Which order to do dental work?

[avstar]

Hi all

I'm hoping to get some dental work done soon and I'm not sure which order to do it in.

I'd like Invisilign to straighten my teeth, tooth whitening and also a crown covering 3 teeth at the top side of my mouth replacing in a colour to match the whitened teeth. The crown is 23 years old and there's a gap now between crown and gum which looks unsightly.

In what order should I get the work done? Particulary the crown and tooth whitening, eg whiten teeth and then get crown to match, or replace crown with lighter shade and then whiten teeth to match?

I'm just concious that for a certain amount of time I will have a crown that looks very yellow, or very white!:rotfl:


Also how big a job/painfil is it to remove a crown? Its stuck onto 2 teeth that were filed down with a false tooth to cover the gap inthe middle.

[Toothsmith]

It's your dentist's job to plan the correct order to do things in, not yours.

But part of the consideration is your views on what things will look like as the treatment progresses.

[avstar]

Thanks Toothsmith, just wanted to know as my dentist doesn't do lazer whitening so I would have to got to a different practice. Just wanted an idea really.

[tirednewdad]

rule of thumb in order of work
1)prevention
2)do any work that is caused by decay or disease
3)whitening followed by a replacement crown/bridge ( i think its a bridge from what your describing)
4) invisalign

although 3) and 4) are interchangable depending on need.

Just a quick note to say that lazer whitening works just as well as bleaching tray whitening, but does fade quicker, unless folowed up by bleaching trays. It does however give a immedaite result using the lazer whitening.

[Toothsmith]

Thanks Toothsmith, just wanted to know as my dentist doesn't do lazer whitening so I would have to got to a different practice. Just wanted an idea really.

That's fine, but you need to be open with the main dentist about everything you want, and he will still be the one to advise you.

He may even know a good place to go for the whitening (or - more importantly- who to avoid)

[avstar]

Thanks Toothsmith, I did discuss this work with my dentist last week, but he's very vague (nice, but vague!). He did recommend someone to do the whitening but I came out of the consultation none the wiser about what order to do it all in.

I go to an NHS dentist and he's always very very busy, I think he just wanted to do my check-up and get onto the next patient as he's always running late.

[Toothsmith]

I really think you need a dentist with time to take an interest in you.

[donteatthat]

I would say that it would be usually the case to complete any orthodontic tooth movements before moving on to tooth whitening or definitive crowns/bridges. If the crown/bridge (as it sounds more like a bridge) is discoloured then there is the option to change it temporarily and use a provisional or "temporary" bridge during treatment which can be made to more closely match the colour of the natural teeth now. Most complex/combination cases do involve provisional restorations.
Complicated or "combination" cases do not go well with a rushed approach - I would suggest that if your dentist hasn't got the time to discuss things fully with you find someone who has.

[avstar]

Thanks guys, Yep I think I need to find someeone who has time to discuss options with me, and also I'm starting to think I'd rather go to one dentist for the whole lot.