Cosmetic Dentistry Guide » bulimia

How to whiten my teeth with veneers?

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:09:56 +0000

Q. Hi, I have had lumineers for about 2 years,and I had bulimia for most of that time, I noticed recently that they are yellow, especially towards the gumline, I bought white strips, but it says it doesn’t work on veneers, What is the best way for me to whiten my teeth? is it possible to whiten them? please advise. Thank you.

A. If the underlying tooth is dark it is very difficult to whiten them. Whitening gels may damage your veneers the only option may be to replace them.

Dr Riten Patel
The Mulberry
www.mulberrydental.co.uk
Tel: 01932 223 479
18 Ashley Road
Walton on Thames Surrey
KT12 1HS

What would be the cost of treatment crown whitening cleaning

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:16:47 +0000

Q. I have been a sufferer of bulimia nervosa for about 8 years now and have suffered very severe enamel erosion as a result of it – I haven’t been to see the dentist in a long time because I know my mouth is a disaster area and until I have managed to recover I don’t want any dental work done that I might later wreck again. I imagine my mouth is full of cavities etc so that will have to be treated and I was also wondering what the cost of cosmetic treatment would be? At the very least I would guess I need crowns on upper front teeth (front 6 at least) because they are transparant at the edges – every tooth in my mouth has a greyish discolouring where my teeth are turning transparant at the tips and are mostly yellow everywhere else so I will most likely need cleaning and whitening too. Could you estimate the cost of this treatment? Is treatment even possible do you recon? Thank you for your time.

A. I have experience treating patients with severe loss of enamel due to various types of acid damage. Often crowns are required due to enamel damage on the inside surfaces of the teeth. Due to the tongue position when you are being sick the damage is often limited to the upper teeth. Treatment in the past has cost from £6000 depending on how many teeth need to be treated. I also make a mouth guard that you can wear to protect your teeth during your illness. Please visit me for a free consultation if you wish to discuss this further.

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

I hv gum disease and gappy teeth due to bulimia Plz advice

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:09:13 +0000

Q. hi, i suffered with bulimia for 5 years and have not made myself sick for almost 4 years now, as a result i have now got gum diesese and have gaps inbetween my teeth, i also have clear patches on my 2 front top teeth and have a large white patch which my parents were told was because i had too much calcium as a child, im 28 and am now very insecure about my teeth and would like to know whats the best option for me?

A. You would need to consult a dentist for a full check up and x-rays so that they can make sure your teeth are healthy. From there you can book in with a cosmetic dentist to see what can be done aesthetically.

Kind regards

Dr Justin Glaister

Dr Justin Glaister
Umbrella
www.umbrellasmiles.com
Tel: 020 7612 9810
11 Harley Street
London W1G 9PF

I have bulimia for 15yrs will i have to crown my teeth?

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:27:36 +0000

Q. Dear Dr Caplan i have been suffering from Bulimia for over 15 years and hence my teeth will need to be crowned (upper row). the bulimia is inactive but occasionally i regress to the same crutch, ie purging. my teeth are so sensitive that i have no choice but to crown them, do you think its advisable or are there any other options? thank you so much for your input.

A. Usually my treatment for such a situation is to crown the damaged teeth due to the backs of the teeth being severely damaged by acid and the fronts of teeth looking short due to acid damage to their tips. Sometimes composite filing material can restore the damaged surfaces followed by veneers to improve the look of the smile. Pleae contact my surgery if you wish for a free cosmetic consultation where I can discuss your options in more detail.

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

What is your opinion on using botox to combat bruxism

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:34:01 +0000

Q. Hi, I have quite a bad bruxism problem and have done for about 10 years. I have a mouthguard (tanner appliance), but recently my grinding seems to have got worse – as soon as I have my appliance adjusted the next morning there are already deep grooves in it. My teeth are being visibly worn down on one side, are feeling fragile and are starting to move. I also feel that my gums are receeding. I also have facial pain, my jaw sounds like it’s crackling when I move it from side to side and my facial muscles are painful and sometimes swollen. I recently tried a muscle relaxant prescribed by my dentist but without success. I have heard about botox and wondered what your opinion was on its use to combat bruxism? Is it recommended generally and is it safe? Many thanks in advance.

Thanks for your email. All the symptoms you describe of are suggestive of a strong bruxism habit that needs some urgent attention. I presume the muscle relaxant prescribed by your dentist was a benzodiazepine such as diazepam and taken orally. Botox briefly works as a muscle relaxant directly into the muscle.

Bruxism can be regarded as a disorder of repetitive, unconscious contraction of the masseter muscle (the large muscle on the outside of the jaw that moves it). In the treatment of bruxism, Botox works to weaken the muscle enough to reduce the effects of grinding and clenching, but not so much as to prevent proper use of the muscle. The procedure involves about five or six simple, relatively painless injections into the masseter muscle. It takes a few minutes per side and the patient starts feeling the effects the next day. Occasionally, some bruising can occur, but this is quite rare. Injections must be repeated more than once per year as the effects are only temporary.

The most reliable way to diagnose bruxism is through EMG (electromyographic) measurements. In cases of TMJ dysfunction, a complete diagnosis is made with the benefit of muscle scans, joint sonography, computerised jaws scans and MRI. If applicable the neuromuscular treatments are used to treat this distressing condition.

The three steps involve:

1 Muscle relaxation – this is carried out via a process called Tens, which carries a low frequency, rhythmic pulse to the overworked muscles. This relaxes the muscle and jaw system.

2 Stabilisation – once the relaxed postion is found, a plastic orthodontic is worn to maintain the relaxed muscles and to ensure that the original, painful symptoms have disappeared.

3 Solution – the long term solution can involve meticulous adjustments of tooth shape, to allow the jaw to function in its muscularly- relaxed position, Orthodontic or porcelain restorations which can secure a healthy, great-looking smile as an added benefit.

Dr Justin Glaister
Umbrella
www.umbrellasmiles.com
Tel: 020 7612 9810
11 Harley Street
London W1G 9PF

Due to excess vomiting i ruined my teeth and gums which one will last long bridges or implants

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:01:25 +0000

Q. Hi, im 22 and for years i have battled both anorexia and bulimia nervosa, i havent had an attack in 6 years. Due to all the excessive vomiting and lack of nutriants, i ruined my teeth and gums. Im needing alot of work doing on my teeth- wich has just started- and i keep asking my dentist for a dental implant to be put in where one of my teeth has come out but he keeps saying no, he’d bridge it.. Will a bridge last being anchored on two rotten teeth? or could i get the nhs to pay for the one implant to stop my teeth closing in on themselves and me needing braces? Iv been picked up by model agencies but im really self concious about the gaps in my abused teeth. what can be done?

A. I would always recommend an implant over a bridge provided you do not have gum disease, smoke or have other medical conditions that would reduce the success of implant treatment. There also needs to be enough bone to place the implant into – this sometimes can be improved by grafting techiques. If you are able to vivist my clinic for an initial free consutation please do. Contact details are on the web site

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

Ive been bulimic on and off and ive have lost enamel on my teeth is this caused by vomiting?

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:21:42 +0000

Q. Hi I have been bulimic on and off for a few years now. I have a huge fear of dentists but went last week. I was worried the dentist would be able to tell that I’m bulimic but he didn’t say anything, so does that mean he probably couldn’t tell? Also, I don’t think I have lost enamel on my teeth but my top, front teeth appear ’see through’ at the bottom and have really bad brown stains on the back of them. Is this caused by vomiting or is it just inproper dental hygiene? I wanted nto ask my dentist if I was doing any damage (as I also need several fillings and a root canal) but I was too embarrassed. Thanks for your help.

A. Hi

I would recommend you ask your dentist. This is the reason you are seeing him/her….to look after your mouth. So dont be worried , as they will have your best interest in mind. It is very difficult to give you advice in this situation without looking at the mouth.

Dr Kalpesh Bohara
The Dental Suite
www.dental-suite.co.uk
Tel: 01509 231144
36 Frederick Street
Loughborough Leicester
LE11 3BJ

due to bulimia nervosa my two front teeth are now jagged and feels rough what are my options

admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:19:59 +0000

Q. As a result of bulimia nervosa for many years on and off, my teeth have enamel erosion. My two front teeth are now jaqgged at the bottom and feel rough on the front. What are my options, I so want my old smile back but I’m embarrassed and feel ashamed about my problem, I’m 44 years old and would like to make a new start with ‘new teeth’.

A. You can always try composite build ups on your front teeth. This is a white filing material that can be matched to your existing tooth colour. You need to be aware that with this option, the material can stain and chip over time and may need replacing as time goes on. Alternatively, veneers may be a good option. Your bulimia does however need to be controlled -as the acid refluxes will continue to cause enamel erosion. If you have veneers now and the back of the teeth become eroded, then it is highly likely that they will need to have full coverage crowns placed instead.
There is nothing to be embarassed about- as dentists are all trained in this type of problem. You do however, need to be totally honest about your condition. There is help available and I would advise that you see your GP to discuss what can be done to help you and your condition. Hope this has helped and good luck with your new smile.

Dr Kailesh Solanki
Kissdental
www.kissdental.co.uk
Tel: 0161 748 5250
157 Woodsend Road
Flixton Manchester
M41 8GN
UK Practice of the Year 2007

I have been bulimic for many years is there any ways to preserve the natural tooth

admin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:01:05 +0000

Q. Hello, I have been bulimic for many years, and although I have had several different treatments for recovery, I always fall back into purging at times of stress. I was wondering whether lumineers would be suitable for preventing damage to the underlying tooth? I understand that they would not last as long as usual, but anything to preserve the natural tooth would be ideal. I also understand that recovering fully from bulimia is the most preferable option, but please be sensitive to how difficult this is. My teeth have always been naturally straight, but although there is still a decent amount of tooth left they are definitely thinning. At the moment it is not bad but it is obviously going to become a problem in the future. Are there any other ways my denist could help protect them? Many, many thanks for your help!

A. I understand your situation I have treated a number of bulimics over the years and protecting your teeth with restorations will not only help keep your teeth but will improve your confidence. You need to find a good cosmetic dentist that you feel comfortable with and have an assessment so you can look at your options. Please feel free to contact me if you need further help.

Dr Riten Patel
The Mulberry
www.mulberrydental.co.uk
Tel: 01932 223 479
18 Ashley Road
Walton on Thames Surrey
KT12 1HS

i have an eating disorder bulimia and my gum are receding can you please help me

admin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:40:57 +0000

Q. Hi, I have an eating disorder anorexia/bulimia I have been self inducing myself to throw up for about 3 years… I know that this causes acid to basically deteriorate my insides.. but I for some reason think that what I have in my mouth is mouth cancer and not from the acid how do i know the difference.. I would like reassurance that its just the acid and not the C word so i can stop convincing myself that I’m dying so i can stop being so stressed about having something i do not so i can stop throwing up and finally start the healing process.. what is in my mouth is the front bottom teeth one front bottom tooth at gum line is receding and has a couple sores around it, it hurts, and i already have a chipped front tooth, also the back of my mouth where there is free space behind my last set of teeth seems to be raw but dry and cracked.. please i am begging to know what you think…i know i need professional help but your input and time taken to respond would be greatly be appreciated… thank you..

A. The first step is to seek advice from your local dentist. I’m almost positive that it isn’t oral cancer- from what you have described. Having an eating disorder is nothing to be ashamed of- as long as you are getting the right help that you need.
Being constantly sick has its affcet on your teeth as you may already be aware. The enamel on your teeth may possibly be eroded away and your molars may be flatter than normal. If you went to your local dentist for an examination, these things will probably be noticed anyway.
It sounds as though your gums are inflamed. This could be from not using the appropraite brushing techniques, or the additional acid that is causes when vomiting. your dentist will discuss this with you and advise you further. Please don’t feel scared or embarrassed about going to the dentist. Your problems are dealt with in the most professional and confidential manner. Hope you get things sorted and good luck on the road to recovery.

Dr Kailesh Solanki
Kissdental
www.kissdental.co.uk
Tel: 0161 748 5250
157 Woodsend Road
Flixton Manchester
M41 8GN
UK Practice of the Year 2007