Monthly Archives: September 2013

Invisalign

Veneers or Invisalign

I am trying to decide between getting porcelain veneers or invisalign for my teeth. In general they are in good shape, but I think they’re kind of dull and yellowed, plus two of my teeth are crooked.

Elizabeth T.- Jamestown

Elizabeth,

People generally use porcelain veneers if they are in a hurry for their teeth to be fixed or if there is a problem with the shape of their teeth.  They won’t actually straighten your teeth, but they can make them look straight and can be made to a custom color of your choice.

Invisalign, on the other hand, will  straighten your teeth, but it will take around 6-12 months to complete treatment, depending on the severity of your case.  It is simple to do teeth whitening simultaneously. The aligners used to straighten your teeth can double as whitening trays.

I’d base it on how quickly you want this done or whether or not you need more than just straightening and whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Boston Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.  Read why some people consider him the best dentist in Boston.

Emergency Dentist

Fill my own cavity

I think I have a cavity and was wondering if I could just fill it with that store filling material I’ve seen? I don’t like dentists and I rather take care of this myself.

Bruce S.- Staten Island

Bruce,

I can understand the desire to do what you can, but a cavity is not a self treat kind of situation.  Store bought filling is designed to only be used for a couple of days. It will not actually treat your cavity.

If you are in a lot of pain, I suggest you call an emergency dentist. They’ll be able to get you in right away and get you out of pain.  I realize you do not like to go to a dentist. I suspect it is because you’ve had a bad experience in the past.

I think you should ask if the dentist does sedation dentistry. That will help not only put you at ease, but will keep you from experiencing pain.

This blog is brought to you by Boston Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.