Dental Implants: More of Your Questions Answered

The concept of dental implants has been around for a very long time. Just because they have a long history does not make dental implants any less modern. As a matter of fact with the improvements, they have made over the years, and with the additional benefit of modern science, dental implants are becoming the way of the future concerning dental prosthetic devices.

Some of our patients, especially those that have a prosthetic device that they are already using, are concerned about making the switch and wonder what the benefits are. The advantages are numerous and start with the fact that dental implants are based on the fusion of organic tissue with a device that is actually inserted into your jawbone. When an implant is inserted into your jaw, by a skilled oral surgeon or dentist, it becomes an integral part of the body and is more secure and stable than any other device. Additionally other devices have made advances but are still depending on older ideas like using adhesives or dental cement. Finally when you get dental implants, you get the strongest, most durable and best looking prosthetic device available.

The permanence of dental implants makes people want to have all of their questions answered before they proceed with getting them installed. We truly enjoy taking the time to sit down and go over all of your questions. There are a few more common questions that we feel could be answered outside of a sit-down session.

How long does a dental implant last? 
The answer to this question is a little bit more complex than a simple number. Numerically implants can last anywhere from seven to thirty years or longer. The reason this span is so vast is because it is influenced directly by other factors. The ability of your jawbone to sustain the implant, gum diseases, and infections, and accidents can all shorten the life span. Good oral hygiene and diet can help increase the life of the implants. Treating implants like regular teeth is the best way to improve their life cycle.
How often do implants fail? 
The reality is that all solutions have a failure threshold based on different factors. With implants, they are typically successful between 93% and 98% of the time, meaning that there is a very small, minuscule, in fact, chance your implants will not take or fail during the installation.
Will it take long to recover?
To ensure such a high level of success, we do our dental implants installation in phases. Between each of the phases, you will have the opportunity to rest and recover for between ten and fourteen days. After you return from the recovery, we will inspect the work we have done, make any minor changes that may be required and then proceed to the next step. This careful and deliberate schedule not only ensures a higher success rate but also shortens your final recovery time to less than two weeks after all of the procedures have been completed.  While we know that this is a longer process than other replacement solutions, it is also the most durable and natural looking result.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Teeth Whitening

The Shade of Your Dental Veneers is Essential to Your Smile

The choice of dental veneers over some of the other cosmetic dental procedures is reached for a number of reasons. First, however, a patient has to decide that they want to improve their smile. As it so happens, there is not much we cannot fix esthetically in your mouth today. With the rapid advancements in technology, we have the tools at our disposal to fix any nature of unsightly problems that range from teeth that are crooked and misaligned to teeth that are badly stained and simply need new life through whitening. Our patients typically chose dental veneers to cover up badly stained teeth or to replace missing enamel. As such, the most common reason for choosing veneers is still the fact that people want to have the brightest and whitest smile they possibly can. If you decide that you want to use veneers to have permanently whiter teeth, you will need to make the next important decision.

Dental veneers are virtually a permanent solution. This immediately poses a question - what color do you want your teeth to be for the next several decades? Most of us do not ever get to choose the natural color of our teeth which makes this decision slightly more challenging than it sounds. A few years ago patients were limited to a palette of 16 colors and you would have to pick a shade that was the closest match to your unaffected teeth. As you can imagine, this was not a very exciting prospect. After all, when you want your smile to be brighter and whiter, there is literally no fun in picking a shade that looks exactly like your old teeth. With advancements in technology, we now can do things like bleach your teeth before picking the shade so that all of your teeth, including your veneers, will be bright and white. Essentially you have more choices now.

While color is important, there is another factor to consider when you are getting dental veneers. This is the opacity or the translucency of the veneers that are placed over your teeth. Teeth are not solid. One of the most beautiful elements of natural teeth is the way that they allow natural light to pass through them. This gives the effect of a lighted smile and is something we will want to mimic very closely with your veneers. Having a solid block of veneers, that completely shields the light will cause your teeth to look plastic and fake. Instead, we will work with the translucency to ensure that the right amount of light passes through the veneer so that you have a radiant smile. As you are selecting the color and transparency of your veneers, you should keep in mind that they will not age or stain like natural teeth. Whatever you chose today is what you will have for years to come.

When using dental veneers to improve your smile, we can also address things like gaps, crooked teeth, damaged teeth, a loss of enamel and dark stains.  Once done, this solution will ensure that your teeth are bright, white, and beautiful. 

Teeth Whitening Can Improve Your Life - It's Science!

Statistically speaking teeth whitening is one of the ways people can get ahead in life. For centuries, people have used this technique to improve their life and advance in various social situations. There are those who argue that there is really no way of proving that teeth whitening actually helps you improve in important areas like getting a job, for example. A recent study, however, showed that in fact having a whiter brighter smile does influence the opportunities that open up to you. We found that people with a better smile get offered their dream job 58% to 42% more often than those without. At the same time, we also found that 53% of people with whiter teeth were more likely to be offered things like a promotion or salary increase. On the social end of the equation, the study found that over 70% of women judge a man by their teeth and are more likely to be attracted to a man with a whiter more confident smile.

Once you do get your teeth whitening done, however, there are certain steps you must follow and some things you must avoid in order to prevent your teeth from reverting to their original stained condition. With the desire for having whiter teeth causing the industry to grow at unprecedented rates, there are two distinct routes you can take to get your teeth whitening done. The first is to come in and see us where we can whiten your teeth in our carefully controlled environment.  This is certainly the most effective way of doing so. The other is to take the over the counter approach, where you use a standard product available in stores. In either case, here are a few things to be aware of so that you do not need to have your teeth whitening repeatedly done.

Perhaps the easiest way for you to keep your teeth white is to brush your teeth on a regular schedule, twice per day. The one element that you need to include is using a fresh toothbrush. In order to keep your toothbrush fresh, you will need to change out the brush or the brush head, in the case of an electric toothbrush, at least once every three months. Another easy tip to follow is to rinse your mouth out every time you eat something that could potentially stain your teeth. Doing this immediately after you eat or drink these kinds of foods will ensure that your teeth whitening lasts longer.

The fastest way for your teeth to lose their pearly whiteness after a teeth whitening is to eat or drink substances that have a high level of color pigmentation. Foods like marinara sauce and soy sauce are staining agents. Even foods that are good for you, like blueberries, can stain your teeth if you do not rinse your mouth after eating them. Smoking or chewing tobacco is not only unhealthy, but will also go far to undoing all the work of teeth whitening. If you aren't sure which foods or drinks will stain your teeth, look in the mirror after eating.  If your teeth appear darker, you should rinse right away. 

Prevent Health Problems by Visiting a Family Dentist

A family dentist practices is a place where your entire family can go to get treated for any dental challenges, get their annual wellness check, and have their teeth cleaned. It is a safe and nurturing environment that teaches your kids that the dentist is actually on their side and they have nothing to fear from us. It is a place where elderly members of your family can come when they have challenges with their teeth, need replacements, or just have to make sure that their dentures fit the right way. We are, quite literally, a generational practice that has built a reputation for treating families year in and year out. For us, the best reward we can get is the smile of patients that we have taken care of and will continue to do so for years to come.

We have a particular advantage when it comes to families. We deal with multiple generations, and often times the challenges that younger people face will be found in the older generations as well. This allows us to identify problem areas ahead of time, meaning we will be cognizant of the fact that these could occur, and catch them earlier in younger patients. This puts us at the forefront of early diagnosis with regard to dental issues. It helps us to diagnose, treat, and follow up very efficiently.

There are several more common reasons why people find their way into our family dentist office, including –

• Tooth Aches and Dental Emergencies: There is nothing quite as uncomfortable as a toothache. Unfortunately, a toothache can be caused by a number of reasons ranging from an infection to an accident that chips a tooth. As your family dentist, we are also accustomed to children, and adults, coming in with dental emergencies like knocking out a tooth during a soccer game. If you have an emergency, give us a call so that we can give you some tips on managing the discomfort while you make your way in to see us. 
•  Cavities: Cavities are actually among the most common reasons why people have to take a sick day. Only people with the common cold take more time off to go and see a doctor. A cavity occurs when the acid that is in the food makes a small hole in the enamel of your tooth. Typically there is a build-up of plaque on the tooth before a cavity can be formed. Plaque is the sticky substance that is found in all food and leaves a residue on your teeth. The good news is cavities and plaque can be easily controlled by brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and visiting our family dentist office for a professional cleaning twice a year. 
• Tooth sensitivity: Millions of people, each year, are affected by sensitive teeth. Typically the sensitivity occurs in the presence of a stimulant like heat or cold, and may be caused by an infection, loss of enamel on the tooth or a lack of Fluoride in your daily routine. We can help to protect sensitive teeth in our office using a variety of treatment solutions.

Emergency Dentist  >  Dental Office

Here's How Dental Veneers Can Restore Your Teeth

Dental veneers play an important role in the healthy performance of the teeth they are used to repair. In fact, there are two fundamental functions that they perform which make them such a versatile tool for us to use. From a dentist's perspective, dental veneers can strengthen teeth while also making them esthetically more pleasing. Most people do not realize that when you damage a tooth or cause it some kind of trauma it is very easy for that damage to spread. A chipped, broken, or cracked tooth can very easily get an infection. Even if no infection exists, the damage can spread which could cause a great deal of discomfort. A dental veneer can take the place of the damaged enamel and prevent further damage from occurring while also ensuring that an infection does not set in. This is critical for the overall health of the mouth.


A dental veneers second function is more esthetic, and also very important. Damaged teeth, stained teeth, and misaligned teeth can cause a person to lose their self-esteem by creating an unattractive smile. Dental veneers are able to replace the damaged or stained enamel with a thin porcelain strip, giving patients back a perfect white tooth that looks, feels, and acts exactly like the original tooth it has replaced. In order to accomplish this, the veneer takes on many of the same qualities as the naturally occurring enamel it is replacing. Like enamel, the porcelain veneer is extremely hard which helps the tooth be more durable for regular dietary practices. Unfortunately, this similarity in qualities also means that the porcelain is brittle and that you will need to take care of it the same way as you would your regular teeth. Avoiding situations and activities that may damage your natural teeth will also avoid damaging or breaking the dental veneer.

Maintaining your porcelain veneers is far easier than one might imagine. This is because they require no special treatment, no additional maintenance, and no unique cleaning methods. In fact, all you need to do is maintain a good oral health and hygiene routine and your dental veneers will be cleaned along with your natural teeth. We recommend brushing twice per day, visiting us for a regular bi-annual cleaning, and cultivating good habits like flossing and rinsing. All of these will help to prolong the life cycle of your veneers and all your other teeth as well.

Dental veneers can last you anywhere from seven to thirty years depending on how well you take care of your mouth, and by extension your veneers themselves. There is no concrete number or guarantee as to how long they will last since each individual is different and faces different challenges. Gum diseases, accidents, or changes in your routine can all influence how well your teeth and dental veneers will hold up. Since there is no real magic formula, we strongly advice good habits and keeping your teeth clean, and safe, which may mean wearing a night guard if you find yourself grinding your teeth at night.

Dentist  >  General Dentist

Here are Questions Normally Asked by an Emergency Dentist

You may need to visit an emergency dentist during the course of your lifetime, many people do. A variety of incidents or even an infection can send a patient to the emergency room or to an emergency dentist’s office. Over the years, we have developed a protocol, which we use on the phone, to make sure we get a clear understanding of what your emergency is. We have no intention of keeping you on the phone for any length of time. Rather, it is our aim to understand your situation, get a feel for what caused the circumstances, and then give you solid steps to take that will help minimize any permanent damage to your mouth while you prepare to come in. Understanding that people often have an emotional response to injury or dental pain, our team is very empathetic and will do their best to soothe your nerves as well as get a preliminary diagnosis.

If you visit an emergency dentist, we understand you are coming in because the pain is extremely severe or because you have a serious accidental dental injury. The very fact, that you are seeking medical attention, tells us that we need to get you in as soon as possible. To that end, we need to get a proper assessment of the situation and determine what your next steps should be. While we have you on the phone, we are also preparing for your visit and giving you instructions on how to be prepared as well. It is strongly advised that you have someone with you during this process and have someone drive you in as it is never a good idea to drive when you are impaired by pain or pain medication. 

Here are some of the questions we may ask you:

Are you bleeding? This is important for us to know so that we can give you advice on stopping the bleeding. Additionally, we will want to know how much you are bleeding and what steps you have taken to stop the bleeding. If we determine that it is excessive we may recommend that you go to the emergency room instead of our office. We do not want you to lose a lot of blood, and if the bleeding is mild we can advise you on ways to stop the bleeding on your way in. 

Is the tooth still attached? Whether or not your tooth is still in its cavity and attached is an important piece of information.  If it has fallen out we can provide you with information on what you need to do to keep it safe during transport to our office.  In general, we recommend locating the tooth and rinsing it in warm water without touching the roots.  Then, it should be placed in a glass of milk for preservation.  If necessary, you can even stop at the local gas station to buy milk on the way into our emergency dentist office. This may make it possible for us to reattach the tooth when you get here.  

More of Your Questions Answered by Our General Dentist Office

As a general dentist office, we find that many people visit the dentist with trepidation.  Hollywood has done an excellent job of portraying dentist as people that like to pull teeth and use noisy dental drills on unsuspecting patients.  If this is your idea of dentistry – keep reading.  In real life, your visit to our office will be welcoming, enjoyable and pain-free.  We take the time to get to know our patients and address their concerns while helping our patients to relax.  A lot of it comes down to a conversation and taking the time to answer our patient's questions.  After all, by being informed you can become comfortable with the procedures that we are recommending.  Since many of these questions are similar from patient to patient, we have answered them for you here.

Will my cracked tooth need to be pulled?

Probably not.  In our dental office, we specialize in dental restorations.  That means that if your tooth is cracked, chipped or infected we can usually save it.  By using a dental crown, dental veneer or a bonding procedure we can restore the functionality and appearance of a damaged tooth so that it can remain in place.  Likewise, if a tooth is infected, we can remove the infected area so that it doesn’t need to be pulled.  Our goal is to keep as many natural teeth in place as possible because this is what is best for the jawbone in the long-term. 

Are there new ways to treat cavities?

Dental technology has continued to improve, and the tools that we use are better than they used to be.  They are both smaller and quieter which means that we can treat a cavity faster and with more precision.  As new technology develops, we will continue incorporating it into our general dentist practice.  

Why does my crown need to be replaced?

Many people make the mistake of thinking that a dental crown will last forever.  Forever is a relative term but how long it lasts is, in part, up to you. If you take good care of your teeth and gums, preventing infections, your crown may last for a couple decades.  In fact, some people have had a crown in place for over twenty years.  Most people, however, need to replace their crown around the ten-year mark.  This is often due to oral hygiene and what foods are eaten but regardless, the material crowns are made of is not meant to last forever.  That means that over time it will wear out. If you grind your teeth at night you are at further risk of it becoming damaged.  In this case, we recommend wearing a night guard to prevent your upper and lower teeth from touching.  By taking these precautionary measures, you can keep your crown in longer.  If, however, it does need to be replaced you need to do so quickly so that the tooth underneath does not become irritated. 

Can my filling blend in?

Yes, we in our general dentist office, we use a tooth-colored ceramic material for fillings.  This way no one can tell that you had dental work done after your cavity has been treated.