Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Cost of Snap on Veneers

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I have a couple of missing teeth and some others that just look terrible. I want to get some snap on veneers, which I have read are less expensive than the regular porcelain veneers. However, I don’t want to go to the dentist’s office to order them and find out that I can’t afford them. Can you give me an idea of the cost?

Stanford

Dear Stanford,

Illustration of Snap-on Smile

It is hard to give you actual costs because a lot of it will depend on your specific case. Dentists can sometimes give you a ballpark, but do not think it is written in stone. Things can change.

The most popular type of snap-on veneers are Snap-on Smile. Based on some lab fees by the company that produces them, I would expect the cost to be somewhere between $1000-$2000. Yes, that is a big difference. Here are some of the factors:

  • ✔️ How many do you need? A full arch? The first six teeth?
  • ✔️ How many adjustments need to be made for a good fit?
  • ✔️ Is your dentist particular about getting as perfect a fit as possible or does he or she care more about saving on the cost and will do the bare minimum?

I want to make sure that you understand the difference between snap on veneers and porcelain veneers. Snap-on veneers are NOT made of porcelain. They are generally made of a acrylic. You will need to understand that these will not look nearly as natural or beautiful as porcelain veneers will. They’ll be decent. Most people use these for a specific event, such as a reunion, job interview, or photo shoot. They’ll only last a few years either way.

As long as you understand the limitations to them and have reasonable expectations on the appearance, then you should be fine. In the meantime, while wearing the snap-ons, I highly recommend saving for a permanent solution for your missing teeth such as dental implants. They are pricey, so it may take a while, but they are definitely worth it.

If you’re looking for an affordable solution for the teeth you have that just aren’t looking all that great at the moment, then I would recommend something like teeth whitening.

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

Whitening With Porcelain Veneers

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I have four porcelain veneers. They look fine but my natural teeth that are next to them are darker than the color I wanted for the porcelain veneers. If I wanted to whiten my teeth with Crest Whitestrips, would it damage the porcelain veneers?

Laura

Dear Laura,

Teeth whitening trays in a blue case

I am glad you like your porcelain veneers. I am curious as to whether or not your dentist suggested you whiten your teeth before getting your porcelain veneers. Four veneers are not enough to cover the teeth that are visible when you smile. Generally, a smile is eight to ten teeth wide. If you are not going to get that many porcelain veneers, which is quite common, then the dentist should have recommended you have your teeth whitened before you have your porcelain veneers done. This way the veneers can be made to match the new whiter color of your teeth.

That didn’t appear to happen, which baffles me. It is porcelain veneers 101. That being said, there is a solution. I don’t think that Crest Whitestrips, while they do whiten teeth (albeit very slowly) are your best option. First, they are quite weak and will take longer than you would probably want. Second, they only cover the front six teeth. You have porcelain veneers on four of those, that means you would only get two teeth whitened.

While you could cut them in half and try to work it that way, that is not very convenient. My suggestion is that you speak to your dentist. He can make you whitening trays to work around your porcelain veneers. It will whiten your teeth much faster.

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

Braces Causing Enamel Damage To My Teeth!

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I am 13 years old and just got my braces off. Right after they were removed I am seeing chalky white spots on my front eight teeth. I had my teeth cleaned four times a year, and my orthodontist never mentioned this possibility for tooth destruction to me. My dentist wants to do porcelain veneers; is this what you would recommend? Also, I am a teeth grinder, if that makes a difference.

-Ashley in Texas

Ashley,

I wouldn’t recommend porcelain veneers for someone your age for your 8 front teeth. The problem with doing veneers at your age is that your teeth could erupt a little further as you get older, which will reveal the margin of the veneers instead of keeping that margin at the gumline. Plus, the fact that your dentist is suggesting that at your age makes me worry that he or she isn’t expert in placing porcelain veneers. There is a more conservative option for you, which would be direct dental bonding, and I would go to an expert cosmetic dentist for that.

The white spots are decalcification. What happens when you have braces is that the braces catch food every time you eat anything. If you don’t brush it off right away, it sits there and bacteria grow in the food debris and put out acid that attacks your teeth. I’m disappointed that your orthodontist didn’t talk to you about that. When you have braces, you need to be very careful about eating, and your orthodontist should tell you how to avoid this problem. One thing is that when you’re wearing braces you should avoid snacking. Just confine yourself mostly to eating at meals with only occasional snacks, and that will greatly reduce the damage. And then, after you eat, you need to brush right away. When I had my braces, I carried a toothbrush with me so I could do that, and after lunch or a snack I would excuse myself to the bathroom and take care of this. If you’re not able to brush, at least swish vigorously with water to get as much of that food debris off your teeth. Not only does it decalcify your teeth, but it smells bad.

Getting your teeth cleaned four times a year is okay, but it’s no substitute for getting the food out from around your brackets right away.

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

Discoloration On My Front Two Teeth!

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I am now 20 years old, but ever since I was young and my adult teeth came in, I have had brown spots on my front two teeth. I have always had excellent dental hygiene, and I was told that having a high fever as an infant is what caused the discoloration.

My dentist and I have tried all of the whitening products we can find, but it has only ever made the area around the spots whiter, making the discolored spots more obvious. She wants to grind away at the front of the teeth to see if that gets rid of the discoloration, but I’m scared to try that. She doesn’t know how much she will need to grind off or if it will cause me pain or more problems. Do you know of anything else that I could try? Would you recommend trying professional whitening? I really want to get rid of these awful spots!

-Malia from Florida

Malia,

I would not do any more experimenting with your dentist as this could cause considerable damage to your teeth.

You could continue to see your dentist for your regular care if you choose, but I would recommend finding someone who is a cosmetic dentist. Since your dentist didn’t understand that bleaching would make the spots worse, I wouldn’t trust her to fix the teeth by grinding the spots off.

Bleaching your teeth will not remove your spots. On the contrary, it usually makes the spots look even worse because it whitens all around the spot, as you have already experienced. An option that had a small chance of helping would be a process called microabrasion. I believe your best option will probably be tooth bonding or porcelain veneers. But please make sure to find a cosmetic dentist that is an expert in this area.

I hope you are able to find a solution!

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

Solution For My Tooth Gap

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I have a huge tooth gap. It’s about 8mm in width. I don’t want braces. I’m too old for that. One dentist suggested snap on smile. Another suggested porcelain veneers. Which is better?

Carl

Dear Carl,

I’m very glad you wrote. I think we can prevent you from some serious disappointments here. First, I’ll go over the options you’ve been given, then I’ll make an alternate suggestion.

Snap-On Smile

image of snap-on smile

This will cover the gap you are concerned about. Snap-on Smile is a decent way of improving the look of your smile. However, I want to manage your expectations. These snap over your teeth, which some patients find make their teeth look bulky. They’re not meant to be permanent.

Usually, when well cared for, they’ll last a few years. You can eat with them, but will have to take them out afterward to rinse them off as well as brush and floss your natural teeth.

Porcelain Veneers

This is considered the top of the line smile makeover. Bear in mind it is expensive and requires someone with expertise. Your case, especially, would require one of the best cosmetic dentists in the country.

The reason for that is the size of the gap between your teeth. It’s large enough where you could fit an entire tooth there. It will have to be handled by someone at the top of their field. That will come with an additional price tag.

The pluses for this is it will look much nicer than snap-on smile and is considered a permanent solution. The veneers are bonded directly to your teeth.

Invisalign: A Better Solution

Two images: one of a woman placing her Invisalign aligner. The other, she's smling with it in.
Invisalgin is comfortable and Invisible

There is another permanent solution which won’t cost you a fortune. I know you said you didn’t want braces. When most adults think of braces, those horrible middle-school years come back to mind with a mouth full of metal wires and brackets.

Fortnately, there have been many advancements in orthodontics. We now have Invisalign. These are clear aligners which straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. They’re truly invisible, even at a conversational distance.

This can naturally close your tooth gap, giving you the smile you want. It has a side benefit too. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. So, if whitening is somethng you’re interested in, it’s like getting a two for one.

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

Dentist Told Me to Go to Orthodontist Not Cosmetic Dentist

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I have a gap between my teeth I want to fix with cosmetic dentistry. I’d asked my dentist for a referral but he says that’s a waste of money and I should see an orthodontist. I’m too old for a mouth full of metal. Besides, it’s my money, if it’s more expensive but works I’ll be happy. I don’t want to be a metal mouth at 42.

Lara M.

Dear Lara,

A woman placing her Invisaliagn aligners

Orthodontics no longer mean metal braces

The only time cosmetic dentistry is a waste of money is if you go to a bad cosmetic dentist. It sounds to me like your family dentist is feeling a little salty about you asking to see a cosmetic dentist, probably because he hasn’t developed his skill set to include cosmetic work.

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty with the American Dental Association (ADA). Instead, it’s general dentists who’ve invested time in learning the cosmetic procedures. Obviously, some dentists will be better than others, so you have to be careful.

Are Orthodontics the Only Solution for a Tooth Gap?

There are several solutions for a tooth gap, but let’s look at the orthodontic ones first. Obviously, you already know about the traditional metal braces. But, there have been significant advances in orthodontics since you were a child. We now have braces that you can’t even see.

If you look at the image above you see a woman placing clear aligners onto her teeth in the first picture. The second picture beneath that is her with the aligners on. As you see, there’s no way to tell she’s wearing anything on her teeth. This is Invisalign. It uses sets of clear aligners to straighten your teeth which are not visible even at a conversational distance.

But, let’s say you still don’t want orthodontics. That’s okay. The most common solution for a tooth gap is dental bonding. It uses a composite resin to fill in the gap. A good cosmetic dentist will make it blend seamlessly in with your natural tooth structure.

If there are more things about your teeth you’d like to change than just a gap, you might consider porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers completely remake a smile. They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.

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

Is Orthofill a Scam?

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I was looking at the Orthofill website. They seem to have a lot of regular people saying it worked for them. It’s so much more affordable than braces. All I really need to do is close a gap in my front teeth. This seems like a much more reasonable option. However, my dad always says if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. I just want to make sure I’m not getting myself scammed when I just want to close a gap. I’m not opposed to spending money, but I don’t want ugly braces and I kind of wanted something that worked faster than braces.

Mandy P.

Dear Mandy,

I’m glad you wrote. People see their gap closing and think “Problem solved.” What they don’t see is that the gap will eventually open back up. The bands don’t actually work on your teeth the way true orthodontics would. They tip your teeth toward one another. You’d get the same results if you wrapped small rubber bands around your front teeth.

There have been horror stories with these too. Bands have wormed their way underneath people’s gums causing horrific damage to the patient. As the bands are most often worn during sleep, you wouldn’t even know it was happening.

Orthodontics aren’t the only solution for a tooth gap. There are cosmetic solutions, such as dental bonding as well. That will use a composite solution to fill in the gap on your teeth. If there are other things you’d like to change on your teeth, porcelain veneers are a great solution. They can completely remake your smile. You mentioned the only thing you were interested in is the gap, so this probably isn’t your solution. I just wanted you to know it was available.

Also, if you’d like to close the gap, not just cosmetically, but actually. There is a way to do it without bulky metal wires and brackets. Invisalign can do the same things as braces, without anyone knowing you’re wearing anything. Faster too.

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

Solutions for a Wonky Tooth

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I have a tooth slightly rotated. My dentist wants me to get braces, but that is a minimum of two years treatment. I’m a senior. I don’t want to look ugly my last year of high school and first year of college. Tell me what my options are.

Caitlin D. – Boston

Caitlin,

You have a couple of great options aside from traditional orthodontics. The first is Invisalign. If you are a candidate, which not everyone is, it can straighten your smile in about half the time as braces. The best part is it truly is invisible. No one will know you’re wearing them.

If you’re not a candidate for Invisalign, or if you have other things you’d like to change about your smile, then I’d suggest porcelain veneers. It’s a strictly cosmetic procedure that can completely remake your smile. It can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. It’s the type of makeover celebrities get on their teeth.

Invisalign is the more affordable of the two options. I don’t know if budgeting is a factor in your decision. But, if it is you’ll want to consider the cost difference.

Also, if you’re getting porcelain veneers in order to re-make your smile, you won’t just get a veneer for the wonky tooth. You’ll get a minimum of six on your upper arch.

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

 

Affordable Porcelain Veneers? Is that Possible?

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I’m looking for a dentist who will give me affordable porcelain veneers. Is that even possible?

Marie Ellen C. – State Island, NY

Marie Ellen,

Generally, I’m all for finding a skilled affordable dentist. Cosmetic dentistry, and especially porcelain veneers, are not something you want to just find the most affordable dentist. It’s generally one of those procedures that costs a lot of money. That’s because of the amount of post-graduate education and training that go into being able to do it well.

That doesn’t mean you won’t find someone with reasonable prices. I just don’t want you to be lured by price and end up with a smile you’re not proud of.

When evaluating whether or not to use a dentist for a cosmetic procedure, be certain to ask to see before and after images of their work. Make sure it’s their work and not stock photos they’re trying to pass off as their work.  A simple direct question should clear up any doubt.

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

Orthodontics for adults

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I’m 42 years old with crooked teeth. I’m determined to do something about it in 2016, but don’t want to wear teen aged braces with mouth full of metal.  Tell me there is something else for adults?

Leslie M. – Connecticut

Leslie,

You are in luck!  You can have straight teeth in 2016 and not only do it without metal braces, but do it without anyone ever knowing. There are tons of advances in orthodontics.

Invisalign uses invisible aligners.  Not everyone is a candidate, so you’ll have to be checked to see if they’ll work for you.

If you’re serious about a smile makeover, you’ll want to look into porcelain veneers. These won’t straighten your teeth, but they can make them appear straight. The big benefit about these is they can change the shape, size, and color of you teeth. You can get a completely new smile.

Good luck with your new smile in the new year!

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