Do You Have to Stop Going to a Pediatric Dentist When You Reach Adulthood?

October 21, 2016

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: becoming an adult, can adults see a pediatric dentist, Oklahoma City Dentist, Oklahoma City Pediatric Dentist, turning 18 — okcitydentist @ 9:25 pm

I have a weird question. My daughter turns 18 in a few weeks. She was totally fine with becoming an adult, going to college, the whole new life idea…until today. Today she had a meltdown. Today she doesn’t want to go to college. She doesn’t want to get a job. You’d never believe what set it off. It was her last check-up with her pediatric dentist. She LOVES her dentist. Ever since she was two years old, she’s gone to the same office. Today, the dentist mentioned it would be her last visit and even had a gift for her. Corina burst into tears and hasn’t been the same since. I know it’s dumb, but I wondered if she really has to switch dentists now when she turns 18?

Deanna S. – New Jersey.

Deanna,

Growing up is hard. Change is hard. Combine the two and it’s super hard. Each pediatric dentist has their own policy when it comes to treating adults. I bet if you called her dentist and explained your daughter’s reaction they’d let her come until she’s ready for the change.

The only time that might become a real issue is if something happens where your daughter needs something like a crown or develops gum disease. While her dentist could treat those conditions and has been trained to do so, strictly pediatric dentists don’t get a lot of practice in those areas. They don’t generally come up with children.

Barring anything like that, I see no reason why she couldn’t continue with her beloved dentist for a little while longer. Of course, like I said earlier, call and explain, because every practice has their own policies on such things.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

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Can I Whiten Lumineers?

October 1, 2016

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: cosmetic dentist, Lumineers versus porcelain veneers, Oklahoma City Dentist, Oklahoma City Lumineers, whitening Lumineers — okcitydentist @ 10:08 pm

I recently got Lumineers. I’m mostly happy with them. They look good, but are not as white as I’d expected. My dentist says that’s because they’re intended to look natural and that’s as white as they get. Is there a way I can whiten them? I know it sounds vain, but I got these because I wanted more of a Hollywood smile. It matches that in everything except the color.

Dania L. – Pennsylvania

Dania,

You have every right to want your smile to look Hollywood. It’s not vanity. It’s about confidence. Unfortunately, you went to the wrong dentist. It’s obvious from what you’re telling me that he doesn’t truly understand cosmetic dentistry.

We see this a lot in dentists who do Lumineers. They’re marketed to dentist’s who are inexperienced in the cosmetic procedures as being easy to place. Place, yes. Make beautiful, no.

While the shade he gave you may be the whitest “natural” shade. Lumineers, along with any other brand of porcelain veneers can look as white as you want them to look. There are a bunch of shades a cosmetic dentist works with that a family dentist dabbling in cosmetics would be unfamiliar with.

I wish I could tell you that you could whiten them, but any color changes would have had to been made before they were bonded on. Only natural tooth structure responds to teeth whitening. The Lumineers are stuck the color your dentist made them.

You could try to get a refund and then have them done by a more experienced cosmetic dentist. The fact that he told you they’re as white as they get, might give you some leverage.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

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