cosmetic dentist Archives - Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog

Which Ceramic Crowns Can Hide a Dark Front Tooth?

Posted on August 15, 2023 by AllSmiles.

I have crowns on my front teeth. They are old and fused to metal. The front left tooth had a root canal in 2012, and the tooth is dark. Which ceramic crowns should I request to hide the dark tooth without making it evident that my front teeth have crowns on them? Thank you. Viviana from IL

Viviana,

We understand your concerns. We advise patients to focus on the dentist’s skill to restore their smile rather than the materials used. The riskiest thing you could do is to pick crown material and ask your dentist to use it. This could put the dentist outside their comfort zone, working with an unfamiliar material and producing an unattractive outcome. Remember, no material will guarantee a beautiful result unless the dentist is artistic.

Consider several reasons.

Which Ceramic Is Best for Front Teeth Crowns?

The best ceramics for front teeth crowns depend on several factors, including the condition of your teeth, whether they are discolored, and your dentist’s skill and preferences. We recommend searching for a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training to determine which crowns will produce the most natural-looking results for your teeth.

All-ceramic crowns look natural

While it’s true that porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns don’t look entirely natural, many all-ceramic crowns can look so real that even a trained professional might be unable to tell they’re not your natural teeth.

Durable ceramics are plentiful

All-ceramic options are strong enough for your front teeth, so there is no need to worry about that aspect.

Your dentist’s artistic talent matters

Matching a dental crown to the natural tooth next to it is a challenge. Front teeth show when you smile, so achieving a match is vital to helping you feel confident about your smile. Find a dentist with artistic ability and advanced cosmetic dentistry training. Let the dentist choose a ceramic based on your case and the dentist’s experience and comfort level. Skilled cosmetic dentists collaborate with a master ceramist who understands ceramics and can achieve beautiful results.

Can a Dental Crown Hide a Dark Front Tooth?

If you have an underlying dark tooth, a dentist and ceramist must mask it with opaquer. One technique is to use a composite buildup material and then add the crown. However, some dentists prefer to instruct the lab ceramist to use an opaque layer in the crown instead. and then layer it with feldspathic porcelain for a natural-looking result.

Before choosing a dentist, you can schedule consultations with two or three advanced cosmetic dentists to compare your options and the dentists’ work. A trained cosmetic dentist will balance your bite to prevent TMJ concerns, ensuring your smile is healthy and attractive.

Before and after dark front teeth restored with dental crown photos from Metairie, LA, cosmetic dentist Dr. Delaune

Dr. Delaune’s patient

Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post. Read why Dr. Delaune’s patients consider him one of the best dentists in town.

Would Teeth Stains from Silver Fillings Show Through White Ones?

Posted on March 27, 2023 by AllSmiles.

I have three silver fillings starting with my upper left lateral incisor and back. The fillings are old, and I want them replaced with composite. My dentist told me that the silver fillings may have stained my teeth, and the stains might show if I replaced them with white fillings. I don’t understand this and have not heard of it before. Can silver fillings stain teeth? If so, can a dentist remove the stains before placing white fillings? Maybe my dentist doesn’t want to do white fillings. Thanks for your help. Vivian

Vivian,

Thank you for contacting Delaune Dental in Metairie. We understand your concerns about the appearance of your teeth after removing amalgam fillings.

Do Silver Teeth Fillings Stain Your Teeth?

Amalgam (silver) fillings can discolor your teeth as they age, but the discoloration is usually insignificant. Still, a 2009 Journal of Dentistry report on the effects of amalgam on dentin (the layer beneath tooth enamel) published findings after reviewing articles on amalgam removal, including the following:

Darkly discolored dentin may be present beneath amalgam restoration
The dentin contains amalgam corrosion products
The dark dentin is demineralized

When a dentist replaces an amalgam filling with composite, it strengthens your tooth and improves its appearance. A cosmetic dentist will ensure your teeth and smile are attractive.

How Do Silver and Amalgam Fillings Compare?

Placing composite fillings on back teeth is very different than using amalgam. The process takes more time and more skill. According to the American Dental Association, it is easier for a dentist to place amalgam fillings than tooth-colored fillings. A dentist must isolate the tooth with a cavity and keep it perfectly dry to ensure the composite adheres to your tooth.

If your dentist is uncomfortable placing the composite fillings, we suggest finding a mercury-free cosmetic dentist with post-graduate training and experience with composite fillings. If you insist on a treatment your dentist is uncomfortable with, you may not get natural-looking results or fillings that last.

Metairie, Louisiana, dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read how he strives to offer patients the best dental care in Metairie.

My Tooth Fillings Are Still Too High

Posted on October 6, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I’m tired of going to the dentist because my tooth fillings are too high. I want to change dentists because I chose this dentist who advertised as being holistic, but he can’t get my white fillings right. I had three silver fillings replaced with white ones, and my dentist keeps sanding them, but they don’t feel right when I chew. If he keeps sanding, the fillings will be too low. All the sanding makes the fillings rough, too. I can’t give up and do nothing because an uneven bite is uncomfortable. Should I give my dentist another chance or just move on? Thank you. Pilar from Philadelphia

Pilar,

Thank you for contacting Dr. Delaune’s office and sharing your experience. We understand the frustration of getting uncomfortable dental fillings.

Why Are Your Tooth Fillings Too High?

If your tooth fillings are too high, one of these reasons may be the cause:

Overfilling the tooth
Failing to adjust your bite correctly
Failing to check your bite

What Are the Symptoms of a High Tooth Filling?

When a tooth filling is too high, the opposing tooth (top or bottom) will strike it with more force when you bite or chew. The ongoing pressure irritates your tooth ligament. You may feel tooth sensitivity, pain, or discomfort when chewing when your teeth are at rest.

Should You Switch Dentists?

If your dentist lacks the skill or technique to restore your teeth correctly with dental composite, you may need to switch dentists. Although your dentist respects your wishes for mercury-free fillings, faulty work will create tooth irritation that can lead to an infection. A persistent infection will require root canal treatment.

Request a Consultation

We recommend looking for a skilled cosmetic dentist who uses biocompatible dental materials and advanced cosmetic dentistry techniques. Even if the dentist does not advertise services as holistic, you will get quality, comfortable cosmetic fillings.

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

My Dentist Won’t Admit He Ruined My Bridge

Posted on June 10, 2022 by AllSmiles.

While placing two new crowns last December, my dentist nicked one of the crowns in a Maryland bridge that I got in 2002. The bridge is old, but I had no intention of replacing it because it is in good condition. And the nicked crown is my left front tooth. Two weeks later, I noticed silver showing through the crown that my dentist nicked. He insisted that the problem was from grinding my teeth, but he knew better. My dentist quickly notices any changes in my teeth, so he would have told me if my teeth grinding was causing a problem. Besides that, I wear a nighttime mouth guard.

Anyway, when I complained about the silver dot, my dentist asked me to schedule an appointment, and he placed composite over the dot. Now the dot is showing through the composite. I know the crowns have metal beneath them, but I am concerned that I need a new bridge. Now I don’t trust my dentist. I was supposed to get silver fillings replaced next, but I am hesitant to have him do any more work on my teeth. Do I have a choice or an alternative to replacing the Maryland bridge? – Wendy from Queens, NY

Wendy,

Thank you for your question. Although many dentists have adjusted a patient’s bite and damaged the crown, it usually does not happen to front teeth. Your dentist probably does not want to admit his mistake because it would obligate him to replace your Maryland bridge.

We suggest that you find a dentist for a second opinion. Ask the dentist if the crowns on your bridge show signs of teeth grinding. Some dentists use this method to detect the cause of damage:

Glide a metal explorer over the porcelain, which will not leave a mark if the damage is not from a dental bur. The metal explorer would leave a mark if a dental bur damaged your crown.

Ask the second-opinion dentist to document their findings. Return to your dentist with an explanation of the results.

Repairing a Nicked Crown in a Maryland Bridge

It is challenging to repair a nick in a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown without replacing the Maryland bridge. Your dentist’s attempt to improve the crown with composite did not work. Panavia is a brand of dental bonding cement that will bond to metal. An experienced cosmetic dentist may successfully hide the metal with these steps:

Grind away more of the metal to make room for the Panavia dental bonding cement
Use a micro-etcher to roughen the metal
Prime the metal before applying a thin layer of the bonding cement
Cure the cement and apply composite that matches the crown color
Shape and polish the cement

Whenever it is time to replace the bridge, newer ceramic options will give you durability and natural-looking results. You can also ask about replacing your silver fillings. This technique is not a guarantee. Seek a highly experienced cosmetic dentist for a second opinion to evaluate your Maryland bridge and discuss your options for saving it.

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

Will Lingering Sensitivity After a White Filling Lead to an Extraction?

Posted on November 29, 2021 by AllSmiles.

I am afraid that lingering sensitivity after a white filling is going to require a dental implant. Last April, after my dentist filled my tooth, it became sensitive to cold. I returned to the dentist, and she said that the cavity was so deep that the tooth might be irritated. She recommended putting a temporary crown over the tooth and later a root canal if the sensitivity continued. The tooth is still sensitive, but I am hesitant about getting a root canal. If I do not get a root canal, is there a chance of losing the tooth and needing an implant? – Thanks. Dean from PA

Dean,

Thank you for your question.

Will Lingering Sensitivity After a White Filling Lead to Root Canal or Extraction?

Whether lingering sensitivity after a filling requires root canal treatment depends on the status of your tooth. If the sensitivity gets worse, it is probably due to an infection that requires root canal treatment.

What Causes Delayed Sensitivity After a Filling?

Delayed sensitivity after a filling may mean that some decay got into the tooth pulp. Sometimes your body’s defenses will get rid of the infection.

Will You Need an Extraction?

Lingering tooth sensitivity should not lead to an extraction and implant unless you neglect the tooth

You will not need an extraction and dental implant unless the sensitivity worsens and you leave it untreated. You are seeking help, so it seems to be an unlikely scenario for you. Even so, despite what you may have heard, dentists make root canal treatment painless. If you have dental anxiety, ask your dentist about sedation options.

We do not understand your dentist’s work on your tooth or why she placed a crown over a sensitive tooth. But if a tooth is sensitive after a white filling, it is best to give it time to recover. Sometimes, the more you do to a tooth, irritation will increase. If the tooth gets worse, you can give your dentist a chance to resolve it, or you can get a second opinion.

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

Are My Dental Crowns Making My Teeth Chatter?

Posted on November 23, 2021 by AllSmiles.

My new crowns feel bulky and make my teeth feel dry. My dentist replaced my old, discolored composite with crowns. But since I got the crowns in September, she adjusted the bite six times, and they still do not feel right. The crowns give me a lisp, and I keep chattering my teeth. I don’t know if it’s the crowns or my nerves.

I seem to get relief from Chewing gum, although I have not chewed gum in years. My dentist says the crowns look fine, but they do not look fine, nor do they feel good on my teeth. Should I see another dentist to adjust the crowns, or am I overthinking the issue and making myself nervous? Thank you. Dawn from Chicago

Dawn,

Thank you for your question.

Unfortunately, replacing dental bonding with crowns is an aggressive treatment. Dental bonding requires conservative tooth preparation, but your dentist had to shave your teeth down for crowns. An advanced cosmetic dentist would have replaced the bonding only.

Do Dental Crowns Make Your Teeth Chatter?

If dental crowns make your teeth chatter, it is likely because your bite is off. When a dentist places crowns correctly, they are natural and comfortable. But you said that your crowns have not fit since you received them.

You should not try to adjust to the way your crowns look and feel. Bite issues eventually cause other symptoms like jaw pain, earaches, and headaches—symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

What Can You Do If your Crowns Are Too Large?

If your crowns are too large or bulky and your dentist cannot correct the issues, schedule a second opinion from a cosmetic dentist with advanced training in occlusion and bite. The training helps dentists understand how your upper and lower teeth should come in contact when you close your mouth, bite, and chew.

A skilled cosmetic dentist can provide new crowns that look and feel natural.

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

Contouring Teeth

Posted on August 26, 2020 by writeradmin.

Ever since I had my braces, off the jagged edges of some of my teeth have bothered me. Can this be fixed? If so, would it be done by my regular dentist or is it something the orthodontist would do? I like how straight they are now, but would like smooth edges.

Misty

Dear Misty,

Congratulations on getting your braces off and having lovely straight teeth. The repair for the jagged edges on your teeth is called tooth contouring or cosmetic contouring. You would only want this done minimally on just the enamel of your teeth. Often orthodontists will do this for minor issues at the end of your case. However, if yours didn’t, I wonder if has some complicated issues to it. In that case, I would be very careful who you had do the contouring for you. In choosing a cosmetic dentist to do it, I would likely aim for someone who has real expertise in dental cosmetics. The mynewsmile.com website has a “find a cosmetic dentist” link. They prescreen anyone who wishes to be listed and only the best cosmetic dentists will make the cut. You can’t just purchase your way to a listing.

An Example of Dental Contouring

In the case above, there was some tooth contouring done to smooth out the appearance of the teeth. Then, the dentist added some composite bonding to the sides of the teeth to create a beautiful, aesthetic result. You want to find a dentist who can give you this type of results. Whether or not you are in need of the additional work of dental bonding.

If You Add Bonding

I don’t know your goals for your smile. You may be perfectly content with the contouring work and nothing else. That is fine. If you do decide there are spaces you’d like to close with bonding, it will save you money if you think long-term. When you get bonding done, the color made is permanent. If you will be doing teeth whitening anytime in the next few years, do it before you get the bonding done. This way, you can have the bonding color made with the new brighter, white color.

You don’t have to. If you decide to wait and whiten later, just bear in mind that only natural tooth structure will when. The bonding will stay the same original color. The only way to get them to match at that point is to replace the bonding.

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

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

Posted on January 31, 2012 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.