Common Dental Questions

Q: What’s the difference between bonding and veneers?

A: Advances in cosmetic dentistry now make it easier than ever to have the smile you have always wanted. You might want to consider bonding or veneers to achieve your picture-perfect smile. Bonding can magically close spaces between teeth, lengthen small or misshapen teeth or whiten stained or dark teeth. We can shape a single tooth, or improve your entire smile. Bonding can be completed in just one visit. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to teeth to improve their color and shape. It takes two or more appointments to restore teeth with veneers. Once in place, veneers virtually become part of the teeth. The final result is beautiful and natural looking teeth.

Q: How long does in-office whitening last?

A: With the proper care, your new smile can last for years! Your teeth will always be lighter than they were prior to the procedure. If you are a coffee or tea drinker we recommend that you use straws when drinking. You can purchase maintenance products to help keep your smile as white as it can be.

Q: Do silver fillings last forever?

A: No, that is a common misconception. Amalgam is one of the most durable filling materials, but amalgam fillings don’t last forever. Some may last for more than a decade, but others can begin to fail in as little as five years. For a filling to protect your tooth, it has to seal out bacteria. When a filling has begun to let bacteria into the tooth, we say that filling is leaking. Because a leaking filling no longer protects the tooth, more decay and other more serious problems may occur. When this happens, it’s important to replace the filling with another restoration.

Q: Is there a way to show me what my smile would look like after treatment?

A: Yes, Smile Vision cosmetic imaging allows you to see for yourself how you would look after cosmetic treatment. We use a digital camera to take your picture which is sent to Smile Vision. Dr. DeForno notes the changes to be made to the teeth and gums so that a trained technician can create a realistic result. Within 48 hours you receive clinically accurate professional pictures. They show the prescribed dental alterations in an easy to view manner.

Q: What are sealants?

A: To supplement your regular routine of brushing and flossing, we can apply a thin plastic coating, a sealant, that fills the grooves of molars and premolars. When these deep grooves are not sealed they collect plaque, a film of food and bacteria. Children should have sealants applied to teeth as soon as they erupt. With regard to adults, a 1993 National study of 75,000 sixty-nine year olds found 99.3% decayed, missing, or filled back teeth. Adults can have sealants placed on teeth, which are free of decay and restorations.

Q: What is periodontal disease?

A: Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums and the bone that surrounds the teeth, and it’s the leading cause of adult tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque, the sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth. If plaque isn’t removed each day, the bacteria in plaque invade the spaces between the teeth and gums and begin producing toxins. These toxins, combined with your body’s reaction to them, destroy the bone around your teeth. Once bone has been lost, it never grows back on its own. When too much bone is lost, there’s so little support for the teeth, they get loose and have to be removed. If you have periodontal disease, you may be experiencing persistent bad breath, bleeding of the gums when brushing or flossing, soft, swollen, or tender gums, gums pulling away from the teeth, or loose teeth.

Q: What insurances do you accept?

A: We do not participate with any insurance companies. We submit the your claim electronically but you are responsible for any remaining balance. We suggest that you contact your insurance company for additional information regarding your coverage.

Q: Will I be comfortable during my treatment?

A: We offer many amenities to help keep you comfortable throughout your visit. We offer relaxing, open treatment rooms with large windows, tempurpedic and massage pads, personal CD players and iPods, 20-inch TVS and DVD players in each room, aromatherapy, coffee and juice always available and paraffin wax treatments for your hands.

Q: What is conscious sedation?

A: Dr. DeForno is certified to administer nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation. Conscious sedation allows you to be sedated just enough to be unaware of your treatment while in the dental chair. Your heart rate and oxygen levels are monitored during your procedure and after the work has been completed, you are given some juice to help “wake up.” There are many reasons people decide to use sedation. Some patients have difficulty getting numb, have an aversion to needles, have a high gag reflex, have had a traumatic dental experience, have very sensitive teeth, or some might even have limited time to spend at the dental office. If you have concerns about dental care and feel you are a candidate for sedation, call our office and inform the staff. They can provide you with more detailed information.

Q: How much does treatment cost?

A: This really depends upon the treatment you need. After we have determined what type of work you need to have completed, we will customize a treatment plan for you. After this plan has been established, we will proceed at a comfortable pace and help you with any financial arrangements. Interest free financing is available through Care Credit.

Q: I was told that I have TMD, what is that and what do I do now?

A: Temporomandibular disorder, known as TMD, is a cycle of pain, muscle spasms, and joint imbalance where the jaw meets the skull. The lower jaw meets the skull at the temporomandibular joint, known as TMJ. This joint connects the temporal bone of the skull with the mandible bone of the jaw. Cushioning these two bones is a thin disc of cartilage. Five muscles support the joint. When the balance of these bones, cartilage, and muscles is lost, it can cause: headaches, earaches, difficulty opening and closing your mouth, a clicking or popping in the joint, a dull aching pain around the ear that spreads into the face and sore or painful jaw muscles. To restore balance to the joint, we can crown teeth, fill spaces, adjust the bite using a procedure called equilibration, or even move teeth. A splint, which is a plastic mouthpiece, can reduce clenching and grinding, which will also help restore harmony to the joint. In extremely severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the damaged part of the joint.

Q: What are implants?

A: An excellent option for replacing a missing tooth is an artificial tooth secured by a dental implant. Implants are titanium cylinders that are surgically placed in your jaw to serve as an artificial tooth roots. An implant and crown is practically indistinguishable from your natural teeth, and it fits so securely that you won’t even notice it when you chew and speak. An implant replaces the roots of a missing tooth, which helps to fend off the bone loss that occurs when a tooth is missing. In essence, an implant is the next best thing to your natural tooth.