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writeradmin writes blog posts on behalf of Dr. Kevin Peck
Lumineers

Do Lumineers Cause Cavities?

I spoke to my dentist about the possibility of getting Lumineers. I really wanted to get a prettier smile. My dentist said he was certified in Lumineers but he’s only done them twice and will never do them again. He said both times his patients developed cavities underneath the Lumineers. Do they cause cavities? Do I have a chance of getting a pretty smile? How do the celebrities not get cavities under their Lumineers?

Franny W.

Dear Franny,

An advertisement for Lumineers

Here’s the thing about Lumineers. They’re marketed to inexperienced dentists. It appears your dentist is one of those. Lumineers is just a brand of porcelain veneers. The only way a patient can get a cavity from Lumineers is if your dentist doesn’t bond them on properly.

When the bond isn’t flush to the gums and correctly on the tooth, food can get trapped between the veneers and your teeth. That will lead to decay. I’m guessing that’s what happened with the two cases your dentist did.

You can get a beautiful smile with porcelain veneers, but probably not with this dentist.

How to Get a Beautiful Smile With or Without Lumineers

The key to a beautiful smile is a dentist with skill in giving smile makeovers. Ask to see before and after pictures of cases they’ve actually done. Make sure you like the type of results they’ve gotten. Additionally, make sure they will never permanently bond on any type of veneers without you seeing them with a temporary place and giving your approval that you like the results. This is a reasonable request and any true cosmetic dentist would consider it a no-brainer.

What about those patients who can’t afford porcelain veneers? Are they doomed to smiles that looked aged and exhausted? Absolutely not. The simple procedure of teeth whitening can take years off your appearance. It’s very affordable and if there are other things you want to improve, will give you something you’re proud of while you save up for veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Affordable Dentist

Affordable Dentist for White Fillings

I’m in need of help. You may think I’m just being vain, but I can’t get my dental insurance to cover white fillings. I need one on a front tooth. My insurance will only give me a silver filling. That’s just too humiliating to consider. Is there a way to find an affordable dentist who’ll let me get a white filling at a reasonable price without my insurance?

Cienna

Dear Cienna,

Phoenix Affordable Dentist

William Somerset Maugham once said, “Money is like a sixth sense – and you can’t make use of the other five without it.” It’s frustrating when you don’t have money to do things that are actually important and good for you. Dental insurance companies are renowned for only covering the most basic of care, even if another procedure is better for you. That is true of how most of them handle fillings as well.

It’s not vain to want your teeth to be all the same color. Plus, there’s the added worry about the high mercury content in silver fillings. While many dentists demand payment upfront, there are some affordable dentists who’ll be willing to work with you.

Some do payment plans. Others will give you the white filling while billing your dental insurance for the amalgam filling and letting you pay the difference.

In your place, I’d find a dentist you trust and explain your situation. Dentists want you to have a smile you’re proud to share. It reflects on them as well. I’d be willing to bet most will work with you.

Affording White Fillings and Teeth Whitening

I know affordability is an issue for you, but I just want to be sure you know once the fillings are made, the color cannot be changed. Because you said it will be on a visible tooth, make sure your teeth are the color you want. You can whiten them now, before getting your filling so they’ll match.

Or, if you need to save up because of costs, you can get your fillings then when you’re ready to whiten, you’ll just have to re-do them.

You may want to talk to your dentist about Care Credit. It’s a medical credit card that will allow you to get both procedures and pay them out in reasonable bits. Depending on your credit, you can even get zero interest terms.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Dental implants

Why Are My Gums Gray After Dental Implants?

I need some advice. I’ve been looking forward to getting dental implants for a long time. But, now that I have them, the gums look gray. I don’t know what to do. Why is this happening? Did I get faulty materials?

Lisa A.

Dear Lisa,

Phoenix Dentists who do Dental Implants

It is not a matter of faulty material. An important consideration when implants are placed is the thickness of the surrounding gum tissue. That is especially important when you’re putting implants on front teeth. If they are not ideally placed, you end up with a situation like yours because the posts are made of metal and will show through. These days, we have zirconia and ceramic implants which are metal-free and don’t have that same issue.

In your place, I’d go see a dentist with some expertise in dental implants to get a second opinion. He’ll be able to give you solid solutions. Without an examination, it would dangerous for me to tell you what to do. If it’s determined that your dentist poorly placed the implants, you could get your money back. That may mean doing the procedure over, but you’d end up with solid teeth AND a beautiful smile.

Make sure you DO NOT tell the second opinion dentist who your original dentist was. If they’re pals, he might hesitate to say he did something wrong.

Making Your Smile More Beautiful with Dental Implants

I’m a firm believer in making something positive out of a negative. If it turns out you have to start over, use this as an excuse to give yourself a cosmetic treat. Once your implant crowns are made, their color can’t be changed. This would be the time to get your teeth whitened. Then, your new implant crowns can be made the same beautiful color.

Now, not only do you have stable new teeth, they’re also gorgeous and take years off your appearance.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Pediatric Dentistry

My Sister Says I’m Ruining My Baby’s Teeth

I’m trying not to panic. Normally, I ignore my sister’s criticism because she tends to be really condescending to me. However, I don’t want to let my pride harm my child. She said that bottle feeding is damaging to my baby’s teeth and I need to get him to the dentist even while he’s an infant. She said breastfeeding children don’t need a dentist until they’re using baby or table food. Is she right?

Anne B.

Dear Anne,

Phoenix Pediatric Dentist and Breastfeeding

Welcome to the lifelong struggle of worrying you’re ruining your child. It will never end. Even when you’re doing everything right, you’ll be sure you’re wrong. And sometimes, you want to do the perfect thing, but can’t. That’s okay too. A friend of mine wanted to breastfeed her baby desperately because she knew it was the better food option. But, she developed cancer. The medicine’s she had to take precluded her from breastfeeding. It broke her heart. She cried every time she had to put a bottle in his mouth. Then a friend reminded her that formula wasn’t poison and as long as she’s doing the best she can, that’s all that matters.

Pediatric Dental Benefits of Breastfeeding

  • Innoculation Against Cavities: Though we’re not sure why, there are more and more studies showing that children who are mostly breastfed have some form of inoculation against cavities. It could be the properties in the breastmilk or possibly the anti-cavity minerals the mother passes to the child from her own immune system.
  • The Mechanics: The way the breast is designed and causes the milk to shoot to the back of the baby’s mouth, kicks in their sucking reflex. Bottle feeding just drops the formula in the baby’s mouth and it often pools around their teeth.

All that being said, that doesn’t mean breastfed babies don’t need to see a dentist. Genetics is a large factor in how healthy your teeth stay. So parents with a high number of cavities are likely to have children prone to cavities. Also, moms who breastfeed their babies to sleep don’t realize that milk will pool because the baby stops sucking but milk still shoots out for a moment after he falls asleep. Pooled milk (or formula) causes cavities.

Preventing Pediatric Dental Problems

Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed it’s important you go to a pediatric dentist. How you feed the baby has no effect on developmental abnormalities in tooth development. Baby’s teeth are developing while they’re still in the womb. If for some reason there is an abnormality, it’s much better to catch it early when something may be able to be done about it.

Also, the worst thing you can do is wait, assuming everything is fine, until there is a dental emergency. Then, your child’s first experience with the dentist will be a painful experience. That’s how they’ll view the dentist from now on.

It’s much better for them to get to know the dentist early, when everything is fine with their teeth. The dentist and staff will just show them the instruments, let them sit in the chair, examine their teeth, do a fun, gentle cleaning, and check that everything is normal and healthy. When that happens, they’ll love the dentist… or at least not fear him or her.

Also, don’t forget to brush, even when they just have a couple of teeth. Teach them good habits from the beginning so it becomes just that— a habit.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Lumineers

Can Lumineers Give Me a Smile Like Miley Cyrus?

I love Miley Cyrus’ smile. She’s my fav singer.  I’ve seen a Lumineers commercial that had a smile which looked a lot like Miley’s. Did she get that by Lumineers or is it natural? If I got Lumineers, could my smile look like hers?

Zoe D.

Dear Zoe,

I’m going to post two pictures of Miley Cyrus.

Miley Cyrus before smile makeover
Miley Cyrus 2006
Miley Cyrus after smile makeover
Miley Cyrus 2007

It’s obvious by the change in her smile from 2006 to 2007 that she’s had some type of porcelain veneers done, along with some possible gum contouring. Whether that was done with Lumineers or not is hard to know without her or her dentist giving out personal information. Lumineers are simply one brand of porcelain veneers. There are several brands, each having different pros and cons and will contribute different things to a smile design.

As to whether or not you can get a smile designed to look exactly like Miley Cyrus’, the answer is yes. Porcelain veneers can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth to create any look you want. Bear in mind that everyone’s facial shape and skin tone are different. That means while you may have the exact same smile design, no smile (no matter how identical) looks the same on every person.

Talk to your dentist about your desires. If he says he can’t do it, don’t pressure him. You won’t like the results. Instead, simply ask him to recommend a cosmetic dentist whom he thinks can. It doesn’t mean you’re switching dentists. It just means you’ll go to this new one for advanced cosmetic work and your regular dentist for everything else.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Affordable Dentist

Is There Such a Thing as an Affordable Smile Makeover?

I don’t make a lot of money. In fact, I’m pretty close to the poverty line, thankfully on the plus side of it though. I’ve wanted to improve the appearance of my smile for years. Everything I read says smile makeovers need porcelain veneers, which are way out of my budget. Is there such a thing as an affordable smile makeover?

Mary Anne L.

Dear Mary Anne,

Scottsdale Affordable Dentist

It’s admirable that you’re working toward improving your smile despite financial challenges. Your smile is an investment. A beautiful smile exudes confidence, which in turn helps you to be more successful in dealing with peers.

If you were getting a top of the line smile makeover, then yes, porcelain veneers are the way to go.  There are affordable dentists who might be willing to let you pay out your smile makeover, but each dentist has their own policy in regards to what they’ll accept payments on. If they don’t take payments on cosmetic procedures, Care Credit is always an option.

Also, there are other cosmetic procedures that don’t include porcelain veneers which can make a huge difference in your smile. One of the most affordable things you can do is get your teeth whitened. It’s cost effective while taking years off your appearance. It’s also simple to do and can fit into almost anyone’s schedule.

Of course, a lot of what would help depends on what you perceive is wrong with your teeth. If you have chips or gaps, dental bonding is an affordable way to close those.

I hope this helps you. Talk to your dentist about specific issues. He or she may have some remarkably creative solutions.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Pediatric Dentistry

Is It Normal For Children to Freak Out About Cavities?

My son has always gone to the dentist just fine.  He’s even looked forward to the appointments. This last visit was a disaster. We found out he has a cavity. The dentist offered to fill it right then. That’s when everything fell apart. My son started screaming, went limp, slid out of the chair, and fled the room. Is this normal? I was mortified.

Sadie M.

Dear Sadie,

Pediatric Dentist

There could be a few things factoring into this.  First, it doesn’t sound like your dentist is skilled in working with children. Most children don’t do well when an unexpected medical treatment is suddenly thrust upon them.

He would have been better served if the dentist talked to him for a minute ahead of time to let him know what a cavity means and how easy it is to treat, in terms he could understand.

Talk to him about what he thought was going to happen. He may have heard a false horror story at school about what happens when you have a cavity at the dentist.

Maybe the dentist pulled out the needle for the anesthetic. That long puppy could scare a navy seal.  Dentists who work with children know ways of keeping that out of sight.

Sometimes children just can’t handle the idea of the needle anesthetic. Most pediatric dentists also offer sedation dentistry. This helps relax children. In fact, many of them completely sleep through the entire procedure.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

 

Lumineers

Groupon for Lumineers? Likely a Bad Idea

I’ve become a Groupon addict. We can get things we’ve never been able to afford through this marvelous group innovation. Today I saw a Groupon for Lumineers. The price is fantastic! I’ve always wanted to get my teeth more attractive and this looks like an ideal way to do it. I just wanted to check with a dentist first to get a professional opinion.

Lacey L.

Dear Lacey,

There are a few things to consider before you hit that “Deal” button. First, have you had a consultation to make sure you are a candidate for porcelain veneers? Not everyone is a candidate. If you purchase that deal and it turns out you can’t get them, there are no refunds.

Second, what do you know about the dentist who will do the work? Not all cosmetic dentists are created equal. Lumineers are a bit notorious for being marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. This can lead to a poorly done smile makeover.

You’ll really want to research their ability to give a beautiful smile makeover. Ask to view some of their before and after photos of cases they’ve performed. They should have some type of smile gallery. This is generally examples of their absolute best work, so if you’re not thrilled with what you see, I certainly wouldn’t move forward.

Something else to consider is that Lumineers are just a brand of porcelain veneers. It may be that a different brand would produce better results for your particular smile.

While there are some areas of dentistry where it’s okay to just look for the most affordable dentist, cosmetic work isn’t one of them. You want to find the dentist who can give you the best smile possible. Groupon will limit you to this dentist offering the deal. So, do your due diligence to be sure you won’t end up with a lemon of a smile makeover.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Affordable Dentist

Is It Possible to Get Affordable Dentistry with Attentive Care?

I needed to see a dentist but am between jobs. I googled cheap dentists and quite a few names popped up. I picked one close to me and went in hoping for the best.  I didn’t get it. In fact, I felt like I was on a conveyor belt. They rushed me in and out. Hardly asked any questions. I’m not sure if that’s normal, but I felt like a piece of cattle. I still need a couple more things done, but don’t have a ton of money as I’m living off savings right now. Is there a way to get affordable dentistry that still treats you like a human?

Carlton M.

Dear Carlton,

It’s great that you’re making an effort with your dental care even though you’re between jobs. Many people neglect their dental care in your situation, which ends up costing them more money and putting them in an emergency dental situation.

One thing to know is there is a distinct difference between cheap dentistry and affordable dentistry. Cheap dentistry usually means they lower their prices substantially in order to draw in patients. However, they have to make profits somewhere, so either they make it up with booking more patients than can be treated with attentive care or they cut corners by using sub par materials. Neither of those work out well for patients.

There are dentists who chose to be affordable in order to help people in your situation. They won’t have the rock bottom prices but they’ll be reasonable and they’ll be willing to work with you on payments so you can get the treatment you need.

Go ahead and do another search on affordable dentists (not cheap), then check their reviews to be sure the treatment other people received was the quality you deserve.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Lumineers

Help! I Swallowed My Lumineers

I have had nothing but problems with my Lumineers makeover. Even the day I came home with my new smile, three of the six of them fell off.  I went straight back to the dentist and he put them back on.  They lasted a few weeks and came off again. He re-bonded them a second time.  They lasted a short time longer and then two more came off, but this time I accidentally swallowed them because I was in the middle of eating a birthday cake. I talked to my dentist, but he said he can’t bond them on if I don’t have them and wants me to pay for two more Lumineers. Is this right? Should they keep falling off like this?

Janice M.

Dear Janice,

Absolutely not! Your Lumineers should stay bonded onto your teeth. Even the word “bonding” indicates they should stay on.  Most dentists never have a veneer of any brand fall off, let alone constantly falling off every few weeks.

Your best bet, at this point, is to ask for a refund. He’s not given you the minimum of care, which is the procedure actually stays on.

If he gives you a problem with this, you can always tell him you’re going to get a second opinion of his work from another cosmetic dentist. Most dentists want to look good in front of their peers. He’ll likely be more willing to give you a refund if not doing so would be embarrassing to him.

One of the problems with Lumineers is they’re heavily marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists. As your dentist doesn’t even seem to know the basics of bonding, I’d say he falls into that category.

Don’t be surprised if whatever cosmetic dentist you end up after this one recommends a different brand. That’s okay. Lumineers is just one brand.  Find a dentist who has done beautiful work and trust them to know the best brand for your smile.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.