My teeth have required a lot of dental work due to my overbite and other genetic issues. Over the years, I have been to about 15-20 different dentists. I have now been a patient of my Dr. for 14 years and have never had a dentist like her. She takes a lot of time to clearly explain issues, procudures and any options. She has never rushed me into making any decisions and she is extremely conscientious and detailed in her work. She is only satisfied with the very best and thinks in the best interest of the patient. She always recommended the most conservative approach for me. For example, I had considered having the orthognathic surgery where your jaw is realigned and repositioned so as to correct an overbite. Because my overbite was not causing serious problems, she steered me away from having such a drastic and expensive procedure. In addition, I wanted to have the top row of my teeth veneered, as I had been unhappy with the short tooth structure. She recommended starting with just a couple of teeth to see the results, rather than doing the entire top row. Updated on 13 Feb 2011:
Yes, you can have veneers and keep the slight gap between your front teeth. Keep your uniqueness. Not everyone should look the same. Smile design is based on your facial from and structure along with your desired results.
Porcelain veneers are an investment in your self. They are one of the nicest things that cosmetic dentistry has to offer. The price of a porcelain veneer can rage from $1000 to over $2000 per tooth.
Empress, a material made by Ivoclar, is an excellent restorative choice. Emax specifically is the most current material by Ivoclar. Emax veneers are beautiful and strong. I have placed hundreds of these restorations in the mouths of many of the patient I treat. As a cosmetic and restorative dentist, I am very happy with the results of this material.
You can and should use custom trays for whitening your teeth. It is safe and cost effective. It will not interfere with you wearing your nightgaurd. Continue to wear your nightgaurd at night, and you can whiten your teeth with the trays during the day. You should never sleep with bleach trays. These trays are to be worn during the day for 30-60 minutes, depending on the strength of professional whitening get being used in them. In office whitening will not whiten your teeth in one visit. In my opinion it is not worth the money. See your dentist for custom trays and professional strength whitening gel.
The short answer is no, they will not cover the expense of implants. You may be able to set up a payment plan with your dentist or CareCredit, to help you afford the treatment you desire.
