Monthly Archives: September 2018

Teeth whitening

Can I use my sister’s free teeth whitening trays to straighten my teeth?

I understand that Invisalign trays are pretty much like my sister’s free teeth whitening trays. Her dentist gives her new whitening trays every few years and she keeps them in her bathroom drawer. My sister’s teeth are perfectly straight, but mine are scattered. Can I use her free teeth whitening trays to move my teeth to a straight position? Our teeth are basically the same shape, but mine are not evenly spaced. If I use her whitening trays, will they work like Invisalign or other clear braces? Thanks. Giovanna

Giovanna,

Not at all!

Photo of upper and lower teeth whitening trays in a blue case; for information on teeth alignment from the office Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.
Teeth whitening trays are not designed to straighten teeth

Many dentists offer free teeth whitening to their patients, but both the trays and the gel are for the patient’s use. Your sister’s free teeth whitening trays are not a substitute for orthodontic treatment. There are several reasons why.

Will Free Teeth Whitening Trays Straighten Your Teeth?

  • Design – Teeth whitening trays are designed to keep bleaching gel in contact with your teeth and away from your gums. That’s it. They have no other purpose. They are not designed to move your teeth. But if you wear someone else’s trays, your teeth could be damaged.
  • Material – Even if they are custom made, the material of whitening trays is not rigid enough to correctly move anyone’s teeth.
  • Customization – Teeth whitening trays only come in a single set. Invisalign trays are a series of custom aligners that gently move your teeth to the correct position over time. The aligners and treatment plan are customized for each patient. The attempt to move your teeth to the correct position with a single set of trays can damage your tooth roots.

Orthodontic trays are developed based on the structure of your teeth and mouth, so it is unsafe to wear someone else’s aligners, even if they are specifically made for orthodontic treatment.

Want Your Teeth Safely Aligned?

The only solution to correctly align teeth is to receive orthodontic treatment from your dentist or orthodontist. A treatment plan and braces will be customized based on the condition and position of your teeth—not someone else’s.

If you want your teeth aligned, speak with your dentist or an orthodontist about your smile goals. He or she will explain affordable options and how financing or payment plans can help you meet your goals.

Don’t take orthodontic treatment into your own hands by using free teeth whitening trays or any other means that is unsupervised by a dentist. It will cause serious damage to your smile and make the current condition of your teeth worse.

This post is sponsored by Plano TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Affordable Dentistry

Affordable Dentist Gave Me a Bad Crown

I feel embarrassed about this, but I answered an online ad from an affordable dentist who offered crowns at a reduced rate. He said he had just ordered a new machine that let him make crowns in his office and he wanted to practice on a few people for a much lower fee than usual. I was delaying a visit for a crown because of the expense, so I took the offer. I was in his dental office for five hours. He kept having issues with the machine and the crown wouldn’t fit right. Eventually, he came back. Shaved my tooth down more, went back to the machine a few times and finally got the crown to fit.

This all just happened last week and my tooth is sore. Actually, my whole mouth is sore, but that particular tooth is especially worrisome. Could he have done permanent damage? And, if he did, am I mostly on my own because he was learning how to use the crown machine and disclosed that in advance? – Maggie

Maggie,

It sounds like you had quite an ordeal. It is best to schedule an appointment with the dentist and let him know what you’re experiencing. Teeth can get irritated when they are repeatedly worked on. The repeated try-on of the crown no doubt caused some irritation.

Possible Resolutions for Low-Quality Affordable Dental Care

  • If it’s basic irritation, it will clear up in a few days.
  • You can take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen to help you through.
  • There is a possibility it won’t get better on its own. It’s possible that before you received the crown, decay had already affected it and the tooth needs a root canal now. Or, you might need a root canal because the tooth was traumatized during treatment.

What’s Next?

Ultimately, the dentist is responsible for the treatment he provided, even if he promoted himself as an affordable dentist or told you he was learning how to use the crown milling machine. If the dentist is ethical, he will want to know you’re experiencing issues, and he will want to correct them. If the dentist isn’t agreeable, or if he fails to remedy the issue, you’ll need to see another dentist for a second opinion on the dental crown.

The before-and-after photos below show how an experienced cosmetic dentist can beautifully enhance your smile with porcelain crowns. The patient’s left lateral incisor (right side facing your computer screen) was too small. A porcelain crown was used to cover the tooth and match the surrounding teeth.

Before-and-after photos of porcelain crowns, which are available from Plano, TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Finding a Trustworthy Affordable Dentist

In the future, seek an affordable dentist out who focuses on providing quality services and finds ways to help make them fit your budget. Some ways to make dental care affordable include:

  • Scheduling treatment in phases to spread out costs or maximize insurance benefits
  • Financing treatment
  • Offering various treatment options at varying costs

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Miranda Lacy, a Plano affordable dentist.