New Patients Call: 866-869-2595
Existing Patients Call: 717-757-3214
Beautiful Smiles and
Comprehensive
General Dentistry

Archives for September 2014

Don’t think I picked the best dentist for Zoom. Now what?

Posted on by .

I don’t think I picked the best dentist to get Zoom whitening. I didn’t think there was any way to mess this up! But seriously, my teeth are ugly, maybe worse than before I went in. I thought my teeth would all be uniform in color, which is not the case. I also have these little white spots all over the place. I totally thought bleaching would take care of this and make them blend in more or get rid of them entirely, but not the case. Yesterday, I had Zoom whitening and today I look terrible. The white spots are brighter than before. The idea was to hide them, not have them emphasized. Help!

– Morgan in Tennessee

Morgan,

Oh no! It doesn’t sound like you chose the best dentist. Did you go to a general dentist or a cosmetic dentist? There is a big difference. To be an excellent cosmetic dentist requires much advanced training beyond dental school. Not every dentist does beautiful cosmetic dentistry work. But if the dentist performs Zoom in his or her practice, they should have known what was going on with your case.

The white spots you are describing are called fluorosis. This occurs when excessive amounts of fluoride were ingested while the teeth were still developing. Zoom or any teeth whitening treatment will not work for fluorosis. Zoom actually brightens your natural tooth structure which works well for the majority of patients. But for individuals with your condition, it will not work (as you know).

You now need to seek out a cosmetic dentist that is familiar in treating fluorisis. The best cosmetic dentists will be able to effectively cover the spots. But this time around, make sure you seek out the best dentist in your area by asking about their credentials in cosmetic dentistry. You also want to make sure they understand your condition and know how to treat it. Ask to see before and after images from similar cases so you don’t end up unhappy once again.

Dental bonding may work to cover up the spots and in some cases porcelain veneers may work well too. Also, discuss with an excellent cosmetic dentist exactly how white you want your smile to be once it is all said and done. This is because you need to get your teeth whitening done at this time prior to the cosmetic dentistry treatment to cover the fluorosis.

Also, keep in mind that it takes several days after teeth bleaching for the color to settle down. So once that is done, the dentist will then be able to match the bonding or veneers to your new teeth color. You can get a beautiful smile, but not just any dentist will do. Make sure you consult with the best dentist to take care of your condition.

Good luck!

This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD General & Cosmetic Dentistry

What to do about a dental emerency during pregnancy?

Posted on by .

I’m freaking out! The last thing I need to be dealing with is a dental emergency at the moment. I’m a first-time pregnant lady, so maybe I just am overreacting to everything (like touching commercials, cute kittens, etc.)

The other day, one of my fillings came out. It was in one of my back teeth. It is pretty sensitive to food, drink, and temperature. I’m nine weeks pregnant. Is it safe for me to go in and have it checked out? If it needs to re-filled, is that safe?

– Becca in Pennsylvania

Becca,

Those sentimental commercials wreak havoc on pregnant women everywhere. Don’t worry, you are not alone in that.

As for the question about seeing the dentist, it is understandable that your are concerned. First-time pregnant women are bombarded with lists of foods, activities, and medications to avoid. But dental care is not one of them. Visiting the dentist is safe and encouraged, especially in the event of a dental emergency.

Just be sure to communicate with the hygienist and dentist to make it clear that you are pregnant and let them know how far along you are. They will likely be recommending some extra precautions if an x-ray is required.

Based on the situation you described, there is a possibility that the dentist will want to do an x-ray to get a full picture of what is happening with that molar. Even in the event that this is a dental emergency, the number of x-rays should be limited.

Some dentists and OBGYN’s will recommend waiting until after the first trimester to have and dental treatment done. This is because there is so much development that occurs in those initial weeks. The second trimester and into the beginning of the third is the ideal time to seek dental treatment. But again, if you are dealing with a filling that fell out, there could be a more serious issue that is going on. So, it is important to get into the dentist as soon as possible in case a root canal or crown is required. Then after the urgency is evaluated, the dentist can work with you to make the right treatment plan.

This post is sponsored by York PA dentist Donald H. Currie, DMD.