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Tips for Teeth Whitening

Tips for Teeth Whitening

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I need to get a dental crown but want to touch up my teeth whitening first. My dentist isn’t sure how long I should whiten to get my teeth back to the way they were. Do you have any possible tips for me? I really want a white smile before committing to the color for my dental crown.

Deanna

Dear Deanna,

teeth whitening trays

 

I am a little concerned that your dentist could not answer these questions. Teeth whitening is the most basic of all the cosmetic procedures. If he cannot give you basic advice on this, are you certain he can create a natural looking and beautiful dental crown. I am going to advise you about the whitening, however I suggest you ask to see before and after pictures of dental crowns your dentist has done before moving forward with the crown. If you don’t think the results are of the quality you’d want in your smile, I suggest you find another dentist to do the crown. Just to be safe, ask if the images he is showing you are work he’s actually done or if they are stock photos. You’ll want the work to be his to get an accurate assessment.

As for the teeth whitening. There is a basic guideline that says the longer you can tolerate the teeth whitening the faster your teeth will get to the color you want. If you are doing take home bleaching trays, like in the image above, you will find you will whiten the fastest by wearing them at night. I don’t know how much whitening you want, so it is hard to say, “You should whiten for X number of days.” . If you cannot tolerate wearing them that long, tailor it back to what you can. You will simply have to whiten a few more days.”

There is one thing which has a more static measurement. After you reach the level of whitening you want, you should wait a week before your crown is measured. This way the color has an opportunity to stabilize.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Tostado.
Click here to learn more about our Holistic Dentistry options.

Why Did My Jaw Hurt After My Dental Appointment?

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Hi,

I recently had my teeth prepared for several temporary crowns and several porcelain veneers placed on my lower teeth. I am looking forward to when my porcelain crowns come in, but ever since my appointment, my jaw has been aching. I cannot get through the day without taking over the counter pain killers, and wish I had something stronger. It usually hurts worse later in the day, and I need to take something to ease the pain before bedtime.

It’s been several days since my appointment, but my jaw pain hasn’t let up. Is this normal? Do I need to go back to my dentist? I really hope it stops soon.

Mayumi, from Gadsden, AL

 

Hi Mayumi,

There usually is residual pain after long appointments, as your mouth has been through a lot. You will likely have pain or discomfort for one or two weeks after the surgery. Preparing that many teeth for crowns and veneers requires the mouth to be open for much longer than you’re used to.

To make yourself more comfortable, you can call your dentist and ask if there is anything else you can do. The pain is likely temporary, so it should not be TMJ or TMD. Over the counter pain killers are OK to take, and try to rest your jaw as much as possible. You can also use heat from warm towels to help your jaw relax.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio TMJ dentist, Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group.

How Many Years of Experience Does an Implant Dentist Need to be the Best?

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Hi there,

I am a candidate for dental implants and want to make sure I find the best cosmetic dentist. I am nervous about getting dental surgery. The more experienced the dental implant dentist, the less risk of dental implant failure, right? That’s what I read online. However, nothing I have read mentions how many years an implant dentist needs before they can call themselves “the best”? Is there a certain, specific number I should look for?

Twila, from Salem, MA

 

Hi Twila,

The more experience a dental implant dentist has, the higher their success rate when placing implants and performing surgery. Researching a dentist before starting any surgical procedures is very important, as it will help you save time and save money in the long run. For example, an inexperienced dentist may recommend a bone graft when you do not need one, or may say they cannot place implants due to lack of bone. They also may struggle to color match the porcelain crown that covers the dental implant. Choosing the wrong dentist could cause you to start over again with a different dentist, costing you even more money.

Many patients entrust their dental implant surgery to their general or family dentist, basing their choice on trust rather than the dentist’s experience. No matter how long your dentist has been in practice, if they do not have dental implant experience, they may not be the best option for your procedure.

There are no research studies done on how many years an implant dentist needs in order to be the best. However, studies show that restorations last longer when done by a dental implant specialist versus those done by a dentist. However, some dental implants just fail. Be sure to maintain your oral hygiene routines and continue with follow-up appointments post-surgery.

There is no magic number of years of practice to look for. Instead, focus on finding someone who has many years of continuing education in dental implants, and who has done a large number of cases.

To find the best implant dentist for your case, check the websites and reviews of cosmetic dentists in your area. Most will let you do a free consultation before booking an appointment. If you are really worried, you can ask your potential dentist how many of their implant cases have failed, as they will most likely remember. Bear in mind that one or two failed procedures at a practice that sees many patients is no cause for concern. Choose your potential dentist based on their experience as well as their bedside manner, someone who listens and answers your questions sincerely.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio dental implant provider, Dr. Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group. Please note that dental implant specialist is not a certified field of dentistry; however, dentists that have attended continuing education courses on dental implant procedures and have experience with palcing implants will call themselves dental implant specialists.

Is It Normal to Need Root Canals after getting Porcelain Crowns?

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Hi there,

I decided to get porcelain crowns a few years ago. My dentist said I needed a full-mouth restoration, and that there would not be any negative side effects. However, after the long intense process of getting extractions and crowns, a few of the crowns started hurting. I went back to my dentist several times for adjustments. When the pain went away, an abscess formed! An X-ray showed I needed root canals because of nerve damage. If I’d known about the risk of nerve damage, I may not have gone ahead with the crowns…

My dentist agreed to do several of the root canals I needed free of charge. However, more teeth have started hurting and even abscessing. I know they will most likely need root canals too, and I’m worried about the future. Will I need root canals on every crowned tooth? This whole process has been a nightmare. What can I do?

Thank you,

Stari, from Chicago, IL

 

Hi Stari,

When your dentist made your crowns, he ground down a lot of your natural teeth. If your dentist is not skilled at placing crowns, there is a rise of exposing the pulp inside your tooth. Exposed pulp can cause pain or become infected. If this happens, a root canal is the only way to remove the infection. Any teeth with decay or heavy fillings can increase the risk of infection as well. Teeth in poor condition may not be suited for crowns, and an extraction followed by a dental implant may have been a better course of action.

Your dentist should have definitely informed you of the risks prior to your smile makeover, so that you could make a fully informed decision. Since he did not, paying to fix the damage is the least he can do. It seems that by offering to pay, he feels some degree of responsibility for your situation.

Any problems with your crowns will have likely become apparent a few months after surgery. Since you’re a few years post-surgery, you are probably done with needing root canals. Should you need any more root canals, your dentist should continue to pay for them. If any of those crowns need replacing, opt for another cosmetic dentist for a second opinion.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio cosmetic dentist, Dr. Gilberto Tostada, of 5 Star Dental Group.

 

 

 

 

Should I Reschedule Getting my Porcelain Crowns?

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Hi there,

Last year, I started the process for getting dental implants. First I had a bone graft, then had the implant surgically placed. Now that I’ve healed up, I can finally get my porcelain crown placed. However, my crown placement appointment is right in the middle of a pandemic! I’m eager to get my crown, but I’m not sure if it counts as “essential”. It’s essential to me, but I can live a little longer without it if necessary. However, a lot of non-essential businesses are reopening, so I’m considering keeping my appointment. Should I keep it, or reschedule it? I’m not sure what to do.

Shayne, from Cleveland, OH

 

Hi Shayne,

This is a stressful and confusing time for everyone. CDC guidelines advise against any non-essential excursions, but stop short of actually explaining what that means. What is non-essential to some may be essential to others, so to avoid confusion, the CDC kept it vague.

If you were having a toothache or pain, you would go in to see your dentist right away for an emergency. If your jaw has fully healed and you are not in pain, you can probably reschedule your appointment with no issue. However, if you have had to change your eating habits since the surgery and cannot eat without discomfort, you may want to keep it. Dental implants are more than just aesthetic – they are replacements for your natural teeth that your mouth needs in order to function. There is no right or wrong answer here, it really is up to you and what you feel most comfortable doing.

Dental offices, like most businesses, are taking extra precautions during these unpredictable times. You will likely need to wear a mask or face covering to your appointment, and practice social distancing in the waiting room.

One thing you can do is talk to your dentist. He or she will be able to tell you whether you can safely reschedule or if you should still keep your appointment. They know you best, and can help guide you to make the best decision for you. You can also ask about any new guidelines or procedures that have recently been put in place.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio dental implant provider, Dr. Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group.