Q: What are Porcelain Veneers?

A: Porcelain Veneers are a thin, semi-translucent laminate permanently bonded to your teeth. While they are not suitable for every patient, veneers are the most aesthetic alternative for a variety of dental conditions, including:

• Gaps or spaces between the front teeth;


• Broken teeth;


• Permanently stained or discolored teeth;


• Cracked teeth.

Q: What are the benefits and advantages of Porcelain Veneers?

A: The benefits and advantages to having porcelain veneers placed on your teeth include:

• Procedure takes only two visits;


• A healthy, "natural" look is achieved, in fact, veneers are the most used aesthetic restoration in dentistry;


• Veneers are the most bio compatible material you can use next to the part of the gum tissue that immediately surrounds the teeth and the alveolar bone (gingiva).

Q: How are Veneers different from Bonding or Crowns?

A: Bonding is a resin filling material that was used for several years to cover the front surface of teeth. Today, we generally use bonding only to fill in small surfaces of cavities and repair chips in teeth. A full crown is used when a tooth has had root canal treatment, or when a substantial amount of the entire tooth structure (enamel) has been lost.

Q: How are Porcelain Veneers done?

A: At the first appointment the teeth are prepared for the veneers and an impression is taken. This impression is then sent to a lab where each porcelain veneer is custom made to the dentist's specifications and beautiful temporaries are fabricated to simulate your new smile so you can expect to leave the first appointment looking better than when you came in. At the second appointment the veneers are permanently adhered to the natural teeth.

Q: What are dental implants?

A: Dental implants enable dentists to create healthy, attractive smiles in an innovative way. Used to replace one or more missing teeth, implants are another alternative to conventional bridges and dentures. In essence, dental implants act and look like natural teeth. And, because they maintain bone mass, dental implants can help prevent additional tooth loss as well as the sunken facial appearance associated with missing teeth of a bio-compatible titanium screw and post topped by a crown bridge or denture. The implant is surgically replaced into the jawbone where it replaces the natural tooth root. In a few months, the implant securely attaches to the bone (called "osseointegration"), allowing it to withstand biting and chewing forces just like a healthy, natural tooth.

Q: Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

A: The most common indications for implant therapy are:

• Replacement of one or more missing teeth;


• Support of a non-removable "bridge" to replace multiple teeth;


• Support of a removable full or partial denture.

Q: What is Invisalign®?

A: Invisalign® is the invisible and comfortable way to straighten your teeth without braces. A series of clear removable aligners are used to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets. 3-D imaging technology will show you how your teeth will look right at the start of your treatment!

Q: How Does Invisalign® Work?

A: You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.

As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have reached the final position our doctors have prescribed.

You'll visit us about once every 4 - 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.

Total treatment time averages 11 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30 (treatment length varies depending upon complexity of the individual case).

Q: Teeth Whitening - is it safe?

A: Yes! A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association confirms BriteSmile's teeth-whitening system is safe and effective, and the results last for years.

With BriteSmile, your entire whitening experience is overseen by a dental professional, ensuring not only safety, but also naturally consistent results.

BriteSmile's breakthrough blue-light technology allows for the use of a lower active ingredient. BriteSmile's proprietary whitening gel contains only 15% hydrogen peroxide, so our clients experience very little or no temporary tooth sensitivity.

BriteSmile is gentle. All you do is sit back, relax, and watch TV or listen to music for an hour.

Teeth whitening has never been this safe - or this comfortable.

Q: If my tooth doesn't hurt and my filling is still in place, why would the filling need to be replaced?

A: Constant pressure from chewing, grinding or clenching can cause dental fillings, or restorations, to wear away, chip or crack. Although you may not be able to tell that your filling is wearing down, your dentist can identify weaknesses in your restorations during a regular check-up.

If the seal between the tooth enamel and the restoration breaks down, food particles and decay-causing bacteria can work their way under the restoration. You then run the risk of developing additional decay in that tooth. Decay that is left untreated can progress to infect the dental pulp and may cause an abscess.

If the restoration is large or the recurrent decay is extensive, there may not be enough tooth structure remaining to support a replacement filling. In these cases, your dentist may need to replace the filling with a crown.

Q: What can I do about bad breath?

A: Regular checkups will allow your dentist to detect any problems such as gum disease, dry mouth or other disorders that may be the cause. Maintaining good oral hygiene, eliminating gum disease and scheduling regular professional cleanings are essential to reducing bad breath. If the odor is due to gum disease, your general dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in treating gum tissues.

Q: What financing do you offer?

A: We are quite sensitive to the constraints of your budget and therefore offer a variety of payment plans and financing options to help you get the dentistry you deserve at a price you can afford!

For all dental procedures, we will be happy to assist you in the filing of any insurance claims for reimbursement.

In addition, we offer 2 different arrangements to our patients in order to make the best care affordable:

• We accept all major credit cards, Amex, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover;


• If patients need to spread out payments, we are pleased to offer outside billing services, such as CareCredit, which offers no interest payment plans.