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It's difficult to see from the photo what your teeth look like in the gum area. Most patients can have dental bonding completed, it's a very low-impact procedure that can often be completed with minimal preparation. I would consult a cosmetic dentist in your area that does composite veneers/dental bonding for a consultation. They'll be able to look at your comes and see if the bonding will address your goals, or if gum grafting by a specialist is a better avenue! Best of luck!!!
Dentist
Hi there,
If you are having discomfort and concerns about a tooth you should have it checked by your treating dentist sooner rather than later. It is likely they will put your concerns at ease, but in the rare case there is something to be concerned about, the sooner you have it addressed the better prognosis for the tooth.
All the best,
Courtney Lavigne
Dentist
Hi there,
It would be helpful to see your before photos to know where you started from, but I would agree that your top teeth don't overlap your bottom teeth in an ideal position. I'm noticing that there is also a lot of tooth wear on the back teeth....did you use to have a large space between your front teeth on top and bottom and Invisalign was used to close that (called an anterior open bite)? You should have a restorative dentist with advanced training in occlusion take a look at this in addition to your orthodontist for a complete evaluation.
Best of luck,
Courtney Lavigne, DMD, FAGD
Wayland, Massachusetts
Dentist
Hi there,
Any orthodontic movement with a baby tooth puts the tooth at risk if the bone has not locked the tooth in place (called ankylosis). You would need to have an xray looked at by a professional to give you a better idea. It's not whether you are a candidate for Invisalign vs. braces, it's knowing the risks and having a plan in place for what to do if that tooth is lost before you begin treatment Hope that helps!
Courtney Lavigne
Wayland, Massachusetts
Dentist
Hi there,
Typically when retainers hurt after not wearing them, it means the teeth have moved slightly. You are handling it correctly. I would recommend wearing them until they once again fit passively without aching. At that point, you can resume nighttime wear so long as they continue to fit passively (without aching) at night. If you have any questions, I would return to your dentist with the retainers to have them take a look.
Best of luck!
Dentist
Hi there,
The location of the buttons are different for every patient depending on the movements that need to be made and which teeth need to be rotated. If your trays fit, it sounds like the buttons are in the right place for your plan and there may have been miscommunication with your dentist in the planning stage. They may have answered your question before the final treatment plan was back from Invisalign. I would talk with your dentist about this.
Good luck!
Dentist
Hi there,
I always recommend patients go through Invisalign treatment until they are completely happy with the result. As much as it is tempting to be done for good and not have to think about wearing trays for a few more months, refinements are common and in my opinion worth it in the longrun.
Best of luck!
Dentist
Hi there,
While metal braces can still take less time and be more predictable during treatment Invisalign has come a long way and with patience can typically accomplish the same thing that traditional braces can. Sometimes combination treatment can do the majority of treatment with Invisalign, and then small tweaks at the end with brackets. I would recommend seeing an orthodontist that does a lot of Invisalign for a consult. Your case is not an "easy" Invisalign case and therefore may be out of the scope of practice for your dentist.
Best of luck!
Dentist
Hi there,
The chip from the photo appears to be a very small one, and one easily addressed with some minimal composite bonding. If you see a dentist with advanced training in fillings on the front teeth, you won't be able to tell it was ever chipped!
Best of luck!
Dr. Lavigne-Wayland, Massachusetts
Dentist
Hi there,
I would see a dentist as soon as you can to have a comprehensive exam to determine what your dental needs are. The unfortunate thing with teeth is that they will continue to get worse if not treated, so the sooner you address the situation the less time and money it will take to get to a solution!
If finances are a concern, dental schools are a great place to look for a very thorough exam.
Best of luck!
Dentist
I've gotten a lot of useful info from this site over the years so it's time to post a review. I had wanted to fix my small, misshapen teeth for maybe 10 years. I knew I would first need Invisalign to fix a crossbite before getting either composite bonding or porcelain veneers. I waited until age 37 because 1). I was too embarrassed to have braces (invisalign is def NOT invisible) in my 30's in my workplace - NYC fashion industry and 2). After going through brain cancer treatment 2 years ago I have stopped putting off anything that will make me happy (within reason of course!). I found Dr. Lavigne on realself and I knew before I even went for the consult that this would work out. Her office is beautifully designed and as a designer myself that told me that she has both good taste and a sharp eye for details - exactly what you need in a good cosmetic dentist. I also liked that she does lots of continuing education to stay on top of all the latest technology and is active in her professional community, giving lectures, etc. Not to mention she started her business from scratch...uh, pretty impressive for someone in their 30s! So I did tons of research and went to the consult thinking that I wanted porcelain veneers. Dr. Lavigne recommended composite bonding instead since it doesn't require removing enamel from healthy teeth like porcelain veneers. She also showed me the composite she had done on her dental assistant which looked good. In total I had bonding on the top 6 teeth (incisors are technically composite veneers) and bonded 3 bottom teeth (canines were rounded off and a chipped center tooth fixed). It was fast and painless. I did 10 days of Kor at-home whitening beforehand, fyi. The whole process was smooth - I would liken Dr. Lavigne to a very smart, trustworthy friend. Actually everyone in the office is extremely nice and competent. I'm so happy and can't believe I have nice looking teeth now! Time will tell on the maintenance/upkeep factor, but I'm confident that Dr. Lavigne can keep them looking good.
I traveled from Seattle to see Dr. Lavigne after seeing the impressive final result of veneers she completed on a friend of mine. After a decade of contemplating cosmetic work on my two front teeth that had been partially made of composite since an accident 22 years ago, I finally made the decision for a permanent fix when I was able to see how profound an impact that good cosmetic work can have. I can not emphasize enough how happy I am, not only with my new teeth, but also with the entire experience from the moment of Becky's first warm welcome at the front desk through every collaborative conversation Dr. Lavigne and I had about what I wanted in my smile. Even though only the front two were damaged, I chose to do my top front 6 teeth to create a uniform look and still remain absolutely blown away by the results, especially if I go back and look at how my teeth were before. I don't think I could have realized how much of an impact your teeth and smile have on your overall appearance until doing this. One of the most standout things about my veneers which was VERY important to me is that they look beautiful but still natural. I wanted any casual observer's reaction to my smile to be "Nice teeth!" and not "Nice cosmetic work!". Again, my expectations were wholly exceeded. Dr. Lavigne worked with me to create just the right balance between looking perfect and still looking real. She really does incredible work and I highly recommend to anyone contemplating cosmetic dentistry to go talk to her - I only wish I'd found her sooner!
While I use to be embarrassed by my old crowns, I've been complimented on my new smile over and over again from friends and family in the past few years. This is all thanks to my 4 front teeth that were redone by Dr. Lavigne. Growing up, I injured my front teeth which required me to get two fake front teeth. In addition to my two front teeth, I had a bunch of trouble with my lateral incisors getting chipped and repaired improperly. I had caps on my two front teeth and different colored teeth that didn't match the color and shape of the rest of my mouth. Enter Dr. Lavigne. In my consultation, she throughly walked me through my dental history and how I ended up in this situation, but also made an explicit plan as to what she and her team could do to fix my smile. She walked me through the different materials used and the difference in types of crowns for my two front teeth. This walkthrough helped me understand what we were up against and what the best way to proceed would be. I now have 4 awesome front teeth and everyone I talk to can not believe that they are not my real teeth. As I like to say, the proof is in the pudding. Take a look at the before and after pictures of me on Dr. Lavigne's website. Thank you so much to the entire Dr. Lavigne team for my perfect teeth!
I see Dr. Lavigne as my general dentist, but she is also the leading cosmetic dentist in the Boston area. I drive from Rhode Island to Wayland, MA because I believe she is the best. I spent many years bothered by my two front teeth. I had chipped one front tooth, then a past dentist had filed down both front teeth, and now I've lost even more length due to my bite and years of grinding. All of this left me with two front teeth that were noticeably shorter than the rest. I hated my smile. Dr. Lavigne spent a lot of time consulting and educating me on different options. She has replaced my top 6 front teeth with porcelain veneers and will be doing the bottom 6 soon. I now have a beautiful smile that I love. Her work is so good, no one ever guesses I had work done unless I tell them. Thanks to Dr. Lavigne, I look like I was born with perfect teeth. Dr. Lavigne explains every step and involved me throughout the entire process. She works with the newest technology and one of the best Master Ceramist. Dr. Lavigne is passionate about her work and her patients. She also has a very gentle touch and caring manner. Dr. Lavigne's staff are all very professional, personable and talented. The office, designed by Dr. Lavigne, is beautiful and inviting. Dr. Lavigne and her staff have made seeing the dentist a pleasure. I now look forward to my dental visits. I highly recommend Dr. Lavigne, she truly is the best cosmetic dentist in the Boston area and I have the smile to prove it!
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