Monthly Archives: December 2014

Dental Implants

Brown line on dental implant

I;ve got a brown line running through it near the back. I forgot to ask my doctor about it last time I was in for a cleaning, but when I checked in on it later, it was gone. I thought that meant it was a stain and the hygienist cleaned it, but now it’s back in the exact same place.  What do you think it could be?

Greg- Alma, AR

Greg,

I think your original assesment is right. It is likely a stain. It’s possible that your crown got nicked, cracked, or possibly had a defect. If any of those happened, the area would pick up stains. It disappeared when your hygienist cleaned it and then slowly reappeared and the stain had time to redevelop.

A defect or scratch can be dealth with. You can either have your dentist buff or smooth the spot, or you can just leave it and be sure to brush it more carefully to prevent further staining.

A crack is different. This needs to be dealt with. You’re likely to need a new crown for your dental implant. With a crack, the crown could shatter at any time. Fortunately, this only means replacing the crown. The rest of the dental implant will be fine.

This blog is brought to you by Salem, MA Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Best Dentist

Which veneers should I get?

I’ve decided to get a smile makeover. I’ve been doing some research, but cannot decide which brand of porcelain veneers would be the best. Do you have any recommendations?

Sienna F. – New Mexico

Sienna,

You’re actually asking the wrong question. There are several great brands of porcelain veneers. It won’t matter how good the porcelain veneers are, if the dentist isn’t artistic. Any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of their training. The reason for this is there is not a recognized cosmetic specialty. Any general dentist can consider themselves a cosmetic dentist.

So, I guess you can tell that the question you should be asking, is how to find the best cosmetic dentist.

The safest course is to find a dentist that is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). It isn’t always easy to find one. They’re among the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country.

If you’re serious about getting the best smile makeover, then it would be worth it to drive to a nearby state or city  in order to get the most artistic care.

This blog is brought to you by Salem, MA Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.