Bryanna,

Thanks again for answering my questions.....especially about the prosthodontist and the LVI dentists. I have an appointment scheduled with a prosthodontist on July 31st and will let you know what happens as a result of that evaluation. I plan to ask many questions, as you suggest, about the risks associated with any additional procedures. Hopefully, I will get truthful answers and, with your help, can make an informed decision.

To answer your question about the enamel on my teeth. This is occuring close to the gumline so it is probably the result of a bite issue. What I hope for is that someone can "open" my bite a bit with perhaps a few crowns on my back teeth. Some of these teeth have already lost quite a bit of enamel so it wouldn't be so upsetting to crown them. I would really like to replace these anterior crowns again as I hate my smile now. The teeth are shorter, more square, run uphill, and my smile is much more "scrunched". I am completing revisions on my letter to the original dentist and had planned, as you suggested, to send the letter "return receipt requested".

I will also let you know of the outcome as soon as I get a response. Thanks again for being a "storehouse of information" for those of us without the specific technical knowledge and experience to properly evaluate dental issues.

I will make sure to keep in touch with my results. Until then, if you have any additional advice, as always, I would be grateful for any information. Didi


[QUOTE=Bryanna;301117]Hi Didi,

Again you are welcome...... feel free to ask me anything about dentistry and I promise to give you a truthful answer based on my extensive knowledge and experience. I have strong opinions about certain procedures which are also based on my experience. I always feel that everyone has the right to be informed and I respect everyones right to choose the path that they feel is best for them.

I'm not sure how to phrase this next comment ..... ummm...... you asked about finding an honest dentist. Well there are plenty of "pleasant" people who practice dentistry, but often they withhold so much information from their patients so I cannot in good conscience say it will be easy to find an honest one. I hope I'm making myself clear without sounding negative. I encourage people to be their own advocate and do some research as much as possible. That's why I'm here, to help offer information and help do the research if I can. I always tell people to ask questions and make it clear to whomever is treating you that you want to be informed of all the treatment options and the benefits and risks of all procedures prior to consenting to having anything done. When a person does this, the outcome is usually much different and the dentist is more apt to share more information with you.

I had a feeling that you may have some additional dental issues other than the recrowning of your upper teeth. The enamel that has broken off, is it along the gumline or along the biting edges of the teeth?

If it is along the gumline then it is enamel that has worn away from an uneven bite and/or aggressive tooth brushing. In that case, tooth colored fillings can be placed in those areas to prevent any further wear on the enamel.

If the enamel is worn down on the edges of the teeth, this is called incisal wear and it too comes from an uneven bite and/or tooth grinding. The treatment to deal with this problem is a bit more complicated. The teeth have worn down on the edges because the bite is so tight that there is no room for normal length teeth to fit into it. To lengthen these teeth with filling material may not be long lasting because the bite will just wear the fillings off. Sometimes, these teeth are crowned to protect them from further breakdown, BUT, if the bite is not altered allowing room for the height of these crowns, then they too will wear down and/or become toothaches and/or start to wear down other teeth that are now not hitting properly.

A prosthodontist is trained in general dental procedures with additional training in cosmetic replacement of natural teeth...... crowns, bridges, dentures...... those things. Generally, these specialists are more concerned about the esthetics than the health of the teeth. The LVI dentists do not necessarily have their prosthodontic licensure but have taken extensive courses in cosmetic dentistry. Truthfully, it just all depends on how well skilled a person is and has little to do with where they got their training. Either one can make a prosthetic device for you to wear and may be able to give you options about repairing those teeth that have worn down enamel.

The only recommendation that I can offer you as far as a referral would be to go to Here is a direct link to their dentists in CO.

The members of IAOMT have extensive training outside of the antiquated dental schools and continually educate themselves about the affects of dental procedures (etc.) on the body. They are Integrative thinking practitioners who support the patients right to choose healthier treatment alternatives that have proven to be just as effective as the old stand by ones.

I hope this website offers you some positive results if you choose to go that route. Let us know how you are doing!

Bryanna



[QUOTE=Didi;300823]Bryanna,

Thanks once again for reply to my questions. It means so much to be able to consult with someone with your knowledge. Do you know of any honest dentists who could take a look at my case and help me with alleviating bite issues and give me suggestions as to what lies ahead for me in the future? I am willing to travel almost anywhere.

I have been told (by every dentist) that I do have a tough case in that I have several worn teeth, a tight bite, and enamel that has broken off the outside of the tooth (I forgot what they called it) and that I should do something about it as it will keep getting worse.

Should I contact the American Dental Association or is there some governing body that can recommend some one? I really need help with possibly getting a prosthetic device. There is a prosthodontist in the Boulder, Colorado area who is about an hours drive from me. I see from his website that his is very practiced in crown replacement and dental implantation. My question is, is a prosthodontist skilled and knowledgeable about the esthetics of a smile as well as the technical aspect to crown replacement?

I am somewhat confused about the training, etc. for prosthodontists as opposed to these dentists who have attended the Las Vegas Institute (LVI) know for creating "hollywood" smiles.

Thanks for any recommendation you may have as to who I should contact to find a good dentist who can look at my case.

Thanks again Bryanna. Hopefully, with your next response, I will finally have all of my answers and can quit bothering you. Best Regards, Didi