I want to replace my ugly-black metal fillings in my back teeth. Are crowns the only thing I can have done? I don't want to have my teeth cut down.

With today's materials, crowns are not the only answer, and are used only as a last choice. With the latest protection to keep the metal from going down your throat we remove the old metal fillings, remove any decay, protect the nerve (aids in sensitivity), and reinforce the weak areas. Then we have only the weakest part of the tooth to replace with a strong-natural tooth colored restoration, which is laser bonded to your remaining tooth structure. All usable enamel is left in tact. The bonded material is stronger and the teeth last longer and look more natural.

Today, with a conservative approach and minimal invasive techniques available, your teeth will approach the strength and longevity of natural teeth.

How long will Cosmetic Dentistry or Veneers last?

The answer to this question is that it depends on many variables. First of all how good a partnership you and I make as patient and dentist. Are you available for hygiene visits on the schedule we decide is best for you? Do you use your teeth as “tools”? (for example attempting to open plastic or metal products with your teeth etc…) Wear and grinding during the night are important factors. Just as we protect natural teeth, we may prescribe a Force Management Guard (Night Guard) to prevent wear of the new ceramics or bondings. Diets high in sugar don't help at all.

These restorations are considered to be very long lasting. Once we have Laser Bonded your teeth the All-Ceramic Veneers become very similar to the enamel of natural teeth in wear resistance.

One of the unique features of Bonded Ceramics is its rejuvenation ability in the mouth. With Lasers we can often reverse or correct wear and maintain these beautiful veneers for many, many years, even decades.

Will my new smile look fake?

Most people think dentistry on their front teeth will be off color crowns, often too white and with a black line around the gums. Years ago smiles were done with Porcelain fused to metal dentistry. Today, with metal free dentistry, smiles are “seamless” or undetectable. The porcelain and ceramic available today simulate nature very well. If Cosmetic Dentistry looks like “dentistry” then, in my opinion, it wasn't done well. Our smile designs are undetectable and look real with natural-healthy gums.

Why not just wait until my teeth hurt or break and then have the fixed?

Some people do take that approach. Once teeth start to fail (fractures and cracks) the dental work required is more extensive and expensive than if the same teeth were restored and strengthened earlier. We can often avoid future root canal treatment, extractions, implants, bridges etc… There is often enormous savings in terms of time, money, and aggravation.

What is the difference between a cap, crown, veneer, and metal-free restorations?

There is a very big difference. As technologies evolve, materials we use in the mouth also change. The way we fabricate the restorations for teeth is completely different. We really no longer need or want to use metal in the mouth. That was “yesterdays” technology and it has been around since the 1900's. Porcelain has been baked over the metal and that's why there was always a dark gray or black area on the gum-line around the metal restoration. Cements were used to fill the space between the tooth and metal. They always looked fake and even the best ceramist couldn't always do the porcelain well.

The metal free restorations are usually less invasive, look more like enamel, and are laser bonded right onto the tooth. These are more conservative restorations whether we do an inlay-onlay, veneer, ¾ or partial crown, or a full crown. The strong enamel is left intact and only the weakest part of the tooth is removed and replaced. The bonding creates a better seal with the tooth than a cemented crown. The results are teeth that look more like natural enamel, are stronger, and often last longer.

How can I get the best looking smile?

If you are lucky enough to already have straight-good shaped teeth that are just not white enough for you, then whitening may be all you need. We sometimes check the symmetry of the gum tissue before this is done and if it would help we use a laser to create beautiful gum contours, as the gums frame your teeth. That way we get the best results.

If your teeth are chipped, too short, too long, uneven, have spaces, have numerous fillings, or are weakened from wear then we often use veneers or bonding to absolutely give you the best results. Veneers look completely natural and are very long lasting.

If the problem is only one or two teeth then direct resin composite (new enamel) is bonded in only one appointment. Often we bleach teeth to lighten the color first.

There are really so many options. The doctor and team will be happy to discuss what will work best for you. Often Advanced Records such as, photographs, models, and facial measurements are obtained to best prepare your case. Then we will present all of your options to you and what we fell is the best choice for your smile.

How long will it be until I get my new smile?

That depends on the difficulty of the case. If we are bleaching it can be done fast with “in office” Zoom. It can take several weeks to whiten your teeth with the “take home” method. We often prepare your case with Advanced Records such as, photographs, models, and facial measurements. Once decisions and commitments are made we can prepare and finish veneers and ceramic cases in two appointments over a two to four week time period.

We are very proud of our prototypes (temporaries) and our patients often feel like their smile and mouths are already much better, even in this “temporary” stage.

What is the best way to take care of my new smile with the metal free teeth, so they last a long time?

While we know the new materials are very long lasting there are some strategies that extend their longevity. Wearing a night guard to reduce wear is a major one. Eliminating sugar from your diet and using fluoride rinses also helps, a lot.

Keeping a hygiene appointment every three to six months is also very important.

If you do these things it is likely that your mouth and new smile will last for a very long time.

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

See the whitening link under “Our Services”. We describe how bleaching works. It can be an in office one hour appointment or you may take home trays, which work over time and gives you more control of the shade and is the least costly. Deep bleaching, which takes 14 days, is the most spectacular, but has a slightly higher fee.

How much experience has dentistry in general and your office had with metal free materials?

We have been metal free for close to ten years. Dental research has been perfecting these materials for ten to fifteen years prior to that. We have been doing smile enhancement work and rejuvenating mouths for two to three decades.

Photography is used before and after to more closely enable the ceramics to simulate nature. Sometimes we do 3D “mock-ups” or computer imaging so you can see the results of the new smile before we even start.

We have been fortunate to have trained at some of the most prestigious-advanced institutes for dental studies i.e. LVI and Pac-Live. So we have been on the cutting edge with the materials, techniques, and technologies for years. This has greatly advanced our abilities to get great results.

Will I be comfortable throughout treatment?

The days of people having negative experiences at the dentist are really over. No more scary “needles” or pain.

Today's advance technologies assure your complete comfort. (Please see "Technologies and Comforts”.)

Those patients who choose conscious sedation actually “sleep” during almost the entire procedure.

The temporary phase is also very comfortable. You can smile and eat with confidence. Our team will provide you with all the support and comforts to make your experience a great one.

How can I afford these advance services?

We offer arrangements to enable most of our patients to comfortably budget for their dental care.

We have arrangements with banks and unique dedicated health credit lines, which have very affordable rates. Many have low to zero interest rates. This enables our patients to get their mouths done at one time and to budget this in to affordable payments. (Please use our link to financial information).

Our business team will explain all of your options and help “make it happen” for you.