What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
What is a laminate?
What is a crown?
What is a ceramic crown?
What is a bridge?
What is the best way to fix my front tooth?
What is bonding?
Do you do silver fillings? Is mercury silver amalgam safe?
What are white fillings?
Should I use a laminate or a crown for my front tooth?
Can you help with my receding gums?
I have new caps so why is there a black line at the gums?
I have crooked teeth. Is there a shorter solution than wearing braces for 2 years?
I want braces but I'm afraid they will show. Is there an alternative?
My teeth are okay but they are dark – what are my choices?
I have a missing tooth in the back of my mouth – nobody can see it. Is this a big deal?
I'm so afraid of the dentist. What can I do?
What is "sweet air analgesia?"
Does your dentistry hurt?
I hear that quality cosmetic dentistry is expensive. Is it?
I have crowns that are over 5 years old. My tooth is showing between the crown and the gum. What can I do?
Why do I need a root canal?

• What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
  All dentistry has a cosmetic component. Today the term refers to improving your smile and appearance through procedures with your teeth, gums and lips. All dentists claim to be COSMETIC DENTISTS; there is no recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. Watch out for the hype. There is plenty of hype...   TOP
  
  
• What is a laminate (also known as a porcelain veneer laminate)? What do you use laminates for?
  A laminate is a thin porcelain shell that is bonded over your teeth, usually the upper or lower front ones. They are used to improve the color and shape of the tooth; to cover dark teeth, and sometimes as instant braces. A dentist has to be very experienced and skilled to use laminates. The preparation of the tooth is technically difficult. The rushing doctor is to be avoided. Ask the doctor about how he will temporize your teeth during the fabrication of the laminates. This is important for the health of your gums and your appearance. If he says, "Don't worry they are only temporaries", find another dentist. Poorly done laminates can be bulky and opaque and even fall off. Cheap or sloppy laboratory technical procedures are a common problem with poor laminates.   TOP
  
  
• What is a crown? Is it like a cap?
  A crown is a complete replacement for a part of the tooth you see above the gum. The word cap is equivalent. Crowns are usually used on back teeth to rebuild a major defect in the tooth and on front teeth where there is not enough tooth to place a laminate. Crowns are used as part of a bridge to replace a missing tooth.   TOP
  
  
• What is a ceramic crown?
  This is a crown that is the most esthetic. There is no metal contained within a ceramic crown. There are many ceramic systems. Some work better than others. Some ceramic crowns are bonded to the tooth, some are cemented. We believe that bonding the crowns onto the tooth is better.   TOP
  
  
• What is a bridge? Does it come out?
  A bridge is designed to replace a missing tooth. A bridge doesn't come out. It is affixed to the teeth permanently. A properly designed bridge restoration is functional, attractive and long lasting. There is a type of bridge called a "Maryland Bridge." We believe that this is a cheap and unesthetic replacement.   TOP
  
  
• What is the best way to fix my front tooth?
  The most durable and esthetic restoration in our hands is a ceramic bonded crown. Other acceptable ways are bonding or a porcelain laminate. It depends on the situation.   TOP
  
  
• What is bonding?
  Really, acid etch bonding is a way of using high tech resins to actually stick materials to the surface of the tooth. In skillful hands it can be beautiful and strong; but with the average dentist, it can be ugly and weak.   TOP
  
  
• Do you do silver fillings? Is mercury silver amalgam safe?
  I have not used mercury containing silver amalgam since 1985. While the ADA maintains that it is safe to use, we do not offer this material. We did not want this material in our office, much less handle it and then put it inside your mouth.   TOP
  
  
• What are white fillings? Are they any good?
  I have placed white fillings exclusively since 1985. They are great looking, strong and esthetic. The materials are unforgiving. The technique is very sensitive, the dentist cannot skip steps or rush. Placing these white or resin restorations is a challenging task. For the average dentist these are impossible to look and feel right. For the artistic dentist it is a beautiful way to restore teeth.   TOP
  
  
• Should I use a laminate or a crown for my front tooth?
  It depends upon the position of the tooth, the amount of tooth enamel remaining, and the arrangement of the adjacent teeth. It is more difficult to perform the laminate procedure, particularly the temporary provisionals.    TOP
  
  
• My gums are receding, and my teeth look so long; can you help me?
  We are among the first dental practices to perform periodontal plastic surgery. Since 1997 we have been placing special grafts to cover exposed ugly and sensitive roots. It is amazing to see how wonderful these grafts are. What is more amazing is that these procedures are painless.   TOP
  
  
• I have some recently placed crowns (caps) in the front of my mouth, but I see a black line at the gum -what is that?
  Usually this is either the shadow of the tooth showing at the edge where the crown meets the tooth or the crown has a metal core and the edge of the metal is showing. This is a result of placing the margin in the wrong place, or using metal instead of all porcelain type materials.   TOP
  
  
• I am 34 years old, my teeth are crooked. I want to straighten them but I was told that I have to wear braces for two years; I just can't do that. Two years is too long. How about 7-12 months?
  Most of our adult patients finish in less than a year. With my quick braces techniques, invisible braces, and my 25 years of experience we can give to you a straight and attractive smile in no time. Plus with our state of the art techniques there is no discomfort.   TOP
  
  
• I want braces but I'm afraid they will show-I heard about Invisalign, but my friends have them and it seems like a lot of work and time-is there an alternative?
  Invisalign is a limited technique, and very slow. It is also more expensive for the same treatment. You need the discipline to wear the plastic mouthpieces day after day for up to two years. With our fast and quick system of braces you are done usually in less than 9 months.   TOP
  
  
• My teeth are okay but they are dark – what are my choices?
  Bleaching has been found to be effective. I recommend bleaching in the office as opposed to home bleaching. Power bleaching gets you the fastest results. If bleaching is not enough then I favor laminate veneers to whiten the teeth.   TOP
  
  
• I have a missing tooth in the back of my mouth. Nobody can see it. Is this a big deal?
  Slowly but surely the other teeth will shift and drift, leading to many serious problems; such as disrupting the way you bite and chew, causing spaces to open up all around your mouth, and leading to cavities and gum disease. Loss of your teeth and an ugly appearance is inevitable, if the balance in your mouth is not regained.   TOP
  
  
• I am afraid of the dentist, so afraid that I cannot bring myself to go, but I am now afraid that I will lose my teeth. What can I do? I am so afraid.
  I know how to make you comfortable. I have sweet air analgesia, TV, headphones and plain gentle caring. I do not rush you. You are the only person under our care during your appointment. It is for our mutual benefit that you are happy and pain free.   TOP
  
  
• What is "sweet air analgesia?" This is a sweet smelling gas you breathe through your nose, that makes you feel very calm and relaxed. Some of our patients actually fall asleep while we treat them. Sweet air or nitrous oxide only is working when you are breathing it in. When we finish treatment you will breath pure oxygen and you then can go about your day normally. It is a very safe and effective way to calm your concerns about dental treatment.   TOP
  
  
• Does your dentistry hurt?
  There are procedures that can hurt. However, with proper planning and use of our modern, state of the art techniques, most of our procedures are painless. I will not treat you if you are feeling pain. I will address the cause and remove it so that you are safe.   TOP
  
  
• I hear that quality cosmetic dentistry is expensive. Is it?
  Like any quality service, the costs are commensurate with the skill, training and experience of the individual. The hardware of dentistry is roughly similar for most doctors, it is the kind of treatment that you get is what you value. Dentistry is not crowns, fillings, surgery etc. but a difficult technique sensitive, artistic service that depends on superior skill and talent to be successful and easy for the patient.   TOP
  
  
• I have crowns (caps) that are more than 5 years old. I can see my tooth showing between the crown and the gum. It looks horrible. What can I do?
  Apparently, you have gum recession. Sometimes I can replace the gum tissue, sometimes we have to replace the crowns, sometimes I have to do both to get the best result. In these cases you do not have to be referred to another doctor, I can perform both procedures.   TOP
  
  
• Why do I need a root canal? I heard that they hurt a lot.
  Usually a root canal, also known as endodontic therapy, is needed because tooth decay has reached into the pulp or nerve of the tooth leading to an infected pulp. Root canal treatment consists of sterilizing the inside of the tooth. With proper anesthetics and gentle care on our part, all root canal treatment is painfree. Root canal treatment has saved many teeth that might otherwise have been extracted.   TOP