Skip to main content
Category

Cosmetic Dentistry

Sep 27

Novocain doesn’t work for me

By Sedation Dentistry

I have a very high tolerance for novocain, so dental procedures are a complete nightmare. I need to get a tooth extracted and wondered if there is anything I can do.

Jeanne S.- San Francisco

Jeanne,

Most people who have a high tolerance for novocain, it is because they are nervous about the procedure. The adrenaline causes the Novocain to wear off quicker. There is a solution though. First, you want to go to a dentist that practices sedation dentistry.  What you need is something to relax you enough to allow the novocain to take affect. There are a couple of options. You could take nitrous oxide, or an oral sedation pill. Either one will give you the edge you need to get through the procedure pain free.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. La Vacca.

Aug 24

Porcelain veneers for one crooked tooth

By Porcelain Veneers

I have one crooked tooth in the front. I was wondering if I could get porcelain veneers to fix it, or if I have to have braces.

Jennie I. – Sandy, Utah

Jennie,

If you don’t want traditional braces you have two wonderful options. The first one is porcelain veneers. They are an excellent solution for your crooked tooth. If it sticks out in the front it would need to be shaved down first. It is important you go to a qualified cosmetic dentist to get these done. It takes a lot of artistic skills to do veneers, your basic family dentist may not have the needed training.

A second option for you is invisalign. It sounds like you are uncomfortable with the idea of traditional braces. However, I wanted to make sure you were aware that with invisalign there is not the same issue with pain/discomfort that you get with wire & brackets. Plus, they are completely invisible. No one will know you are wearing braces.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jul 14

Getting a Hollywood smile

By Porcelain Veneers

I have always been embarrassed by my teeth. Not only are they yellow and crooked, but they are much shorter than most people’s teeth. I’ve never been able to afford a smile makeover, but I had been saving up for teeth whitening and invisalign. Recently, I just inherited a lot of money and am free for the first time in my life to do whatever I want. Well, what I want is a Hollywood smile. Would  you recommend anything other than the services I had already been saving up for?

Denise in Washington

Denise,

Congratulations on your windfall! The two procedures you had in mind are a great start, but will not do anything about the shortness of your teeth. Instead of a bunch of different procedures, I’m going to recommend one “all encompassing” procedure. Getting porcelain veneers will solve all of your mentioned issues and it can be done in only two appointments. You can learn more about the procedure on our website.

One word of caution. Make sure you use a qualified cosmetic dentist with a lot of experience. Look through their smile gallery to see if you are impressed with the quality of his or her work. Just because someone says they are a cosmetic dentist, doesn’t mean they are artistic enough to give you a truly spectacular smile.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.

Jun 16

How can I treat damage from bulimia ?

By Cosmetic Procedures

I suffered from bulimia for almost ten years. Through counseling and treatment, I finally overcame the illness, but my teeth have been damaged severely. They are half of their original size, and in the front they no longer touch. Also, where my teeth do still touch, they don’t fit well.

And now, the left side of my jaw sticks out nearly an inch every time I open my mouth to bite or chew, which causes headaches.

Is there any hope for me and these issues with my teeth ? I’d like to see a cosmetic dentist to improve my smile and the functionality of my bite.
– Mary in Pittsburgh

Mary,
It’s a wise decision to think of a cosmetic dentist to help you with these problems. Bulimia is an appearance issue as far as your teeth are concerned. When there is little tooth structure left, you need to have bonding technology used to restore your smile because conventional cementation techniques may not be strong enough to hold crowns on your teeth.

And yes, your headaches are most likely caused by a TMJ disorder, which comes from your bite discrepancy. One other piece of good news is that most expert cosmetic dentists are also fairly well trained in treating TMJ disorders, which requires restoring your bite to it’s normal state. Brace yourself – you are probably facing the need for porcelain crowns on most if not all of your teeth. But the end result, if you go to the right dentist, will be a beautiful, radiant smile.

Congratulations on overcoming your disease! You have made great strides. The worst is behind you, and I anticipate things will just get better for you from this point on.
– Dr. Lavacca

May 13

Should I see another dentist to fix my son’s teeth?

By Dental Bonding, Pediatric Dentist

My 10-year-old son fell off his bike yesterday and broke his upper front tooth and cracked another one horizontally. Thankfully, we managed to get him in to see the dentist. However, the dentist said he was unable to fix his teeth until next month. He also said that we should wait a few weeks to allow the root to desensitize. Is this waiting period standard procedure, or should I find another dentist?

-Jennifer from Texas

Jennifer,

You shouldn’t have to wait to fix your son’s teeth.

If you happened to find the piece of tooth that was broken off, it can still be reattached. Find a good cosmetic dentist to do this procedure though. You’ll want someone who knows how to match the other front tooth, and this requires someone who has excellent aesthetic dental skills.

If you don’t have the broken piece of tooth to reattach, then direct dental bonding can be used to repair the tooth. In time, the pulp will become smaller as your son ages, so depending on the extent of damage to both teeth, he may need a single crown or more.

Learn more about pediatric dentistry and about kid’s basic dental care.

May 03

Can I use peroxide to whiten my teeth?

By Teeth Whitening

Is it possible to use 3% hydrogen peroxide that you can buy over the counter to whiten teeth?

Wendy from Edmund, OK

Wendy,

It is possible to rinse with peroxide, but it won’t make that much of a difference. You can still use an at-home treatment, but you should use one that is supervised by a dentist. Trays and a whitening agent will give you nice results just as long as you allow the solution to penetrate your teeth for a minimum of fifteen minutes. And for quicker results, the trays and whitening agent can safely be worn for a couple hours per day or overnight.  Keep in mind that tooth stains are typically deep, so you want to be sure to whiten the dentin, which is beneath the tooth enamel.

Another alternative is to wear the Crest Whitestrips thirty minutes per day for two weeks. They have roughly a 6% peroxide concentration. This method will provide mild whitening, and it outperforms rinsing with 3% peroxide. This should give you a good perspective of how long it would take to whiten your teeth when just rinsing with peroxide.

Learn about options to whiten discolored teeth, such as Zoom whitening and cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Apr 22

I’d like to know how much dental work can be done in one visit.

By Sedation Dentistry, Teeth Whitening

I’m in need of extensive dental work including a tooth that needs shortening and whitening, 7 root canals, and 3 cavities. I’m trying to avoid making several appointments with my dentist. Can you tell me how much work can be done in one visit?

Jake from Carson City

Jake,

Each dentist is different regarding how much work they’re willing to do in one sitting. You’ll need to ask your dentist what he or she is willing to do for you.

Dentists that provide sedation dentistry are often the ones willing to do more work in one sitting. Check with your dentist to see if sedation is available, and if not, then you’ll need to find another general dentist or cosmetic dentist that offers it.

If you want to remain with your current dentist, then the amount of work depends on how long you can withstand the visit. It is possible to sit  through a four-hour appointment if you feel at ease with dentistry. A lot can be done in this amount of time if your dentist is capable of working fast.

Providing there are no complications with your front tooth, your dentist should be able to do the tooth whitening and shortening.

Your dentist should be able to complete your seven root canal treatments in one sitting as long as they are on your front teeth. If you require root canal treatments on your molars, and you prefer minimal appointments, then you could go to an endodontist. Endodontists are root canal specialists with the ability to perform a molar root canal in one hour, while a general dentist can take up to two hours per molar.

Dec 17

What’s the best way to whiten my teeth if I have composite fillings?

By Cosmetic Procedures

Over the years my teeth have naturally turned yellow. I would really like to whiten them, but I’m not sure how I should go about this since I have several composite fillings. Should I have the composite fillings replaced with a lighter material before or after I whiten my teeth?

 – Dana from Texas

Dana,

Everyone’s teeth have a natural tendency to darken over time, which can be a result of certain foods, beverages, or many other known causes. As you begin the teeth whitening process, be sure to whiten your teeth first, because it is impossible to predict the shade of whiteness your teeth will become. Once you are satisfied with your teeth’s level of color, you should then wait another two weeks for the new shade to stabilize. Then you can move forward with having your composite fillings removed to match your newly whitened teeth.

Close Menu