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A single porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

Porcelain Veneer Fell Off Twice

I had four porcelain veneers placed for my front teeth. I’m having a couple of issues even a few weeks out even though he told me these would last for ten years. First, I wasn’t thinking about how wide my smile was so the teeth next to the porcelain veneers look very dark comparatively. If I whiten my teeth will it damage the porcelain veneers? My second issue is a […]

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teeth whitening trays

Teeth Whitened to Match Eye Balls?

Is it possible for me to whiten my teeth enough for them to match my eyeballs? I know that is a tall order. It may be unrealistic. I just wanted to see if it was even a possibility before I made it a goal. Patty Dear Patty, That is an interesting question. Technically, we haven’t found a limit to how white teeth can get. There isn’t really a secret to […]

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dental implant next to natrual teeth

Two Problem Teeth: One Deformed & One Missing

I have a congenitally missing lateral incisor and a tooth right next to where it should be that is deformed. I’ve finally been able to afford braces to open up the space where the missing tooth should go. I have a dental flipper there for now while I decide on a permanent replacement. I’m hoping to fix both problem teeth at once. Do you have some recommendations for me? Mandy […]

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Lumineers Over Lumineers

I have Lumineers that are old and dingy. They weren’t as white as I wanted when I first had them placed either. My dentist understood I wanted very white teeth but said that wasn’t an available option then. They only had “natural” looking Lumineers back then. I’m wondering, now that you can get much whiter ones if I can put another set over my old ones to get that nice, […]

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dental implant illustration

Will My Gum Drop Down with My Dental Implant?

I had a dental implant placed on a tooth which is visible when I smile. The gum for that tooth is higher than the rest of my gums. To me, that looks weird. My dentist suggested I get a temporary crown to see if the gum will drop down on its own. We did that, but I don’t like how the temporary crown looks. Should I get a cosmetic dentist […]

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Woman smiling in the dental chair with her dentist behind her

Finding a Good Cosmetic Dentist

I need some advice from someone not in my area so it will be an unbiased opinion. I want to get porcelain veneers and teeth whitening done. Every dentist in my area claims to be a cosmetic dentist. Is there some way of knowing who does good cosmetic work and who doesn’t? Peter Dear Peter, This is an important question. Patients who haven’t thought to ask this are usually the […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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A porcelain veneer being placed

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 […]

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A porcelain veneer being placed

Why Does the Cosmetic Dentist Matter if they Outsource their Ceramic Work

I’m planning on getting a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. Everyone keeps warning me that I have to choose the cosmetic dentist carefully. I would understand that if I were getting dental bonding, which the dentist does himself. But, I’m getting porcelain veneers. Isn’t that sent out to a ceramist to do the work? Why would the dentist matter? Corrie Dear Corrie, You’ve asked a good question. You’re right that […]

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