Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Archives for December 2014

Bleaching trays for a retainer

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My retainer has completely worn out. My dentist wants $530 to make a new one. I just don’t have that kind of money. I was wondering if my bleaching trays would work instead?

Anne K. – Missouri

Anne,

After braces, it’s important to wear a retainer to help your teeth stay in their correct position. However, I can very cautiously say that you can wear your trays as a retainer, if it is designed to fit your teeth properly. However, I want to give you a warning to be aware of.  If at any time your trays start to fit differently, that means your teeth are shifting out of position and you’ll actually need to get a new orthodontic.

Regarding the price you were quoted, I think you could get a very good retainer for significantly lower, without sacrificing quality. Call around to other orthodontists. They’re not hard or expensive to make.

This blog is blog is brought to you by Tulsa dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Can any dentist do teeth whitening?

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I have a great general dentist. He’s good at what he does and very dependable. However, I want my teeth whitened. I asked him to recommend a good cosmetic dentist, but he said he could do the job himself. I wondered if that was true or I needed someone who was a specialist?

Denae H. – Florida

Denae,

There is a common misconception that cosmetic dentistry is a recognized specialty. In fact, any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. There are some cosmetic procedures, such as porcelain veneers, that would require some additional training. In those cases you’d want someone with some expertise and artistry.

Teeth whitening is different. Any dentist can do it. It’s fairly straight forward. I’d go ahead and let your general dentist do it.

Enjoy your new smile.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.