Archive for July, 2008
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Q. Hello, I have top teeth which are out of alignment due to having one tooth removed on the right hand side when I was a child – consequently, my teeth have shifted to the right by about 7 mm resulting in one of my two top teeth being right in the centre, rather than side by side. I also have crooked bottom teeth. please could you let me know if invisalign would be a solution – also would I have to have teeth removed to correct the mis-alignment.many thanks.
A. Unfortunately the problem you describe is one of the most difficult things to correct in dentistry. Orthodontics does struggle, especially if their is not enough space in the jaw to shift the teeth along.
If it is necessary certain teeth might need to be removed, but i suspect this to be a last resort. Either traditional orthodontics or invisalign would be able to treat the problem, but neither will be able to provide 100% success with orthodontics alone. Further correction with veneers and crowns may need to be considered.
As for you lower teeth, again, the orthodontics should be able to improve things, but depending on the level of cosmetic correction you require, other treatments might need to be considered.

Dr Safeer Butt
S3 Dental Studios
www.s3dental.co.uk
Surrey Kent Sussex
Tags: alignment, invisailgn
Posted in Dr Butt's Answers, Experts Answers | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Q. Part of my upper left 7 molar came away during flossing. My dentist began a root canal and then gave up on it due to my having denticle blocking off the roots. She then left the practice. My new dentist wants to extract the tooth (which is very sensitive to heat and cold)The tooth is the last one next to a wisdom tooth, and I’m worried about losing it. I’ve signed up to do a PhD- and the fees mean I have little spare cash for an implant
A. Unfortunately the 2 options you appear to have are to have the tooth extracted or to be referred to a private specialist root canal dentist – they may not be able to successfully treat the tooth but they use a special microscope to try and negotiate past the blockages.

Dr Julian Caplan
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street
St. Albans Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: dental implant, dental implants costs, flossing
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Q. i had a root canal about 4 years ago on my front tooth from a back break. i had a veneer, or thats what they said it was. but now i noticed the veneer doesn’t match at all to my other tooth, my gums are purple and the veneer is too thick, it’s just really noticeable. i was wondering if i should get lumineers put on both my front teeth so they will match, but i was wondering if it would be tooth think and be noticeable. also if i could still get invisaline, will it pull the lumineers off? i just want to be able to smile and not feel so conscious of my teeth. i’m a teen and i’m always close to people and like to hang around a lot of people. thank you
A. Thank you for your question
The best thing to do is to have a consultation with a private dentist who is used to carrying out different types of veneers and crowns. If the tooth has had root canal treatment it may need a crown. Also if the gums look purple and the veneer is really thick you may have gum problems above the tooth.
Lumineers are not always suitable and you may require extra work. If your parents can’t take you to a private dentist you could phone NHS direct to help you find an NHS dentist in your area. The number is 0845 4647. Braces may help you and you will have to have a consultation with an orthodontist, the dentist you find will be able to refer you
Kind regards

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
Tel: 01296 624163
33 High Street
Wendover Buckinghamshire
HP22 6DU
Tags: invislaign, lumineers
Posted in Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Veneers, Q. Invisible braces | No Comments »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Q. I am 16. I have been told i can’t have braces to straighten out my front teeth after years of thumb sucking. It has left a gap between them and it upsets me that i can’t get them straight unless i have surgery to correct them. I’m not prepared to do this. Is there any hope at all for me?
A. There are restorative ways to correct your bite problems. It may not be as good a result as if you had surgery but it can be done. I would advise you to seek two or three opinions form orthodontists to make sure that braces are not an option. Also go and see a cosmetic/restorative dentist for an opinion. I have carried out these procedures restoratively so I know that it can be done.
Restorative treatment on your teeth would require your teeth to be drilled down which, at your age, should be considered very seriously. You are young and you should try to preserve as much tooth structure as possible.
Surgery sounds very traumatic but people recover very quickly and it may be an option to consider.
Once you have all of the options you can make an informed decision.
Kind Regards

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
Tel: 01296 624163
33 High Street
Wendover Buckinghamshire
HP22 6DU
Tags: teeth alignment, teeth straightened, teeth straightening, teeth striaghtening
Posted in Experts Answers, Q. Orthodontics | No Comments »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Q. hello i wanted to know if there is any way i could have veneers done on the nhs. my teeth are very crooked and its ruining my life im 24 years old im ebarrased to go and meet people cause i feel they will be looking at my teeth. i have heard there very exspensive i know i havent got that sort of money. its so bad i wont even see a dentist because i feel so embarrased and feel he will judge me on the way they are.if you could let me know it would be very much appreciated thankyou
A. Unfortunately cosmetic procedures are limited on the NHS as the money available is directed to dealing with health issues

Dr Julian Caplan
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street
St. Albans Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: dental veneer, dental veneer costs, NHS
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Veneers | 1 Comment »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Q. hello i am looking at getting some dental work. my front top tooth slightly crosses the other. i would want this straightening. also the 4 below it are not perfectly straight. these would also need looking at. .what options do i have. . i realsise you can now get clear braces. . what other optiona are available
A. you have a number of options.
Either Orthodontics, Crowns/Veneers or a combination of both.
For orthodontics you have 3 options.
1. Traditional Braces
2. Invisable Braces3. Inman Aligner
Provided the crowding is not too severe the inman aligner is a quick and relatively cheaper way of correcting the position of teeth. It is however noticable, but given the time frame within which is provides results , it is a great option!
Invisible Braces are the modern alternative to traditional braces. Whilst traditional braces are the conventional treatment.
Following on from the orthodontic option, you then have the treatments such as Crown and Veneers to correct the teeth.
Without a clinical consultation it is difficult to tell what is the most practical option. but often it is a combination of both treatments that provides the best results.

Dr Safeer Butt
S3 Dental Studios
www.s3dental.co.uk
Surrey Kent Sussex
Tags: clear fixed braces, crooked smile, crooked teeth
Posted in Dr Butt's Answers, Experts Answers | No Comments »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Q. I have a front top tooth that stands out in front of my other top teeth. They have ‘crowded’ it out. It has been capped. I am very conscious of this when I smile. Could you advise what can be done?
A. You could seek an orthodontic opinion or an opinion from a restoartive dentist. These are the two options you have. If you have braces the teeth can be aligned and the crown can be replaced. The other option is for you to have the teeth aligned using veneers and a new crown on the front tooth. Braces are a more conservative option but the procedure takes longer. Veneers require tooth tissue to be shaved away. Usually this is between 0.5 and 0.75mm but if your teeth are crowded they may require more prepartion. If you decide on veneers make sure that the dentist that does them has a lot of experience in carrying out these procedures. Ask to see a portfolio of prior smile lift cases. A good restorative dentist will be a ble to refer you to an orthodontist
I hope this helps

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
Tel: 01296 624163
33 High Street
Wendover Buckinghamshire
HP22 6DU
Tags: crooked smile, crooked teeth, crowded teeth
Posted in Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Orthodontics | No Comments »
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Q. I can’t seem to get a straight answer from anyone, even on the average cost per tooth, of “Lumineers .” Can anyone help me? Thank you. I really appreciate it.
A. Unfortunately ther is no straight answer possible as the cost varies depending on the location of the dental practice, the experience of the dentist and how difficult your case may be – sorry.

Dr Julian Caplan
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street
St. Albans Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: dental veneer costs, lumineers
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Finance, Q. Dental Veneers | No Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Q. im getting porcelain veneers and my dentist has prepared my upper teeth (shaved back) ready for my implants and he has put a temporary in until the veneers arrive, but ive been in absolute pain for 2mths, voltarin takes the pain away, but why am i experiencing this pain its in my ears eyes and under my jaw? should i not be getting this done,but my dentist doesnt want to loose a 30 grand job!?and how long can you have a temporary in for? my upper temporary have been in for 2 mths, and my lower temp has been in for 6wks but my lower teeth have’nt been shaved back yet. Am really worried. any advice would be really great thankyou very much!!!!
A. Hi
I am sorry to hear about your circumstances.
If you are taking voltarol for your pain, you must be in significant pain. I would immediately see your dentist to find out the diagnosis for this. Also speak to your dentist about your concerns as he would know the situation better than anyone else.
Good Luck!

Dr Kalpesh Bohara
The Dental Suite
www.dental-suite.co.uk
Tel: 01509 231144
36 Frederick Street
Loughborough Leicester
LE11 3BJ
Tags: cost dental implants, dental pain
Posted in Dr Bohara's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Implants, Q. Dental Veneers | No Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Q. hi i have a question im 12 going on 13 im i never had a cavity yet hope not anyways and i have a gap between my two front teeth i am scared to get a shot in my mouth i mean terified and the skin between my 2 front teeth have to be cliped and im really scared do you have any advice
A. It sounds like you are going to have a fraenectomy. I have done many of these and it doesn’t affect your teeth at all. Usually this is done before brace treatment so that the teeth can be moved closer together.
If you are going to have this done don’t worry, it ia a common procedure and will not affect the health of your teeth

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
Tel: 01296 624163
33 High Street
Wendover Buckinghamshire
HP22 6DU
Tags: dental phobia
Posted in Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Dentistry | No Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Q. Hi….I hate my teeth. They are not HORRIBLE but I have one teeth on top that looks like a vampire tooth! And my front 2 main teeth are a LITTLE crooked. I was thinking about getting braces. I am 20. Is that the safest thing to do? I have looked into veeners and bonding – dont know much about them. I dont know how safe veeners and bonding are. So my best bet right now is braces. Or so I think? Also, I dont have dental insurance would you know what type would be the best one to get which covers braces and regular checkups – exrays, fillings, cavity??? ( one that will work in FL and NC, or NC ) ???? p.s. help =-/ Thank You!
A. A patient with reasonably aligned teeth that are unattractive shapes would tend to treated with Bonding / Veneers. The dracula tooth would probably need to a treatment even if it was aligned
For safety pay for a trial wax up on a plaster cast of your teeth and a computer simulation, that way you can decide on what the result is before irreversible change.
Insurance is tricky as Im not licensed by the financial services agency
Our practice offers a free initial assesment with a dentist from which we could make more specific comments

Dr Rob Tennet
St Johns Dental Practice
www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
Tel: 0121 643 0610
18 Bennett’s Hill
Birmingham B2 5QJ
Tags: crooked smile, crooked teeth, dental veneers
Posted in Dr Tennet's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Veneers | 1 Comment »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Q. I am only 24 and suffering from advanced gum disease. this has led to my two front teeth drifting and it has left me with a gap. i also have a gap in between my left front teeth and its adjoining tooth. i am currently under specialist care at newcastle dental hospital and i am having some deep cleaning work carried out very soon, but when this is over, will there be any cosmetic work i can have as i am very self conscious when i smile, i would love to have straight beautiful teeth again
A. The dental hospital should be able to give you advice about what treatments are possible. You may need your teeth splinted following your gum treatment and any subsequent cosmetic treatment must not have a deliterious effect on your future gum health. Well made and well fiing veneers are definitely an option to improve your smile once you have completed your gum treatment. Regular gum maintenance is essential following any gum treatment and this usually means for life – my patients typically see my hygienist every 3 months to monitor any flare ups of gum disease.

Dr Julian Caplan
Aviva Cosmetic Dentistry
Director on the board of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
www.avivacosmeticdentistry.co.uk
101 St. Peters Street
St. Albans Hertfordshire
AL1 3EN
Tags: cosmetic dentistry, gum disease, gum loss, tooth veneer
Posted in Dr Caplan's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. gums | No Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Q. I have a gap between my two front teeth, it’s not too big, a couple of millimetres wide. What type of work would be used to fill in the gap? …and roughly how much would that cost? Kind regards
A. If the gap is not too big then I would suggest some cosmetic bonding to close the gap, the advantages of this over veneers is that it is more cost effective (approx £400), less invasive and quicker.
The only downside being you may need to replace every 5-7yrs or so.

Dr Justin Glaister
Umbrella
www.umbrellasmiles.com
Tel: 020 7612 9810
11 Harley Street
London W1G 9PF
Tags: bonding, composite bonding, composite fillings, composite veneers, cost cosmetic dentistry, dental bonding, dental veneer, small gaps, teeth gaps
Posted in Dr Glaister's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Bonding | No Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Q. i have always wondered y do we have caries in pits and fissures that doesnt spread!!coz it always does as far as i know!i once told my doctor and he said that is due to change of the bacteria causing it!!do u have any other answer?? thank you
A. If a person has caries in pits and fissures and it is undiagnosed or untreated it will spread. pit and fissure caries starts in enamel and then progresses to the second layer of the tooth. There are cases where decay is so minimal that it can be arrested in enamel by treating the tooth with fluoride and now in some cases with an ozone machine, however this is not common. Many dentists will carry out a preventive resin restoration when they see this type of decay. The fissures are drilled out along with the staining and decay and a white resin filling is placed over the top. This can usually be done without anaesthetic and the cavity remains only in dentine.

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
Tel: 01296 624163
33 High Street
Wendover Buckinghamshire
HP22 6DU
Tags: cavities, composite fillings, enamel, teeth fillings, tooth filling, tooth fillings
Posted in Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. General dentistry | No Comments »
Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Q. I have so many wrinkles on my forehead and around my mouth.I am 48 years old.I have recently had Bell’s Palsy and they have got a lot worse since then Would Botox be a good way to go. I have read about it’s success on the brow area but nothing about the mouth area.
A. Thank you for your question.
there are many things that can be carried out non surgically to improve the appearance of the lower third of your face. Usually in this area, fillers such as restylane and perlane are placed instead of botox. They help to fill out the face and tighten the skin around the area. If your teeth are not in good condition or if you have a narrow smile this will also effect the appearence and the lip support. If you want to have something done to improve matters then the best thing to do would be to have a consulatation with a dentist and a therapist/dermatologist that carries out these procedures.

Dr Komal Suri
Smile Design Dental
www.smiledesigndental.co.uk
Tel: 01296 624163
33 High Street
Wendover Buckinghamshire
HP22 6DU
Tags: botox, botox injections
Posted in Dr Suri's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Botox | No Comments »
Friday, July 25th, 2008
Q. I got crowns done about two years ago on 4 front teeth but 1 of the front crowns on my front tooth the gum shrunk and the tooth looks shorter than the other one what can i do to fix this.
A.
Hi
Your options are to get the crowns redone. In some case you may require a gum graft, but it is difficult to say without looking at the case.
I Hope ths helps.

Dr Kalpesh Bohara
The Dental Suite
www.dental-suite.co.uk
Tel: 01509 231144
36 Frederick Street
Loughborough Leicester
LE11 3BJ
Tags: crown, crowns, gum, gum graft, gum grafting, gum loss, gum recession, gum shrinkage, gums
Posted in Dr Bohara's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. gums | No Comments »
Friday, July 25th, 2008
Q. Dear Dr Rob Tennet First of all I would like to congratulate you on your impressive career history you have, this is the reason I selected you to ask my questions. I have a few questions and was wondering if you can help. I am thinking about getting 4 of my teeth worked on using dental bonding (ideally porcelain rather than composite bonding).
Q1) How much roughly should I be paying per tooth to have porcelain bonding done?
Q2) I hate having injections on my gums. If I have porcelain bonding done on 4 of my teeth, would I requre any injections on my gums?
Q3) Does having porcelain bonding really stain my teeth in the long run, if so is it really obvious? Thanks for you help Regards
A.
Q1 We charge £420 per tooth ( average in Birmingham £300-600) for felspatic (normal) porcelain veneers from a top quality technician.
We charge £600 ( av in Birmingham £6-800) per tooth for ultrathin veneers eg lumineer or similar system (depends on preference) Ultrathin veneers are not particularly more aesthetic the advanage is the reduced thickness means that you don’t have to shave the front of the tooth. A normal veneer is about 1mm thick which would make the teeth feel bulky without some tooth removal.
Q2 You dont always need an injection, if the tooth reduction is minor, normal veneers can be done without injections. Ultrathin veneers dont need tooth reduction thus rarely need injections.
The answer in your case would depend on a clinical assesment and things like past sensitivity.
Also have you tried topical anaesthetic and controlled delivery techniques. It helps a lot (needle phobia is a different case)
Q3 Porcelain is very stain resistant expect a lifespan 10-20yrs before replacing, chipping is the more common reason for replacing in my own experience. Like all restorations you need to take extra care of your mouth to maintain the condition. The appearance is particularly affected by maintaining healthy surrounding gums
If you would like a free assesment please feel free to contact me.
Regards

Dr Rob Tennet
St Johns Dental Practice
www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
Tel: 0121 643 0610
18 Bennett’s Hill
Birmingham B2 5QJ
Tags: composite bonding, composite veneers, dental bonding
Posted in Dr Tennet's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Bonding | No Comments »
Friday, July 25th, 2008
Q. Hi. My wife has returned from Poland after some dental work. We always wanted to have a holiday there and she needed 4 veneers replacing so we combined the two. We had a fab time and the Polish dentist could not have been more proffessional. There is a small issue however with her 2 front teeth, and whilst the dentist gave a 2 year gaurantee, and has said he will happily replace them free of charge, im reluctant to continue as more flights, hotel bills, and holidays are involved, and if there was a further problem it would get too expensive, hence having the work done here. Anyway, the 4 teeth at the front were to have replacement veneers done, but on inspection the dentist suggested having the front 2 made into crowns as the teeth protruded. This was done and my wife is over the moon with her flatter 2 front teeth and now rounded top set of teeth, and the 2 teeth either side having the veneers replaced. After returning we have noticed in some light that the 2 front teeth have a sort of dark shade on them ? and, one of them looks like you can see very faintly the yellowish tooth underneath ? Is this possible with crowns ? do you see the tooth underneath sometimes ? what is the dark area that is apparent under certain light ? she is not 100% happy and i think they will need replacing, unfortunately adding to the cost. How much are UK crowns ? and is it possible to match them up to the 2 new veneers ? (1 each side)
A.
It is always best to make the crowns/veneers at the same time, Same technician, same materials, same batch in the furnace etc, Even doing this you may find subtle differences depending on the underlying tooth colour and the difference in build up between crowns & veneers.
If the technician uses translucent porcelain it will to point look natural but will have less ability to mask underlying colours like a dark tooth or a metal subframe on some types of crown.
A guide price for good quality crowns in the UK is between £400-600 each some types (lava, incram procera) are at the upper end others like “bonded” to metal subframe are at the lower end. All have a place it depends on the situation.
As you seem happy with the first experience I might be tempted to check out a cheap flight in the first instance and try again with the same team.
Our practice offers a free initial assesment with a dentist from which we could make more specific comments
Dr Rob Tennet
www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
stjohns.dental@btconnect.com
0121 643 0610

Dr Rob Tennet
St Johns Dental Practice
www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
Tel: 0121 643 0610
18 Bennett’s Hill
Birmingham B2 5QJ
Tags: cost cosmetic dentistry, crown, crowns, dental crown, dental veneers, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneer, porcelain veneers
Posted in Dr Tennet's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Veneers, Q. Dental crowns | No Comments »
Friday, July 25th, 2008
Q. I have gaps in the bottom of my teeth.. I hate them and its makeing me feel so low. What can I do about it.. I work for the army.. so I can not afford a make over. lol Can you help
A. In cases where the gaps are not too large, cosmetic bonding of tooth coloured filling onto the opposing tooth surfaces can make a big improvement to appearance in a single visit. Expect to pay around 150-200 per closure (2x filling per gap). This is a fraction of the cost for veneers, the results last 2-10 years depending on aftercare , smoking etc.

Dr Rob Tennet
St Johns Dental Practice
www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
Tel: 0121 643 0610
18 Bennett’s Hill
Birmingham B2 5QJ
Tags: bonding, gappy teeth, teeth gaps, tooth bonding
Posted in Dr Tennet's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Dentistry, Q. Smile Makeovers | No Comments »
Thursday, July 24th, 2008
Q. Hi I have natural gap between two upper teeth.And i am 24 years old.Is it possible this time? (being 24 years old) Sir what could be the best way of treatment..
A. Age is not a problem in treating natural gaps, it is often the health and stability of your teeth / gums that are the major considerations.
The main choices are usually
Cosmetic bonding using tooth coloured filling to reshape the tooth
Porcelain veneers bonded to the front surface of the teeth ( minumum 2 veneers sometimes more used to harmonise the effect)
Orthodontics, ” fixed braces”, or systems like invisalign or clearstep
Dr Rob Tennet
www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
stjohns.dental@btconnect.com
0121 643 0610

Dr Rob Tennet
St Johns Dental Practice
www.e-dentalpractice.co.uk
Tel: 0121 643 0610
18 Bennett’s Hill
Birmingham B2 5QJ
Tags: alignment, composite bonding, composite veneers, dental veneer, front teeth, front tooth, gappy teeth, invisalign braces, porcelain veneers, teeth gaps
Posted in Dr Tennet's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Dental Veneers, Q. Orthodontics | No Comments »