I have an overbite where my top teeth will completely cover my bottom teeth. Plus, tetracycline stains. I was hoping to get porcelain veneers to deal with this, but my dentist said my overbite makes that difficult. Instead, he wants to do six porcelain crowns. I have a couple of questions. First, will the crowns be okay for my tetracycline stains? Second, what do I do about my bottom teeth?
Madison
Dear Madison,
This dentist is not serving your best interest. An overbite does not preclude you from getting porcelain veneers. In fact, it makes much more sense than the dental crowns solution he has suggested. While dental crowns surround your entire tooth; porcelain veneers only cover the front and hug the sides a little. The crowns will have trouble bumping up against your bottom teeth. In that case, you may wonder why he was pushing you in that direction. My guess is he doesn’t really know how to place porcelain veneers so he is steering you toward the procedure he does know.
The Need to Find the Best Dentist for Your Smile Makeovers
Cosmetic Dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. That means any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. Unfortunately for patients, smile makeovers aren’t taught in dental school. In order to learn what they need to do it well, it takes extensive post-doctoral studies. That is a huge investment. Plus, like any art, not all dentists are artistically inclined. Most went into dental school because they have more of an engineering mindset.
Your case is even more complicated than most because of the tetracycline stains. These are considered one of the most difficult types of smile makeovers to do. Your dentist will want to get the veneers opaque enough to cover the stains but still have enough translucency to look natural and beautiful. Not an easy task.
The easiest way for you to find the best cosmetic dentist near you is to look on the website for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (aacd.com). However, you are not just looking for a member. Any dentist can be a member regardless of their skill level. What you are looking for is an accredited dentist. AACD accredited dentists have passed stringent exams as well as demonstrated their artistry with a large number of cases. Find an accredited dentist and you will find the dentist who can give you a stunning smile. You could also look for a dentist who offers virtual smile makeovers online, before you come in for any treatment.
As for your question about the bottom arch. Typically, you would use teeth whitening on the lower teeth.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.