Category Archives: Cosmetic Dentistry

Affordable Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry

Looking for affordable female cosmetic dentist that does excellent work

I love my dentist. He is great for cleanings, fillings, etc., but I am not sure that I can trust him to do my cosmetic dentistry work. I asked him about his continuing ed in cosmetic dentistry, but he said although he really doesn’t have much he does a good job. I don’t think he has any extra training all. He referred me to a colleague, but that dentist’s cost were much higher than average. I think part of it is to pay for his swank office. I need too much work done to pay that much for my smile and the office. I know I can do a Google search to find one, but do you have any suggestions on how I find a good affordable dentist in my area? If the cosmetic dentist is female that’s a bonus, too. – Sarai

Sarai – Ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations for an affordable female cosmetic dentist. You can also search for an experienced cosmetic dentist on the internet. Visit each dentist’s website to find out if he or she has any post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. The website should also indicate how much ongoing continuing education the dentist participates in each year.

The dentist may have membership, fellowship, or diplomate status in cosmetic, or aesthetic, dentistry organizations. The website should also show before-and-after pictures of patient cases the dentist has completed.

Affordable services are often made possible through payment plans or financing. No-interest financing is often available. Additionally, many dentists are willing to provide treatment in phases. This allows you to progressively pay for dental services, based on your budget. Call the dentist’s office for details.

After you have selected a few dentists with cosmetic dentistry qualifications, schedule a consultation with each of them. Consultations allow you to get a feel for the office environment and staff, and determine if you like the dentist’s chairside manner and communication style. Those are important factors in establishing a long-term relationship with your dentist.

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

Affordable Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry

Messed up my teeth and can’t afford to fix them

Since I was 14 I’ve had a bad habit that has really messed up my teeth. I am over the habit now, but my teeth are a wreck. When I was a teenager I didn’t think it was a big deal, but now that I am 37 it is really concerning me. I know that my teeth are a distraction because I can see people’s eyes looking at them. Despite my Bachelors degree, which I got in 2013, I’ve had limited job offers and none in the field that I studied. My appearance is influencing everything. I feel trapped because I can’t get a job with decent dental coverage and the out of pocket cost for correcting my teeth is way too expensive. I am wondering if there is some temporary way to make my teeth look better so that I can at least get a job. After I have dental coverage I will work on really correcting my smile. Thanks. L.T.

Dear L.T. – We understand your concerns about your smile. A smile definitely makes a first impression. It’s also important to restore decayed or broken down teeth to prevent them from further weakening. It is possible for untreated teeth to be damaged beyond repair and eventually need to be replaced.

Photo of a blonde woman witth a pretty smile for Plano, TX affordable dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.Before recommending a cosmetic treatment for your teeth, Dr. Lacy would need to examine them. There are temporary dental appliances that fit over your natural teeth to give you a quick smile makeover. Find a few skilled cosmetic dentists with whom you can have consultations to determine if this treatment method is right for you.

Otherwise, it may be recommended that the work of restoring your teeth is given priority now. Dentists are concerned with preserving your teeth and helping you restore them. So they will work to make it affordable for you by means of financing or payment plans.

You will likely be encouraged by a few visits with cosmetic dentists to discuss your options. Many patients are surprised to learn the ways that restorative dental work can be done to fit your budget.

 

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

 

Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implant

Can adult baby teeth be replaced with dental implants?

I am 31 years old with three primary teeth. The permanent teeth never came in. This same issue is something that my grandmother on my father’s side had too. The three teeth are on the top left side of my mouth but they are toward the front. Can these teeth be pulled and replaced with dental implants? Thanks. Judith

Judith – It is possible to extract your primary teeth and replace them with dental implants, but it may not be necessary to do so.

Before you decide on a specific treatment to enhance your smile, schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist. Depending on the size of your primary teeth, it may be possible to receive porcelain veneers. The veneers have a lifelike appearance and will be made to match the color and characteristics of your natural teeth. They are bonded to the front of your teeth.

A porcelain crowns is another option that covers the entire natural tooth. A customized crown will blend in with your natural teeth.

A cosmetic dentist can determine if you are a candidate for dental implants. If so, it is possible to extract the primary teeth, replace them with dental implants, and attach natural-looking dental crowns to the implants. Your implants will feel and function like natural teeth.

Schedule an appointment to discuss your options with a skilled cosmetic dentist who offers dental implants.

 

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

 

Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Bonding, Porcelain Crowns, Porcelain Veneers

Patchwork quilt tooth enamel – how can I get rid of it?

My tooth enamel looks like a patchwork quilt. So many different colors and shapes on one tooth. I try not to smile and show my teeth. This is really noticeable. When I meet people for the first time if they manage to see my teeth when I talk (I try to hide my teeth), I am very sensitive to their stares. What can I do or use to get rid of the patches? Thanks Maxine

Maxine – The patches on your teeth can be successfully and beautifully hidden, but you need the help of a cosmetic dentist.

There is no at-home treatment or product you can buy that will conceal the patches. A cosmetic dentist will examine your teeth to determine the cause of the discoloration. In some cases, teeth whitening may help, but in most cases, cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, or porcelain crowns are needed.

The treatment options recommended to you will depend on the condition of your teeth. If your teeth are healthy, cosmetic bonding can be mixed and manipulated to conceal the patches and leave your teeth a naturally white color and translucence. Bonding stains with time, and needs to be polished by your dentist, and periodically replaced.

A porcelain crown covers an entire tooth. When teeth are badly worn or have significant decay, porcelain crowns may be used. This requires permanently reducing the size of each tooth to accommodate a crown. Crowns generally last five to fifteen years.

Another option is porcelain veneers. They cover the front of your teeth only. Veneers have a lifelike appearance and can last 15 to 20 years or more. This is a more expensive option than dental bonding or porcelain crowns, but the results last longer.

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

Ceramic Crowns, Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers

Which is more affordable? Porcelain veneers or dental bonding for peg laterals?

I know porcelain veneers are not cheap, but I also read that applying dental bonding takes a lot of time for cosmetic dentists to do and it can be expensive. I have 2 peg laterals and want to know which is more affordable and which I should really get. Thanks. Pam

Pam – Dental bonding is more affordable than porcelain veneers. But what you really need to know is what treatment is best for your case.

An examination and diagnostic studies from an experienced cosmetic dentist will help determine your options. The least expensive option may not give you the best, longest-lasting results. It may wear with time and need to be replaced.

Teeth can be widened and lengthened with cosmetic bonding. This technique requires skill, experience, and artistic talent on the part of a cosmetic dentist. It can be completed in one visit. Quality dental bonding can last ten years or more if it is properly maintained. Bonding stains and discolors faster than porcelain veneers and crowns. It will need to be polished periodically and replaced occasionally.

Porcelain crowns cover the entire tooth surface from the gumline to the biting surface. Porcelain can be mixed and manipulated to reflect the color, characteristics, and translucency of natural teeth. A cosmetic dentist along with his or her master ceramist can produce beautiful results.

Porcelain veneers are bonded to the front of teeth. Light preparation of the teeth may be required to prevent the veneers from looking bulky or too large. Veneers can last 15 to 20 years or longer. They are stain resistant.

Schedule an appointment with an experienced cosmetic to discuss your options. If you want to proceed with treatment, an exam and x-rays will be required to assess the condition of your teeth and the preferred treatment options.

Your cosmetic dentist will discuss how the treatment you choose can be made affordable for you.

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

Affordable Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers

If bonding from a dentist is more affordable than veneers why would I get veneers?

I have done some research on and off for about a month on how to fix the spaces between my teeth without braces. I understand that I need to see a cosmetic dentist for it to look natural. It seems that this can be done with dental bonding or porcelain veneers. If bonding so much less expensive than veneers why would I choose veneers? Thanks Xiao

Xiao – You are correct. Dental bonding is significantly less expensive than porcelain veneers. But bonding will dull and stain with time, while veneers are stain resistant. As your dental bonding wears, it will periodically need to be polished and sealed, but eventually it will need to be removed and replaced with new bonding. This process will need to be repeated continually.

Veneers are stronger than tooth enamel, so they won’t chip or crack as dental bonding can. Porcelain veneers will produce stunning results. The shape and color of your teeth can be beautifully enhanced with veneers. And they will last for many years—15 years or more if you take excellent care of them.

Whether you choose dental bonding or porcelain veneers, find an experienced cosmetic dentist to get the best results. A cosmetic dentist will match dental bonding to seamlessly blend in with your natural teeth, or provide you with life-like porcelain veneers. If you want porcelain veneers, ask about financing options or payment plans that can help you receive an affordable smile makeover.

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

Cosmetic Dentistry

Teeth whitening or veneers for a celebrity smile?

I want to improve my smile. It doesn’t look horrible but I want it to look like a celebrity smile. I am slowly getting into modeling and local TV commercials. I think that the best smile possible will move things along a little faster so that I can get jobs in more places. The shape of my teeth is not the best and they are not the whitest. Will teeth whitening do what I want or will I have to get veneers? Thanks Kyle

Kyle – A cosmetic dentist needs to examine your teeth to answer your questions about which treatment will give you the best smile.

Teeth whitening from a dentist can give you the brilliantly white smile that you want. If the shape of your teeth is inconsistent, dental contouring, or shaping, may be all that is needed to give them a uniform appearance. Contouring is a painless procedure that can be completed in one or two visits, depending on how much shaping is needed.

If there is too much space between your teeth, porcelain veneers may be the answer, or dental bonding might be sufficient.

An examination by an experienced cosmetic dentist is needed to correctly assess your needs and give you the celebrity smile you want.

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

Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers

Only had porcelain veneers 9 months and 3 of them are loose

I got porcelain veneers in November 2013. Everything seemed to be going okay with them until last month. I thought my teeth were shifting but it’s my porcelain veneers that are loose. I can feel movement in 3 veneers when I eat, and I can wiggle them a bit with my finger. I haven’t touched them again for fear that they will fall off and expose my shaved down teeth. There is no way I am going back to the dentist who gave me the veneers. Can you tell me why the veneers might be loose and what needs to be done about it? – Aida

Aida – Loose porcelain veneers are most often a result of improper bonding techniques on the part of the dentist.

The bond between your natural tooth and the veneer is critical in giving the veneers a natural appearance, but also in their function and durability. Proper application and curing of the bonding material so that it will harden ensure a secure fit.

We suggest that you visit an experienced cosmetic dentist for an examination. The dentist will determine the cause of the loose veneers. Your veneers will need to be removed, cleaned, and properly rebonded. Your remaining veneers will also be checked to determine if they are secure or if they also need to be rebonded.

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

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.

Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry

The dentist’s drill chipped my tooth

I had 3 cavities filled on Tuesday. Everything seemed to be going fine. I didn’t feel any pain with the drilling, and I was quite pleased. But then the drill hit one of my front teeth! I know that I must have looked alarmed, because the dentist kept saying everything is okay. This is not the dentist I would normally go to. This one is less expensive than my regular dentist, so I decided to give him a try for a cleaning. I liked him so I decided that I would let him fill my cavities. This was just my second visit. When I got home and really looked at my teeth, I saw I small chip on a left front tooth! I am torn about what to do. It’s not difficult to see the chip. If this dentist didn’t tell me that he chipped my tooth can I trust him to fix it, or will he just say that he fixed it? – Noel T.

Noel – You do have a big decision to make. You should let the new dentist know about the chipped tooth right away. It may be wise to schedule an appointment to speak with him in person about it.

After you speak with the dentist, if you don’t want him to restore your tooth, you can ask if he will pay for the cost of having it restored. You can then return to your usual dentist or go to a cosmetic dentist for the restoration. Dental bonding can be made to match the color of your natural tooth. The bonding will be applied to the tooth, shaped, hardened, shaped again, and polished. If it’s done by a cosmetic dentist, people won’t be able to tell where your tooth was chipped.

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