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Originally Posted by Sharon
Thanks popo. 
Can I ask you another question? Are teeth whitening treatments safe? Toothpastes? Which ones are more effective than others? Which are the least expensive / best value?
Sorry for all the questions... it would be good to get an opinion from an expert who couldn't give me a self-interested opinion based on which one would be most profitable. My dentist doesn't seem like the type, but second opinions are always good. |
Bleaching systems are safe but they obviously vary in effectiveness. This isn't my area of knowledge but I'll tell you what I know. Least expensive is definitely any of over the counter stuff but of course it's the least effective. On the positive, it's cheap so you can try it and see if you like the results. If not, the dentist will have the stronger stuff. We always do.
Whitening toothpastes don't do anything from what I've seen. Your dentist will have a home bleaching with trays and in-office bleaching. The home is cheaper but takes longer. The in-office is faster and sometimes comes with home bleaching for upkeep. If your teeth are sensitive, go with home bleaching so you can titrate it in a way.
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Originally Posted by Paq
hey popo, i just finished my 2nd to last visit to basicaly rebuild my mouth anyway, i just had impressions taken for my crowns and i am currently sporting some acrylic temporaries. I was wondering if there were any special instructions/anything i can't eat, etc, with the permanent crowns. I've been told to avoid sticky food and anything raelly hard, so popcorn and gum are out, but is there anything i have to worry about with the crowns?
also, the dentist i use has a 5 yr warranty on his work and the crowns themselves, and i was just curious as to the average life of a crown? if ti helps, these are my my lower molars and premolars. not sure of the names, but basically the last two teeth before the wisdom teeth.
and now my dr is talking about doing some more cosmetic work/whitening/replacing old fillings with porcelain, etc. Any tips?
oh, and i am going ot have an implant on my upper right to replace one he couldn't save. kinda bummed, but whatever. Any idea what i can expect in cost/pain/longevity?
Thanks again, so much. |
Good stuff.
The permanent crowns can be made of gold, ceramics, or a combination. If they contain ceramics, treat them like fine china. They can chip/crack and will if you crack nuts, bite into ribs, etc. with them. Gum shouldn't be a problem. A 5 year guarantee is pretty good, lots of folk give a 1 year or 2 year or none. The average lifespan is in the range of 10-15 years for a single crown.
The implant is my area... All I can suggest is that you go to someone who has years of experience with documented successful cases that he can show you. If you're not seeing a specialist for it, don't hesitate to ask for one if you sense BS. Inexperienced people tend to paint too rosy a picture. In general, it doesn't hurt any more than a tooth extraction but I have no idea if you'll need a bone graft or gum graft, etc.
If you have questions, I'm here.