Boynton Beach dentist, Dr. Jamie Alexander, has provided compassionate oral health care for people who are in treatment for a large number of disease conditions: diabetes, heart disease, cancer, pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal disease, alcoholism, drug abuse, and more.

People who are recovering from bulimia and gastric reflux disease have dental enamel that has been eroded by gastric acid. The erosion affects the tops and sides of their teeth and even down into the gums. 

• Has this happened to you?
• Do you long to have a beautiful smile but know your dental situation is complex?

A comprehensive examination of each tooth surface and all other aspects of your oral health by Dr. Alexander will result in a comprehensive diagnosis and discussion of what treatments will most effectively restore your teeth to health, function, and beauty. With your permission, Dr. Alexander will spend time carefully developing a comprehensive plan of treatment and presenting it to you. 

“People who have significantly acid eroded teeth have a special place in our hearts, and we have successfully provided counseling and dentistry for many over the years,” says Dr. Alexander. “The compassion and gentle care you will receive in our Boynton Beach, FL dental practice, may be just the support you need to smile again confidently and get on with the life you want to live.”

The extent of the erosion is due to how frequently and how long your teeth were exposed to gastric acid. Not only have your teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold foods, beverages, and air temperatures, they have become susceptible to developing cavities. They are more brittle, so susceptible to chipping and cracking. They have lost their shine and become discolored.

The treatment plan for you will be customized for your situation.

1. One option is applying composite resin to the surfaces of your teeth with the skill of an artist, so your teeth appear natural and beautiful. This solution, called “composite bonding,” is temporary because the composite resin will not hold up indefinitely.
2. If acid erosion is significant most dentists recommend crowning each tooth. And while this can be aesthetically well done, this type of treatment requires the dentist to remove a significant amount of the tooth structure. In the case of maxillary (upper) incisors and cuspids—the teeth most greatly affected by bulimia, prepping them for crowns can weaken them more. Dr. Alexander recommends crowning molars but there is another approach that can be considered for incisors and cuspids.
3. A more conservative approach to preserving more of the natural tooth structure of maxillary incisors and cuspids is to apply ceramic veneers on the front of the teeth and ceramic or gold restorations on the back of the teeth. This will strengthen the teeth, and the amount of tooth structure removed is much less than for crowns.

Note: Often there are urgent issues to be addressed to ensure the best outcomes…such as elimination of gum disease and treatment of painful deep dental decay. Primary issues such as these can be treated right away while Dr. Alexander develops with you a more detailed treatment plan for restoring full dental health and a beautiful smile.

Financing the dentistry you need and want is possible. Ask us about CareCredit.

Would you like to know what is possible for you?

There is no time like today to start improving your quality of life with the help of a dentist who has expertise in treating acid-eroded teeth and who genuinely cares about what you have suffered. We invite you to give us a call to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Jamie Alexander.