Teeth Whitening Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

Could a Pulp Cap Work for My Tooth?

Posted on October 29, 2022 by AllSmiles.

Last month, my dentist filled two cavities. While removing the decay from the third tooth, he mistakenly exposed the pulp. He stopped trying to remove the decay and used a pulp cap to avoid root canal treatment. Before that visit, I had not heard of a pulp cap, but I had to decide rather quickly because the pulp was exposed. My dentist explained the procedure to me and e-mailed some material to me. I want another dentist’s opinion on this, though. How do I know that the pulp cap will work? Are there any symptoms I should watch that might signal cap failure and that I will need a root canal anyway? Also, how long does this take? I was supposed to begin teeth whitening in two weeks and have it completed before my wedding. Thank you. Cecelia from Springfield, MA

Cecelia,

Thank you for choosing our office for your question.

We will give you and our readers some background on a pulp cap.

What Is a Direct Pulp Cap?

A direct pulp cap is a procedure to protect entirely or partially exposed tooth pulp. The process allows the dentin (the layer beneath tooth enamel) to grow back and cover the pulp. It can save you time and money and help you avoid root canal treatment.

When Do You Need a Pulp Cap?

You might need a pulp cap if tooth pulp (living tissue and nerves) is exposed during decay removal. Your dentist may be able to prevent damage with a pulp cap if the pulp is not infected. Saving tooth pulp can help avoid the need for root canal treatment.

What Is the Pulp Cap Procedure?

During a pulp cap procedure, a dentist will take these steps::

Remove tooth decay
Apply a cotton pellet to the tooth to stop bleeding
Clean and dry the tooth
Ensure the pulp is healthy
Apply a biocompatible material over the pulp to seal out the infection
Apply and bond composite filling in the tooth

If a dentist leaves decay in the tooth, it can grow slowly and infect the tooth eventually. If you are not experiencing any symptoms, we recommend not doing anything to the tooth. And if you remain symptom-free, your dentist can x-ray the tooth to see if it is still healthy. A toothache, sensitivity, or swollen gums are symptoms and signs of an infection leading to root canal treatment. Otherwise, your tooth should be healthy. After your tooth begins to heal, your dentist can give you an estimate of when you can start whitening your teeth.

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

Why Do I Need Another Root Canal If I Take Care of My Teeth?

Posted on February 4, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I have two root canal teeth, and during my last visit, my dentist said I would soon need a third one. The first two root canals were completed after filling failed. I grind my teeth, and my dentist said I need another root canal on a cracked tooth that grinding may have caused. I have a night guard, but sometimes I forget to wear it at night. Other than that, I floss my teeth daily and brush them morning and night. Unfortunately, I must delay getting my teeth whitened until after the root canal. I don’t understand what I need to do to avoid root canals in the future. Are some people’s teeth more at risk for root canals? – Thanks. Monroe from Rhode Island

Monroe,

The problems you describe with your teeth are not uncommon. Preparing a tooth for filling requires removing some tooth structure, weakening the tooth. The tooth can become sensitive. And if you grind your teeth, they will experience even more stress. Try these suggestions.

How Can You Avoid Future Root Canal Treatment?

You can minimize the need for future root canal treatments through at-home care and finding a dentist knowledgeable about the latest techniques for preserving teeth.

Wear your night guard – In addition to practicing diligent oral hygiene at home, wear your night guard regularly. A night guard protects your teeth from the forces of grinding.
Avoid frequent snacking – Snacking throughout the day releases acid in your mouth that breaks down tooth enamel and weakens teeth. Although some people think brushing their teeth after snacking is the solution, it is not because brushing teeth while they are weak can further wear tooth enamel.
Look for high-quality dental care – A dentist with a commitment to continuing education and the latest techniques will provide work to improve your oral health and keep your teeth strong. If you do need fillings or restorative work, a skilled dentist will use techniques that minimize the impact on your tooth structure.

Although you need a third root canal treatment, if your dentist is not conservative in his treatment, we suggest that you get a second opinion. Root canal treatment weakens teeth, and if your tooth needs a crown afterward, conservatively preparing it will help preserve it. Also, talk to the dentist about your plans for teeth whitening and ask how you can minimize sensitivity during treatment.

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

How Long Is Too Long to Wait for an Abscessed Tooth Extraction?

Posted on November 14, 2021 by AllSmiles.

About a month after teeth whitening and preparing to get porcelain veneers, an upper left molar broke. The tooth has an abscess and is making me tired and foggy. Now the specialist says he cannot save the tooth, so I need an extraction and dental implants. The soonest appointment the office has is two weeks away. I feel sick, and the sluggishness and pain are affecting my concentration. Is it okay to switch to another specialist who can remove the tooth sooner? – Thank you. Krystal A. from NC

Krystal,

Thank you for choosing our office for your question.

If the specialist (we assume an endodontist or oral surgeon) did not give you a reason for waiting two weeks, yes, look for one who can complete the removal and get rid of the infection. Explain to your dentist that your tooth infection is making you ill and you do not want it to linger for two more weeks.

How Long Can You Wait to Remove an Abscessed Tooth?

An abscessed tooth results from an infection. And an untreated tooth infection will continue to spread, even if it does not complicate tooth removal.

A cosmetic dentist can match your dental implant to your whitened teeth

While your body is fighting the infection, your immune system is weak and more vulnerable to other infections. Delaying tooth removal will only make things worse. Also, although many people take antibiotics to minimize the infection, it will not go away without root canal treatment or tooth removal.

Your dentist can refer you to another specialist to complete your treatment. Otherwise, if you have dental insurance that allows you to self-refer, you can see a specialist to remove your tooth an explain when you can receive an implant.

If your dentist does not have advanced cosmetic skills, look for one with training who will perfectly match your implant crown to your newly whitened teeth.

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

What is causing tooth sensitivity near my gumline?

Posted on October 9, 2021 by AllSmiles.

For the past few weeks, my left first molar has been sensitive. It is hoe sensitive to heat or cold, but it is sensitive to pressure near the gumline. I get regular cleanings at the dentist. Could this be tooth decay that my dentist has not detected? I stopped using my teeth whitening trays because it makes the sensitivity worse. – Thank you. Xavier from Oklahoma City

Xavier,

Thank you for your question.

Continuous tooth irritation can lead to nerve damage and root canal treatment. When teeth are sensitive to heat and cold, it Is a symptom of progressing infection. But if you only feel sensitivity to the touch in a spot, hear your gumline, your dentist can seal the area with a small filling to relieve the sensitivity.

What Causes Sensitivity Near the Gumline?

Woman's mouth clenching teeth - for info on tooth sensitivity from Metairie dentist Duane Delaune, DDS

Teeth clenching and grinding can cause sensitivity

Teeth flex for several reasons, including:

Chewing food
Grinding teeth
Clenching teeth

Grinding and clenching increase the pressure on teeth and cause more damage to them. If you clench or grind your teeth, consider asking your dentist for a custom night guard, an oral appliance you can wear at night. A night guard will minimize the impact on your teeth.

It is challenging for many dentists to get fillings to adhere in the grooves without popping out. But flexible filling material, such as a microfill composite will stick. Your dentist must keep your tooth dry while applying composite to ensure a firm bond.

Summary

Sensitivity near the gumline is not always a symptom of tooth decay. If you have bulges in a tooth, your dentist can seal it or use a small amount of microfill to eliminate the sensitivity.

If your dentist cannot resolve the issue, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist to place the filling. After the sensitivity resolves, you can resume teeth whitening treatment.

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

How Much Is Needed for a Smile Makeover?

Posted on July 30, 2021 by writeradmin.

I’m a little confused about smile makeovers. I was told that THE procedure for this was porcelain veneers, but when I went to see my dentist for this, he is suggesting I have teeth whitening, Invisalign, and porcelain veneers. Is all this REALLY necessary? I was under the impression that porcelain veneers can make teeth look straight. The only thing I have like that is one front tooth goes just slightly over the other. I would think you could shave that down, though I am not a cosmetic dentist. Am I misunderstanding something here?

Susan

Dear Susan,

There are a few things going on here. First, you are correct that porcelain veneers are the way to go if you are getting a smile makeover. You mentioned that you are not a cosmetic dentist so maybe you did not understand how they worked. The trouble is your dentist may not be a cosmetic dentist either. Believe it or not, cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. Any general dentist can do cosmetic dentistry regardless of the amount of training they’ve received. That leads me to answer your questions. Some of what he said could be necessary and one is not.

Let’s start with the teeth whitening. Unless you are placing porcelain veneers on every single visible tooth, then teeth whitening will be a good idea. You did not mention how many porcelain veneers you are getting. Most smiles are 8-10 teeth wide. Unless you are getting that many veneers, the whitening will help the adjacent teeth to blend in nicely and is less expensive than additional veneers. Just make certain that you do the teeth whitening before the veneers.

The Invisalign is a completely different story. Some cases are so complicated that it might be necessary, but from your description, it is NOT necessary in your case. An experienced cosmetic dentist could definitely make those teeth look straight. I don’t think your dentist is an expert cosmetic dentist. That is why he is suggesting Invisalign. It will help compensate for what he is not capable of doing on his own.

My suggestion is you find an expert cosmetic dentist to do your case. You will be much happier with the results. To find one with real expertise and proven artistry, I would look on the mynewsmile.com website. These are some of the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

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

Matching Dental Work to Really White Teeth

Posted on April 1, 2021 by writeradmin.

I am new to my area due to getting transferred. I’ve always whitened my teeth once every two years and they are very white. With the transfer and the pandemic, I haven’t had time to find a new dentist and recently fell and chipped a tooth. I went to a dentist someone at work recommended. He told me I’d need to get a crown on the tooth to repair it. The problem I am having is getting the crown to match. I’ve asked him to send it back to make it whiter as it is obviously darker than my teeth, but he insists this is the whitest shade and showed me a shade guide to prove it. I’m having a hard time believing that people who whiten their teeth never need dental crowns. Is there no way to make my dental work match my whitened teeth?

Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,

I think what you are up against is your bread and butter family dentist versus a true cosmetic dentist. While there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, there are dentists who have invested a significant amount of more time in cosmetic training than others. Dentists who invest in this training know things your average dentist doesn’t. One of those things is the tools available to match dental work. Your dentist is probably using the old color shade guide (pictured above).

That particular shade guide worked for many years. But, then teeth whitening gained in popularity this shade guide became outdated. Teeth were now whiter than the whitest shade on the guide. To respond to this need, I new shade guide was developed. This one had much whiter shades that dentists can use to match to the needed dental work. This shade guide (pictured directly below) has whiter options.

You did not say where the tooth was, but my guess. is it is a front tooth. This is even more challenging. To be quite frank, I don’t think your dentist is up to the task. The front teeth are the most visible because the light hits them directly, exposing all the variations and subtleties of the teeth. Even expert cosmetic dentists will take one or two try-ins before getting it right. If he does not even have the right shade guide, then he will not be able to match a crown to a front tooth which will need specific additional instructions to the ceramist. In your place, I would look for a dentist recommended on the mynewsmile.com website. These are among the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

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

Click here to learn about our complimentary virtual smile makeover consultation.

Premium Home Whitening

Posted on March 20, 2021 by writeradmin.

I received an advertisement for Premium Home Whitening. While the price is cheaper than what my dentist asks for teeth whitening, it is still higher than I want to risk on something I am not sure will work. Do you know if this is a legitimate product or not?

Katherine

Dear Katherine,

Teeth whitening trays

I am glad you wrote. I’ve looked into this. There are three main parts to this kit and I’ll go over each of them one at a time, then give my recommendation.

The Light:

This is the one part of this kit I would say it completely bogus. It doesn’t do anything. I think it is there simply as a sales gimmick, which bugs me.

The Whitening Ingredient:

This part is good, actually. It lists 35% carbamide peroxide. That is an effective whitening ingredient and will whiten your teeth. So, that is good news.

The Tray:

This will have some gaps because it is basically a DIY tray. If you look at the image above, I’ve posted a picture of professional bleaching trays. These are custom-fit to your specific bite. This will cause three specific issues:

The tray will get saliva in it, which will weaken the strength of the gel.
The gel itself can leak out, which does zero good toward any whitening benefit.
Your gums are no longer protected which can lead to some irritation and other issues.

Getting Your Teeth Whitened

My suggestion, because the cost of this is close to what your dentist charges is to simply talk to your dentist about the advertisement and price and ask if he or she would be willing to do your teeth whitening for around the same price. You will get more effective teeth whitening, all while being under the care and observation of a dentist.

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

What Else is Necessary with Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on January 16, 2021 by writeradmin.

I want to get porcelain veneers. My dentist is fine with that but said he wants me to get my teeth whitened first and my crooked front tooth straightened with Invisalign. I thought that porcelain veneers made your teeth whiter and could make a crooked tooth look straight. What else is really necessary with porcelain veneers?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

I can give you some guidelines here, but bear in mind that I have not examined you so it would be irresponsible to give specifics. In principle, you are right, porcelain veneers can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. If that is the case, why would you need anything else?

Let’s start with the teeth whitening. Most dentists will suggest you whiten at least your bottom arch of teeth. Patients generally only get veneers on their upper teeth, so if you want your two arches to blend, whitening the bottom teeth is an inexpensive way to do that. You would only need to whiten the upper arch of your teeth if you were not getting enough porcelain veneers to cover the teeth that are exposed when you smile. Most people have a smile that is 8-10 teeth wide. Let’s say you were getting just six porcelain veneers. Then, the adjacent teeth would not match when you smiled. Whitening them will help them to blend.

The Invisalign is a whole different story. It is rare for a patient to need orthodontics and porcelain veneers. You mentioned you had a crooked front tooth. An experienced cosmetic dentist can make crooked teeth look straight with porcelain veneers. The exception to that would be if you had a pretty complicated orthodontic case. That doesn’t sound like you at all.

This gives me a clue to your dentist. It is quite possible your dentist is using Invisalign like a crutch. He doesn’t feel comfortable shaping crooked teeth with porcelain veneers so he only wants to work with the ideal cases. If it isn’t ideal he suggests other procedures until it is. This is a waste of your money and time.

I suggest you get the teeth whitening with him. It is inexpensive and useful. Then, get the porcelain veneers with an expert cosmetic dentist. I recommend looking on the mynewsmile.com website. The man who runs this site is a retired cosmetic dentist. He prescreens every dentist who wants to be listed there for their training, technical knowledge, and artistry. Any one of them can give you a stunning smile makeover, without having to do unnecessary procedures to get there.

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

Retouching up Teeth Whitening

Posted on December 23, 2020 by writeradmin.

I need to get a dental crown on a front tooth. I know the color will be permanent so I want to retouch up my teeth whitening before settling on the color of the crown. Do you have any tips about how to go about this? Specifically, I am looking at how long I should whiten every day and for how many days.

Caroline

Dear Caroline,

Teeth whitening trays

I’m glad you wrote. I am curious though if your dentist was unable to advise you of this. The reason I ask is because placing a dental crown on a front tooth is much trickier than other dental crowns. It takes some expertise in cosmetic dentistry to do a crown properly on a front tooth. If he wasn’t able to answer the questions about teeth whitening, which does not require expertise, I am going to advise you to find a different dentist at least for the crown.

If it turns out that you do need to switch dentists in order to get a beautiful porcelain crown to match your other front teeth, I recommend you see someone who is recommended on the mynewsmile.com website. These dentists have all been prescreened and are among the top cosmetic dentists in the country.

Touching Up Teeth Whitening

In practice, it is up to you how long each day you leave on your teeth whitening trays. The longer you can leave them on each day, the faster they will whiten. But, if your teeth are sensitive and you can only do them a little bit each day, that is okay too. You will just have to do more days. The fastest would be to sleep in the trays if you can.

While there is no cut and dried rule for how many hours per day or days in general to whiten, there is a standard for how long to wait between the time you stop whitening and you go in for your dental crown. I would recommend giving it one week for the color to settle on your teeth before having the dentist create your dental crown.

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

Bleaching Teeth with Clorox

Posted on November 14, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have a friend who has pretty white teeth. I asked her which teeth whitening she uses and she told me she just rinses with Clorox Bleach every day. Is that safe?

Penny

Dear Penny,

I am always amazed at the creative questions we sometimes get here. I think this one is a first for me. So there are a couple of things to consider here. First, Clorox (chemically speaking) is a strong base. Think of Lye and that might give you an idea of what I mean. Because of its base strength, it is highly corrosive to organic tissue.

As an example, many dentists use a household bleach curing root canal treatments. It is a method we learned in dental school to help dissolve any organic debris left inside a cleaned out root. It also disinfects the tooth. Notice we’re using it to dissolve something.

A second consideration is when bleach comes into contact with certain other types of chemicals, it will release chlorine gas, which is toxic.

Finally, there is the label on the back of the bottle that says it is a violation of federal law to use it in any way other than what it was manufactured for. If you’ve already pulled the tag off your mattress, that is two strikes and you could end up in “the pen” for a long time.

Healthy Teeth Whitening

The most effective and safest way to whiten your teeth is with a dentist. Generally, they offer two options for you. The first is take-home whitening. This lets you have more control over how white your teeth get. Once you reach the level of whitening you want, you can simply stop using the whitening gel.

A second option is Zoom Whitening. This is done in the dentist’s office and will get your teeth their whitest in just one appointment. This has the advantage of being the fastest, but if you just want a mild whitening, this will whiten beyond that.

Plus, you won’t have to worry about the bleach or mattress police.

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