Frequently Asked Questions

Will my improved smile look fake?

The experience of most people is that they recollect seeing people in person or on TV who have had all their teeth "fixed" to improve their appearance. This is usually back in the 1980's and earlier. Before the 1990's most cosmetic dental work for the front teeth involved using Porcelain-Metal crowns or caps. These created the appearance of flat, opaque, refrigerator-white fake or denture type teeth. Not only that, but many times there were dark lines at the gumline [metal margins], and the gums looked red. Since the early 1990's, we have had technology that allows us to restore front teeth with metal-free ceramics. There are no dark lines at the roots and they are translucent like natural teeth. Also, they do not irritate the gums, so they do not turn red. In almost all cases, this kind of dental work is undetectable.

If I were to veneer my front teeth, how long will they last?

Once your teeth are reinforced with all-ceramic veneers, they now are very similar in wear resistance to natural teeth. Teeth tend to get worn down most at night when we are asleep. At this time we may tend to clench or grind our teeth. In general, food does not wear down our teeth [at least not a Western type diet]. So, for people who may clench or grind at night, the answer to protecting our veneered teeth is the same as protecting our natural teeth, wear a Night-Guard. Another aspect to this question concerns food types we ingest. As with natural teeth, we need to greatly reduce our intake of refined carbohydrates or sugars. This is especially true in terms of sugar in coffee or tea, soda like Coke, gum and Lifesavers, hard candy, etc.... We can additionally supplement with topical prescription strength fluoride gel to help reduce the incidence of new decay. It is totally realistic to expect natural teeth and veneered teeth to last for years or even decades.

I would like to remove all the metal in my back teeth. But, I don't want my teeth cut down for caps or crowns.

When we remove all the metal in back teeth, we first place a rubber dam over the teeth to be worked on, so you do not swallow any metallic debris. Then we remove all underlying decay and evident fractures. All healthy natural tooth structure is left intact. It is not cut out. We take an impression of the defects and our laboratory makes the polymer-fiber or ceramic replacements. These are then fused to the remaining natural tooth structure with adhesives. These teeth are now as strong as natural teeth [sometimes stronger] and were restored in the most conservative manner.

Why can't I just wait until my teeth break or hurt, and then I have them fixed?

Yes, you could. And many people do this. But, once teeth begin to fail, or have fractured, many times the subsequent dental work is more extensive and expensive than if these same teeth were restored and reinforced earlier. In restoring these teeth earlier, we can avoid future root canal therapy, extraction, surgery, bridges, etc.... The savings in money, time, and aggravation can be enormous.

What's the difference between a regular cap or crown, and these metal-free restorations?

The difference is like night and day. The technologies are completely different. The method of their fabrication is completely different. First of all, traditional metal or porcelain-metal caps or crowns have all-metal undersides. This technology began in the early 1900's. Cements have to be used to fill the space between the metal and the tooth. The porcelain is placed over the metal to hide the dark metal. This is very difficult to do well, and many porcelain-metal crowns still look fake no matter how well they are made. And metal or gold crowns look like gold crowns. The metal free restorations are usually prepared as inlays, onlays, and sometimes as crowns when needed. Inlays and onlays are much more conservative. Secondly, the metal-free components are made of all-ceramic, composite polymers, or fiber reinforced polymer. These are then fused, or bonded to the natural part of the teeth with resin cements that polymerize and seal the space between the restoration and the tooth. This seal is better than the seal between metal and teeth with traditional cements. The subsequent result is teeth that look like natural translucent teeth. Very much like your own.

How can I make my smile look its absolute best?

If your teeth already look balanced and symmetrical, but are too yellow, brown, gray, or stained, then the best solution is simple bleaching. In 2 to 4 weeks, you can look completely different. On the other hand, if your front teeth are a little too short, spaced unevenly, chipped, cracked, stained, filled with all kinds of fillings, or your teeth genetic make-up was just not as good as the rest of your genetic make-up, then using Veneers will most definitely give you the absolute best end result. If there are just isolated problems, but the rest of your teeth look great, then Direct Resin Composite can easily correct this. Sometimes, we will bleach all the teeth, and then use Veneers or Composite Resin to improve localized areas, and match the new whiter shade. There are actually an unlimited number of combinations of services to help attain a final spectacular look.

How long does it take to improve my smile?

In the more difficult cases using all ceramic veneers, it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks [including laboratory time], start to finish. This is 2 appointments, where the first appointment will be several hours long and the second appointment will be half as long. Using Direct Resin Composite, we can finish all work in one visit.

How do I take care of these metal free teeth, so they will last forever?

You can get many, many years of mileage out of your newly restored teeth by: 1] wearing a Night-Guard at night, 2] eliminating refined sugar in your diet, 3] using a prescription fluoride gel daily, 4] seeing a hygienist every 3,4, or 6 months. If you do the above, it is possible you will not have to see a dentist for a very long time.

How can I make my teeth whiter for the least cost?

Bleaching! This can be accomplished in the office in one hour or at home over 2-4 weeks. The best results are using systems that allow you to bleach at home. This way you have full control over the outcome.

How much experience have you had with these new metal-free technologies?

Thousands of cases since the late 1980's. In the 1990's, this is the best service we have provided. As in all human endeavors with technology, there is a learning curve. Our only remaining learning curve is to stay abreast of new improvements and to educate as many people as possible in the alternatives available to them. This is a new millennium, and people expect a lot more.

Will I be comfortable throughout treatment?

All I ever hear are horror stories about people's experiences at dental offices [i.e.: Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man]. Well, there is no excuse for experiencing any discomfort when these services are provided. Anesthetics available and methods of delivery make pain control easy. Additionally, pre-medication with a muscle relaxant, and watching a movie, cable television, or listening to a CD or FM station can help time pass uneventfully. Our staff can provide the support needed to make your experience civilized and comfortable.

How can I afford these services?

We have made arrangements with multiple banks and finance companies which specifically work with healthcare professionals and clients. Interest rates can range from zero to less than most credit cards. Our staff will help you review all available arrangements, including insurance questions.