cosmetic dentistry Archives - Dental Care at Flint's Crossing

Take a Closer Look at Older Pictures of Aaron Judge

If you take a closer look at older photos of Aaron Judge’s teeth, you’ll note that there’s more going on than just the gap and what you describe as “peg-shaped” teeth. The photo shown here gives a better view across his smile line going back a few more teeth. See anything?

Yes, he didn’t just have gap between his front teeth. He had gaps between all the teeth that show when he smiles.

How Did Aaron Judge Fix His Teeth?

Now, Aaron Judge’s teeth have a fuller, straighter appearance, and that gap you noted is gone, as are the gaps between his other teeth. In other words, this was more than likely a total smile makeover rather than a single cosmetic fix.

Dentists address in-depth smile makeovers in a variety of ways. As you noted, braces or Invisalign are sometimes involved. Given that options like Invisalign can be taken out, it’s possible he did go through some form of orthodontics as part of his care and simply removed the appliance while in public.

However, it’s more likely he jumped right into an option like porcelain veneers. These can be thought of as “shells” that hug the front surface of the tooth and wrap around the edges a bit, but don’t fully enclose the tooth. With veneers, you can make teeth look straighter, brighter, and fuller, plus close gaps or fix chips instantly.

Ask Your Dentist What He Recommends

The problem with going in and asking for veneers is that you may need something else done to achieve a similar look or the dentist you’re consulting may not be particularly skilled when it comes to placing veneers. They’re an art form. It takes quite a bit to make them look natural and aesthetically pleasing.

Instead, ask the dentist what he recommends and why he recommends that treatment. You can still use Judge as a point of reference to indicate the end result you’re hoping for though. It’s also a good idea to ask for before and after photos of the dentist’s real patients so you can get a better feel for his abilities. If you don’t love the photos you see or you aren’t confident about his recommendations, get a second opinion. Best of luck to you.

I had a lengthy chat with my dentist a couple years back regarding charcoal toothpaste. I tend to prefer natural medicine and was hoping charcoal would be a good alternative to the professional teeth whitening he offered. He was pretty blunt that I shouldn’t expect the same kind of results but said that there was no harm in using charcoal toothpaste. Now, I’m following the news and it seems like he and half the population was wrong. I’m worried I may have done permanent damage to my teeth. Is there a way to find out?

Thanks,

Rebecca

Dear Rebecca,

The latest class-action lawsuit is against Procter & Gamble, makers of Crest Toothpaste. However, there have been several others in the past and there are likely to be more down the road. The argument is that charcoal is so abrasive that it takes off layers of your enamel. And, while there’s certainly a case for it being harsh, studies have largely been inconclusive.

Studies on Charcoal Toothpaste are Inconclusive

When the American Dental Association (ADA) pulled every study they could find on charcoal toothpaste, the results were all over the place.

“Two studies offered nonspecific caries reductions, 3 studies reported deleterious outcomes (increased caries, enamel abrasion, nonquantified negative impact), and 1 study indicated only that brushing with raw charcoal had no adverse effects on oral hygiene,” the report said.

So, although the scales tipped in favor of it not being safe, it wasn’t by a wide margin. With that in mind, the ADA concluded “this literature review showed insufficient clinical and laboratory data to substantiate the safety and efficacy claims of charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices.”

The organization said dentists should “advise their patients to be cautious” when using charcoal toothpaste. If nothing else, though, claims that charcoal toothpaste is somehow good for you could also not be substantiated. In absence of evidence, most dentists would generally suggest not using something. Lack of an ADA seal is usually a solid indicator that a product is deviating from the trusted norms.

Even Still, Charcoal Toothpaste is Highly Abrasive

Many people like yourself turned to charcoal toothpaste in the quest for whiter teeth. It’s actually the abrasiveness of the material that gives it the ability to “whiten” by scrubbing off stains. The real question is whether it was so abrasive that it damaged enamel. Some studies did come to this conclusion by measuring the roughness of a tooth before using charcoal toothpaste and again after a month of use. With that in mind, it could theoretically damage your teeth in as little as a month.

However, each person responds differently to abrasive products to some degree. Habits and genetics, among other things, can determine the quality and strength of your enamel and, thus, your susceptibility to damage. That may be why the studies couldn’t prove anything. If they weren’t isolating for those factors, they would have different findings.

It Wouldn’t Hurt to See a Dentist

If you had damage from using charcoal toothpaste or anything else, you’d probably have telltale symptoms, like yellower teeth from thinning enamel, picking up stains fast due to rough enamel, or sensitivity. If you aren’t experiencing any of these issues, chances are your teeth have come through it ok. However, for your own peace of mind, you may want to get a thorough exam. It’s best to see a dentist who does a lot of cosmetic dentistry for this, as he’ll be more finely attuned to picking up minor changes Best of luck to you.

This blog is sponsored by Auburn AL dentist, Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Want Teeth Like Aaron Judge—What Should I Ask the Dentist For?