Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Solution for a Huge Tooth Gap

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I have a tooth gap big enough to almost fit another tooth in. My dentist suggested Lumineers. I can’t imagine that scenario turning out well. What would I have? A center tooth like a cyclops? Eeww! I do want a solution though. What do you recommend? Please don’t say Lumineers. I might cry.

Luna

Dear Luna,

A woman placing her Invisaliagn aligners

Orthodontics no longer has to mean metal braces

I’m glad you have more sense than your dentist. You’re right that Lumineers would end up a disaster. With such a large gap you’d need one of the top cosmetic dentists in the world to make that look natural. I have a much better solution for you.

Commonly, a tooth gap is repaired using dental bonding. This closes the gap with a composite resin. However, again, the size of the gap you’re dealing with would make this challenging.

In your particular case, I’d suggest orthodontics. As an adult, you won’t want a mouth full of metal even if it means closing your tooth gap naturally. Instead, Invisalign will be a fantastic solution, but without being uncomfortable and unsightly. They have one of the highest patient satisfaction rates too.

Getting a Mini Smile Makeover with Invisalign

Many people find that by combining teeth whitening with Invisalign, they get a mini smile makeover of sorts. The Invisalign gives them beautiful straight teeth, while the teeth whitening takes years off their appearance and makes them a brilliant white color.

One thing to be aware of with teeth whitening is it will only whiten natural tooth structure. If you have other dental work, such as crowns or fillings, those won’t whiten from the solution. Instead, they’ll have to be redone in order to get them to match your new white color.

I hope this helps you. Again, I’m glad you sought out advice instead of just listening to your dentist’s disastrously bad suggestion.

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

Is It Possible My Tooth Gap Will Close?

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I’m seventeen years old. My teeth are completely straight and healthy except for a small gap between my front teeth. I know that I’ve kind of lucked out in the teeth department but the small gap between the two front teeth really bugs me. My wisdom teeth still haven’t come in. Is there a possibility when they do come in it will push the gap closed? If not, is there something I can do to close it that doesn’t include a mouth full of metal?

Amanda P.

Dear Amanda,

While it is possible that the eruption of your wisdom teeth could shift your top arch and close the gap, there are also a few things that could keep that from happening.

First, the gap could be too large. That may mean that your teeth shift, but not enough to close the gap completely.

Second, there is a small piece of tissue in between your two front teeth which is known as a frenum. Most people who have a gap between their teeth, the frenum is the cause. In some patients, the frenum is so large they need to have it removed so that the gap can be closed with orthodontics.

impacted wisdom teeth

Third, not everyone’s wisdom teeth come in straight. If they do, great. But, many patients have to have their wisdom teeth removed because they end up impacted. If that’s the case with your wisdom teeth, they won’t be available to push your diastema (tooth gap) closed. The above image shows you what impacted wisdom teeth can look like.

If it happens that you aren’t able to use your wisdom teeth to shift everything, there’s still hope. And, it won’t require a mouth full of metal.

You could use Invisalign. These are invisible aligners that can close the gap for you in a more effective and comfortable way than traditional braces.

If you don’t want to use orthodontics at all, you can go the cosmetic route. The simplest procedure is to have dental bonding done by a good cosmetic dentist. It uses composite material, similar to what you’d find with white fillings to fill in the gap. You want an experienced cosmetic dentist in order to ensure they’ll be able to make it look natural.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Is Orthly a Good Replacement for Invisalign?

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I keep reading about this product Orthly that replaces Invisalign at just a fraction of the cost. Is this legitimate?

Miranda M.

Dear Miranda,

If you’re asking if there’s an Invisalign substitute called Orthly which costs less than Invisalign, then the answer’s yes. But, if you’re asking if it’s a safe replacement, the answer is no.

Here are some of the concerns.

1. The designers have no dental training. They make that clear themselves. “Orthly does not practice dentistry nor do any employees in the company.” So, you’re talking about an app, designed by a college student who was just looking for a cheaper way to straighten his teeth. Does he understand how to move the roots of teeth without causing them to come loose?

2. You only see a dentist a couple of times. This is actually where they save their money. With Invisalign, you’re under the care of a dentist every two weeks. The appointments are designed to make sure nothing is going awry or needs to be addressed with your teeth. They’re designed to protect your teeth.

While an orthodontist working with Orthly can request you send pictures of your progress. That’s practically useless. How can a photo possibly measure things like mobility, root absorption, periodontal disease, and oral hygiene? If these problems crop up, you can lose your teeth.

3. They accept no responsibility for what happens to you. They state, “We partner with licensed, board-certified orthodontists and we ensure that they are the ones who lead the treatment process.” Those are the ones who will face liability, while Orthly rakes in the money.

So, which do you choose? That’s a personal decision. Obviously, I have strong feelings about the issue, but that is borne out of fear of low-income patients, desperate to straighten their teeth, getting themselves into situations where they end up losing their teeth, with no money left to replace them and zero recourse.

If you’re wanting to straighten your teeth, but struggle with the ability to afford it, talk to your dentist. Many of them will work with you financially.

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.

 

Is There an Inexpensive Smile Makeover?

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I’ve always wanted a smile makeover. Every year I think I’ll get one with my tax refund, but every year something else seems to break down, whether it’s my car or an appliance at home, to commandeer the money. It’s equally disappointing every year. Is there an inexpensive smile makeover?

Alice V. – New Hampshire

Alice,

I wouldn’t say it’s a complete smile makeover, but teeth whitening is the most inexpensive way to make a significant difference in the cosmetics of your smile. It’s affordable with most budgets and takes years off your appearance.

Another benefit is it doesn’t require an expensive cosmetic dentist. Your family dentist can perform the service quite well for you. Your biggest decision will be whether you want in-office or take-home teeth whitening.

With in-office, everything is done in just one appointment. Your teeth will get as white as they’re capable. Often, the color will settle just a little after the first week, but they will still be extraordinarily white.

Take-home whitening is different. You’ll wear the whitening gel for a minimum of 20 minutes each day, using custom made trays. Often that is repeated for a week or more depending on the level of whitening you’re hoping to obtain,

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

Invisalign and Football

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I need to make my mom and my football coach happy. My coach won’t let me play without a mouthguard, and my mom says she didn’t pay for Invisalign for it to sit in my gym bag. Is there a way to work this out? Can I use the Invisalign as a mouthguard?

Reginald B. – Kansas

Reginald,

It’s great to see you’re being so responsible and taking steps to get the information you need. Both your mom and your coach should be very proud of you.

Don’t use your Invisalign aligners as a mouthguard. It’s not designed to absorb shock the way a sports mouthguard does. You will have a damaged mouth…and fewer teeth. There is a way to make it work. First, let your dentist know what’s going on so he can adjust your treatment accordingly.

Next, make sure you keep your aligner’s case with you at all times, even at football practice and games. When you’re not practicing keep your aligners on. Games are a little trickier because they last for so long. You don’t want to leave them out the entire game. Keep the case with you. When you’re not playing, put them in. When you are playing, take them out.

Other than that, just be sure the only other time they’re out is to eat and to clean your teeth.

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

Can I use old invisalign aligners for teeth whitening trays?

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I was cleaning out my dresser and found an old pair of invisalign aligners. Can I use those as whitneing trays and just order the whitening gel? It would save me a ton of money?

Jillian K. – Ohio

Jillian,

Well, do you know which pair of aligners this is? If it’s anything but the last pair, you could shift your teeth and do your bite serious harm. Plus, they’re old, but how old? There’s a lot of information I don’t have here.

While some people whiten their teeth with invisalign aligners, that is always done during their Invisalign treatment, not consecutively.

If I were in your position, I would just talk to my dentist about it.  Let him look at the aligners and make sure they’re the right pair AND in suitable condition. It’s possible, but I wouldn’t do it without checking it with your dentist first.

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

I was so excited about redoing my smile…until I saw the cost.

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Can you explain why getting smile makeover is so expensive.  I had ramped myself up to get one and was so excited, because I’ve always hated my teeth. But when I realized the prize it was heartbreaking. Is there an affordable way to redo a smile?

Tina P. – Michigan

Tina,

I’m guessing you priced porcelain veneers. Yes, they can be costly. The materials alone are expensive and they require a high level of training and skill. Plus, there are lab fees. However, there are other ways to give yourself a smile makeover that are more affordable.

You didn’t mention what it is about your teeth that bother you, but I have a few procedures that I can recommend, which cost less that porcelain veneers.

  • Teeth Whitening: This procedure alone can make your smile look years younger
  • Invisalign: The allows patients to straighten their teeth without anyone knowing. No bulky, metal braces.
  • Dental Bonding: This works great for things like chipped teeth or small gaps.

All of those are affordable. I hope you find something that works for you.

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