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Which is better Lumineers or Veneers?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I have 4 front teeth with heavy stains on them. Between Lumineers and Veneers which is better? Pros and cons? – Amber

Amber – Lumineers are veneers. Lumineers is just one brand name of porcelain veneers. There are many other brand  names of porcelain veneers. Lumineers are ultra-thin, very hard, and are often placed with no preparation to the teeth.

There are other brands of porcelain veneers that are just as thin and durable as Lumineers. Lumineers has a lab that makes their porcelain veneers, and many dentists feel that the results are not personalized to the patient.

There are cosmetic dentists who prefer other brands of porcelain veneers, because they get better results with them. These dentists have a private master ceramist who personalizes the veneers to the individual patient. The result is that you can’t tell the difference between the veneers and your natural teeth.

Speak with an experienced cosmetic dentist regarding your particular situation to determine which brand of porcelain veneers is best for your case.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Duane Delaune. Find out why many consider him to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Quality porcelain veneers that don’t fall off

Posted on by AllSmiles.

We receive many inquiries to our website from people who are not our patients, but whose porcelain veneers fall off—some whose veneers keep falling off, even though they have been re-bonded.

Porcelain veneers should last 15 to 20 years or longer, depending on how well you take care of them. But the duration of the veneers also depends on how well they are bonded to your teeth and how well they are cared for during dental cleanings.

An experienced cosmetic dentist like Dr. Duane Delaune will ensure that your porcelain veneers are properly bonded so they remain secured to your natural teeth, and properly cared for during dental cleanings so they maintain their beautiful glaze and shine. He was voted a Top Dentist by New Orleans magazine. If your porcelain veneer has somehow been damaged, Dr. Delaune will give you an honest assessment as to whether it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced. But he won’t pressure you to have any treatment.

If you don’t have porcelain veneers yet, but are interested in getting them, learn from the experience of others. Quality, natural-looking porcelain veneers come from an artistic, skilled cosmetic dentist. Don’t shop around for cheap or inexpensive veneers. You may regret that decision. The bargain price may mean a sacrifice in the quality of the veneers, or improper bonding.

Dr. Delaune offers a complimentary consultation if you’re interested in getting porcelain new veneers.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie.

Snap-on smile, veneers, or crowns for recovered bulimic?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I am bulimic but I am in my 7th month of recovery. As you know all of the acid from vomiting has ruined my teeth. Not only are some of my teeth bordering on crumbling they are an awful grayish brown and they are very sensitive to hot and cold food and drink. I talked to my dentist and he is talking about $22,000 for porcelain veneers. That is a huge some of money. I know my teeth are important but I am wondering if something like the snapon smile could work for me. Thank you. – Kari

Kari – As you mentioned, bulimia presents multiple problems with teeth, and those problems go beyond their appearance. A Snap-On Smile will only help with the appearance of your teeth. It will not help to preserve or restore them.

You received the recommendation of porcelain veneers. The acid from vomiting affects the entire tooth—and particularly the back of the tooth—but porcelain veneers will only cover the front of your teeth. You need all-porcelain crowns, and you should receive them from an experienced cosmetic dentist.

When you find a skilled cosmetic dentist, he or she will work with you to restore your smile with porcelain crowns so it looks natural. And the work doesn’t have to be done all at once. Discuss your budget concerns with the dentist to see if he or she is willing to do the work in stages, as you can afford it.

Congratulations on your recovery. We wish you the best on your new smile.

This blog post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

 

Will two new porcelain veneers that I need match the old ones?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I’ve had porcelain veneers for about 3 yrs now. I wasn’t really happy with the dentist that placed them and 2 of the porcelain veneers were not placed right so they are stained and it looks like their separating from my teeth. In other words for those 2 teeth you can really tell there are veneers on them and they look like they might fall off. I want to get them replaced and I am not going back to the same dentist that put the veneers on in the first place but I am worried that the color of the new veneers won’t match. I am also wondering if my getting the old ones taking off might break my teeth. THANK YOU – Lauren J.

Lauren,

An experienced cosmetic dentist will have no problem matching the color of your existing porcelain veneers. Your new dentist will be able to access your dental records and contact the lab that made your veneers so that the color will be perfectly matched.

There will be no issue with damage to your natural teeth. There is more risk of damage to your teeth by leaving the defective porcelain veneers as they are. Leaving the teeth untreated exposes the teeth to risk of decay.

This blog post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Should I get composite filling or porcelain veneers to close my gap?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I want to close a gap between my front teeth. I know that composite fillings are cheaper than veneers, but how do they really compare? If veneers are really better I don’t want to be too cheap to spend the money for them. Thanks for your help – AnnKatherine

AnnKatherine – It sounds as you’ve done some research on your options. Composite bonding can be used to close small gaps. The composite is less expensive than the veneers, but it still requires the skill of a cosmetic dentist to match the color and translucency of your natural teeth.

Porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite filling, but they also are more durable and more stain resistant. The veneers can beautifully conceal the gap in your teeth. But matching them to your natural teeth also requires an experienced dentist. If you take care of your veneers, they can last up to twenty years or more.

Discuss the pros and cons with your cosmetic dentist to help you make a final decision.

This blog post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Can abrasive toothpaste damage my porcelain veneers?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I hope that I haven’t ruined my new porcelain veneers or at least that I haven’t affected how long they will last. I have been brushing them with a toothpaste that is abrasive. Will the glaze come off? thanks jessica from georgia

Jessica – The porcelain surface of your porcelain veneers will not be scratched by the abrasive toothpaste. But the composite that is used to bond the porcelain to the tooth can scratch and wear away.

If you haven’t used the abrasive toothpaste for an extended period, you probably won’t notice any scratches or wear on the bonding. If the bonding is scratched, a stain line around the veneer will be visible. Or a thin groove around the veneer can form and attract decay. When this happens, see an experienced cosmetic dentist to correct the problem.

Dental bonding is softer than porcelain and it is likely to be scratched from abrasive toothpaste. But an expert cosmetic dentist would be able to polish away the scratches.

Supersmile toothpaste is best to use on cosmetic dental work. It can help preserve the life of your smile makeover.

This blog post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

 

Tetracycline stains – can teeth whitening help?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Hello. I have permanent grayish stains on my teeth from medicine that was given to me as a baby. I had dental bonding put on my teeth to cover up the stains, but now the bonding is chipping and it looks a mess. It almost starting to look as bad as the original stains did. I know that porcelain veneers are the best choice, but I don’t have money for that. Is there a whitener that will help? Thank you. – Bobbie, Metairie

Bobbie,

The gray stains on your teeth are tetracycline stains. If tetracycline is taken while your teeth are forming, it deposits in your teeth and discolors them with gray or dark brown stains or bands.

An experienced cosmetic dentist can cover the stains with porcelain veneers, and create a new smile that looks like your natural teeth.

If veneers are not within your budget, here are two treatments that an experienced cosmetic dentist can use:

  1. If some of your tooth enamel was not removed before the bonding was placed, the dentist can remove the bonding with sandpaper disks. In many states, and at a lower fee, a dental hygienist can remove the bonding. Then, you can get an at-home teeth whitening system from the dentist, which you’ll use every night for a couple of months. The at-home treatment is less expensive than in-office treatment. Although your teeth won’t look as good as they would with porcelain veneers, they will look much better. Over-the-counter teeth whitening products are not strong enough for tetracycline stains. If you can afford in-office teeth whitening, choose KöR® Whitening Deep Bleaching™ System. KöR has proven to be the most effective teeth bleaching treatment for tetracycline stains.
  1. If some of your tooth enamel was removed before putting on the bonding, start saving for eight or ten porcelain veneers, and have them placed by an expert cosmetic dentist. Meanwhile, have the dentist smooth out the dental bonding, so that it looks better. You’ll find that the porcelain veneers will last many years, compared with the one or two years that dental bonding lasts.

This blog is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie. Visit Dr. Delaune’s smile gallery to see tetracycline cases.

Can I switch to a cosmetic dentist, if my dentist already started the work?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I’ve been going to the same dentist for years, and I trust him, at least with the work he previously did. I recently decided to get a smile makeover, so I figured he could do it. I’m wearing my temporary veneers now, but I don’t like them. He’s made several adjustments, but it just looks worse to me now than when we started. Can I switch and find a real cosmetic dentist? I wish I had found out about this and did my research before I asked him to do the work. – Kristin from Mississippi

Kristin – You’re right. It’s best to select an artistic cosmetic dentist for a smile makeover. A lot of patients don’t realize that cosmetic dentistry is truly an art that few dentists practice. And it requires training in the techniques needed to give you a beautiful smile makeover.

If you’re not comfortable with your temporary porcelain veneers, you can insist that you are able to closely examine them before they are bonded to your teeth.

It may add to your expense, but you are able to switch to a cosmetic dentist in the middle of your case. Some of the work will need to be duplicated, though. According to the ethical standards of the American Dental Association, the dentist who started the work must cooperate with the transition by providing notes, x-rays and other material to help your case succeed with the new dentist.

If you need help selecting a new dentist, mynewsmile.com is a website that is run by an accredited cosmetic dentist. The site provides nation-wide recommendations of cosmetic dentists whose training, experience and pictures of smile makeovers have been carefully reviewed to help ensure that you will truly receive a beautiful smile makeover.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read about Dr. Delaune’s beautiful smile guarantee.

 

Why do my porcelain veneers keep falling off?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Hi. I’m in my third year of having porcelain veneers. Already I’ve had three different ones fall off, and one of the three has fallen off twice. One of these was embarrassing because I was in public with friends. What’s going on? – Nikki, Texas

Nikki – Porcelain veneers that are bonded correctly won’t come off unless they are ground off of your teeth. Unfortunately, your veneers have not been bonded correctly.

Re-bonding them requires techniques that few dentists know or have the equipment to perform. The process requires cleaning off the veneer with acetone and thoroughly cleaning the natural tooth to which the veneer was bonded—down to its natural structure. Then the porcelain has to be etched, primed and bonded. This process should be done only for the veneers that have fallen off.

The problem with your porcelain veneers repeatedly falling off indicates that your dentist is unaware of the techniques required to properly bond them. You can find a qualified cosmetic dentist who is proficient with the techniques. You can use the website mynewsmile.com as a reference for locating a cosmetic dentist near you. For a dentist to be listed on mynewsmile.com, he or she must submit photographs of his or her work. The dentist’s credentials will also be checked.

Consider asking your current dentist if he or she is willing to pay for the proper bonding of your veneers. Regardless, it’s worth your time and money to have it done correctly.

This blog is brought to you by the office of New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie.

Will teeth whitening help tetracycline stained teeth?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My teeth are stained by tetracycline. My dentist is recommending crowns for my front teeth, but I am wondering if teeth whitening will help. If not, what are my options? – Beverly

Beverly – It’s best to avoid having crowns placed on your teeth. There are two other ways to handle the tetracycline stains.

Tetracycline is a powerful antibiotic that treats certain infections, and it can be life-saving. It can also treat acne. If tetracycline is taken while your teeth are still developing, it will deposit in your teeth and darken them. You’ll have gray or brown stains in your teeth. Sometimes the color of tetracycline stains presents itself as horizontal bands on the teeth.

One way to cover the stains is with porcelain veneers. But porcelain veneers are quite thin, and to get beautiful results without the dark stains showing through requires the expertise of a cosmetic dentist. Perhaps that’s why your dentist wants to use crowns instead. You can get beautiful results from a cosmetic dentist who understands the techniques required to give the veneers the right color and translucency, and who works with an expert dental laboratory technician.

The KöR Deep Bleaching System is a second way to treat the tetracycline stains. Many dentists say that teeth whitening will not budge tetracycline stains, but KöR deep bleaching has proven effective on these stains. See an example in the before-and-after photographs below.

Before and after teeth whitening pictures with Kor Deep Bleaching.

This blog is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.