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Will Teeth Whitening Give Me Celebrity Teeth?

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If I got teeth whitening, will my teeth look like a celebrities?

Dinah Y. – Albuquerque

Dinah,

Teeth whitening can get your teeth white as a celbrities, if that is what you’re asking. It can get your teeth brilliantly white.

It cannot, however, change the shape of your teeth. So, if you had a specfic celebrity in mind you would need a different procedure.

For example, let’s say that you wanted your teeth to look like Kristin Stewart’s. In that case, you’d need something like porcelain veneers so the shape can be changed.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

 

My venners show my stains, can I whiten them?

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I got porcelain veneers, but my tetracycline stains still show through them. Will teeth whitening help?

Kaylee F. – Maine

Kaylee,

There is always a difficulty in doing porcelain veneers when you’ve got tetracycline stains to deal with. Generally, unless there is some incredible expertise on the part of the cosmetic dentist either the stains show through, or you get them too opaque trying to cover the stains.

Teeth whitening won’t help. Not that professional teeth whitening couldn’t help the teeth themselves, but rather they don’t work on cosmetic work. Veneers, crowns, etc. can not be whitened.

In all likelihood you’ll have to have them re-done before you get the results you were hoping for. If you were just getting the veneers to whiten your teeth, I would suggest just trying teeth whitening on your teeth themselves to see if you get the results you were hoping for. It’s significantly less expensive than veneers.

However, if you were getting the veneers to change anything other than their color, such as their shape and size, you’ll need to stick with veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

You can see my sister’s teeth from space

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My sister had her teeth whitened in one of those one appointment whitening set ups. Her teeth are so white, I think you could  see them from space. Is this normal?

Melissa M. – Portland, OR

Melissa,

If you are talking about in office teeth whitening, then they will get your teeth as white as they can get.  However, the color of your sister’s teeth will settle down to something more normal in a couple of weeks.

However, if you’re wanting to have your teeth professionally whitened, but don’t want to have them that bright, you can to an at home whitening program. This will give you control over the level of whiteness you receive.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodor Hadgis.

How can I whiten my crowns?

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My dentist told me there is not a way to whiten my porcelain crowns. It is not that they are bad. They match my teeth quite well. But I want to whiten my teeth which means I need to whiten my crowns. Is there no technique for it that my dentist doesn’t know about?

Sandy T. – Ohio

Sandy,

Your dentist is right. Teeth Whitening doesn’t work on your crowns. In some way that is a blessing. Think about how stain resistant they are. In the long run, that property of cosmetic dental work saves you from having it re-done all the time.

I wish your dentist had told you that you’d not be able to whiten them before you had them made. That way you could have whitened your teeth and then gotten your crowns to match the new color.

You can still whiten your teeth, but then you will need to get your crowns re-done.  I would give it a couple of weeks between the whitening and the designing of the crown. That way the color will be settled.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Dark spots on teeth

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I have these dark spots on my teeth that I got when I was a child.  My mom said it happened during an illness in my childhood. I’ve always been embarrassed by my spots.  My dentist has been trying to help me with them.  We’ve tried every kind of over the counter whitening product you can imagine. It makes the dark spots look darker because it only whitens the spots around it.  We can’t decide whether to try professional whitening first, or try to sand down the dark spots.  What do you think?

Carrie H. – Mississippi

Carrie,

Your dentist doesn’t understand teeth whitening and she could do serious damage to your teeth.  Professional teeth whitening will do the same thing the over-the-counter whitening products do as well, only better. That means the areas surrounding your spots will be really white. Your brown spots will still be brown.

The best thing you can do is to get porcelain veneers placed over the teeth.  However, this is not something you want just any dentist doing.  If your dentist doesn’t understand teeth whitening, I sincerely doubt they will have the expertise you need for the porcelain veneers to turn out attractive.

I suggest you look for someone in your area who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).  Accreditation is different from just being a member. Any dentist can become a member. To get accredited, they have to pass a stingent exam, as well as demonstrate the skill and artistry they have on several cosmetic cases.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

What do I do about the white spots from my braces?

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I’m getting these white spots on my teeth around my braces and I was wondering what I can do to get rid of them? I asked on yahoo and they said I could just whiten them but the problem is there already white so how will that help?

See the prob?

Justin B.- Michigan

Justin,

I certainly hope it wasn’t a dentist who told you to use teeth whitening to resolve the white spots on your teeth, because that is a foolish answer. It absolutely will NOT fix the problem.  Those white spots are from decalcification, which occurs when plaque is allowed to stay on your teeth. Decalcification is the start of cavities. I’m sure your orthodontist warned you that when you wear braces you have to be even more diligent about  your teeth. Brush after every meal faithfully.

Speak to your dentist about the problem. He or she can help you set up a plan to get your oral hygiene back on track. There are also things he can supply you with that will help remineralize the enamel on your teeth.

You may also be interested in learning about gum disease and white fillings.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

whitening after Lumineers

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I never fixed my teeth on the bottom when I got my lumineers. I couldn’t afford to do both and thought the top was more important. Now I think I’d like to whiten the bottom teeth, but am worried that it will damage the lumineers I had put up top. Will it?

Cindy W. from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Cindy,

If you’re just going to whiten your top teeth, your Lumineers won’t even be touched by the teeth whitening gel. It is put in custom designed trays that fit perfectly over your teeth, which will protect your veneers. However, even if you tried to do both arches, veneers won’t whiten. Whatever color they were when you had them put on is the color they’ll stay.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods TMJ Specialist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Teeth whitening with porcelain veneers

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I have porcelain veneers, but I would like to use some kind of over the counter whitening product on my teeth that don’t have veneers. What kinds are safe for use? I’ve had the porcelain veneers for long enough that my other teeth have yellowed noticeably compared to the veneers.

Danielle in Honolulu

Dear Danielle,

The only over the counter teeth whitening products we recommend are Crest Whitestrips or imitation products, and then only in limited capacities. The whitening agent in the strips is peroxide, and it is contained in the gel on the strips. When the strips are placed on the teeth the peroxide is held in place long enough to penetrate and whiten the teeth.

Other OTC products are on the teeth too briefly to penetrate for real whitening, such as whitening toothpastes. Some products actually etch the surface of the tooth, and then use a whitening powder which adheres to the roughened surface. These products can actually result in darker teeth over time, as the etched surfaces of the teeth will also pick up stains more readily.

So the whitestrips are really the best choice, though you will have to cut them to fit, as they are designed to go on the top front six teeth. Your best choice might be to go in to your dentist and have the teeth professionally whitened. The results will be much quicker and with no risk of damage to your veneers.

This blog post produced for Grosse Pointe Woods cosmetic dentist Dr. Hadgis.

Choosing between porcelain veneers and Invisalign invisible braces

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I don’t have any big problems with my teeth, but I’ve always wanted to have a really stunning smile. For this reason, I’ve decided to do 10 porcelain veneers on my top teeth. A couple of the teeth are a little crooked, but mostly I want that beautiful, white, bright smile you see on Hollywood celebrities. I really “after” pictures they show in the Lumineers ads, but my dentist says he doesn’t want to use those, since they will make my teeth look bulky.

My dentist is all for doing the veneers (he’s going to make plenty of money on me!), but he wants me to undergo treatment with Invisalign first. I looked up Invisalign, and found out they were invisible braces. I don’t understand why he wants to do this. My teeth aren’t that crooked, and anyway I thought porcelain veneers were supposed to be the ultimate quick fix for crooked or ugly teeth.

He said the Invisalign treatment would take like 9 months to complete! I don’t want to wait that long to get my veneers, plus the extra expense. All my dentist really said about it was that after treating with Invisalign, the drilling to place my veneers would be minimal. I don’t really understand what he means by that.

Can you tell me what to do?

Marissa in Orlando

Dear Marissa,

You need a second opinion. It is quite unusual for a dentist to recommend BOTH porcelain veneers and Invisalign. Of course, without seeing the condition of your teeth, it is impossible to say why your dentist might be making this recommendation, so it is imperative that you get another opinion who is unaware of the recommendations of the first dentist. Perhaps you have a serious bite problem, or a crowding issue. These kinds of issues might not be readily apparent to a lay person, but your dentist should have explained to you in detail why he was recommending this unusual dual treatment.

It is true that porcelain veneers can mask crooked teeth so that they look straight, so there must be some other reason he wants to do the Invisalign. Though you could get nice results from using Invisalign to straighten your teeth and then doing a teeth whitening treatment, it sounds as if you are eager to get this accomplished.

I do like that your current dentist was up front with you about the results with Lumineers. The “drilling” he is referring to likely means the shaving that is necessary to place most porcelain veneers. Lumineers are a “no prep” veneers, so the shaving is supposedly not necessary, but often the results are bulky, exactly as your dentist states.

In either case, you really need to talk to a dentist that will give you thorough, detailed information about your options so you can make an informed decision.

What to do about fluorosis stains on child’s teeth

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I really need some unbiased advice. My 10 year old daughter has what has just been diagnosed as “severe fluorosis stains” on her teeth. The permanent teeth she has on the bottom are really yellow, and her teeth on the top (the paperwork from the dentist says they are the top central and lateral incisors) are really blotchy. One of her teeth has a jagged edge, like it is just chipping away.

She is pretty vocal about being embarassed by her teeth, and we’re trying to do what we can now so this does not have a lasting effect on her self-esteem. She will need braces in another year or two, as soon as her 12 year molars come in, to correct issues from years of sucking on her fingers. I was just hoping there was some kind of teeth whitening treatment that is safe for kids that would at least correct part of the problem now. Our family dentist kind of blew me off when I asked about this, saying that there is not really anything we can or should do until after the braces have been done and are removed. That is years away! Is there anything you can suggest that would help right now?

Thanks for your help,

Theresa

Dear Theresa,

Though your dentist may not have communicated it as tactfully as he should have, in a way he is correct–there are not any teeth whitening products that will correct fluorosis stains. If the yellow staining on her bottom teeth is uniform, you may be looking at a different cause for the discoloration, and that may respond to teeth whitening  procedures. The only way to really deal with severe fluorosis stains is to cover the teeth with porcelain veneers. While there is no minimum age for porcelain veneers (or teeth whitening), make very sure the dentist you choose to do the procedure is knowlegable about working with children, and takes into consideration the degree of present and future tooth eruption.

Fluorosis stains are caused by the consumption of too much fluoride when the teeth are still forming. Sometimes this happens because of too-high levels of fluoride in the drinking water, or by the over-use of unnecessary fluroide supplements. It is also not uncommon to see fluorosis in children who routinely swallow over-large amounts of fluoridated toothpaste. As a reminder, children should only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, and should be taught NOT to swallow their toothpaste. If a child is too young to understand that they must spit after brushing, special toothpaste can be purchased that does not contain fluoride.

In the case of your daughter, you should consult with an expert cosmetic dentist who does both porcelain veneers and Invisalign braces. In some cases, porcelain veneers act as “instant orthodontics”, and can be a method of dealing with crooked teeth. It all depends on the extent of the orthodontic work required, and if you consult with a cosmetic dentist that is an expert in both areas, he can offer the best advice on the best course of treatment to give your daughter a beautiful smile.