Common questions and answers
(Dental FAQ's):

Legal note: On this page, Scottsdale dentist Dr. Matthew Bayne answers a question posted online from a person that has never been seen in the office. This "general advice" is for educational and discussion purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for a dental visit. If you have a broken tooth, Dr. Bayne advises you to see your dentist immediately.

Reader's Questions:
Upper front bridge vs. implant crowns to replace missing front teeth
Finding the right office for crowns
Difference between Lumineers and MAC Veneers and da Vinci Veneers, and cost
Beauty Salon Whitening

The letter (posted online)

Subject: Broken Tooth Crown Dental Implants Teeth: 6,7,8: 

The question:

I have a bridge on my front upper right portion of my mouth. The front tooth anchoring one side of the bridge broke at the gum line. the tooth next to it was extracted years ago and is false. The tooth next to that is the other anchoring point for the bridge. My dentist is suggesting that I have implants on the broken front and the missing tooth next to it. I was wondering if there are any other options and if so what are they and which is the best

The answer:

Scottsdale dentist Dr. Bayne responds:

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear that your tooth broke; especially that it was a 3-in-1.
The "best" choice for replacing a failed bridge depends on a lot of factors:
1.  What are the odds that the new anchor teeth are going to also break off at the gumline?  If they are also going to break, then you don't want to anchor a brand-new bridge to them.  If they are strong, then a bridge may be a good idea.
2. How much bone is available to put an implant into?  If there is ample bony support, then an implant is an excellent way to go.  If the bone has receded over the years, then putting an implant in can be a very complicated, involved procedure that could take several visits.
3. What is the curvature of your dental arch?  In upper front teeth especially, missing teeth are common.  And they are commonly replaced with bridgework.  A 3-tooth bridge will last for a long time.  A 4-tooth or 5-tooth bridge in the front may not last as long if there is sideways torque on the anchor teeth when you are biting (due to the semicircular arrangement of front teeth).
4. Cost:  both bridges and implants are fairly expensive; and, when placed properly, are an excellent investment in yourself.  Improperly planned and poorly executed dental work that fails is usually not a good investment.  Implants are usually more expensive than bridges, but either way, figure on a few thousand dollars for this type of procedure.
5. Alternatives:  A removable "flipper" denture, or "no treatment". Flipper dentures are very affordable, and "no treatment" is free.

I hope this gives you some topics that you can discuss with your dentist on your upcoming visit. Good luck!

Yours Truly,

-Dr. Matthew Bayne, DDS

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Another user posted the online question:

"My dentist told me I need lots of crowns. Money is no object, I just want to find the right office."
-name withheld

Dr Matthew Bayne replies:

I agree with you; it's your body, after all. Whomever you choose, ask about Lava crowns. They are a self-healing porcelain made by 3M, and are awesome. Also important to ask your dentist, is who they will be using for their laboratory. The quality varies widely. Microdental MAC or Glidewell is usually the best choice for this sort of procedure. And don''t be shy! Ask to tour your new dentist's office, and see the sterilization center. They should be proud to show it off!
Just a thought....
www.MatthewBayneDDS.com

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Subject: the difference between Lumineers, MAC Veneers, and da Vinci Veneers, and cost

A website reader from Scottsdale writes via email:

Hi, Dr. Bayne!
Wow you are so amazingly thorough, I totally appreciate it!! What is the difference between Lumineers, MAC Veneers, and da Vinci Veneers, and what are the differences in prices? Lumineers seem less invasive than MAC Veneers or da Vinci Veneers, but do they last as long? And how soon can I get in? Do you do regular dentistry like cleanings and fillings, too?
-Name withheld by webmaster for confidentiality

Dr. Bayne replies:

Hi! Thank you for the compliments!  I really enjoy my job, and getting into the minute details. I will try to answer your questions as best as I can.

da Vinci Veneers and MAC Veneers are very similar, and can be compared like Gucci and Prada.
da Vinci does a lot of advertising, and they usually do the Extreme Makeover TV shows. da Vinci is an excellent company, and they make excellent smiles for people.
MAC Veneers are from the Micro Advanced Cosmetics team at Microdental Laboratories in Dublin, CA.
MAC ceramists essentially have pHD equivalents in making dental crowns, etc, and are creme-de-la-creme.  But MAC doesn't advertise, so consumers have never heard of them.

They are both very good.

Then, Lumineers are like Armani (to keep going with the theme, here).  Also an excellent choice, and has a style all it's own.

The limitations of the Lumineers are that we are somewhat dependent on the existing anatomy, because we are not "drilling" very much enamel.  So making small teeth larger with Lumineers is easy; however, to make large teeth smaller is a challenge.  Invisalign can help with arch size and alignment.

The limitations of the da Vinci or MAC Veneers is that some tooth "drilling" of the undesirable bulky enamel is required, so it's an irreversible procedure.  We can keep the drilling to a minimum, though.

The advantages of all three brands:  da Vinci Veneers, MAC Veneers, and Lumineers are that patients can whiten, reshape and revitalize their smile quickly and relatively easily.  All three work very well, last for a long time, and look great. The specifics of which one to choose has a lot to do with how a person's "bite" fits together, and the way they chew.  We have lots of tools in our toolbox that we can choose from.  I feel that part of my job is to be a "dental consultant", in that I should know the ins and outs of every style of dental technique available, so that I can make everyone's smile individual instead of cookie-cutter.  Everyone is different.  I want to make the best recommendations for each person.

Cost:

The prices are the same for all three, $1260 per tooth.  Braces range from $3000-6000.  Many people finance through www.carecredit.com  They have easy online pre approvals and a wide range of monthly payments, depending on the length of term that you specify (down to a few hundred dollars a month).  We try to make both the dentistry and the payments comfortable for people.  With that in mind, some people find that a simple laser whitening for $500 would be satisfactory and get the job done nicely.  So we have a wide range of services to address all different price points, too.  We're here to help!

About the other issues:

To ensure the longevity of a major procedure like this, it is important to have a healthy foundation.  I agree with you.  It would be a good idea to go through and do a cleaning and comprehensive exam, make sure everything is healthy, and co-diagnose with you the best treatment for you, and in a style that you truly want and are comfortable with.  And we would shade-match the color of your smile to the exact color that you like.

Julie is our RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist) and she is awesome!  We have the newest style of Cavitron and Prophy Jets, which clean your teeth ultrasonically, so there is less "scraping", and the Prophy Jets are like a combination of a pressure washer and a sandblaster that uses tiny beads of sodium bicarbonate (kind of salty tasting) to remove tough stains.  This is incredibly thorough and pretty gentle, too.

We are a full-service shop, and we do regular General Dentistry daily, too (like cleanings, fillings, crowns and root canals).

Our schedule is usually booked out about a week or two for major work, and Julie can get most people in within a couple of days for cleanings and exams.

If there is anything we can do to help in the meantime, just let me know!

Sincerely,

Dr. Matthew Bayne, DDS

Yours truly,
 
The Team at the Dental office of Dr Matthew Bayne, DDS
http://www.ParadiseValleyCosmeticDental.com
 
(480) 621-4077  office
 
(480) 970-7666  fax

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An International dentist asks:

Dear ALL, I would like to know if any one has done any research or comparison regarding teeth whitening done by beauty saloon using salt water/hypochlorite, has there been any reports of adverse side effects, how effective are these non dentist administered procedures, etc. There seems to be some interest by the public being attracted to these beauty saloons in my country. Please comment.
Thanks.
Best regards,
(Name Withheld)

Dr Bayne Answers:

It is illegal (a felony) in the state of Arizona (USA) for anyone other than a licensed dentist to perform whitening.
However, many aestheticians do it anyway with the Bright smile or other generic whitening lamps. As far as I know, no one has ever been prosecuted in Arizona. The problem that I see, is that the dental supply companies are at fault for selling the product to non-dentists, even though the label on the side of the lamp and the whitening gel says "For sale only to licensed dentists." The government is secondarily to blame, because nobody expects much from the government anyway.
There is even a cosmetic surgeon MD here in my hometown of Scottsdale who has a whitening lamp and thinks he can perform whitening. It is humorous to me to read his website where he explains how the whitening lamp works. (He states that the sponge on the front of the lamp guard presses the whitening gel deep into your enamel.) Also good for a chuckle is to see the look on the face of the whitening aesthetician when you ask them the ingredients of their whitening gel. Or what wavelength their whitening lamp uses. Or how they protect their patients' gums from UV light. It's a good way to entertain yourself if you ever have a few extra minutes at a Bridal Expo, and always good for a laugh.
Daily, I see two main problems clinically with aestheticians and beauty salons performing whitening: ineffectiveness and pain. How that affects dentists is that aestheticians performing whitening gives licensed dentists a bad reputation because the public doesn't know the difference. So if you, as a qualified and trained licensed cosmetic dentist, suggest Zoom or Sapphire, the patient may reply that they tried that before, and it didn't work, and it was a waste of money, or else that it caused excruciating pain. Neither scenario resulted in a positive dental experience, so you are essentially trying to undo the damage from the patients' negative experience before you can hope to achieve a positive experience and a good clinical outcome.
Generally speaking, Zoom and Sapphire In Office One Hour Whitening procedures are a great way for someone to whiten their smile in a short amount of time. When performed by licensed dentists, the procedure is relatively pain-free and an excellent value for the patient. When performed by a beauty salon, my experience has shown that it either doesn't work (and is a waste of money) or else results in a lot of pain.
My advice to patients is that, if you want a dental procedure done, then go to a qualified dentist.


Yours Truly,
Dr. Matthew A. Bayne, DDS

www.ParadiseValleyCosmeticDental.com

- - - - - Mercury-free since 1998 - - - - -

Member, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

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As you can see, Scottsdale dentist Dr Matthew Bayne, DDS is passionate about dentistry and about keeping you safe.  On the surface, it may seem like a small detail, but choosing the right dental restorative material for you and your family is one detail that makes Scottsdale dentist Dr Matthew Bayne stand out from the crowd.  To schedule an appointment with Scottsdale dentist Dr Matthew Bayne, DDS at his new Paradise Valley location, call (480) 621-4077.