain crowns, that is unethical. Plus, if the only reason for the restorations was a smile makeover, porcelain veneers are what you would do— not dental crowns. To be honest, I would tell your dentist he needs to cover the cost of the root canal treatments. I’m sorry this happened to you.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.
Click here to learn about our free virtual smile makeover consult.

Smile Makeover Disaster

Posted on by writeradmin.

I need some serious advice. I went to my dentist with the intent of having my cleaning done and then getting a recommendation for an orthodontist. My four upper front teeth are crooked. He said he could make them straight with cosmetic dentistry and I would not have to worry about the inconvenience of braces. That sounded great to me so I agreed. He told me that two porcelain veneers and dental bonding would make my smile look completely straight. I was excited about the possibility of having a beautiful smile. When the makeover was “completed”, it wasn’t anything like he promised. The teeth are still uneven, the porcelain veneer is too small and you can see a gap between the veneer and my gums. He also charged me for reshaping my lower teeth which was never even discussed. I was quite upset and told him this wasn’t the outcome I expected. Then, he proceeded to tell me the only way to get the outcome I want is with four dental crowns. Of course, that will be an additional fee. Is this allowed? Can he get away with it?

Fanny

Dear Fanny,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

No. Your dentist cannot get away with this. I would go back to him and ask for a refund. If he says no, remind him that he was the one who told you what this outcome would be and he didn’t deliver on his promise. On top of that, the porcelain veneer he provided for you has an open margin (what dentists call that gap you described). Open margins put your teeth at risk because it allows food and other bacteria to get caught between your teeth and the veneers, leading to decay. A second issue that can get him in big trouble is reshaping your bottom teeth without your permission. It sounds like this dentist was using you for practice. Let him know you will be taking this issue to the dental board and I think he will provide your refund.

Once you have secured your refund, you will want to get the smile makeover you wanted. Believe it or not, it is probably still possible to do with porcelain veneers. You just need a skilled cosmetic dentist to do the work. I would look for a dentist who is recommended on the mynewsmile.com website. Dentists cannot pay to be listed on this site. Instead, they are screened for both their technical skill as well as their artistry. Any dentist recommended on there will give you a stunning smile.

I will say, if you are planning on just getting four porcelain veneers (and it is okay if you are) then I suggest you have teeth whitening done first. Most patients smiles are six to ten teeth wide. Getting your teeth whitened allows you to have your non-veneered teeth blend in better than if you left them their current tone.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Gums Inflamed After Porcelain Veneers

Posted on by writeradmin.

I had two porcelain veneers placed on my front teeth. Since they were placed my gums have been painful and inflamed. The hygienist said she’d never seen that happen and wondered if I was brushing correctly. I’ve been brushing my teeth for several decades now, so…yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m brushing correctly. Actually, her response sort of ticked me off. Then, a month later I went in for a follow-up visit with the dentist and he removed some cement from the back of my teeth and smoothed down some rough edges. While that did help some, I am still in pain. They don’t seem to care, so I’m wondering what my next steps are.

Madeline

Dear Madeline,

porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

I am sorry that this happened to you. It is infuriating when professionals blame others simply because they don’t understand their field well enough. My experience has shown that when people get a smile makeover, they usually care for their teeth even better than before, so no, I don’t think the problem is the way you were brushing.

This is especially true because of what you described in your follow-up visit. Not cleaning up all the excess cement is an issue we often see with dentists who do not place porcelain veneers very often. Those that do regular, advanced cosmetic work have a routine down to ensure this does not happen.

  • First, they will tack the veneer on the tooth by curing the cement in the center only.
  • Then, while the remainder of the cement is still soft, they will be certain to remove all the excess, knowing it is much easier to do while soft.

This did not happen in your case. While your dentist did remove some at your follow-up visit, it would not surprise me in the least if there were still excess cement lodged somewhere.

There is also a second possibility for what could be causing your inflammation and pain. If there is some unevenness where the porcelain veneer meets with your tooth (what dentists call the margins) this could lead to problems. Or your dentist could have placed the veneer too far under the gumline. If he did that and encroached on the gingival attachment, that would also cause the problems you mentioned.

Obviously, your current dentist is either disinterested or does not have the skill to recognize what he did wrong. You next steps, in either case, would be to see an expert cosmetic dentist and have them examine your porcelain veneers in order to let you know what went wrong, then you can formulate a plan based on the diagnosis.

I would use one of the cosmetic dentists listed on the mynewsmile.com website. They are pre-screened for their technical knowledge and skill, as well as their artistry. They will have the knowledge to let you know what went wrong.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Too Much Shine on My Porcelain Veneers

Posted on by writeradmin.

I had a smile makeover done. I know the porcelain veneers should have some shine. However, these have so much shine on them that it is obvious they are fake. It’s almost like a shiny white piece of gum. Is there a way to take off some of the shine so they can look more natural? I paid a small fortune for these and I’d like to have something I can feel good about.

Laney

Dear Laney,

Beautifully textrued teeth

 

You’ve brought up an interesting point about cosmetic dentistry. I wish I had an image of your smile makeover results to give me a better idea of what you’re dealing with. Based on what you described, it sounds like your glazing was done in a flat, uniform type of design. If you look at the teeth in this photograph with work done by Dr. Delaune, you can see that teeth aren’t flat. They are textured. Also, the color is not uniform. Instead, they have varying degrees of opacity throughout the tooth.  By the way, only one of the teeth above is “fake”.

The glazing on the tooth is what is responsible for the shine you are experiencing, especially if your dentist did not texture it. However, I am not sure you will want to remove that glazing. It is also what protects your porcelain veneers and makes them stain-resistant. Occasionally, we run into a new patient who had their cosmetic work done at another office. Because that particular office didn’t properly go over cleaning procedures for cosmetic work with their hygienist, she used a power prophy jet during cleaning, which takes the glaze completely off. Within a few days, that patient’s veneers began to pick up stains.

Hopefully, you have a dentist who cares about the patient’s satisfaction with their work. A true cosmetic dentist would never bond your veneers on until you had a chance to look at them with a temporary try-in paste and give your approval. If you weren’t thrilled with the results, they would go back to the lab. It doesn’t sound like you were given that option. That is likely the result of your dentist not having much experience with this yet and therefore doesn’t carry (or may not even know about) these try-in pastes. This is just one of the problems with cosmetic dentistry not being a recognized specialty.

My suggestion is you simply go back to your dentist and explain how you feel about your veneers. You paid for a beautiful smile and should get one. Some cosmetic dentists even have a beautiful smile guarantee. If he or she is not sure how to do it any differently, you can let them see this post.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune