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How Can I Safely Straighten My Teeth During Pregnancy?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

How can I safely straighten my teeth during pregnancy? I planned on getting porcelain veneers next February because I want straight teeth. Now, I am pregnant and don’t want to introduce any dental chemicals into my body until the baby is delivered. And as I am typing this, I’ll probably have the same concerns while I’m breastfeeding for a year. What chemicals should I be concerned about with porcelain veneers? – Fatu from CT

Fatu,

While in dental school, dentists are taught the following regarding dental treatment during pregnancy.

  • First trimester – Avoid introducing chemicals that might harm the baby
  • Second trimester – Scheduling routine dental work is okay
  • Third trimester – Whenever possible, avoid stress on the mother by limiting care to dental emergencies

Are Porcelain Veneers Safe During Pregnancy?

One porcelain veneer held by dental forceps

Porcelain veneer

Only local anesthetic—one of the safest medications—is used if you choose porcelain veneers for teeth alignment. Lidocaine is a commonly used local anesthetic that is proven to be safe during pregnancy.

Your concerns are understandable. If you want straighter teeth but don’t want porcelain veneers throughout your pregnancy and during breastfeeding, there is an alternative.

Invisalign During Pregnancy

A typical Invisalign case can be completed in a year or less. Although porcelain veneers are a faster way to align your teeth, if you wait until the baby is delivered and breastfeeding is complete, you’ll have 19 months to complete Invisalign treatment. Invisalign is more affordable than porcelain veneers. Your dentist might need to bond small composite tabs to your teeth to help the aligners grip and move them. You will also wear BPA-free, medical-grade aligners to straighten your teeth.

Maintain regular hygiene appointments to keep your gums and teeth healthy during pregnancy. Before you receive Invisalign or any other dental treatment, your dentist will review your medical and dental histories to ensure you’re a candidate. You’ll undoubtedly weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to proceed with dental treatment.

 

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

A Front-Tooth Porcelain Veneer Is Too White

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Last month, I got porcelain veneers on my 4 top front teeth. One veneer is much whiter than the others and looks slightly thicker. Also, all the Lumineers are lighter than my natural teeth. It’s so embarrassing.  My dentist and I talked for a long time about this, but she says the veneer will darken with time. Aren’t they supposed to match now? Should I insist on a new veneer or ask for a refund? Thank you.

Gayle – Yes, your new Lumineers and natural teeth should match. Veneers should blend in with your natural teeth’s size and shape.

One porcelain veneer held by dental forceps

Porcelain veneer

Porcelain is colorfast, which means your veneers can’t be made lighter or darker after they have been crafted. You and your dentist should agree upon the shade of your veneers before crafting a wax model.

Speak with your dentist about correcting the color and thickness of the too-white veneer and whitening your teeth to match the porcelain veneers closer. If your dentist hesitates, we recommend scheduling a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist for the following services:

  • Whiten your natural teeth – It is possible a skilled cosmetic dentist can whiten your natural teeth to match the color of your porcelain veneers closely. A cosmetic dentist will need to examine your teeth to determine if you are a candidate for teeth bleaching. If you are, the dentist will explain the results you can expect with whitening and how closely your natural teeth will match the veneers. Ordinarily, you should get teeth whitening before veneers.
  • Get a new porcelain veneer – Your dentist and ceramist can collaborate to replace the veneer that is whiter than the others.

We strongly suggest taking the time to find an experienced cosmetic dentist. You may want to find a few cosmetic dentists experienced with porcelain veneers and have a consultation with each to compare the options and costs. After you get a second opinion, you can consider speaking with your dentist about fair compensation for having the extra work done by another dentist.

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