Failed porcelain veneers are not an uncommon problem. Porcelain veneers have become a standard in restorative and cosmetic dentistry over the past 20 years. Reportedly, the rate of failure of veneers increases every year. Part of this is because of the greater number of people who have undergone cosmetic dentistry and to a certain extent because of practitioners who did not have the skill to properly apply veneers. Failed teeth veneers cause problems for a patient that goes beyond the their smile. Some veneers crack, chip, change color, or even cause gums to bleed.

Common problems

The most common failure of dental veneers seen by the cosmetic dentists at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry in Charlotte, NC is failed bonding. Specific guidelines are to be followed when a restorative dentist applies porcelain veneers. When dental veneers are not properly bonded, they can chip and break off, sometimes-in one large piece. Improper bonding also can cause an unsightly gap or space between the veneer and the gums, exposing the underlying tooth.

Another reason for veneer failure can be improper construction. The veneers can be made too thick; some are not properly polished; and, in some cases, inferior materials can become easily discolored.

Discoloration is not necessarily a structural failure, yet it still affects your smile. After paying for the procedure, many patients will be unhappy with results that are less than stellar, resulting in the need for a porcelain veneer re-do. Properly made porcelain veneers are stain resistant and long lasting.

Proper surface preparation essential to preventing a porcelain veneer re-do

Porcelain veneer remakes are needed when insufficient surface preparation is prepared on the underlying tooth. If an insufficient amount of the tooth is not removed, this will result in the teeth appearing oversized. If properly applied, dental veneers look very nice. This is why the dentist who applies your veneers should be a skilled and experienced practitioner.

Failed porcelain veneers can also result in problems beyond the aesthetic, and negatively affect bite, tooth alignment, and jaw alignment. If dental veneers do not match up with bite and jaw alignment, they are prone to fail. In addition, they can cause jaw pain, headache, and even migraines.

Finding the best restorative dentist in Charlotte, NC

When it comes to repairing failed porcelain veneers, find a reliable dentist who has experience with porcelain veneer remakes. If you live in the Charlotte area, call the Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, an experienced and dedicated team that is concerned about your health and comfort. The staff is committed providing you the best care. For those who are hampered by fear of dental procedures, they are specialists in sedation dentistry. Visit their website or call their office for a free consultation today about your failed porcelain veneers!

Dental anxiety or fear about visiting the dentist is quite natural. In fact, many of Americans are fearful about going to the dentist & tend to avoid dental check-ups. Most people are not able to understand why they feel so anxious.  According to experts, needle phobia, & previous memories of bad dental experiences are among the reasons behind  this dental anxiety. The dental procedure that patients seem to be most fearful about is none other than root canals. Thus, for those suffering from extreme dental anxiety, the best option for them is to go for sedation dentistry.

Dentistry in which sedatives are used before a dental procedure is performed so that the patient remains calm & relaxed during the procedure is known as sedation dentistry. Anti-anxiety medications, nitrous oxide & tranquilizers are some of the typical sedatives that are used. In the past, sedatives were administered intravenously, where the dentist would inject the sedatives into the blood vessels of the patient’s arm or hand. However, as mentioned, needle phobia is one of the reasons behind dental anxiety & the use of needles only made patients even more anxious.

Fortunately, many alternatives have now emerged due to the advancements in dental technology, & dentists no longer need to use injections to administer these sedatives. These days, dentists are able to administer sedatives orally or in the form of anti-anxiety pills. Patients no longer have to be anxious about being poked with sharp needles. As for the dental procedure, the sedatives leave patients really relaxed & allow them to experience no pain throughout the procedure.

There are several ways in which sedation dentistry is not only beneficial for an anxious patient but also for the dentist.

At times, dental procedures, such as a root canal, can indeed be really painful & as a result of this, patients only tend to feel more anxious. Anxious patients can even prove to be a distraction for the dentist. The sedatives administered cause patients to feel numb & relaxed. Thus, dentists are able to concentrate better on the dental procedure they are performing & the patients feel no pain.

Dentists usually find it hard to carry out treatments if their patients are really anxious & stressful. This can create a situation where the dentist is not providing the absolute best care they are possible of.   Thus, when the sedatives are administered, the dentists are able to perform the dental procedure more effectively & can save you time too, while the patients remain unaware of the treatment.

While dental anxiety is quite natural, the best thing that you can do about your anxiety is find a sedation dentist they trust.  Dr. Christian Yaste and Dr. Joseph Hufanda have the experience & knowledge you need.  For more information on Sedation Dentistry or to schedule a consultation, contact us at 704-540-2255 and ask for a free sedation dentistry consultation.

Well, what do you think? This lovely lady from Charlotte, NC, had an obviously less than attractive smile. Patched up, and then patched up again, and again, and again. Her “patched up” dentistry was not done by bad dentists. In fact it takes some real skill to keep composite bonding or patching stuck together like that for any length of time. The real problem is that it looks bad, and was embarrassing to her. It was such a pleasure, and so much fun, to finally help her get her teeth fixed with six cosmetic porcelain dental veneers and professional teeth whitening. Look at how much prettier she looks after her teeth were finally fixed. A beautiful lady that now has a beautiful smile!

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"My Tooth Hurts When I Chew!"  aka "Cracked Tooth Syndrome"

Ok, so today Eric came into the office complaining that his upper molar was hurting whenever he chewed on it or cold got near it.

This is probably one of the most frequent complaints we see in adults. It is typically referred to as “cracked tooth syndrome” and is becoming more and more common. Especially in people that have amalgam/mercury fillings in their back teeth that are 20 years old. Often this is how it happens.

You are sitting in your favorite restaurant eating a piece of bread and then, all of the sudden “POW”…like an electric shock in a tooth goes off. At first it is really sore, but then it settles down enough to be tolerable. You only notice discomfort when you chew just

the right way on it or if you drink something cold. “Hmmmm, maybe it will go away if I just leave it alone for a few days,” you think to yourself. What do you know! It gets better, but then a few weeks later, you notice it again when you bite down on a piece of pizza. “Shoot! I better call Dr. Joe and have him take a look at it” (this is the smart thing to do at this point). You call and make an appointment for next week. Over the weekend the tooth continues to be sore to chew on and you have stopped drinking anything with ice in it. Bright and early Monday morning Dr. Joe takes a look at the tooth. He takes an x-ray and has you bite down on a “tooth sleuth” as well as using a little medical grade freon to check for cold response. “Sure enough, that’s the tooth,” you say. “So what’s wrong?” Unfortunately you have (lets say it together)….Cracked Tooth Syndrome.

“Gee, that sounds terrible! You aren’t going to have to take the tooth out are you?” Nope. We can predictably fix this tooth under most circumstances by doing two things. First, we need to remove all of the old metal and mercury filling material. Then we reshape and resurface the tooth with a ceramic restoration that pulls all of those cracks together and protects the tooth in the future. “Super! Lets fix it ASAP!”

Ok….that’s best case scenario. Now let me walk you down a road that an unfortunate few choose to take. Let’s go back to the pizza dinner. You feel the pain again, except instead of doing the smart thing, you decide to put it off just a little longer (this is the wrong thing to do). The tooth stays sensitive, but as long as you chew on the other side, it doesn’t bother you too much. Then one day you have a sip of coffee and “ZING”……..same tooth, different sensation. The hot coffee seems to cause a very uncomfortable sensation in that tooth. You noticed that it stopped hurting to cold, but the hot….WOW! In fact, cold actually makes it feel better after the hot sensation. Maybe now it is time to call the dentist…..

You go in and see Dr. Joe. He has good news and bad news. “Luckily we can save your tooth, but unfortunately it will need a root canal, post and core, and a crown.” Well, at least you wont be walking around with a big hole in your mouth where the tooth used to be. Dr. Joe tells you that it is a good thing you came in now, because if you waited any longer it could be big trouble. In some cases the tooth just cannot be saved and has to come out. This isn’t the end of the world, but replacing that tooth is more complex than saving it in most cases. You might be a candidate for an implant or a bridge. Still good ways to fix the space, but think back to when you first felt that pain. If you would have just made an appointment then, you would have saved yourself time, money, and pain.   All of the things you were trying to avoid by not seeing the dentist.  So, the next time you feel a twinge in a tooth that has a big ol mercury type filling in it….give us a ring.  704-540-2255