Tag Archives: porcelain veneers

Porcelain Veneers

Should I Decline Use of an Ultrasonic Scaler If I Have Veneers?

Should I decline use of an ultrasonic scaler if I have veneers? During my past three dental cleanings, my hygienist used a magnetostrictive ultrasonic cleaner. Each time and upper veneer fractured within a week. Is the scaler known to cause veneer fractures? What companies manufacture this equipment? Should I ask for free veneer replacement if the dentist doesn’t offer it? – Thanks. Farida from CA

Farida,

Dentistry primarily uses two types of ultrasonic scalers: piezoelectric and magnetostrictive. The most familiar magnetostrictive system is the Cavitron, produced by Dentsply. It has been a reliable ultrasonic scaler for decades and remains common in dental practices.

Compared with piezoelectric units, magnetostrictive scalers can be gentler in certain situations. However, they require greater attention to technique because improper use increases the risk of damaging teeth or dental restorations. In experienced hands, they should not damage porcelain veneers.

Why Would a Veneer Crack During a Hygiene Appointment?

A veneer may crack if the scaler tip contacts the porcelain instead of the tooth surface. Hygienists avoid that type of contact during professional cleanings. Porcelain is strong, but it can fracture if you apply concentrated force directly with an ultrasonic instrument.

A damaged veneer after a routine cleaning deserves a careful evaluation to determine how the damage occurred, what treatment options are available, and whether you need a replacement veneer.

Why Is Technique So Important When Cleaning Teeth with Veneers?

Careful techniques help protect both natural teeth and existing dental work.

Ultrasonic scalers are valuable instruments that improve the efficiency of periodontal care. Their benefits depend on proper handling throughout treatment.

When an ultrasonic scaler is used improperly, possible complications include:

  • Chipping or fracturing porcelain veneers
  • Damaging crowns or other restorations
  • Creating rough or nicked root surfaces
  • Encouraging plaque and calculus to collect more easily
  • Increasing the long-term risk of gum disease or root decay

What Research Is Available on Ultrasonic Scalers?

Research supports the effectiveness of both types of ultrasonic scalers. A comparison published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that magnetostrictive scalers left smoother root surfaces, although they required more treatment time than piezoelectric scalers. Patients who want a simpler explanation may also find a review written for dental hygienists helpful because it summarizes the practical differences between the two technologies in easy-to-understand language.

Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy sponsors this post.

Porcelain Veneers

Will Root Canal Treatment Ruin a Porcelain Veneer?

I have eight porcelain veneers on my upper front teeth. After seeing an ENT for what I thought was a sinus infection, my dentist found the problem. I have a periapical abscess. My dentist referred me to an endodontist for a root canal, but I’m concerned because the abscess is between my right lateral incisor and the tooth behind it. Will I need a new veneer for the tooth with an abscess? Thanks. Abbie from Arlington, VA

Abbie,

Without root canal treatment, the infection can spread deep into your jawbone. However, it is uncommon to have an infection in a porcelain veneer tooth.

Will Root Canal Treatment Ruin a Porcelain Veneer?

If your dentist placed and bonded your porcelain veneers well, you should not lose them during root canal treatment. The endodontist can access the infection without damaging the veneer. You can ask the endodontist about the procedure and how he will avoid damaging your veneers.

Why Might a Porcelain Veneer Tooth Need a Root Canal?

Aggressively preparing a tooth for porcelain veneers increases the risk of stress and infection that requires root canal treatment. We hope that over-preparation of your teeth for veneers is not the cause of your tooth infection. However, we won’t linger on what may be the cause of the infection because you need root canal treatment.

A tooth turns dark after a root canal procedure because a dentist replaces the tooth pulp with root canal filler material after removing the infection. The material and cement left in the tooth make it look darker.

Ask your dentist to clean the filler material and cement from the portion of your tooth above the gumline. After removing the material, your dentist can place a fiberglass post into the tooth root and fill the space with a tooth-colored composite. This intervention can help your teeth retain its color for five to ten years.

Dr. Miranda Lacy, a Plano, Texas dentist, sponsors this post. Dr. Lacy makes treatment affordable through payment plans and offering treatment alternatives when appropriate.

Teeth whitening

Why Aren’t Teeth Whitening Strips Working for My Tetracycline Stains?

Hi. Why aren’t whitening strips working for tetracycline stains on my teeth? I have been using teeth whitening strips for 6 months, and they have done nothing for my teeth. I have tetracycline stains on my teeth, so I expected it would take a little longer, but the strips have made no difference. Does it matter which brand I use, or must I buy whitening from a dentist? I feel like I’ve wasted so much time and money without improvement. Thanks. Kyndal

Kyndal– Tetracycline stains are intrinsic to the teeth and are very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to remove. Over-the-counter whitening strips won’t budge the stains.

Even professional teeth whitening from a dentist will result in limited improvement—if any–for tetracycline stains. However, a skilled cosmetic dentist can use porcelain veneers to hide the stains without making your teeth look pasty or opaque. Veneers are custom-crafted porcelain shells that fit over the fronts of your teeth. Veneers restore the teeth that show when you smile, but they are unsuitable for back teeth.

A cosmetic dentist can manipulate the porcelain to hide tetracycline stains, making the veneers look completely natural. The dentist will bond the veneers to your teeth for a solution lasting eight to ten years—even longer.

Schedule consultations with at least two cosmetic dentists to discuss your options for concealing the stains in your teeth.

Dr. Miranda Lacy, a Plano, Texas dentist, sponsors this post.

Affordable Dentistry

How Can I Get a Cheap Smile Makeover that Looks Good?

How can I get a cheap smile makeover for chipped and blotchy teeth that looks good? I am deciding between online veneers for my teeth or dental bonding veneers. I wanted porcelain veneers from a dentist, but I had two consultations and got quotes of almost $2,000 per veneer. My dentist also gave me the alternative of bonding on my eight front teeth for $750. I don’t want to pick the cheapest option and have it fall off my teeth, but how do I decide if I’m on a budget? – Thanks. Miguel

Miguel,

We will explain the differences between dental bonding, porcelain veneers, and online veneers.

How Can You Get a Cheap Smile Makeover That Looks Good?

A smile makeover that looks good and is healthy for your teeth will not be not cheap. However, if you focus on cost, you can find a dentist for dental bonding or porcelain veneers, but you increase the chances of the work looking fake and not lasting. You will need to have the cosmetic dentistry work redone, costing you even more money.

Composite Veneers vs. Porcelain Veneers

An advanced dentist can rejuvenate chipped, blotchy teeth with dental bonding or porcelain veneers. We explain the differences. The costs depend on several factors, including the condition of your teeth, where you live in the U.S., and the cosmetic dentist’s experience and fees.

Composite veneers

You can expect the following with dental

  • Materials: Dental resin (plastic) and glass
  • Process: Layering selected composite by hand on each tooth, and then sharpening, hardening, and polishing it
  • Longevity: Five to ten years, depending on the quality and how well you take care of it
  • Stain resistance: It is porous and absorbs stains with time
  • Tooth preparation: Lightly etching the tooth enamel
  • Cost per tooth: $400 to $700 or more

Porcelain veneers

  • Materials: Dental porcelain
  • Process: Taking impressions of your teeth to make custom veneers and bond them to the fronts of the affected teeth
  • Longevity: Eight to 15 years or more for high-quality veneers
  • Stain resistance: Resists stains
  • Tooth preparation: May require removing tiny amounts of tooth enamel for a precise fit
  • Cost per tooth: $1,500 to $4,500

What About Online Veneers?

When you buy veneers online, they are one tray that fits over your teeth. Although you will take impressions of your teeth and send them to a lab to process the veneers, they are not a long-term solution. Online veneers cover your teeth and wear out quickly if you wear them daily. They will not improve the flaws in your teeth or restore your oral health.

Schedule a consultation with at least two cosmetic dentists to discuss your options. Be prepared to invest in quality cosmetic dentistry that lasts. You can ask the dentists about payment plan options to make care more affordable.

Plano, Texas, female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy sponsors this post.

Teeth whitening

Is Peroxide Good for a Mouthwash Against Dental Office Germs?

I read online that hydrogen peroxide can disinfect dental office germs like coronavirus. I have a teeth whitening appointment before I get veneers in August. So, I looked online and found a do-it-yourself mouth rinse recipe that includes hydrogen peroxide. My only concern about rinsing my mouth with it is that it will only be helpful until I get veneers. I know alcohol-based mouthwash can loosen the bonding on veneers, but what about peroxide? Thank you. Cassie

Cassie,

It’s good that you have a dentist who understands you must whiten your teeth before getting porcelain veneers to ensure they match your whitened teeth. Whitening teeth after getting veneers can make them look darker than your teeth.

While the American Dental Association recommends at least a one-and-a-half percent concentration, some dental offices use about four or five percent rinses. Alcohol-based mouthwash can weaken the bonding behind porcelain veneers and cause stains. Still, weakening porcelain veneers’ bonding is not the only concern when choosing a mouthwash.

A Rutger’s School of Dental Medicine study published results on mouthwash and its effect on coronavirus. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency lists hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant for COVID-19.

Still, if you get porcelain veneers, you must be cautious about which toothpaste and mouthwash you use. But even if you do not have porcelain veneers, regularly using hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash can cause other problems.

What Are the Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash?

The effects of hydrogen peroxide mouthwash include:

  • It kills many harmful microorganisms
  • Long-term use kills healthy bacteria, too
  • Long-term use causes yeast (candida albicans) to thrive

Regular use of peroxide as mouthwash can result in an oral yeast infection. Your oral issue will turn white, peel, red, and become painful.

If you get an oral yeast infection, your dentist will recommend taking oral antifungal tablets, lozenges, or using a liquid for seven to fourteen days to eliminate the infection. You must complete treatment to prevent the infection from recurring.

Teeth whitening

Should You Choose Ultra-thin or Traditional Veneers?

Porcelain veneers transform smiles. A skilled cosmetic dentist and ceramist can manipulate porcelain to mimic the color and translucence of natural teeth. Advanced dental technology has introduced ultra-thin veneers. Which type of veneers should you choose?

Should You Choose Ultra-thin or Traditional Veneers?

Whether you choose ultra-thin or traditional veneers depends on your case, the condition of your teeth, and your dentist’s recommendations. We explain some factors that may influence your and your dentist’s decision.

Traditional Porcelain Veneers

Traditional veneers have the following characteristics:

  • About .5 millimeter thick
  • Require preparation of your natural teeth so they fit correctly and will not look bulky
  • 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters of the front surface of a tooth is removed to prepare it for a veneer

Ultra-Thin Veneers

Ultra-thin veneers have the following characteristics:

  • About .3 millimeter thick
  • Can be bonded to your teeth without preparation
  • Cosmetic dentists strive to remove a minimal amount of a tooth’s front surface

What Do Ultra-thin and Traditional Veneers Have in Common?

Ultra-thin and traditional veneers have several things in common:

Teeth whitening application
Your cosmetic dentist can whiten your teeth before placing veneers
  • Custom-made in a dental lab
  • Match the characteristics of your natural teeth, so in the hands of a skilled cosmetic dentist, people will think your veneers are your natural teeth
  • Stain-resistant
  • Can last 15-20 years if you take diligent care of them and have them maintained by a trained cosmetic dentist

Which Should You Choose?

Schedule an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist. They can determine which type of veneers will give you the best results based on the condition of your teeth, the shape, position, and size of your teeth, and the results you want to achieve. You should not insist on either traditional or ultra-thin veneers. A cosmetic dentist will also preserve as much tooth structure as possible yet produce natural-looking results. The dentist will bond your veneers to ensure they look natural and are durable.

Many patients find it helpful to schedule at least two consultations before making decisions about porcelain veneers. Below are a few tips for scheduling your consultation:

  • Select experienced cosmetic dentists, preferably accredited, who have advanced, post-graduate training.
  • Look for a smile gallery on each dentist’s website and find photos of patients who received porcelain veneers.
  • Ask the dentist how many porcelain veneer cases they have completed.
  • Compare the recommendations, treatment plan, and costs of each dentist.
  • Look for patient reviews on the dentist’s work.

What Can You Expect?

After the consultation, if you are interested in porcelain veneers, you can expect the following:

  • An exam
  • Digital x-rays
  • A smile design that includes your preferences and considers your facial features to ensure natural-looking results

If you want a bright smile with porcelain veneers, your cosmetic dentist must whiten your natural teeth first. It will ensure that your veneers match the color of your teeth.

Miranda Lacy, DDS, a Plano, Texas, female dentist sponsors this post.

Affordable Dentistry

If I don’t like my porcelain veneers, can they be reversed?

I think that I want porcelain veneers. I found a dentist who is offering them about 25% cheaper than two other dentists that I met for consultations. My husband is warning me not to go cheap on something as important as my smile. I do love a bargain, and if this dentist can get it right, I am all for it. But what if I change my mind. Can porcelain veneers be reversed if I decide I don’t want them? Thank you. Claire from Houston

Claire –

Our first concern is shopping around for the lowest cost for dental care. Quality care and a beautiful smile are not cheap. It’s okay to look for a dentist with reasonable fees, but that should not be your basis for choosing a provider.

Results of Cheap Porcelain Veneers

If a dentist takes shortcuts just to give you a lower price, problems with your porcelain veneers can result, including:

  • Low-quality veneers that don’t look natural or don’t last
  • Poor bonding techniques that cause veneers to fall off
  • Leakage behind your veneers that promotes decay

Are Porcelain Veneers Reversible?

Photo of a single porcelain veneers, from affordable Plano TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.
Don’t choose the cheapest dentist for porcelain veneers

Generally, after you receive porcelain veneers, they cannot be reversed. But some dentists might place veneers without preparing your teeth at all—or with very minimal preparation. In those cases, a skilled cosmetic dentist might be able to smooth and polish your enamel or use dental composite to restore the shape and gloss of your teeth.

But if a dentist aggressively prepares your teeth, if you decide you don’t want porcelain veneers, your teeth will have an unnatural shape and appearance. And you won’t like your smile.

Porcelain veneers are not meant to be removed. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before you ask a dentist for veneers.

Select a Skilled Cosmetic Dentist

Select a cosmetic dentist with advanced training in dental aesthetics. The dentist will be concerned about the function and appearance of your smile. Even at a 25% discount, you can expect to pay almost $1000 per veneer. That’s an investment. Why not choose a dentist who will enhance your smile?

True cosmetic dentists involve you in the process of designing your smile. You should expect the following from the dentist:

  • Show you a wax model of your new smile
  • Allow you to wear temporary veneers for about two weeks to see if you like how they look and feel
  • Use a try-in paste to secure your porcelain veneers to your teeth and ensure you love them before bonding them on

The process takes time, and you should not rush it. It helps a cosmetic dentist ensure you love your new smile and don’t want to reverse it.

 If you need to make the cost of porcelain veneers more affordable, speak with a cosmetic dentist about financing or payment plans. But don’t choose a dentist just because his or her fees are the lowest.

Plano, TX, female dentist, Miranda Lacy, DDS, sponsors this post.

Sedation Dentistry

How Often Do Porcelain Veneers Fall Off?

For the past two years, I’ve been talking with my dentist about the possibility of getting porcelain veneers. I finally decided to move forward with my plans, so I had a long discussion with my dentist last week. One of my questions was about how long veneers last and if they ever need to be replaced. My dentist said that I could plan on returning to the office every three to four months because veneers fall off, and she will bond them back on. She said if I am careful about not eating crunchy foods, my veneers should last longer. I researched online over the weekend and didn’t see anything about veneers consistently popping off unless the dentist did something wrong.

My dentist’s estimate of how long veneers last is making me nervous. I already have a little dental anxiety. Sometimes I need nitrous oxide, but if I return to her office every few months because veneers pop off, I’ll end up a nitrous junkie. How frequently do veneers pop off? Thanks, Audriana

Audriana,

Shame on your dentist for telling you to expect your new veneers to pop off every few months.

It seems that your dentist is speaking from experience, which can mean several things:

  • Your dentist uses cheap veneers
  • She prepares teeth so aggressively that veneers won’t stay on
  • Bonding techniques are not in your dentist’s skill set

The dental profession has a principle—the standard of care. Although cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty, porcelain veneers must stay on—even if they look bad.

How Often Do Porcelain Veneers Fall Off?

Photo of a single porcelain veneers, from affordable Plano TX dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.
True cosmetic dentists prepare teeth conservatively and bond porcelain veneers so well they don’t come off

Veneers should never fall off, and they should last at least ten years. Your dentist’s prediction about porcelain veneers’ longevity is a warning to find a cosmetic dentist who is skilled with veneers.

And you can eat whatever you want with veneers. But don’t use your veneers—or even your natural teeth—to bite pins, bottle caps, or other hard objects.

We encourage you to search online for cosmetic dentists, look at their patient reviews or smile gallery, and choose two dentists for a consultation. Ask about each dentist’s processes and how long you can expect your veneers to last. Get ready to switch to a new dentist for veneers. And you won’t have to worry about repeat appointments and needing sedation to get through them.

Plano, TX female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy sponsors this post.

Lumineers

I hate my Lumineers

I’m not sure what to do. I spoke with my dentist ahead of time about exactly what kind of a smile makeover I wanted, which included a very white smile. For some reason when he ordered them he had them put on a stain. He said to make them more natural looking. However, I really didn’t want that kind of natural looking. I wanted white. He hasn’t permanently put them on yet, because I started crying when I saw them. Do I have to take them?

Cindy M.- Nevada

Cindy,

No you don’t have to have them permanently bonded on, especially if you had already told your dentist what kind of smile you were going for.

I can tell you a couple of things about your particular case and what went wrong. I suspect your dentist is your average family dentist, who also does some cosmetic work. He is not an expert cosmetic dentist. Here is why I think that. In dental school we’re taught that the dentist knows best and that to have a natural smile there needs to be some staining. However, those dentists with significant cosmetic training know that we are treating how you feel about your appearance. If a true cosmetic dentist had a patient burst into tears, they would immediately tell them the veneers would go back and be re-done.

Another reason that makes me wonder is his choice of porcelain veneers. Lumineers are merely a brand of porcelain veneers. The biggest downside to them is their lab. The Lumineers brand requires you to use their lab, which is not the highest quality.

What I recommend is that you go back to your dentist and tell him you are not interested in the Lumineers because they are not what you agreed to. Then I would look for a more experienced cosmetic dentist in your area. You can go to the mynewsmile.com website. They list expert, artistic cosmetic dentists from each state. You’ll be safe with a dentist recommended on that site.

This blog is brought to you by Plano Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Miranda Lacey.