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Archives for January 2013

Lumineers or porcelain veneers?

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I’m saving up for a smile makeover. I want to spend my money wisely. Do you recommend Lumineers or porcelain veneers?

Kathleen J.- Boise, ID

Kathleen,

I’d like you to shift the way you’re going about this. Lumineers are simply a brand of porcelain veneers. To give an analogy, your question is a little like asking whether you should get a Louis Vuitton or a purse. They are both the same thing, you just need to decide if that is the brand you want.

Instead of thinking in terms of brands, you would be wiser to focus your search on the dentist. In reality, that is what makes the biggest difference in the quality and appearance of your smile makeover. An expert cosmetic dentist will have artistry as well as knowledge of the procedure. Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty for dentists, so any general dentist could pick up a few procedures and call themselves a cosmetic dentist. However, to do it well takes extensive post-graduate training.

I’d start by looking on the mynewsmile.com website and see who they recommend for your state. Each dentist listed on this site is screened not only for their technical skill, but for the artistic results they achieve. You’ll be safe with any of their recommended dentists.

This blog is brought to you by York PA Cosmetic dentist Dr. Donald Currie.

Root Canal while pregnant

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I am in my second trimester and have an infected tooth. My dentist has given me a choice between a root canal or an apicoectomy. I’m a little worried about the local anesthetic during a pregnancy and also about the idea of a surgery. But, if the root canal fails, I could be in my third trimester needing surgery, which will be worse. What do you recommend?

Karen S. – Tallahassee, FL

Karen,

First, I’ll say congratulations on your pregnancy.  I recommend you get the root canal, but get it done by an endodontist. He or She will have special tools to make it more likely to succeed. If he uses lidocaine you’ll be perfectly safe. It is one of the few anesthetics that has been proven to be harmless during pregnancy.  Ask the endodontist to use the smallest amount of lidocaine possible just to put your mind at ease. If the root canal fails, you can always have the apicoectomy later.

This blog is brought to you by York, PA Dentist Dr. Donald Currie.