Lorin F. Berland, DDS (retired)

If there is decay under an old crown, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.  This is especially true while you are wearing braces.  As you may be well aware, it is required to have a full dental exam and any decay removed to ensure a healthy mouth prior to initiating orthodontic treatment.  In your case, since there is no bracket or band on the tooth in question, the old crown and underlying decay can be removed and a temporary crown can be placed until your orthodontist approves the placement of your final crown.  The key is to get rid of the disease process and to prevent further issues.  Consult with your orthodontist as well as your general dentist to coordinate treatment timing to ensure optimal results. 

White is in!  With the latest advances in dental technology, porcelains are whiter and more translucent than ever, allowing for more life-like teeth.  Porcelain crowns and veneers are more stain-resistant than natural teeth and cosmetic bonding.  When investing in a new smile, these brighter porcelain restorations are requested by patients to match their newly bleached teeth and to replace old porcelain restorations to keep up with the public's demand for a more aesthetic and natural-looking smile.  Finding a qualified cosmetic dentist who can provide a full range of restorative and cosmetic options will help you design the best-looking smile for you. 

Hi there,

It is difficult to tell without seeing you - do you have a picture you can post?  Do you have a gummy smile?  When were the dental crowns and bridges last placed?  Have you had grinding/clenching habits in the past?  Are you missing any teeth?  Were your teeth crowded prior to the dental restorations on your front teeth?  As you can see, there are many factors to consider.  Make sure you do your research and find a qualified cosmetic dentist with a great network of specialists to evaluate your condition and offer viable treatment options for you. 

Sometimes less can be more, and in this case, cosmetic bonding may be what works best for your situation! Assuming that doing cosmetic work on just the 2 front teeth would significantly improve your smile and your confidence, this is a simple way to achieve a great-looking smile with less time, less money and less (no) tooth removal. Make sure that you find a qualified cosmetic dentist who has plenty of before and after photos of actual patients you can look at. Good luck!

In a nutshell, teeth are most susceptible to stain during the first 24-48 hours following professional in-office whitening.  It is not necessary to drink coffee through a straw indefinitely to avoid staining your pearly whites.  While it doesn't prevent coffee stains from forming on the backs of your teeth, drinking through a straw can help decrease the chance of premature fading.