Denver and Lakewood, Colorado
November 27th, 2011
Do Porcelain Veneers Ever Come Off?
I’ve heard patients comment about veneers they have had “come off”. Frankly, there is no good reason why veneers ought to pop off. In fact, it’s a harbinger of other bad things to come.
Porcelain veneers, when they are crafted correctly, are extremely strong, durable and stay in place reliably.
There are two main reasons why porcelain veneers come off- neither of them good…
I’ll go over the first reason today, and then discuss the other reason tomorrow.
One. The veneer wasn’t adhered correctly. The process of cementing, or bonding or adhering the veneer to your tooth is very technically demanding. There are many steps, the process is unforgiving. It requires an uncompromising technique. It is possible that during the adhesion process something goes wrong. While this could be possible for a great cosmetic dentist, it is highly unlikely, because they would notice if something isn’t going right. While possible, a great cosmetic dentist may have this happen only once or twice in a career. IF the worst happened that your veneer somehow came off, an experienced cosmetic dentist would be mortified. They would fix it quickly, and permanently. They would feel bad, and it would be obvious to you. If on the other hand, in the most likely scenario, you veneers were adhered without this immaculate technique, it could come off. If a veneer pops off one day later-it simply wasn’t adhered correctly. In this practice a staff member or even the dentist might say, “oh it happens all the time, don’t worry about it”. If it happens all the time or is in some way routine, then politely get yourself out of that office and into one of a more experienced cosmetic dentist.
You really shouldn’t lose any sleep worrying about your veneers coming off. In my experience, veneers work well, and they work well for a long time.
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Part Two of this series.
(or if you’ve had a veneer come off, you may want to schedule a visit with us so we can check your veneers and make sure you won’t have more problems-contact us today).
Tags: cosmetic dentistry, denver cosmetic dentist, Dr Scott Greenhalgh DDS, porcelain veneers, veneers
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Uncategorized | No Comments »
November 26th, 2011
Porcelain Veneers
For patients, I think there is a lot of confusion about porcelain veneers.
I participate in some web forums where patients ask questions about cosmetic dentistry and other dental procedures. The advertisers for veneers (brands like: Lumineers, Vivaneers, DuraThin veneers, No Prep veneers and others) do a great job about creating a lot of buzz. There is no doubt that porcelain veneers can produce amazing results. But…there is no brand that fits everyone, all the time.
My advice to patients thinking about veneers: don’t get too focused in on a certain brand of veneers. Focus more on researching a great cosmetic dentist. Look at the before and after photos in their smile gallery. Frankly, you can tell a lot about that cosmetic dentistry practice by the quality and quantity of beautiful cosmetic dentistry photos. Look for clear, crisp photos. Look for an example that looks like you. Then look at the after results. Do the results look great, and do they look natural?
A great cosmetic dentist can help you find the right veneer option for you. After that evaluation, THEN your cosmetic dentist can recommend the right type of veneers.
Tags: before and after, cosmetic dentist, denver cosmetic dentist, patient questions, porcelain veneers, smile gallery, veneers
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers, Uncategorized | No Comments »
October 28th, 2011
With a 98% success rate, dental implants are the most reliable and durable tooth replacement method currently available. The bone fusion process – called osseointegration – is what makes dental implants so strong and long-lasting. However, it is also the reason why dental implants require a more involved installation process than other tooth replacement methods.
At the beginning of the dental implant process, Dr. Greenhalgh will measure your jawbone’s density and dimensions at the site of your missing tooth, ensuring there is adequate support for the implant root. If you do not have enough bone to support a dental implant, Dr. Greenhalgh may recommend a bone grafting procedure.
Once sufficient bone has been established, Dr. Greenhalgh will create an impression of the area that needs the dental implant, guiding the specialist to the exact location where the implant will be placed. The specialist will then surgically insert the artificial root into your jawbone.
For a period of three to six months, you will need to wait as your gums and jawbone heal around the root, anchoring it into place. After the implant root has fused, you will return to Dr. Greenhalgh’s offices to have your custom-made dental crown created and placed on top of the root. The end result is a fully-functional artificial tooth that seamlessly blends with the rest of your smile, restoring your bite and protecting the future health of your teeth.
If you have further questions about dental implants, please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with experienced implant dentist Dr. Scott Greenhalgh, DDS. We serve patients in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado.
Posted in Implant Dentistry | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2011
Porcelain veneers are long-lasting dental restorations and are unlikely to break or fall off under normal conditions. But it does happen, either as a freak occurrence, due to injury, or at the end of the veneer’s useful life, which can be up to 30 years.
If you lose a porcelain veneer, make sure you keep it. In most cases, it can be re-attached. Call us at 800-757-6680 and we’ll get you in for an appointment as soon as possible. We’ll re-evaluate the fit of the veneer and check the underlying tooth for any signs of decay or damage before re-attaching the veneer.
Chipping a porcelain veneer may be less of an emergency, depending on your personal sense of your appearance and the severity of the chip. If you feel it’s an emergency, call us and we will certainly get you in as soon as possible. If you are less concerned, communicate that and we will get you in at a convenient time. If you chip a veneer, you don’t have to keep the broken piece–just don’t swallow it!
If you have more questions about the care and longevity of porcelain veneers, please contact Denver cosmetic dentist Dr. Scott Greenhalgh today to schedule a consultation.
Posted in Porcelain Veneers | No Comments »
September 19th, 2011
Porcelain veneers are highly versatile dental restorations that can be used to do anything from whitening your teeth to reshaping broken or chipped teeth. And if you have always been unhappy with a gap in your smile, porcelain veneers can be used to close that gap, giving you an attractive smile that you’ll be happy to share.
Porcelain veneers are facades of a special dental ceramic composite that are fitted to the front and other surfaces of your teeth. By adding additional material on other surfaces, they can be used to build up your teeth in any direction, such as correcting short teeth or closing a gap.
If you are considering porcelain veneers to close a gap, there are a number of important decisions you have to make about designing your new smile:
- Am I just interested in closing the gap or do I want to straighten other teeth as well?
- Are my other teeth damaged in some way that requires correction?
- Should I whiten my teeth before getting veneers?
During your consultation we will talk to you about your cosmetic goals and help you decide on the number and style of veneers that will be best for you.
To learn more, please contact Denver cosmetic dentist Dr. Scott Greenhalgh for a consultation today.
Posted in Porcelain Veneers | No Comments »
July 21st, 2011
The decision as to which type of tooth crown to choose is one to make with Dr. Greenhalgh. It would partly be a matter of which particular tooth needs a crown and partly a cosmetic decision if the tooth is visible in your smile.
If your damaged tooth is a molar, Dr. Greenhalgh might suggest a PFM or gold crown. PFM stands for porcelain-fused-to-metal, referring to a white crown on a gold framework or lining. These crowns are sturdy and reliable for years of chewing. Gold crowns, time-honored and durable as they are, they blend but have some limitations on their esthetics, but on a back tooth this may not matter.
If the damaged tooth is visible in your smile, you might want to choose an all-porcelain crown. This type has a ceramic lining and more closely resembles natural teeth than any other type of crown. Dr. Greenhalgh offers Lava™ dental crowns, an especially strong all-porcelain crown that would give you excellent service for many years.
Sometimes a tooth may be in need of repair but not to the extent of needing a dental crown. When a crown is not necessary and a filling is not enough, the solution is to have a porcelain onlay. An onlay can fill a large cavity and repair one or more outside surfaces of the tooth but does not cover the tooth entirely, as a crown does.
Please see our page on What Type of Dental Crown is Right For Me for more details on each type of crown.
The first step in having the right crown placed would be to call or email our Denver, Colorado office for an initial appointment. Our staff is friendly and highly-qualified. They can answer many questions and you can also talk with Dr. Greenhalgh to learn more about the best way to restore your dental health. We look forward to working with you soon.
Posted in Tooth Crowns | No Comments »
June 7th, 2011
Since the array of choices in how to whiten your teeth is quite vast and the stores are full of inexpensive products like strips, kits, paint-on devices and “whitening” toothpastes, it might seem that it is easy to whiten your teeth. But if you want really good results without any wasted time, or if your teeth are particularly sensitive, you would do better to visit a qualified cosmetic dentist. That way, you will get better results than from either store-bought products or a general dentist.
Dr. Greenhalgh does offer take-home kits – but they are far superior to store-bought kits in that he will have custom trays made for you. This will avoid the potential problems of sore teeth and gums and significant sensitivity. If you would prefer to whiten your own teeth at your convenience, take-home kits are an excellent option and can give you very pleasing results. They are especially a good approach if you are someone who is good at keeping to a routine.
You may have heard about Zoom! Teeth Whitening, as it is a popular option. We have the Zoom2™ system and in about 90 minutes you can walk out of our office with a brightly enhanced smile. Many people like that speed, rather than waiting one or two weeks for results from other methods.
Not every cosmetic dentist offers Deep Bleaching™, but we do, and we recommend it highly if your teeth are noticeably yellowed or more deeply stained than average. This will give you the best whitening result and the least sensitivity of all teeth-whitening options. You will also have your customized trays to use at home for touch-ups at any time.
Your decision on how to accomplish your teeth whitening may be influenced by several factors. Depending on your personality, you might want the extra brightness of Deep Bleaching™ or the more subtle results of an at-home kit. Your budget may come into play – please see our page on Financial Options for how we can help. If you have a very busy lifestyle, the Zoom2™ route may be best for you.
To achieve the best teeth whitening in the most comfortable manner, the first step is to have an examination with Dr Greenhalgh, so he can help identify the best approach for you.
To learn more about teeth whitening, please contact us for a teeth whitening consultation with Dr. Greenhalgh. We serve the Denver and Lakewood areas in Colorado and hope to work with you shortly.
Posted in Teeth Whitening | No Comments »
June 1st, 2011
The longer I deliver cosmetic dentistry in Denver, I find that the best results come less from the products (for example, Zoom Teeth whitening, or Nite-White teeth whitening gel), and MORE from great communication with our patients.
For example, earlier today, I received an online question from a cosmetic dentistry patient in another state. She had Zoom Teeth Whitening and wound up with a fairly serious chemical burn on the gum of her front tooth. While she will probably be fine, I’m sure it was scary and alarming to have a big white ulcer on the gum next to her front tooth.
Candidly, anytime you are dealing with the human body, there is a (small) potential for a complication. I find that these surprises or disappointments can almost be 100% avoided by good communication before, during and after the procedure.
Later today, I had the chance to see one of my favorite patients who is starting to whiten his teeth. We talked for quite a few minutes about how to stay comfortable during the process and also a lot about what exactly to expect.
After more than twenty years as a cosmetic dentist in Denver, I have found we consistently get great results, by first, seeking to understand exactly what our patients want, then tailoring one of the many options to deliver results. Then we tell our patients what to expect each step of the way.
Oh, and we encourage constant input and try to have great accessibility to any questions they have along the way.
Problems and disappointments with teeth whitening (or other cosmetic dentistry procedures like porcelain veneers, bonding, or smile makeovers), can be avoided!
Tags: cosmetic dentistry, denver cosmetic dentist, in-office teeth whitening, teeth bleaching, whitening, Zoom Teeth Whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, painless dentistry | No Comments »
May 28th, 2011
Denver Cosmetic Dentist-Scott Greenhalgh, DDS
In cosmetic dentistry in denver, a huge part of my practice is about communication with my patients: what they are expecting from me, what will happen next in their care, what it will look like, what to be concerned about. I think the art of cosmetic dentistry is part making beautiful smiles, and the other part helping people feel really confident and assured on their journey.
I am spending some time answering patients’ questions on another website. There is a LOT of misinformation out there. I see a lot of uncertainty and disappointment in the experiences of other patients. At this stage in my cosmetic dentistry career, I am getting more and more patients who have had some sort of veneers or a smile makeover completed, but have disappointments or problems that need to be corrected.
The key to cosmetic dentistry is to have clear communication about what is going to happen, and what the results will be. As a patient, having very clear expectations and explaining them to the cosmetic dentist and his staff is the place to start. State very clearly what you want to change or improve. I see a lot of people who seem to want a certain treatment (for example, Lumineers or Zoom teeth whitening), but don’t get stuck on a brand name, think about what type of change it made and why you want that.
As a cosmetic dentist, my job is to listen well, and then find the most direct, comfortable way possible to deliver what you’ve asked for. As summer is on us, now is the time to see if your smile is everything you’ve imagined.
If not, let’s start the conversation.
With great listening and clear conversations, you will get impressive results!
Tags: cosmetic dentist denver, denver cosmetic dentist, denver dentist, porcelain veneers, smile makeover, veneers
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry | No Comments »
May 25th, 2011
Most people are candidates for porcelain veneers. This common cosmetic dental procedure to whiten and straighten teeth can improve your smile without pain or lengthy recovery.
Candidates for the porcelain veneers procedure with Dr. Greenhalgh include those who have:
- Teeth with uneven or dark color
- Crooked teeth with excessive space
- Teeth that are mottled or blotchy
- Front teeth (both upper and lower) that are unattractive
- Aged and worn lower teeth
- Front teeth with chipped edges
- Short teeth that need to be lengthened
Other good candidates for porcelain veneers include those who are in sales or do a lot of public speaking. Teeth that are white and straight often give a better impression to your audience than teeth that are yellowed or unevenly spaced.
If you are interested in porcelain veneers and believe you may be a good candidate, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Scott Greenhalgh to set up a consultation today. Dr. Greenhalgh serves the communities in and around Denver and Lakewood, Colorado.
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry | No Comments »
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