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Lumineers to get my Hollywood smile?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I am looking at some celebrity photos and their teeth look the perfect size and very white. Did some of them have to get lumineers to get a smile like that or could teeth whitening do it? I want the same kind of Hollywood smile. – Ariel

Ariel – Lumineers, a brand of porcelain veneers, can make your teeth their whitest and look larger, but they may not be the best option for you. In fact, you may not need porcelain veneers at all to make your teeth look larger and whiter.

If you are thinking about getting a smile makeover, see a cosmetic dentist. If your gumline is low on your teeth, it can make them look smaller. Gum contouring can be done to reduce the size of your gumline and make your teeth look larger.

Teeth whitening from a cosmetic dentist can get your teeth brilliantly white.

We can’t recommend any treatment for you without an examination, but visit an experienced cosmetic dentist to find out your options for enhancing your smile.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Many patients think he is the best dentist in New Orleans.

Loose dental implant

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I had 3 dental implants fitted in April and one has come a bit loose. Can this be dangerous or is just like a loose tooth that will fall out later? – Janet

Janet – Dental implants should not become lose or fall out. A loose implant is a sign of dental implant failure. Have you had any follow-up visits with your implant dentist to check the progress of your implants?

A dental can become loose if it is improperly placed, if cheap implant fixtures are used, or if you have inadequate bone density to support the implant. You should schedule an appointment with your implant dentist right away. If the dental implant has failed, it will need to be completely redone.

If you prefer, you can get a second opinion from an experienced implants. He or she will examine the implant and let you know your treatment options.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read about his Top Dentist award from his peers, and find out why his patients consider him to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

My tetracycline stains are showing through my porcelain veneers

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I have very dark tetracycline stains on my teeth. My dentist told me that he could cover the stains with porcelain veneers. I trusted him because I have seen this dentist since 2002. Two weeks ago, I got the porcelain veneers. My teeth now look light gray. The stains are still showing through. Last Friday, I spoke with my dentist and he said that he did the best he could and that at least my teeth are not a very dark shade of gray. If porcelain veneers can’t really make my teeth look white, why did my dentist tell me he could cover the stains? Thanks Autumn

Autumn – Porcelain veneers can successfully cover tetracycline stains, but only if the veneers are placed by a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist.

The porcelain needs to be manipulated so that it covers the tetracycline stains, but also has the color and translucency of natural teeth. Only an artistic cosmetic dentist has the skill to accomplish this difficult task.

It sounds as if your veneers are too translucent, so the color of the stains on your natural teeth is showing through.

Speak with your dentist about your desire to have a natural-looking smile. Let him know that the veneers you currently have do not meet your expectations. He may work with you to cover at least some of the cost of having your porcelain veneers expertly placed by a skilled cosmetic dentist.

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

Receiving dental care without dental insurance

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Millions of Americans avoid going to the dentist because they don’t have dental insurance. Did you know that many dentists provide options that allow you to maintain good oral health, even if you don’t have dental insurance?

Some dentists have in-office monthly payment plans. Others accept payment through major credit cards. CareCredit® is a popular financing company through which many dentists offer no-interest financing.

Before you decide that you can’t afford dental care, selectively choose a few dentists from whom you think you would be comfortable receiving treatment. Visit the financial arrangements page on their website or call the office to get details on how dental treatment can be made affordable for you.

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

How can I get rid of facial wrinkles without Botox?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I am 44 years old, but I look more like 52. I know I look older because I asked a few random people at work how old they think I am. All of them gave an age over 50. Part of the reason for looking older are the deep creases in my face. I got them honest from my mother and grandmother who have the creases and they look 8 to 10 years older than they are. I want to do something about it, but I don’t want Botox. I read online about a couple of ladies that had a bad experience with it. What are my options? Thanks – Sharon

Sharon – Botox® is effective in erasing facial wrinkles. Although serious side effects rarely occur, the usual side effects after treatment are redness or bruising, which gradually go away in a week.

Juvederm® is an alternative. This dermal filler contains hyaluronic acid. This acid is a natural moisturizing agent that is in body tissue. Hyaluronic acid decreases as we age, and Juvederm replaces it and adds moisture back into your face.

The treatment usually lasts about 15 minutes. The most common side effects after treatment are some redness or bruising, which will diminish in about a week. Your provider will discuss other possible side effects with you. The results will last eight months to a year. After that time, if you want to maintain the results, the treatment needs to be repeated.

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

 

Best way to fix two loosened teeth

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I was involved in a domestic dispute over the weekend, the day after THanksgiving, and a blow to my mouth caused my front two teeth to loosen. I don’t want to be taken advantage of with dental work that I don’t need. I will be making an appointment this week, but will you please tell me what is the proper treatment for my teeth? Vanessa

Vanessa – We are very sorry to hear about your incident and the damage that it did to your teeth.

If the roots of your teeth are not fractured, a dentist needs to bond your teeth into the correct position so the bone will heal. Your teeth should be fine after that. You will need a follow-up appointment with the dentist to ensure there is no nerve damage to your teeth.

A root canal treatment will be needed if you do have nerve damage. If the root canal treatment is needed, the dentist will ensure that crown of the tooth is free of cement. This prevents the tooth from darkening with time. If your tooth was in good condition prior to the damage, it’s unlikely that you need a porcelain crown, which will likely weaken the tooth.

Best wishes on the repair of your teeth.

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

 

How can I correctly whiten my teeth before receiving porcelain crowns?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Hi, I am getting 4 new crowns in January. I have used Opalescence for whitening my teeth. I want to get my teeth to right as far as whitening is concerned before I get the crowns. Will you please tell me how many weeks I should do the touch up and how long I should keep the gel on each time? Also I know the whitening keeps working for a while after I stop the touch up, so should I give it a few weeks to take affect before my appointment or what is the right amount of time? – Tonya Miller

Tonya – It concerns us that you didn’t receive details from your dentist on how to effectively whiten your teeth before you receive your crowns. An excellent cosmetic dentist would have discussed teeth whitening with you in detail as part of your treatment plan.

How long you should do your touch-up depends on how white you want your teeth to be. Your teeth will become increasingly whiter, the longer you do the touch-up. The pace of the whitening will get slower, but your teeth will continue to brighten.

How long you leave the gel on with each touch-up treatment depends on how sensitive your teeth are to the bleaching gel. For daytime whitening, you should leave the gel on at least 20 to 30 minutes. If you sleep with the whitening trays on your teeth, the gel is less inhibited by saliva slow while you sleep, and the whitening will be even more effective.

Oxygen bubbles from the bleaching gel continue to whiten your teeth for approximately two weeks after your touch-up treatment is complete. Complete the touch-up at least two full weeks before receiving your porcelain crowns.

Touch-ups are needed every year or two to keep your smile bright. Certain food and drink like coffee, tea, and berries can stain your teeth, so the touch-ups will remove the stains.

A dentist with strong cosmetic dentistry credentials will ensure that your touch-ups are correctly done before you receive your crowns. He or she will also ensure that your crowns perfectly match your natural teeth.

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

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 a broken partial denture be fixed?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

The metal bar on my partial denture broke. The partial is for 2 upper left and 2 upper right teeth. The teeth are now kind of hanging lower than they should but I don’t want to remove the partial all together because then I would have 4 missing teeth. Can I get it fixed? Tom

Tom – Unfortunately, the metal framework of a partial denture cannot be fixed. The partial will need to be replaced.

A traditional partial denture with the metal framework has an acrylic base, in which either acrylic or composite teeth are embedded. The plastic parts are easy to repair and re-attach to the framework. Repairing the framework would require welding, which would melt the acrylic base. The lab work required to re-position the teeth, clasps, and saddle of the framework would be just as costly as making a new partial denture.

If your budget permits, dental implants are the most effective and most natural-looking way to replace your missing teeth. They are a permanent solution, and you would be free of concerns about replacing a partial denture in the future.

This blog post is sponsored by the office of Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

A porcelain crown for a badly broken tooth

Posted on by AllSmiles.

Last year I had a root canal done. My dentist told me that I needed a crown to protect the tooth but I didn’t do it. I couldn’t afford it.  I have a few other things that I need to take care of before I consider getting a crown. This past Thursday my tooth broke down to the gum line. Is this something that can be fixed? Kirk from texas

Kirk,

Your dentist is correct. A dental crown is needed to protect the tooth after the root canal treatment. The tooth becomes brittle, because there is no blood supply to it, and the crown protects it from breaking. The break in your tooth is partially the result of not having it protected.

Your tooth is broken now, but a crown is still needed to preserve your tooth. If the tooth is left exposed, it is at further risk to become infected again, or for a root to fracture. If the root is fractured, the tooth cannot be saved. If an infection recurs, a second root canal treatment will be needed.

Although you have concerns about the cost of the crown, protecting your tooth now will save you money in the long term.

This blog post is sponsored by the office of Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.