Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

While metal braces have come a long way in comfort and appearance, adults and older teens have more aesthetic options that better suit their lifestyles. Clear aligners can fix many cosmetic dental problems and are virtually undetectable. Since the trays are removable, you can clean your teeth thoroughly and eat the foods you enjoy.

Your orthodontist specialist can tell you if you’d benefit from clear aligners. In general, you’re a good candidate for clear aligners if:

• Your oral issues are not severe. For example, an excessive open bite or underbite requires shifting the jaw using a more intensive treatment.
• Your jaw has stopped growing, and you have all your permanent teeth.
• You have the discipline to wear clear aligner trays for about 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat and clean teeth.

If you do have a severe misalignment issue, your dentist may be able to develop a treatment plan for you that includes both braces and clear aligners.

That doesn’t mean that less severe problems aren’t important enough to fix, however. Even slightly misaligned or overcrowded teeth can cause more serious problems if not treated. If you have any of these oral health issues, clear aligners might be perfect for you:

• Mildly misaligned teeth
• Minor bite problems 
• Protruding teeth
• Gaps in teeth
• Overcrowding
• Malocclusion
• Overbite

We offer a range of cosmetic dentistry services such as veneers, porcelain crowns, bonding using tooth-colored composite, and even orthodontic treatments like Invisalign. All our dentistry is done with an eye toward aesthetics. We know that it's important that your teeth are both healthy and attractive. If you'd like to find out which of our services can help you meet your goals, call our office to schedule your consultation.

Dental crowns are designed to be very durable and to function much like your own teeth. You need to use common sense, however, and avoid biting down directly on foods like hard candy or nuts. A broken crown is not just costly to replace, but you may also damage underlying healthy tooth structure.

Dental implants have several advantages over other tooth replacement options:

• Dental implants appear the most life-like and natural.
• The actual implant piece of the dental implant is made of titanium, a biocompatible metal.
• Dental implants are the most secure and stable.
• Dental implants prevent bone loss, keeping your jaw tissue healthy and preventing changes in the shape of your face.
• With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.

If you are in pain, then you are having a dental emergency. Call us right away so that we can examine you, diagnose the problem, and create a treatment plan. Other signs that indicate the need for an emergency appointment include:

• A pimple-like lesion on your gum
• A broken or cracked tooth
• A foreign object lodged between your teeth
• Swelling in the gum
• A broken or lost dental restoration such as a filling or a crown

We know that convenience is important for today’s busy families. That is why we offer dentistry for the whole family including your children. We begin seeing kids at a young age to make sure they have a healthy dental foundation.

Yes. Unlike amalgam fillings, tooth-colored fillings are a custom-mixed resin composite. The composite mixture is matched to your tooth color and bonded directly to the tooth. This usually results in a filling that is nearly indistinguishable from your natural tooth.

You probably see the words general dentist on local signs and online, but may wonder what that means.

Just like your primary care physician, your general dentist is your main point of contact for your oral health. General dentists provide most non-specialty services that patients of all ages need to stay healthy.

This includes preventive dentistry such as:

• Dental exams
• Cleanings
• X-rays
• Fluoride treatments
• Dental sealants
• Mouthguards for sports
• Nightguards

General dentists also repair teeth that suffer from decay, fractures, or trauma. Restorative dentistry refers to:

• Fillings
• Bonding
• Dental crowns

Teeth replacement is a big part of general dentistry and is designed to keep your smile looking good and to make sure you can eat a healthy diet.

• Bridges
• Partial dentures
• Dentures

Since cosmetic dentistry is not a dental specialty, most general dentists are the ones who will be designing a beautiful smile and offering enhancements such as:

• Teeth whitening 
• Cosmetic bonding
• Tooth-colored fillings and crowns
• Porcelain veneers

If you have a dental question, need help or advice, your general or family dentist will be able to make treatment recommendations for you. If you require a trip to a specialist, general dentists usually have specialists in their professional network that they know and trust.

Examinations are an important opportunity for us to check in with you, see how you are doing, and make sure that your teeth are healthy. We want to catch problems when they are small and can be treated easily. This allows for more comfortable and less costly dentistry for you. Unfortunately, by the time you are in pain, simple measures are no longer effective. Regular examinations allow us to nip this situation in the bud and keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.