FAQs

Aesthetic dentistry is a facet of dentistry that deals with enhancement, restoration and maintenance of optimal dental health specifically designed for you. It is based on artistic creation in a framework of sound scientific principles. It utilizes the most advanced techniques and materials to give natural looking and feeling results that can greatly enhance your life.

“Comfort Control” refers to the state-of-the-art techniques we employ that are designed to make your dental experience as comfortable as possible. This includes the Waterlase™ dental laser, nitrous oxide, and the NTI Oral Device for tension headache and migraine relief.

First schedule a dental checkup. A thorough visual examination coupled with x-rays will reveal any problems. Early detection of disease, decay, or other problems can simplify treatment. Whether teeth are damaged, diseased, or decayed, a method exists to return the teeth to a normal appearance and function. These techniques range from the simple to the very complex, but are all designed to protect, repair, or replace your teeth

Not necessarily. You may not be brushing and flossing properly or not enough. You might also have gingivitis or periodontitis. Healthy teeth and gums DO NOT bleed. To be on the safe side, schedule a dental exam to ascertain the current state of your dental health. Follow up with a professional dental cleaning so that you will have a “clean slate” for proper home care.

It means you have gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is an acute infection of the gums and is reversible if treated and proper home care is maintained. Periodontitis is a silent disease that affects the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth. Periodontitis is not reversible but it is treatable.

In order to better customize to your needs and budget. Some people need only to remove normal coffee and tea stains or reverse the effects of aging. Others need more aggressive bleaching because of tetracycline or other chemical staining. There are also lifestyle issues. Do you have time to wear trays at home? Do you just need a touch-up? See our page on Tooth Whitening for details.

Protective Sealants are very important and they can last a lifetime. All teeth that have no cavities or dental work and have decay-prone grooves should have a protective resin coating to prevent decay. It’s an inexpensive and very effective way to save your teeth. No shots or drilling required. Goto Protective Sealants.

There are a variety of solutions for this problem. Excessive gum tissue can be easily contoured and we have found that the Waterlase dental laser provides the safest and most precise method for gum shaping. Artistic sculpting of the gum tissue can take a smile from good to great. On the other side of the spectrum, recession of gum tissue can be restored by certain types of gum grafting. Goto Gum Tissue Grafting procedure.

Amalgam fillings, sometimes referred to as ‘silver fillings’, are the most commonly placed filling material according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The material typically contains about 50% mercury Silver and mercury form a stable compound the ADA maintains is safe, as opposed to elemental mercury which is considered a toxic and hazardous material. Several European countries have totally banned the use of this compound for filling teeth.

Although we don’t place amalgam fillings, we remove old ones using a special technique to reduce exposure to aerosolized mercury silver amalgam.

Amalgam fillings will not only corrode and turn dark as they age, but its silver mercury content expands and contracts in response to hot and cold foods. This action, over time, tends to fracture teeth from the inside until the tooth eventually breaks or the filling falls out leaving the cavity exposed.

These problems are easily corrected with Tooth-Colored Fillings or Onlays.

Root Canal therapy is used to save a tooth that has a diseased nerve. Inside each tooth, running like a thread down through the root, is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If it isn’t removed, your tooth will get infected and you could lose it.

After the pulp is removed, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. A crown is then placed over the tooth to help make it stronger.

Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!

It takes two working dental visits about 2-4 weeks apart. There are some planning visits prior to the working visits to determine what result you want and some follow-up bite adjustment visits. Porcelain veneers do not stain and are as strong as natural teeth.

Many options exist including Bridges, Implants, and Partials. There is no reason to live with missing teeth. Not only does a full set of teeth improve self esteem but it makes all the other teeth last longer by reducing stress placed on the remaining natural teeth.