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Cosmetic Dentistry Versus Facelift

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My upper lip has lowered over the years and now it is difficult to see my teeth when I smile, if you can see them at all. It really bothers me. I’ve done some research on having my lip lifted. It can be done, but it is challenging, not all cosmetic surgeons will even do the procedure, and there are scarring issues. I’m not sure I want to do that if there is a better option. I asked my dentist if I can approach this from the inside by having some type of cosmetic work to make the teeth longer so they show when I smile. He wasn’t sure because he doesn’t do cosmetic work. Is this do-able or do I need to go for the lip lift?

Celine

Dear Celine,

Grosse Pointe Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneer

I’m glad you wrote because this is very do-able. I’m going to suggest you have a smile makeover done with porcelain veneers. Not only can these make your teeth look longer, but they can completely remake your smile, including the shape, size, and color. Celebrities aren’t born with those perfect stunning smiles, they have this exact type of smile makeover done.

The picture above shows a single porcelain veneer. These are tiny wafers of porcelain which are designed to the shape and color which best flatters your face and smile, all while giving you the smile of your dreams. I’m sure you’ve already figured out that your dentist won’t be the best one to provide this procedure for you.

I’m sure he is a fine family dentist, but doing smile makeovers isn’t taught in dental school. It requires the dentist to invest in post-doctoral training to learn both the technical and artistic skills requisite to creating stunning smiles.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

There isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, therefore any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. This makes it tricky for the patients to know who has the real skills and who doesn’t. To help patients with that problem along with aiding dentists in getting the skills necessary, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry began an accreditation program.

Dentists who are AACD Accredited (which is different than just being a member) can provide you with a smile you’ll be proud of for the rest of your life.

One thing I’d like to suggest is you get your bottom teeth whitened so that they won’t look drastically different than your new smile on your top arch. You can do that gradually with at-home teeth whitening or in one appointment with Zoom Whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

One Porcelain Veneer is Dull

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I had porcelain veneers done by a cosmetic dentist. I did like them but one of them had some kind of defect. I tried to live with it but finally admitted to my dentist it was bugging me and ruining the whole smile in my mind. He was very nice about it and said, “We can’t have that now, can we?” He told me to come on in and he’d fix it. He did something with a tool to buff it off. I was happy at first, but now it looks dull like the glaze is gone. Am I being too picky?

Brianne

Dear Brianne,

A porcelain veneers being placed on a tooth

You are NOT being too picky. And, even if you were, you paid to have a beautiful smile you love. If you don’t have that, then you’re not getting your money’s worth. I know you called your dentist a cosmetic dentist, but not everyone who bears the name also owns the skills. I’m starting to think your dentist is one that lacks the real skill he needs to do the job well.

First, he should never have been satisfied with a defective porcelain veneer. I don’t know why he thought that was a good idea. At least he was honest about it though. I also appreciate the fact that he tried to fix it for you. That shows integrity.

Unfortunately, what he is lacking is knowledge of what would actually repair that type of problem.

Polishing a Porcelain Veneer

You’ll want to fix this. If left as it is, it will begin to pick up stains rather quickly. Stains that teeth whitening can’t fix because it’s not natural tooth structure. The dull look means the glaze was taken off during his buffing. I don’t know what he used. What I’ll do is tell you how it should be fixed and you can show your dentist.

I’d like to suggest he use Brasseler’s Dialite porcelain polishing system. Using diamond polishing instruments and polishing paste it should help. He’ll need to finish the job with an ultra-fine diamond polishing paste.

If he does this you should have a beautiful porcelain veneer again in no time.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

What Are Mercury Fillings?

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I have a cavity and have to get a filling. My sister-in-law keeps saying I have to get only get the mercury-free fillings, but how do I know it’s that? Are the other ones called mercury-free?

Amelia L.

Dear Amelia,

The old type of traditional fillings were, and still are, loaded with mercury. Their clinical name is amalgam fillings, but they’re more commonly called silver fillings. The reason your sister-in-law told you to stay away from them is mercury is known to be a toxin, with deleterious effects on both your health and cognitive function. In other words, mercury is bad for both your body and brain. That being said, the American Dental Association has declared these fillings are perfectly safe with testing data to back up their claims. Those who disagree also have tests to back up their claims, which leaves patients in a quandary. Which is correct?

Most have decided not to risk it and because we have other options in fillings, they’ve decided to go to dentists who offer mercury-free fillings. These are called composite fillings or, sometimes, white fillings. They have no mercury content and are just as useful as fillings as their older counterparts.

Talk to your dentist about your concerns. It sounds like this may be your first cavity. That’s pretty impressive. If the cavity is in a visible spot when you smile, your dentist can match it to the color of your natural teeth. No one will even be able to tell there is a filling there.

Something to consider is whether you’re planning on doing any type of cosmetic work in the near future. If you plan on doing something, like teeth whitening, you’ll want to do it before the filling so that your dentist can match the filling to the new brighter, white coloring. Once it’s bonded in place, the color can’t be changed. What’s bonded there is what you’ll get. However, that only matters if it’s on a front, visible surface of your tooth. If it’s in the grooves of a molar or some other less visible area, the matching doesn’t have to be as precise.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Whitening Working for Every Tooth Except One

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I have a problem with my teeth whitening and I can’t figure out what’s going on. I had whitening done and had great results. But, I smoke a lot so they needed a touch-up. I decided to try white strips, because it was just a touch-up and didn’t want to spend full price. All my teeth are perking up except one. Instead, it’s rapidly deteriorating and looks gray.  Have you encountered this? I’ve even been wearing the strips overnight with no change.

Azida W. – Arkansas

Azida,

First, I just want to make sure you’re using whitestrips that have been approved for overnight use. Some are.  Those that aren’t should only be worn for a maximum of thirty minutes.

If the tooth is graying, it’s likely because it is either dead or dying. That often happens when the tooth has experienced some form of trauma.  That tooth won’t whiten. You could leave the whitening on 24/7 and it won’t change.

If the tooth has died, it’s going to need a root canal treatment. After this is done, you can address the color with more success.

For future reference, if  you’ve kept your teeth whitening trays from when you had it done at the dentist’s office, you can very affordably do touch-ups. Your dentist will just charge you for some new gel.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Will Teeth Whitening Even Out My Teeth?

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I have developed these white spots on my front teeth. Will I be able to use teeth whitening to even out my tooth color?

Len- Idaho

Len,

Those spots are decalcification spots, and are a pre-cursor to decay. Using teeth whitening will not even out your teeth. It will only make the discoloration more obvious.

What you’ll need to do is get the decalcification treated. Then when the teeth are healthy, if you’re still interested in getting them whitened, that will be the time.

Your dentist will likely want to do some extra care on your teeth and do some fluoride treatments.  I wouldn’t put off getting this looked at. The next step will be decay on your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Can I can my porcelain veneers re-done?

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I had some porcelain veneers done. When he first tried them on I thought they were too long, so he sent them back. The problem is, I really didn’t get to try them on for the second time before he cemented them on permanently.  They’re really too small and two of the teeth, I think they’re called incisors, don’t match at all. Would it be a lot of trouble for my dentist to re-do the porcelain veneers?

Francine M.-Jackson, MI

Francine,

While it will be a difficulty for your dentist to re-do your porcelain veneers, you paid to have a beautiful smile and I feel  you have a right to expect one.  Plus, he really should have let you have time to try them in before permanently bonding them on. However, if the veneers are functional you don’t have a lot of recourse, so I would start by asking him very nicely.

A true cosmetic dentist would never be satisfied if his or her clients wasn’t thrilled with their new smile. Unfortunately, I do not believe your dentist is an expert cosmetic dentist, otherwise, he would never have bonded on the veneers without giving you ample time to look at them in various lighting.

If you have trouble getting him to re-do the veneers, you could take it a step further. I’d suggest getting a second opinion by a true cosmetic dentist. If he thinks they need to be re-done, he could put a little pressure on your dentist. Many dentists care about the opinion of their peers and wouldn’t want to appear incompetent.

I would use one of the dentists that are recommended by the mynewsmile.com website. There are only two recommended for the whole state of Mississippi. One in Hattisburg and one in Tupelo. Believe me, it is worth the drive.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Dental Bonding vs. Crown to fix a broken tooth

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I have a front tooth that is broken off about halfway. I’ve been to two dentists asking how best to fix it. I got two completely different answers, so I’m hoping you’ll be the tie-breaker, without me having to pay a THIRD dentist for an opinion. The first dentist said to use dental bonding to fix the front tooth, the second said bonding isn’t a good idea and I should get a crown placed.

Frank L.- Tennessee

Frank,

Truthfully, you can do either one, though with that much of your tooth missing, I would personally lean toward the crown. Why don’t I just give you the pros and cons of each and you can decide which best fits your desires and situation.

Dental Bonding Verses Dental Crowns:

  • Bonding can be done in one appointment, a crown usually takes two appointments.
  • While both procedures require a high amount of artistic talent, bonding is one of the most demanding of a dentist’s skills set. Many dentists shy away from bonding because they are not skilled enough in this procedure. You will want to ask to see before and after photographs of previous cases to make sure their work is of the caliber you would want for a front tooth. If they don’t have photos, that may be an indication they are not serious cosmetic dentists and you need to find someone else.
  • The porcelain on crowns is more durable and stain resistant than the composite material used for bonding.
  • If the bonding is extensive, covering a large area of the tooth, there is a risk of it breaking, because it isn’t as strong as a porcelain crown.
  • Bonding is slightly safer than crowns. There is a risk with crowns that the pulp of the tooth will be irritated and you will end up needing a root canal.
  • Bonding requires very little removal of tooth structure, whereas your tooth will have to be shaved down considerably for a crown.
  • It is fairly easy to have dental bonding upgraded to porcelain veneers or a crown if you’re not happy with it, but once you get a crown, you are pretty much forever committed to having a crown on that tooth.

Whichever procedure you choose, be careful about the qualifications of your cosmetic dentist. Because there is no recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. This is your front tooth and will be a very visible and important part of your smile, so be careful who you choose.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods cosmetic dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Lumineers disaster- How do I get a refund?

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Please help me. I just spent a lot of money having 6 Lumineers put on my daughters front six top teeth. They are horribly done, too bulky, squared instead of tapered (as we requested), and the color doesn’t match her other teeth. Here is what happened: We had a consultation for Lumineers and showed the dentist a picture of the kind of Lumineers smile we wanted. He said he was Lumineers certified and could do that. He also said we’d get to try them in and see them in different lights, and if we weren’t happy he could make some changes. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. When we came in to have them put on, he put them on with some kind of temporary paste. Her mouth was pulled back quite a bit, so it was hard to tell how they really looked. He kept telling my daughter how beautiful they looked, but I thought they looked too bulky and square. I couldn’t tell the color issues until we got home. He actually only let us look at them in one lighting, saying it was the most natural lighting.  I mentioned my feelings, and he said that was because it was a temporary paste and they’ll look even better when they are on permanently. They didn’t, and when my daughter went to school she was teased mercilessly, being called horse teeth. So, I took her in to fix all the gaps in her teeth so she’d feel less self-conscience and instead the situation is worse. I spoke to the dentist about it and he said he’d taper them some, but I think I just want to have them removed and get a refund. Is that possible? I’d like to find a different dentist to do these for her.

Laurie, A frustrated mom- Kansas

Laurie,

I’m sorry for your experience. Unfortunately this type of situation is not uncommon. There is a difference between a dentist who does cosmetic work and a cosmetic dentist. There is no recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, so anyone can learn the procedures and call themselves a cosmetic dentist. Being Lumineers certified doesn’t guarantee quality veneer work either. To get certified to place Lumineers you just attend their class. There is no test to make sure the dentists know what they’re doing. There is no examination of the quality of their work. If you sit through the class, you’re certified.  What you want to find more than a Lumineers certified dentist, is a truly excellent cosmetic dentist, who can do beautiful porcelain veneers whether he uses the Lumineers brand or not. An excellent cosmetic dentist cares about the artistic quality of his work and will not be satisfied until you are.  One way to find that is to look on the mynewsmile.com website. On that site, a cosmetic dentist recommends quality cosmetic dentists in each state. It isn’t easy to get recommended by him. Dr. Hadgis  is and had to demonstrate is qualifications both in his training, and in submitting samples of his work.

I also think you have a decent chance of getting a refund if you go about it carefully. First, make sure you don’t have them do any more work on this case. This just increases their chair time and costs them more money, as well as you.

Second, let him know how dissatisfied you are. Your best points are: 1. He didn’t follow through with his word of letting you look at it in different lights and making sure you were completely satisfied before permanently bonding them. 2. Your daughter has suffered emotional hardship.

Third, I would enlist the help of a dentist from either out of state or another city. Go and see a qualified cosmetic dentist elsewhere, letting them see the poor craftsmanship of your current dentist’s work, and ask if he’d be willing to help you get a refund. Dentists care about their reputation with their peers, so he’ll be in a better position to criticize the work than you will.

Finally, if you’ve put the charges on your credit card and haven’t paid them yet, let the dentist know you plan on filing a complaint with the credit card company and will be refusing the charges unless you get a refund.

If you follow these steps, you have a decent chance of getting a refund and having quality cosmetic work done on your daughters smile.

Good luck.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods cosmetic dentist Dr. Hadgis.