I think you are correct with your assessment about your upper lip. From the photos provided you appear to have nice teeth arranged in a good position. Your lips at rest look more full than when in a full smile. I have the opportunity to work with a facial plastic surgeon specialist everyday on cases like yours. Your situation is fairly common and is best treated with the correct technique to provide volume to your upper lip without making it drop further onto your teeth. Botox would limit the distance your upper lip travels. So that is a great option for patients that show lots of gum tissue. You do not appear to have that problem. I would suggest whitening your teeth and seeking out a facial plastic specialist that can show you examples of cases they have treated like yours. That way you can see what results they have obtained for others and decide if that is right for you. If you still have dental questions I suggest finding a dentist that focuses on cosmetic dentistry and visit with them for a complete smile analysis. They can evaluate your smile in relation to your overall facial aesthetics and make suggestions. Based on your photos, I would suggest whitening your teeth and consider an upper lip filler. We wish you the best of luck!
The take home product contains 6.5% hydrogen peroxide and the in-office contains either 24% or 30% hydrogen peroxide. The professional products do work and produce noticeable results much faster than over the counter (OTC) products. The percentage gives you an idea of the strength of the active whitening agent. Your dentist will determine the correct level for you and your situation. The lower percentage will work, but it takes much longer. The benefit of visiting a cosmetic focused dentist is that most have a variety of whitening options they can suggest based on your unique needs. Most patients want quick results. OTC products are slow to produce results. Many patients tell us they have tried multiple OTC products without success and have spent much more than our professional products cost. They simply assumed they cost more. You should contact your dentist and find out the various options and determine for yourself. We wish you the best of luck!
Yes, for ideal results I would suggest that you correctly position your teeth via orthodontic treatment first. This will address your deep bite and also improve overall fit and function of your teeth. Once orthodontic treatment is complete you may be able to whiten your teeth and not need porcelain veneers. The time invested in the orthodontic treatment will be worth it over your lifetime. Porcelain veneers may be a quick fix, but not the most ideal solution for your situation. We wish you the best of luck!
Great question! I help patients answer this question by finding out what end result they are looking to achieve. If a limited (2 veneer) approach obtains that result, you desire, then that's your best option. If, however, you would like to improve your overall smile, then more would be required. We find financing options help patients get the smile they want without compromising. Flexible financing options can open up possibilities for patients that can't or don't want to pay cash for the solution they really want. Make sure to ask your dentist what financial options they offer. They may be able to find a way to make an investment in 2 or more very comfortable for you. With respect to color change - porcelain veneers do not change color. Older adhesives and bonding resin did change color over time but the new advanced materials we use today do not. I would not be concerned that properly designed and bonded veneers would change color. However, your natural teeth will change color over time. If you select a limited option (2 teeth) you will need to use whitening gel to touch-up the color of your natural teeth in order to maintain the match with the porcelain restorations. Discuss your concerns with your dentist and they should be able to help you make the very best decision for you. We wish you the best of luck!
Great question! It's important to understand that dental lasers are basically new tools that are used to accomplish a wide variety of common dental procedures. The exciting aspect of dental lasers are the new minimally invasive techniques that are now possible. There are very specific parameters that must be right to use these minimally invasive techniques and not every patient is a candidate. The end result of either method depends on the knowledge, experience, and clinical expertise of the dentist doing the procedure.Hard-tissue lasers offer precision, do not cause the same histamine release by the body when tissue is removed, and provides faster healing and dramatically reduce post-operative discomfort.If I needed crown lengthening I would 100% prefer that a hard tissue laser be used by a skilled dentist that had lots of experience doing that procedure. I use lasers everyday for crown lengthening, gum sculpting, and decay removal so I see first hand what an amazing tool it is and all the advantages it offers. FYI, the same laser that can re-contour the bone for crown lengthening can also be used during root canal procedures and used to kill bacteria and improve the final results. Best of luck with your procedure!
