Looking for a Cheap Way to Fix Tetracycline Stains

I have tetracycline stains I want to fix. I think I want to get porcelain veneers, but wondered if they will cover the whole tooth or just the front. I don’t have a lot of money. Do you think I could get a discount if I went to a dental school to have them done? Bruce Dear Bruce, Porcelain veneers only cover the front of the teeth in most situations. […]

Why Do Dentures Get Bigger Over the Years

I’ve had dentures for quite a few years now and it seems like the longer I have them the bigger they get. Do dentures stretch out? If so, is there a way to get them back to their original size? Sandee B. Dear Sandee, It’s not your denture that is stretching. In reality, as frightening as it may sound, it is your jawbone that is shrinking. When your teeth were […]

Your Arrogance

I was very annoyed with the fact you had the arrogance to tell one of my patients I wasn’t a qualified cosmetic dentist and their Lumineers need to be redone. You told her that the bonding isn’t correct and it will ruin her teeth. Who are you to say if I’m a qualified cosmetic dentist or not? It isn’t even a recognized specialty. Name Withheld Dear Anonymous Dentist, I won’t […]

Solution for Tetracycline Stains

I have had tetracycline stains for as long as I can remember. I am ready to do something about it. I wanted to whiten my teeth, but my dentist insists that won’t make any difference. Instead, he wants to do dental crowns, but I’m not thrilled with that. Even though my smile is ugly, my teeth are perfectly healthy. I’ve only had one cavity in my entire life. Why won’t […]

Lumineers for Tetracycline Stains

I went to a cosmetic dentist to get porcelain veneers for tetracycline stains. He said if I got porcelain veneers they would have to grind my teeth down. Instead, he suggested I get Lumineers. Will those work for me or do I need something else? I want a smile I can be proud of. I’ve spent years hiding my teeth. Katie Dear Katie, I am going to implore you to […]

Whitening Teeth Near Porcelain Veneers

I have porcelain veneers on my front four teeth. They’re fine, but the teeth surrounding them have yellowed some. Would I be able to use over-the-counter whitening strips to whiten them without them damaging the porcelain veneers I have? Callie Dear Callie, One of the problems with dentists only providing four porcelain veneers in smile makeovers is what you are experiencing right now. Most patient’s smiles are much wider than […]

before and after dental bonding on a chipped tooth

Dental Bonding Yellow in 5 Days

I’m worried about my dental bonding. I’ve just had them five days and now they seem to be turning yellow. I wonder if I wasn’t supposed to brush with baking soda. I thought it would keep them super clean, but the change in color has me concerned. Did I do something wrong? Katie Dear Katie, Baking soda as a toothpaste is quite abrasive. That could have damaged the polish on […]

Porcelain Veneers with an Overbite

I have a double whammy against my smile. First, there is my overbite. Then I have horrible tetracycline stains. I went to my dentist in order to get porcelain veneers. He said my overbite means I’m not a candidate for dental implants. I was disappointed to hear that. He wants to do six porcelain crowns instead. If he does, should I whiten my bottom teeth? I don’t think crowns will […]

Should All My Son’s Teeth Be Removed

My son is 25 years old. He’s in recovery for drug addiction. He’s doing really well in his recovery and now we’re trying to get the rest of him into shape. I’m writing to you specifically about his mouth. It’s a complete mess. We’ve already taken out six teeth while he was in rehab. He’s home now and we’re going to our family dentist now. He wants to remove the […]

Should a Dentist Cover the Cost of Grafting for a Dental Implant?

I went in for a consultation with my dentist to find out if I could get a dental implant and what the cost would be. I lost the tooth about ten years ago and the dentist said that I had lost some bone in the area, so I would need grafting on top of everything else. After reading information about the procedure, I’ve learned that the dentist could have treated […]