All posts by AllSmiles

Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Bridge

Dental bridge doesn’t fit and it’s getting worse

My dental bridge hasn’t fit right since I got it, and now it is pulling more and more away from my gums. It is getting to be increasingly noticeable. It is really uncomfortable, too. I got the bridge in 2011. Can it be fixed or will I need a new one? Thanks for your help. Mariama

Mariama – Your dental bridge needs to be examined by a cosmetic dentist. At times, the teeth that support the bridge can be worked on to give the bridge a better fit. Often, the dental bridge needs to be replaced.

We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to see an experienced cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentists have an artistic eye for giving you appealing restorations for your teeth that look completely natural. A cosmetic dentist won’t just provide you with a new bridge. He or she will listen to your concerns about your smile and use his or her talent to give you a bridge that fits well, matches your natural teeth, and enhances your smile.

Your corrected or new dental bridge will be carefully checked and adjusted before it is cemented. You will also have the opportunity to approve the look and feel of the bridge before it is permanently placed.

You may consider having a consultation with a few different cosmetic dentists before you decide who you want to restore your teeth.

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

General Dentistry

My jaw still hurts after I fell last month

I fell in late May. I fell mostly on my left shoulder but my face hit the ground a little too. My jaw was very sore when I fell, but it still hurts a little. It doesn’t hurt all of the time, but the pain can get intense. Could I have injured a tooth? Thanks Beth

Beth – You may have injured a tooth during your fall. But you may have even traumatized or fractured your jaw.

You need an examination and x-ray to determine the cause of your pain. Make an appointment with your dentist right away. If the problem is left untreated, it can worsen, eventually cause more pain, and be more difficult to treat.

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

Ceramic Crowns

Nervous about getting crown on front tooth

2 years ago I injured my front left tooth in an accident. The tooth didn’t appear to be damaged, but it is slowly turning darker. My dentist has made several attempts to whiten the tooth and do a root canal treatment but the color is off and it’s becoming increasingly noticeable. He told me that I can get a crown for the tooth but that scares me. One of my best friends has two crowns on her front teeth and they look horrible. Are there any other options that I should consider? Thanks. Doris

Doris – The look of a dental crown on any tooth depends on the skill and artistic talent of the dentist who provides it.

A cosmetic dentist who has skill in restoring teeth, along with an artistic approach, will ensure that your crown looks completely natural in every way. The crown will match the color and characteristics of your natural teeth so that people won’t be able to distinguish it from your natural teeth.

Find a few cosmetic dentists in your area. Ask to see pictures of completed work, including crowns. You can also ask questions about your concerns to help build your confidence in the dentist that you select for your crown. When you select an experienced cosmetic dentist, the results will be beautiful.

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

General Dentistry

I’m 24 years old with 4 baby teeth

I am 24 years old and I still have 4 baby teeth. 2 top teeth and 2 bottom ones. Am I ever going to get my permanent teeth? Natalia

Natalia – A definite answer to your question can only be determined by an exam and diagnostic studies. When primary teeth persist in adults, it is often the lower molar permanent teeth that fail to erupt.

There are several reasons that primary teeth don’t erupt. The most frequent reason is congenital. In other words, from birth, the permanent teeth were not present to succeed the primary teeth. The second reason is that the permanent teeth are impacted in the gums. The teeth may be incorrectly positioned, or there may not be enough space for them to erupt.

A dentist can perform the necessary studies to let you know what you can expect regarding your permanent teeth. Orthodontic or restorative treatment may be recommended.

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

Invisalign

Tomato sauce stained my Invisalign

I ate out 2 times in the past 2 days and both nights me and my coworkers went out for Italian food. I took my Invisalign out to eat and put them back in after. There was no sterile place for me to brush my teeth. We went out for drinks afterward dinner. Today I am noticing that my Invisalign is stained. I know it’s from the tomato sauce. Ugh! I just put the aligners in 4 days ago. Is there any way to get the stains out? It is so embarrassing because you can actually tell they are stained. – M.K.

M.K. – Invisalign® can be stained from certain foods and drinks. Foods like blueberries or tomato sauce create tough stains that are difficult to remove.

If you are not able to brush your teeth after a meal, it is important that you thoroughly rinse your mouth. Although it may not be so appealing, if you know that you won’t be able to clean your teeth and mouth properly after a meal, try to avoid foods and drinks that will stain your aligners.

If you have thoroughly rinsed your aligners and used the Invisalign cleaning system but the stains are still there, unfortunately, they will likely remain in your aligners.

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

Affordable Dentistry

How can I find a more affordable rate for dental care?

I need a few crowns and some other dental work and I got a quote that is almost $2000 dollars. This is not reasonable to me. How can I find a more affordable rate? Dean

Dean – You didn’t mention where you live, exactly how many crowns you need, and what other work needs to be completed, but the price you mentioned doesn’t necessary sound unreasonable, especially if it is being done by an expert cosmetic dentist.

Your location has an effect on the cost of dental care, just as the cost of food or gasoline varies from one part of the country to the next. If you want a second opinion, you can visit a cosmetic dentist for an exam and estimate.

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

Teeth whitening

Whitened teeth and they don’t match my crown

I have a 2 yr old crown that looks really good. There is nothing at all wrong with it. It looked like one of my own teeth until I whitened my teeth this month. I didn’t think about it before I did it. I found a good whitening kit online with professional strength whitening and my teeth are beautifully white but now the crown looks dull next to them. Can a dentist lighten the crown? – Cyndee

Cyndee – When teeth are whitened after a crown is received, the crown won’t match the teeth. If you had been able to speak with your dentist about the whitening, he or she would have helped you anticipate what to expect with your teeth whitening.

The color of a porcelain crown is stabilized and can’t be altered. But if you really want a crown to match your teeth, a cosmetic dentist can provide you with a new crown.

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

Invisalign

How much will Invisalign cost to correct underbite and crossbite?

I understand that Invisalign can correct underbite and crossbite. I would like to know the cost for these two corrections. Thanks. Amy

Amy – The cost of Invisalign® is determined by your individual case. The extent of underbite and crossbite will determine how many Invisalign aligners are needed to correctly align your teeth. No two cases are exactly the same, because each patient’s teeth require care specific to the shape and position of his or her teeth.

Your teeth need to be examined and x-rayed by an Invisalign provider. A treatment plan will be provided to determine what is required to progressively move your teeth to the correct position. After the dentist gathers that information, she or she will be able to provide you with the cost for your case.

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

Toothache

Horrible tooth pain for over a month

The pain in one of my upper right molars has been getting progressively worse. I started feeling small spikes of pain in February but for the past month, the pain has been horrible. My dentist examined the tooth and did an x-ray but she says the tooth looks fine, and there is no cavity in it.. I am taking pain killer every six hours just to keep from being miserable. She told me to schedule an appointment if the pain is not better by the middle of next month. Really? Should I have to keep popping pain pills every day just because she doesn’t know what’s causing the problem? Is there any way to find out what’s going on with my tooth? Thank you. Gina

Gina – Your concerns are very understandable. When you have ongoing tooth pain, there are various possible causes. In part, identifying the pain depends on specifics of when you feel the pain and the type of pain you feel. Some examples are below.

  • Lingering pain with hot or cold foods and drinks – The pulp of your tooth is likely damaged by decay, or by trauma to your tooth.
  • Dull ache in upper teeth, accompanied by jaw pain – A sinus headache, teeth grinding, or TMJ disorder can cause this type of pain.
  • Brief sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks – This can be a beginning sign of tooth decay.
  • Sharp pain when biting food – A loose filling, tooth decay, or pulp tissue damage may be the cause.
  • Severe constant pain, along with gum sensitivity or swelling – These symptoms are likely caused by an abscessed tooth.

In addition to dental causes, constant pain in the teeth or jaws can be signs of certain medical conditions.

We recommend that you schedule an appointment with another dentist to receive a second opinion on your tooth. If there are no apparent dental problems, you should consider visiting your primary care physician for further exams and tests.

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

Affordable Dentistry

Cheap dental care for a broken tooth

My tooth broke during a soccer game and I need some help. I have dental insurance but not a lot of money. Neither of my parents is around to help, so I am going to have to take care of this myself. My smile looks good. My teeth could be whiter. I just need to know some places where I can get cheap dental care and get my tooth fixed. Thanks. Alexis.

Alexis – You can get quality dental care to restore you tooth. Sometimes when we look for something cheap, the quality is not so good. When dental care for teeth is cheap, it is likely that the restoration of your teeth won’t last, and you would have to get the work done over again.

So find a cosmetic dentist who can restore your tooth with a quality, natural-looking crown. People won’t be able to tell your tooth was broken. You can also get your teeth whitened. Many dentists offer payment plans or financing so that you can fit the dental care in your budget.

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