Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Absolutely not! You are never too old to have a beautiful smile. Call us today to find out what we can do to help you. We'd be happy to show you pictures of some of our other cosmetic transformations.

Modern dental materials and technology have dramatically improved the appearance of dental crowns and bridges. The porcelain used in today’s crowns and bridges can be color-matched to blend perfectly with the shade of your natural teeth. With proper placement, your dental restoration should be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

While dental implants do tend to cost more than bridges or dentures, they are also the most life-like, stable, and functional replacement, closely mimicking the appearance and function of your natural teeth. They also last longer, which can save you money in the long run. Call our office today to schedule your consultation.

It will take your mouth some time to get used to the feel of dentures. After a few months, however, you will feel comfortable eating and speaking with your dentures in and experience little to no soreness or discomfort. If you ever do experience soreness or if your dentures aren’t fitting right, please let us know.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) states that your child's dental visit should be at one year of age, or at least six months after the first tooth comes in. There are many reasons to start dental care early on, such as:

• It allows your pediatric dentist to begin monitoring your son or daughter's oral health and development so they can detect any concerns at an early stage.
• It helps your child acclimate to visiting the dentist and to understand that it's a safe and welcoming place.
• This is an excellent time to ask questions about your son or daughter's oral development so you can make the most of your routine at home.

You can prepare your child for his or her dental visits by talking about it beforehand in a positive way. Reading books or stories to them about visiting the dentist can also be helpful in preparing them for what's going to happen during their appointment. You might also consider bringing your child along with you to your cleaning and checkup so they can see what visiting the dentist is like. 

We are happy to help! Contact our office for more information on preparing your son or daughter for their first dental visit.

Coming in for regular cleanings with one of our excellent dental hygienists will help keep your gums in great shape, but what you do at home matters as well. Brush twice daily and floss every evening. Our hygienists will be happy to show you good brushing and flossing techniques.

Other steps you can take to prevent gum disease include:

• Don't smoke or chew tobacco
• Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Use an antiseptic mouthwash. We'll be happy to recommend one.
• If you have a health condition that can affect your dental health, such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, please let us know so that we can take extra steps to help keep your gums healthy.

Even with excellent hygiene habits, it's easy to miss small areas of your teeth. Over time, lingering plaque will harden into tartar, which can only be removed with a dental hygienist's tools. When tartar accumulates beneath the gum line, the result is red, puffy, inflamed gums, indicating the beginnings of periodontal disease.

While the whitening kits you can find at your local drugstore cost less than professional kits, the truth is that this is a case where you get what you pay for. Drugstore whitening kits are designed to be "one size fits all," which often translates to "one size fits none."

The strengths are much lower than what you can get in a professional kit, meaning that you must use the product for a longer period of time, and are still unlikely to get the results you can find in a professional product. Additionally, your results are not being monitored by the dentist you know and trust. 

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) take a lot of wear and tear. Besides chewing, swallowing, and talking, the joints can experience overuse from gum chewing, yawning, and teeth clenching and grinding. If TMJ symptoms affect your quality of life, an oral surgery specialist can diagnose and treat the problem.

If you experience headaches, neck or jaw aches, clicking or popping in your jaw, pain around your ear, sensitive teeth, or jaw pain when eating or yawning, you may have a TMJ disorder.

Here’s what can lead to TMJ pain:

• Arthritis is common in older adults and can also occur in the jaw joints.
• Grinding or clenching your teeth (bruxism) tightens your facial and jaw muscles and puts stress on your temporomandibular joints. Bruxism can also cause extra wear on your teeth.
• Poor posture causes the muscles of the jaw, neck, and face to tighten, causing pain and other symptoms.
• Trauma to your jaw can lead to a TMJ disorder later on.
• Misaligned teeth may impact your bite and how your joints fit together.

As you can see, decreasing stress, taking care of your oral health, and wearing a night guard are all ways to prevent TMJ pain. If conservative treatments don’t give you relief, talk to your oral surgery specialist about TMJ surgery.

Composite fillings bond directly to your tooth, which results in less invasive tooth removal. Amalgam fillings require additional drilling to provide anchors for the solid amalgam. Composite fillings are not as hard and inflexible as amalgam fillings, which means stresses caused by biting and chewing can be distributed more naturally and reduce the risk of your tooth cracking.