Blog – Page 23 – Charlotte Dentist | Cosmetic, Laser, Family Dentistry

What Hides Under Old Silver Fillings?

Mercury-Silver Dental Fillings Can Hide Big Problems As I've mentioned, there are 2 basic "philosophies" of dental care, although I didn't really spell them out. They are (approximately, please understand!): Watch and wait until it it actually hurts or breaks, Diagnose and recommend treatment BEFORE it actually hurts or breaks. As a general rule, at Smiles by Payet Dentistry, we follow the second philosophy. The key to remember, though, is that it is ALWAYS up to YOU to decide when to actually proceed with treatment. I'll show you what I see by digital photography and x-rays, give you my recommendations, and then it's up to you to decide what to do about them. We understand that the treatment has to fit into your life - your budget, your schedule, your priorities. I give you my word -- I will NEVER pressure you into doing any treatment. I MAY make some very strong recommendations and urge you to proceed with treatment so that you avoid pain, loss of teeth, or other complication, but it's still your decision, and we promise to respect that. How Do We Catch Dental Cavities? One of the tricky parts of dentistry is this: we can't see through old fillings and crowns and bridges, not even with digital x-rays, digital photography, not even with the Zeiss PICO dental microscope that I use. We can only see things AROUND them. And while silver amalgam fillings are a perfectly acceptable treatment, they hide a multitude of evils. [...]

By Charles Payet| 2014-06-10T08:38:49-04:00 January 12th, 2009|Cavities, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments

Porcelain Veneers for a Charlotte Smile Makeover

Smile Makeover with Porcelain Veneers Porcelain veneers are one of the most requested cosmetic procedures in dentistry, and they can make a dramatic difference in your smile. Here's another case that we did in our Charlotte NC dental office a number of years ago. What Can You Change With Porcelain Veneers? Craig wasn't happy with either the color or the shape of his teeth, he'd tried teeth whitening before with little success (this was back before we offered Deep BleachingTM), and he also just didn't have the patience to do touch-up whitening on any kind of regular basis. So veneers became the logical choice. In 1 fell swoop we gave him a dazzling white smile and changed the shape of his teeth to a less angled, less square, more flowing line of a smile from the sharply angled, very square with fang-like eye-teeth smile that he never liked. Are You a Good Candidate for Porcelain Veneers? Ask yourself these questions to find out. Are you unhappy with the color of your teeth? Are you unhappy with the shape of your teeth? Are your teeth worn, jagged, or uneven? Do you have spaces between your teeth? Do you have crowded teeth? Is there a combination of these things you want to change? Are you prepared to invest a significant amount of money and time to make sure you get the result you really want? For more examples of what porcelain veneers can do, as well as some answers to these questions, don't forget to visit our website page about cosmetic dentistry. And don't forget - when you're looking for a Charlotte dentist to assist you in making these decisions - ask to see examples of their work! If [...]

By Charles Payet| 2016-04-17T18:02:28-04:00 January 10th, 2009|Cosmetic dentistry, Porcelain Veneers|0 Comments

Digital photography & patient communication

See Pictures of YOUR Teeth to Understand What's Wrong In today's world, when dental patients are increasingly savvy about dental care, but also increasingly worried that they're being taken advantage of, developing the critical trust between a patient and our team is occasionally difficult. This is where the power of digital photography is so evident, and why I recently wrote about it on my photography blog (http://cdpayetphotography.wordpress.com), because communication is so much easier, and trust is so much easier to establish when you - the patient - see everything that we see. That's one of the reasons that we document our work so extensively with Canon Digital Rebel XTi's. Of course, the other reason we do is because we are proud of our work and love to show off what we can do to serve you and help you keep your teeth for your life. :-) Yesterday was a perfect example (although this patient has been with us for some time and we've already established that trust, plus she was having some pain). This old silver filling had provided many years of use for Mrs. X, but she was having off-and-on soreness and throbbing and wanted it looked at. When we took the picture and showed her the tooth, it was easy for her to understand why it was bothering her, as well as why we recommended a crown to save it; a root canal may well be needed, too, but we're keeping our fingers crossed for her that she won't. Remember my last post about cracked teeth? Take a look at this tooth -- SEVEN CRACKS! No wonder it was hurting. It's almost a miracle that the tooth had not split in 1/2, to [...]

By Charles Payet| 2010-11-08T21:07:00-05:00 January 8th, 2009|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Cracked teeth – Act early

Why You Shouldn't Ignore Cracks in Your Teeth One of the most common reasons that patients come to us for dental emergencies is cracked and broken teeth. For some reason, this always seems to happen on weekends, when you're out at dinner, or right after we've closed for a long weekend - go figure. This is avoidable, though, if you act preventively. Here's the key, though, and this is one of the reasons we use digital photography so extensively to communicate with our patients -- very often these teeth won't hurt at all until they break. Don't ask me why - no one really knows. But so often, what we'll hear is, "Doctor Payet, it never bothered me at all, and then last night I was chewing on a banana and a big chunk of the tooth just broke off!" Fix a Tooth Before or After It Breaks If It Doesn't Hurt? Depending on whom you see, different dentists will tell you different things. Many doctors still go by the philosophy of, "If it ain't broke and it don't hurt, leave it alone." The problem with that philosophy (in my humble opinion) is that when it finally does break, it will take more time, cost more money, and until it's fixed is often pretty painful than if it had been treated before it broke. If it's a small crack, treat it with a nightguard and a filling. If it's a big crack, treat it with a nightguard and a crown. But if it breaks, you might well need a nightguard, root canal, build-up filling, and a crown. And all because the small crack wasn't treated with a filling. Research tells us that teeth with tooth-colored [...]

By Charles Payet| 2014-01-01T21:52:32-05:00 January 5th, 2009|Cracked tooth|0 Comments

What we offer in treatment options

For the sake of simplicity, I'd like to make a comprehensive list of the treatment options that we offer at Smiles by Payet Dentistry: Routine hygiene visits every 6 months, exams, and x-rays when appropriate Non-surgical therapy for periodontal (gum) disease Gingival grafting to cover root recession Silver (amalgam) fillings Tooth-colored (composite resin) fillings, also known as bonding All-ceramic/all-porcelain crowns, onlays, and bridges Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and bridges Porcelain veneers, including No-Prep or Minimal-Prep Veneers Complete Smile Makeovers and Full-Mouth Reconstructions Endodontic treatment (root canals) Retreatment of failed root canals Short-Term Orthodontics/Six-Month Braces Treatment of TMJ Disorders, Chronic Tension Headaches, and Chronic Migraine Headaches This may seem like a lot of services for one doctor and his team to provide, but I am passionate about providing my patients with the best care possible, as well as allowing them to have as much as possible done in one place. However, when necessary, I work with an excellent team of Dental Specialists, so you can rest assured that - if I can't solve the problem, I will only refer you to the very best available.

By Charles Payet| 2014-01-16T19:59:50-05:00 January 3rd, 2009|Cosmetic dentistry|Comments Off

Silver (amalgam) fillings: still a good choice in 2008

Are Silver/Mercury Dental Fillings Safe? For many years, the dental profession has been moving away from gold and silver restorations to composite (plastic) and porcelain/ceramic restorations. However, they are not always the smartest options for certain circumstances. While there is a lot of misinformation out there about the alleged dangers of (mercury) silver fillings, here's the simple truth: Silver fillings are perfectly safe, and there is not ANY reputable research by any reputable organization that has shown that the mercury from the fillings causes ANY harm. PERIOD. All that misinformation is simply that - misinformation. 'Nuff said. When Are Silver Fillings Better? There are just a couple circumstances in which I actually recommend silver fillings instead of a tooth-colored restoration (composite or porcelain): Patients who have high rates of decay; IOW - anyone who seems to get cavities frequently no matter how hard they try to care for their teeth. These include patients with acid reflux, who drink a lot of sodas, who are on medications that dry up their saliva, who have recently been through radiation treatment of the head/neck, or similar conditions. In my experience, while there are steps that can be taken to reduce that risk, silver fillings last longer with fewer problems. Patients who grind their teeth and who do not wear a nightguard. Again, in my experience and in a fair amount of current research, composite fillings do not last as long. While the ability of composite fillings to withstand significant wearing forces is definitely improving, in the teeth of patients who really grind, they're just not there yet. Patients who need a lot of work and need to stage it over time due to cost: in our practice, silver [...]

By Charles Payet| 2015-04-18T22:35:12-04:00 December 22nd, 2008|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Single-visit, all-ceramic crowns with CEREC CAD/CAM

Another exciting technology that we offer is the CEREC CAD/CAM system. Very simply put, with CEREC we are able to design, mill, glaze, custom-stain, and bond an all-ceramic crown or onlay IN JUST ONE VISIT. That's right - no temporary crown or onlay, no second appointment to get numb, no worries about the temporary falling out. When you come in, you need the crown done, and when you leave -- it's DONE. Finito. Finished. Complete..........you get the idea. ;-) Sylvia's case this morning, an old silver filling that had cracks in the tooth around it, new decay forming at the edges, and discomfort when biting, meaning the tooth was truly starting to crack and might have broken apart.

By Charles Payet| 2010-11-14T13:00:26-05:00 December 17th, 2008|Cavities, Porcelain Crowns|0 Comments

Deep Bleaching – simply amazing

One of the most commonly requested cosmetic procedures in dentistry is Teeth Whitening, or Bleaching, of the teeth. There are a lot of Over-the-Counter solutions available, and a few people actually have success with them, although most don't. Many are familiar with the Custom Whitening Trays that are fabricated by your dentist after molds of your teeth are taken, and this is generally a more successful remedy for stained teeth. However, some patients are simply resistant to these common solutions and don't bleach well. Others simply want to achieve a DAZZLING white result, and they haven't been able to do so with the conventional methods. The most well-known in-office dental whitening lights, such as ZOOM!, BriteSmile, Rembrandt......they often give a nice result very quickly, but those results usually don't last that long. And there's one other important fact to consider: ALL INDEPENDENT RESEARCH HAS DEFINITIVELY PROVEN THAT THE LASERS OR OTHER LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. Sad to say, but it's true. All the lights do is heat up the gel, which dehydrates the teeth and makes them look brighter, but it doesn't last. But there IS a system that has been tested for many years, developed by a dentist in California, Dr. Rod Kurthy, called Deep Bleaching™. It's not just a product - it's a PROCESS. Yes, it's more involved and there are more steps, but after having personally tried both the ZOOM! and BriteSmile systems in my office, I can absolutely say that I have NEVER seen teeth get as white as with Deep Bleaching™. No matter how dark, no matter how resistant........within 2-4 weeks, virtually ANY teeth can be whitened to absolutely dazzling white. Meet Steven. He's tried several different methods of bleaching [...]

By Charles Payet| 2012-01-28T14:56:55-05:00 December 17th, 2008|Cosmetic dentistry|0 Comments

Six (6) Month Braces make Crooked Teeth Straight FAST

The "Alternative" Smile Makeover with Six Month Braces In the last post, I talked about the ways that Porcelain Veneers (laminates) could be used to correct crowding of the front teeth. Veneers are an excellent option, but there are 2 primary drawbacks: 1) There is usually irreversible loss of tooth structure to allow the lab to make the porcelain look truly beautiful, and because all dentistry fails eventually, you will need the veneers replaced 1 or more times during your life, and 2) They're very expensive, ranging from $1,500 - 2,000 per veneer. Given those 2 issues, many people have avoided doing anything about the crowding of their front teeth because they assumed that otherwise they would have to go through braces for 2-3 years. However, that is really not the case for all patients; in fact, for many patients, assuming that your bite is stable and you have no jaw pain/tooth pain, it is often possible to correct crowded front teeth in 4-6 months with Six Month Braces. All orthodontists can do this, of course, but their usual goal is to help you achieve a more ideal, overall result. The good news is that, here at Smiles by Payet Family Dentistry, we also offer this exciting service that offers a couple significant advantages over veneers: 1) No drilling on the teeth or dental restorations that will eventually have to be replaced, and 2) They're much more affordable, as they are even less expensive than InvisalignTM, for example. With no further ado, let me introduce Jeremy, whose case we just finished today. He plans on whitening his teeth in 2009 to complete his Smile Makeover. And please keep in mind: We achieved this result for Jeremy in [...]

By Charles Payet| 2017-12-18T12:28:12-05:00 December 15th, 2008|Cosmetic dentistry|0 Comments

Porcelain Veneers to Correct Crowded Teeth

So You Want Straight Teeth? We're often asked what is the "BEST" way to make a person's smile the way they've always wished. Should they do orthodontics (Six Month Braces, Invisalign, or the Inman Aligner), should they have a "gum lift" (esthetic crown-lengthening), should they choose porcelain veneers? Of course the answer is, "It depends." Here at our Charlotte NC dentist's office, we offer all of these options for cosmetic dentistry. The option that many choose for correcting crooked teeth, though, is that of Porcelain Veneers. Porcelain Veneers Also known as Laminate Veneers, these are very thin porcelain shells, individually hand-crafted by a skilled laboratory technician, that are bonded onto the teeth. There must be clear and excellent communication between the patient, the dentist, and the laboratory, for veneers can truly be customized to create the look that you want: Shape/Contour, Translucency, Color, Brightness..... Veneers single biggest advantage over Braces is the speed with which a smile makeover can be completed. Unless there are complicating factors, a Smile Makeover can be completed with veneers in only 3-4 weeks. Of course, the disadvantages are that usually some healthy tooth structure must be removed, and they're more expensive. For more examples of cosmetic dentistry using porcelain veneers, please see our Before-and-After Gallery! Crowded teeth made straight in only 3 weeks with 16 Porcelain Veneers To demonstrate the remarkable difference that can be achieved with Porcelain Veneers to correct crowded teeth, here's Linda: Linda's veneers (10 on the top, 10 on the lower teeth) were completed 6 years ago and are still providing Linda the smile she'd wanted since she was a child but never had. Coming very soon: Short-Term Adult Orthodontics, or "Get your crowded front [...]

By Charles Payet| 2017-12-18T10:26:14-05:00 December 13th, 2008|Cosmetic dentistry, Porcelain Veneers|0 Comments

Previous 21 22 23