Pain-free Treatment
Last week, a patient came in to our office complaining about a toothache. She was in the process of switching dentists, and Dr. Muslin had been highly recommended by another patient. She told me that she was dreading the visit since she’s had plenty dental treatment completed over the years and never enjoyed any of it. It turns out she was right in calling in to visit a dentist because the filling that had come out, her roots exposed and infected. Her tooth needed a root canal. An hour and a half later, the root canal was completed, a post and build-up was placed, along with the preparation for the porcelain crown. The patient told me that, this was the best root canal she has ever had! She was completely shocked that the treatment could be completed so quickly and painlessly.
Dr. Muslin’s Response:
When it comes to dental treatment, some may think that a filling is a filling and a crown is a crown period. The hand that delivers the treatment, however, really makes a difference in the effectiveness of the work. Moreover, saving a few dollars for more inexpensive treatment may end up costing more in the long run. My mom learned this lesson the hard way when she went to her insurance dentist for a root canal and crown. She still felt pain in the tooth even after the root canal was completed, so the dentist retreated the tooth with another root canal. She ended up having to pay an extra thousand dollars for that tooth, on top of the money she lost from missing work hours and experiencing constant pain all due to seeing the wrong dentist.
Filed under Blog, Root Canal and Crowns by on Feb 28th, 2010. 
Question:
Zoom! Teeth Whitening seems so convenient, cost effective and accessible. It seems that every dentist offers Zoom! Teeth whitening. Why should I come to a professional such as yourself for custom teeth whitening? (Dr. Muslin – maybe focus on “every dentist can do it” – i.e. a mass production product where no skill is required.
Answer:
After bleaching teeth for over 15 years, buying the Zoom II whitening system and using it, seeing patients that had Brite Smile whitening and Zoom whitening in other dental offices and trying many different methods, I have come to the conclusion that the best whitening systems are systems that are customized to the patient’s individual needs. The cost is generally not more expensive to whiten teeth using the best teeth whitening methods. Some patients have yellow teeth, some patients have highly mineralized teeth, other patients have tetracycline stained teeth, some patients have very sensitive teeth, while other patients have grey or very translucent teeth.
I have found that the systems that use a high powered light generate a lot of heat that can raise the nerve temperature inside the teeth or burn the gums or lips. I have also found that the teeth bleaching systems that use a light have results that do not last as long and can make the teeth more sensitive to temperature. We have had patients claim it was painful and the results did not last. They said, “a month later and my teeth were yellow again”.
The idea behind the light systems is that any dentist can do it. No thinking required, just follow the directions. The best teeth whitening systems may use one material one week and another complimentary material the next. Rather than just one method, we have several choices available to get the best possible results for our patients. The ability to customize the duration of exposure, strength of material, eliminate the heat from a light is a big advantage over the idea that one system fits everyone.
With increased duration of exposure with a gentle teeth whitening material we get results that last longer and bleaches the teeth to a natural whiter color.
Filed under Blog, Teeth Whitening by on Feb 21st, 2010.
Question:
My dentist told me that most porcelain veneers are made by the same labs and that talk of different quality is just sales talk. Is this true? Are there labs that are better than other labs?
Answer:
You dentist is so wrong that it is scary. Probably 99% of all cosmetic dentists send their work to a dental lab and never see the porcelain veneers until they are finished and delivered into their office. The problem is the porcelain veneers are made without any customization by the dentist therefore all decisions that could make a world of difference for the patient are made by the lab. The dental lab has never seen the patient and has no idea. The porcelain veneers made without dentist supervision tend to be fake looking, thick, lack surface texture, are poorly proportioned, lack translucency or have too much translucency for the color of the teeth. All of this is normal for most cosmetic dentists as they totally rely on the lab to produce porcelain veneers without any customized guidance by the dentist. The result by the dental lab is limited if the knowledge and skill of the cosmetic dentist is limited.
My opinion is there is a huge difference between dental labs and an even bigger difference between dentists.
I have found over the last 30 years that the dentist must personally work on each porcelain veneer personally in order to maintain quality. I have developed a system of photography that includes over 40 images and diagnostic model measuring that helps me develop customization and create individualized quality that is unsurpassed from multiple facial angles. I personally work on every patient’s porcelain veneers before the final glaze is fired which permits me to insure the best shape, surface texture, size proportioning, veneer angling, surface contour, color and overall quality that is ideal for my patients. Over the years, I have worked with multiple dental labs that are the biggest and best in the industry and still personally work on every single case before the lab finishes their work. The ability of the lab is limited if the cosmetic dentist’s ability is limited. Every patient has different needs and there are so many ways the porcelain veneers could be better if the cosmetic dentist could only recognize it when he or she is looking at the patient.
How to Pick a Cosmetic Dentist?
I am honored that such a large number of my patients have signed model release forms (without payment) that gave me permission to show their entire face on the Hightech Dentistry Gallery. It is the ultimate testimonial. I highly recommend that you compare before and after photos of potential cosmetic dentists work and make sure the expressions and smiles are matched. Also, look at the close-up photos too. Find the best cosmetic dentist possible and make sure they have the photos to prove they are competent.
Filed under Best Cosmetic Dentistry, Blog by on Feb 14th, 2010.
Question:
Dr. Muslin, my family dentist convinced me that porcelain veneers were the best solution to cover my dark teeth. At first it looked OK but now my porcelain veneers look grey and dull. Do I need to have them whitened or bleached? How can this be fixed?
Answer:
Porcelain Veneers can be made with different thickness. The thickness of the porcelain veneer is the critical component in hiding the color of your teeth. The ability of the porcelain veneer to hide dark tooth color is related to the thickness of the porcelain and the bonding technique of the dentist. Sometimes the material or the technique used by the dentist causes the color to turn grey. Sometimes the dentist did not have the lab add enough opacity to hide the color. Other times the dentist did not help the lab understand how much of a color change he or she hopes to achieve. The bonding skill and the cosmetic dentistry skill of the dentist is very important in determining how color stable your porcelain veneers will be. There is a huge difference in the skills of cosmetic dentists. I realize that patients think dentists are all licensed and trained the same but the training and the ability of the cosmetic dentist varies wildly.
Sometimes if the color of the veneers turns grey you can bleach the teeth but this is not permanent. You will have to continue bleaching your teeth for the rest of your life and that may not be a good idea. You also mentioned the porcelain veneers were dull. The material used may not be real porcelain but some hybrid form of porcelain that is cheaper to make and easier for the dentist to bond. There is a large difference in the types of porcelain used for the porcelain veneers. The types of porcelains utalized, the cosmetic skills of the dentist, the technical bonding skills of the dentist and the diagnostic skills are critical to achieve results that look natural and last for many years.
Caution! The dentist you choose makes all of the difference between good and bad porcelain veneers. Ask to see one of the dentists patients, ask to talk to one of their patients but the best way is to see a lot of photographs with clear before and after images of the patients including full face views and close up views. Don’t fall for website gimmicks. Don’t fall for miss matched photos that do not allow you to compare results. Don’t fall for a slick website with bad before and after photos. Choose carefully because you will be wearing the porcelain veneers for a very long time.
Filed under Blog, Porcelain Veneers by on Feb 7th, 2010.
Question:
Dr. Sam, our family dentist talked me into dental bonding to minimize a gap between my front teeth. Now, the gap is still awkward and if you look closely you can see the layer of bonding material on my tooth. I hate it! Can dental bonding be removed?
Answer:
Dental Bonding can easily be replaced. But, now at least you have a better understanding that finding a cosmetic dentist that is highly skilled can produce results that will make you happy rather than “hating it”. Fortunately for you, dental bonding can easily be replaced without damaging your teeth if the dentist works with magnification. It is very important that you go to a “magnification dentist”. With magnification the dentist can remove the bonding without cutting away your natural tooth structure.
You only have one set of teeth so the quality of the care and the minimal amount of tooth lost is very important. The ability of the dentist to match the opacity of your natural tooth structure is critical. It is also very difficult but can be accomplished if the dentist understands his or her bonding material’s characteristics.
Filed under Blog, Dental Bonding by on Jan 28th, 2010.
Question:
Dr. Sam, I’ve had porcelain veneers on my front teeth for 6 months. Last month one of them cracked and had to be replaced. I was a bit shocked that it only lasted for 6 months – but this is not my question. My dentist then replaced the cracked veneer, but the color is different and it seems to be quite a bit thicker than the others. My dentist says this is my imagination and that I should allow some time to get used to it. This sounds wrong to me – what do you think?
Answer:
Without even seeing your teeth the odds greatly favor that you are right. If can be difficult to match the porcelain veneers if the dentist did not write down the shade of the bonding material. Additionally, manufacturers do not keep making the same materials as the word “new” seems to sell products. The dentists can find themselves in a difficult situation, trying to match one tooth to all of the other teeth without the same material available.
The best cosmetic dentists in Los Angeles have a large inventory of different materials and they also have the skills to know which one would be the best. See Josh for a great example of matching only two porcelain veneers to this patient’s natural teeth. It is very difficult to match shade shape and opacity when bonding only two porcelain veneers but it also can done. Josh has had his two porcelain veneers for nearly 8 years and they still match perfectly.
You also mentioned the shape was too thick and you are surely right because the patient has a much better feel inside their mouth and can tell if there are any discrepancies. Considering that one of the porcelain veneers broke in only six months and the dentist could not match the shade nor the shape when trying to replace the veneer, it sounds to me you chose the wrong dentist. Maybe it is time to move up a few levels as you now understand how uncomfortable and irritating bad porcelain veneers can be.
Contact Sam Muslin DDS MAGD, Santa Monica, California at (310) 829-6796
Filed under Botched Cosmetic Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers by on Jan 18th, 2010.
Question:
Dr. Sam, a friend suggested that I go to his dentist in Tijuana (Mexico) for my porcelain veneers as it was so much cheaper. Now, three months later, my veneers look yellow. What could cause this?
Answer:
Porcelain veneers will be in your mouth for many years. To search for the cheapest dentist when you will feel it, talk with it, eat with it and smile with it, 24 hours per day seven days per week does not make sense. Why would you look for cheap porcelain veneers when the importance of the quality is so critical? Everyone that sees you knows they were done cheaply. Everyone then associates you with poor quality and fake teeth.
The whole purpose of porcelain veneers is to enhance your image and improve the quality of your presence. Going to a coupon dentist that discounts his or her work only forces the dentist to cut costs and cheapen their technique. There is a huge difference between dental labs and an every bigger difference between the cosmetic skills of the dentists.
Unfortunately, your only choice is to get your yellowing veneers replaced with a higher quality porcelain veneer. Sorry, but it doesn’t sound like “your friend” really understood the consequences of their recommendation. Now you know why you don’t want to go to Mexico for your medical and dental care. The savings are not worth the risks.
I respectfuly sugest that if you need a Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist, call us on (310) 829-6796
Filed under Porcelain Veneers by on Jan 14th, 2010.
Question:
Dr. Sam, I have gone to three different dentists to get advice on the best porcelain veneers. Each dentist has a different story. The one suggested Lumineers, the other suggested Composite Veneers, and the other suggested Empress Veneers. I never knew there were so many types! As this is expensive and painful, I would desperately like to make the right choice. Can you guide me?
Answer:
The skill of the dentist treating the patient is by far the most important choice. A dentist that is unskilled will not provide good care with Lumineers, Empress Veneers or Composite Veneers. There is a wide difference between the artistic and technical skills of the cosmetic dentists. More importantly, the three techniques mentioned, all have positives and negatives.
A Very Important Video Clip
Before chooing a dentis, watch this video about a bad porcelain veneer outcome. Sama was treated with porcelain veneers and was gracious enough to tell her story about the replacement of her porcelain veneers. Potential porcelain veneer patients have to remember that they will be wearing the porcelain veneers 24 hours a day so there are many characteristics that this patient explains that make a huge difference in how they look, feel and last.
Fake Looking Porcelain Veneers
An average cosmetic dentist will produce fake looking porcelain veneers with any technique so the choices mentioned are not the key issues.
Lumineers, Empress Veneers or Cosmetic Veneers?
One of the techniques mentioned requires a lot of tooth reduction. Most patients should not loose their natural tooth structure unless it is unavoidable. Another of the mentioned techniques turns color too quickly. The veneer does not hold its shade over the years. Another of the techniques has a tendency to be made too bulky, which looks fake. All three of the techniques could look great if the best dentist is chosen but if you pick the best dentist, the dentist should be guiding the patient toward making the right decision. He or she may not pick any of the three you mentioned.
The Best Porcelain Veneer
The best porcelain veneer choice is one that holds it color indefinitely, requires little to no tooth reduction, has a textured surface and natural contours. A great example of the best of the best in porcelain veneers is Melessa. Not a single tooth had to be ground down! Judge for yourself, then call Sam Muslin DDS MAGD for your conultation on (310) 829-6796
Filed under Blog, Lumineers, Porcelain Veneers by on Jan 7th, 2010.
Question:
Dr. Sam, my teeth seems to be much duller and more discolored than others in my age group. I do not smoke. What could cause this and how can it be fixed?
Answer:
Let’s talk about discolored or dark teeth.
Teeth can be discolored for a variety of reasons. It could be in our genes to have a darker color to our teeth. We could have been exposed to tetracycline when we were a child, that would have caused our teeth to be permanently darker. Our tooth enamel could be weaker due to childhood illness, which made it easier for the teeth to stain.
The good news is that the color of the teeth can be hidden. The tooth enamel can be stronger. The teeth can be less sensitive and cosmetically we can have any shade we would like without having to get our teeth ground down. The entire process is non-invasive. Many dental labs offer porcelain veneers that require little to no grinding to your natural teeth as Lumineers and Vivineers. In my office, at the present time I am working with a local ceramist that brings the work to my office before it is glazed. This allows me to control the shade and the shapes of the teeth for an individualized and customized look.
Today, the patients want their work to look natural. They want to look better but do not want fake white teeth. They want their porcelain veneers to look great but be undetectable. Today’s patients have raised the bar of quality. The bulky, fake denture looking teeth are not longer good enough. Today’s patients want naturally looking teeth that are healthy and white. It takes the artistic eye of the dentist to deliver.
Filed under Blog, Teeth Whitening by on Dec 30th, 2009.
Question:
Dr. Sam, how can Face Lift Dentistry improve my appearance?
Answer:
Face Lift Dentistry ® is the only procedure that can change the shape of your face permanently without facial surgery. The basic concept is that the teeth are directly responsible for the length of your face and facial support. If you have longer teeth or if they are angled correctly, you will have more lip support. Fuller lips and a smoother facial appearance is possible by only treating your teeth and the treatment is non-invasive.
Additionally, most patients and dentists do not understand that the bite is directly responsible for the shape of your face. If you have a deep overbite, your face will be shorter. If you have a deep overbite, your jaw will look smaller. With the advanced bonding technologies, a persons face can be permanently changed while getting the best shaped teeth and the best color for their face. The results completely revitalize the entire face. Patients in their 60’s look 15 years younger and more healthy. Younger patients with weak looking chins can have a vastly improved facial profile without jaw surgery.
Face Lift Dentistry ® is customized to each persons individual facial characteristics. Be Careful! There is only one dentist that has the extensive experience and the full face photography of his patients that clearly demonstrate the versatility and the possibilities of this technique. Sam Muslin DDS MAGD has trademarked and developed the concept as will as perfecting the non surgical dental bonding technique. No dental crowns are necessary if the teeth are healthy. Dr. Muslin does NOT have to grind down your teeth in order to provide Face Lift Dentistry ®.
Face Lift Dentistry is a great life style enhancer and confidence builder. The patients have been so thrilled with the results that they have signed full model release forms allowing Dr. Muslin to show photos of their faces that are matched perfectly. Don’t Be Fooled by fake photos in other websites. Dr. Muslin’s photos are untouched and unaltered and matched positions so you can see the amazing results accurately.
Please call Sam Muslin DDS MAGD at (310) 829-6796 for your consultation.
Filed under Blog, Face Lift Dentistry by on Dec 27th, 2009.