Archives for January 2022

The top of my old root canal tooth turned blue

Posted on January 27, 2022 by AllSmiles.

The top of my old root canal tooth turned blue. The tooth had a filling, but my dentist bleached the tooth six weeks ago. That didn’t work, so she put a crown over it. The first crown was too white, so my dentist had the lab redo it. It still does not match my right front tooth, an implant crown. I damaged both teeth in an accident in 2015 but lost one of them. This crown redo process is getting old. How many more times should I let my dentist try to get the color of the root canal tooth to match the implant crown? Thank you. Heather from S. Dakota

Heather,

Thank you for your question.

Matching Crown Color on a Front Tooth

Three phases of dental implant - three components, root form in bone, crown on abutment.

An experienced cosmetic dentist can match your crown to surrounding teeth

Matching color with a single front tooth is challenging for most dentists. You can quickly notice even a slight color difference on front teeth. Dentists who lack cosmetic dentistry training sometimes ask their patients to put new crowns on both front teeth. Here’s why:

Each tooth has multiple shades and variations in translucence.
An expert cosmetic will use a high-quality camera and detailed instructions to help a dental ceramist match your crowns.
An expert dental ceramist in a lab will layer porcelain and add tints to match the other tooth.
A cosmetic dentist is willing to try a temporary crown on your tooth multiple times to achieve a perfect match with your implant crown.
You and your cosmetic dentist should look at your crown in various lighting conditions to detect any color differences.
Your cosmetic dentist should only cement the crown to your tooth when you both are confident of a perfect color match.

We recommend speaking with your dentist to see if she can work with a dental lab to match your crowns. Otherwise, you can schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic to discuss your options.

Dr. Gilberto Tostado, a San Antonio, Texas cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

I Am Afraid That Veneers Will Make My Tetracycline Stains Look Worse

Posted on January 15, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I have tetracycline stains on my teeth that look bad. I am 37 years old and can finally do something about it. My cousin has the stains, too, but she got porcelain veneers. My dentist said that porcelain veneers might help me, too.

I am really nervous about them because my cousin’s porcelain veneers look just as bad as her tetracycline teeth, just in another way. Her veneers look like a strip of cheap plastic teeth that she popped off of a find-your-size fake teeth kit. The dentist that did her veneers told her that there was no other way to hide the dark stains on her teeth. I told her to ask for her money back, but she never did.

My teeth are almost as bad as my cousin’s tetracycline teeth. If I get veneers, will they have to look like hers? Thank you. Genesis from Dallas

Genesis,

Thank you for your question.

Covering tetracycline stains with porcelain veneers is an art that only a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist can master. It’s not easy. Unless your dentist has post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training, we recommend that you look for another dentist.

Hiding Tetracycline Stains with Porcelain Veneers

Hiding tetracycline stains with veneers requires a cosmetic dentist who understands balancing translucency with color. Your porcelain veneers don’t have to look like your cousin’s, but you must diligently look for a cosmetic dentist who has experience with porcelain veneers and tetracycline stains.

Ask for photos: Ask to see before-and-after pictures of other patients.
Be open: Talk with the dentist about your concerns and the results you want.
Speak up: If you decide to get porcelain veneers, you must speak up about anything about the model veneers that you don’t like.

If you feel as though the dentist you have chosen will not give you natural-looking results, find another dentist. The frustration of selecting a new dentist is nowhere near the disappointment you would experience if you received a smile makeover that you don’t like.

Dr. Gilberto Tostado, a San Antonio, Texas dentist, sponsors this post.

Why Are My Crowns Are Sensitive to Heat?

Posted on January 6, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I have implant crowns and three crowns on my natural teeth. The crowns on my natural teeth are more than 20 years old. The crowns are on my left front tooth and the two teeth behind them. Two of the teeth are sensitive to heat. Maybe I notice it more now that the weather is cooler, and I have been eating more soup and drinking more tea. The pain is increasing. My dentist is from Portugal and is out of the country on holiday until February 12. He takes the trip yearly. Is this something that can wait, or should I see another dentist? – Thank you. Nathan from Austin, TX

Nathan,

Sudden pain and sensitivity to heat are symptoms of a dying tooth. Your sensitive teeth are infected. As the tissue inside the tooth swells, it releases gasses. When the tooth is exposed to hot temperatures, the pressure increases, and so does your pain.

What Causes an Infection Beneath Dental Crowns?

Decay beneath your crowns or exposed root surfaces might be the cause of irritation and infection in your teeth.

A dentist needs to remove your crowns to examine your teeth and see their condition. Afterward, root canal treatment will remove the dead pulp. And a dentist can replace the pulp with a filler material. And you will need new crowns. Ask the dentist to check the remaining old crown on the third tooth, too. Beneath the crown, your tooth may be irritated and at risk for infection like the others.

How Long Does a Dental Implant Take?

Getting a dental implant from start to finish takes three to nine months. The process takes time because of several phases. Depending on your situation, you can expect several steps:

Initial consultation – Your dentist or oral surgeon will complete an exam and a 3-D x-ray to ensure you are a candidate for implants.
Tooth removal – Surgically removing your teeth takes about 30 minutes unless there are complications.
Implant surgery – Inserting implants through your gum and jawbone takes one to two hours per implant.
Healing – You will wait three to four months while the implant and bone fuse.
Periodic checkups – Your surgeon or dentist will check the surgical sites for proper healing during the healing process.
Final crown – After the healing period, your dentist will take images of your mouth for a lab to make the final implant crowns. Your dentist will attach crowns to the implants.

Dental implant and crown

San Antonio dentist, Gilbert Tostado, DDS sponsors this post.