Archives for March 2023

How Can I Safely Whiten My Dentures?

Posted on March 26, 2023 by AllSmiles.

How can I safely whiten my dentures without ruining them? I clean and soak them daily, but they look dull. Thanks. Walter

Walter,

Thank you for contacting 5 Star Dental Group in San Antonio. Dr. Tostado or Dr. Acuña would need to examine your dentures to determine the cause of stains or discoloration and recommend how to proceed. We will explain when and how you can whiten dentures.

How Can You Whiten Your Dentures?

You can whiten your denture with regular soaking and using denture cleaning products if they are not worn, old, or made with low-quality materials. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the following to keep your dentures white:

Follow the instructions for denture cleaning products
Develop a routine for cleaning your dentures
Select products with the ADA seal of approval to ensure they are effective

The Journal of Microbiology published an October 2018 article on the frequency of denture cleaning that confirms the following about regularly cleaning your dentures:

Reduces plaque buildup on denture teeth
Reduces plaque buildup on denture surfaces that fit your oral tissue
Requires a routine that includes soaking and brushing your dentures

Nonabrasive denture cleaning products

You can find nonabrasive denture cleansers in these forms:

Tablets
Pastes
Creams
Gels

Soaking dentures

Regularly soaking your dentures has the following benefits:

Reduces bacteria buildup on denture teeth, which can lead to stains or discoloration
Helps you maintain good oral health
Keeps your breath fresh

What If Your Dentures Still Look Dull?

If your dentures look dull despite thorough daily cleaning, speak with your dentist. Depending on the condition and age of your dentures, your dentist can polish yellow or stained dentures and help them look brighter. However, if your dentures are worn or old, you may need to replace them.

Schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist to examine your denture and determine if polishing them will improve the stains. Otherwise, the dentist may recommend replacing your dentures or denture teeth.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post. Read how they strive to provide patients with some of the best dental care in San Antonio.

You may also read about the importance of denture fit in our post, My Dentures Are Leaving Sores on My Gums.

New Veneers on Front Teeth Don’t Match My Natural Teeth

Posted on March 15, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Last month I got porcelain veneers on my 4 top front teeth. They are so much whiter than my other teeth. People have actually asked me if I got 4 new teeth. It’s so embarrassing. Me and my dentist had a long talk about this, but she says the veneers will get dull with time. Aren’t they supposed to match my teeth? Will they get darker with time? Giovanni (Gio)

Gio –

Thank you for contacting 5 Star Dental Group in San Antonio.

Yes, your new porcelain veneers should match the color of your natural teeth. They should blend in with your natural teeth’s size, shape, and color so people can’t tell you to have veneers. If you wanted ultra-white veneers, your dentist should have whitened your natural teeth before making the restorations to ensure a match.

A porcelain veneer held with dental forceps next to a woman's tooth

A cosmetic dentist can match porcelain veneers to your natural teeth

Porcelain is colorfast, which means a dentist cannot make your veneers lighter or darker after a ceramist crafts them. Your new smile’s color must be determined and agreed upon by you and your dentist.

At this point, you have two options. Regardless of your choice, we recommend finding an experienced cosmetic dentist to help you. A cosmetic dentist has an artistic eye for the best results possible. The options are as follows:

Whiten your natural teeth – It is possible that a dentist can whiten your natural teeth to match the color of your porcelain veneers closely. A cosmetic dentist will need to examine your teeth to determine if you are a candidate for teeth bleaching. If you are, they will tell you the results you can expect with whitening and how closely your natural teeth will match the veneers. As we mentioned earlier, a dentist must complete teeth whitening before porcelain restorations if a patient wants a brighter smile.
Get new porcelain veneers – Your dentist should offer to replace your porcelain veneers if she cannot achieve a match. You can allow her to try again or ask her to compensate you for getting a cosmetic dentist to replace your veneers.

We strongly suggest that you research to find a cosmetic dentist with experience. You can find a few cosmetic dentists with porcelain veneers experience and have a consultation with each of them before making a decision. When you get beautiful results, you’ll be happy that you found the right dentist.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

Will the Front Teeth Gap Close When Wisdom Teeth Come In?

Posted on March 7, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Hi,

I’ll be 17 in October. What are the chances that a gap between my 2 front teeth will close when my wisdom teeth come in? Will I need braces? – Thanks, Kasen from OKC

Kasen,

Thank you for contacting 5 Star Dental Group in San Antonio. Dr. Tostado or Dr. Acuña would need to examine and x-ray your teeth before recommending treatment, but we will explain possible options.

Will the Eruption Wisdom Teeth Close a Gap Between Front Teeth?

Whether wisdom teeth close a gap between your front teeth depends on several factors, including:

The gap size – The gap (diastema) between the front teeth may close with wisdom teeth eruption if the space is small.
Whether tissue exists between your front teeth – Sometimes soft tissue, or labial frenum, hangs from your gums into the gap. The frenum can prevent a space from closing unless a dentist surgically removes the tissue.
How and if the wisdom teeth erupt – If wisdom teeth erupt partially or in the wrong position, they may not close a gap between front teeth. The position of wisdom teeth can move other teeth out of alignment.

What Are Your Options for Closing a Gap Between Your Front Teeth?

Depending on the condition of your teeth and the size of the gap, a cosmetic dentist may recommend one of these treatments for closing the gap:

Dental bonding. A dentist can blend composite bonding to perfectly match your tooth shade and layer it to close a small gap between your teeth. Dental bonding is usually not the preference for large spaces between teeth.
Porcelain veneers. A cosmetic dentist can prepare your teeth and partner with a dental lab to make custom shells of porcelain for the fronts of your teeth. Closing the gap and balancing your smile may require getting porcelain veneers for more than your two front teeth. A dentist will ensure your jawbone growth is complete before placing veneers. Otherwise, the veneers will not cover your teeth as they shift with jawbone growth.
The gap size and cause may require braces. Although many patients prefer a faster resolution, a dentist may determine that braces are the most effective long-term solution to the gap between your teeth. Braces and a retainer can also help prevent future concerns with misalignment.

We recommend scheduling a wisdom teeth evaluation with a dentist to determine whether your teeth will fully erupt. The dentist can also examine your teeth and explain treatment options for closing your gap.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post. Read how they strive to provide their patients with some of the best dental care in San Antonio.