The Whole Tooth Dental Podcast

Rules and guidelines change all the time so staying current can be a challenge.  An example is the advice on antibiotics before dental treatment.  It used to be suggested for nearly ANY issue to take them.  Now, not so much.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains...

Sometimes we find that our decision isn't what we thought it would be and would like "plan B" instead.  Can that be done with orthodontics, switch from one method to another?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

If dental implants are already placed, can Invisalign be used?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

If a tooth has been weakened from previous dental work, can it be used to support a dental bridge?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

Why do some teeth, the crowns on implants, appear shorter than the others but were normal when they were first placed.  If the implants were placed during the teenage years, that is likely the main issue.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains....

If a dental implant falls out soon after it was placed, what do you do?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

Veneers fit VERY precisely (intimately, if you will).  Since they are very SMALL, it can be hard to tell if they were put on correctly until all is done and sometimes when taking x-rays.  If it was bonded in permanently and put on crooked, what do you do?  How do you fix that?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains....

It is common that dental work needs to be redone, whether due to breakage or decay or any other reason.  It is the future economy of dentistry.  But what if the NEW crown is thicker than the others?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Zirconia dental restorations are very strong, so why would a dentist layer porcelain on top? Does this weaken the restoration?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains....

Do all dental fillings need a base or liner underneath?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

While it may sound simple to just have someone else take over or finish orthodontic treatment, it is a bit more complicated than that.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Sometimes teeth/smiles are nearly perfect and just need that "little extra something" to make them GREAT. Sometimes this means contouring the enamel, called enamelplasty.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Some crown edges (or margins if you speak dentite) are below the gumline, some above.  Is one right and the other wrong? Why does it matter? Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

How complicated ARE dental implants?  What are some key factors to consider when doing dental implants?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

If a dentist says a crown is needed, does that mean it is cracked?  If a tooth is cracked, does that mean a crown is needed?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains

There are many options when replacing teeth, dental implants being one of the most successful ones.  How many does a person need when replacing teeth?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Not all dentists are the same, especially when it comes to creating a new smile.  A sign that you chose the right dentist (or chose poorly) is if a diagnostic waxup was used.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Despite dentists confusing patients and putting on their signs or stationary "family and cosmetic dentistry", only a minority of dentists are trained to do cosmetics. It isn't a specialty, so how does a consumer/patient find the "right" one?  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.

Also, if you would like to purchase a copy of his book on cosmetic dentistry from Amazon (all funds go to charity), click the link.  

http://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Cosmetic-Dentists-United-States/dp/0692322728

Or come in and get one for FREE directly from him (if you ask nicely, he will sign a copy!).

Is the snap on smile process a cheaper or quicker alternative to porcelain veneers? Dr Lance Timmerman DMD explains

Pain and irritation is never OK, so further investigation is always suggested.  By a dentist.  Veneers are usually uneventful, but sometimes some "fine tuning" is needed.  Dr Lance Timmerman explains.