Naperville Cosmetic Dentist | Naperville Cosmetic Dentistry

Are there different brands of lumineers?

I am going to get a new smile. I’m excited about that. I just wanted to check if there were different brands of lumineers so I can ask for the best one. Denae L. – Brooklyn, NY Denae, Lumineers is a brand, a brand of porcelain veneers. The question you need to ask is not what is the best brand, but who is the best dentist. The reason is it […]

Beautiful brunette smiling with gorgeous white teeth

Can you get porcelain veneers if you have a tooth gap?

I really wanted to get some porcelain veneers, but my dentist said I can’t because of my tooth gap. it’s not that bad of a gap, maybe 3 mm. Is that impossible to deal with? Abigail N. – Missouri Abigail, It’s not impossible to get porcelain veneers when you have a tooth gap. If you click on this link for Dr. Newkirk’s porcelain veneers page, you’ll actually see some pictures […]

Clorox for white teeth??

I have a friend with really white teeth who says she does it herself by gargling with clorox bleach. Is this safe? It seems to work for her. Claire- Mississippi Claire, People sometimes get confused about teeth whitening. They hear that dentists bleach teeth, and think that the clinics use acctual bleach. In reality, dentists use a very specific peroxide solution, that is too strong to be done over the […]

What are the best dentures?

I wanted to get a set of dental implants, but they were way too expensive. I’ve seen people with dentures and they look so fake. Is there a way to get beautiful dentues? Edith M. – Portland, OR Edith, Dentures can be made as beautiful as natural teeth. What makes the difference is the dentist you use. It is essential you get a dentist who is not only skilled, but […]

Can I switch dentists in the middle of an implant procedure?

I am getting two dental implants. The surgery is done, by an oral surgeon, and my dentist put on a maryland bridge. I was excited about this whole procedure, until recently. I’m on my third bridge. I’m beginning to lose confidence in my dentist. Is it OK to switch in the middle of a procedure? I’m spending around $10K on this and want to make sure it is done well. […]

I think I may have made a mistake choosing my dentist

One month ago, I went to a cosmetic dentist for a sile makeover. The dentist completed 12 lower crowns and 6 veneers on the front upper teeth. I’ve been in pain ever since and generally can’t even chew. My dentist she said to take ibuprofen for a few weeks because so much work was done in such a short amount of time. Also one of the teeth that hurts does not touch […]

My dentist says the amalgam fillings are safe

There is a debate going on at our house. Our dentist said that amalgam fillings are safe so my husband thinks the children can have them. I’m of the opinion we shouldn’t put mercury in their body if we can at all help it. What is your stance? Mary Ellen R. – Utah Mary Ellen, You’re going to call me a coward, but I’m going to say you can both […]

Lumineers or crowns?

I want to get a smile makeover, but can’t decide between lumineers or dental crowns? Any tips? Dean K. – Seattle, WA Dean, If you’re talking about a smile makeover, dental crowns are not what you want. While they do give you a new tooth surface, your natural teeth have to be ground down pretty far. You want to be a minimally invasive as possible with your teeth. Dental crowns […]

A single porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

Can’t porcelain veneers help slightly crooked teeth?

I have front teeth that are slightly crooked and pretty discolored ( mostly from a pretty serious coffee habit). I was hoping to get porcelain veneers, but my dentist doesn’t think it’s a good idea. He said I would be better off straightening my teeth and then whitening them. However, I have some composite fillings on the front of my teeth. I’m pretty sure they would not actually whiten. That […]

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a blue case; for information on dark stains in teeth from Naperville cosmetic dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Is teeth whitening safe?

I am considering whitening my teeth or getting porcelain veneers. Teeth whitening seems more conservative, but I wondered how safe it was putting chemicals on your teeth. Allison J. – Little Rock, AR Allison, It’s good you’re asking questions. Professional Teeth Whitening is known to be perfectly safe, especially when you have a dentist monitoring your progress. There are two types of whitening. You can do in office, where it […]