Your Questions, Answered
Here you will find answers to some of Brighton Healthy Smile’s most commonly asked questions and links to additional information. If you don’t see your question answered here in the FAQ section, please contact us for more information.
Regular dental exams are the most effective way to identify early problems. In most cases, addressing a small problem now can prevent a large problem later.
Our dentists recommend dental exams and teeth cleaning be completed every six months. Cleanings are essential to removing the plaque that may have built up on your teeth.
X-rays are required to detect many dental problems, including decay between teeth, infections around tooth roots, bone health, and developmental problems. We recommend X-rays be taken annually.
The dentists at Brighton Healthy Smiles have the ability to make crowns in one visit using CEREC CAD/CAM technology. CEREC crowns are made from beautiful and durable ceramic. The ceramic comes in a wide variety of shades, and we can customize the color of your crown to deliver the most lifelike appearance.
Chipped, broken, discolored or decayed teeth may be repaired or have their appearance corrected using a procedure called composite bonding. A dental composite material with the look of enamel and dentin is applied into the cavity or onto the surface of a tooth. It is then sculpted into shape, contoured and hardened with a high-intensity light. The result is a restoration that blends invisibly with the remainder of the surrounding tooth structure and the rest of your natural teeth to create a healthy, bright smile.
Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth, mouth, and smile. Cosmetic dentistry provides elective – or desired – treatments or services such as teeth whitening, veneers and bonding.
Porcelain veneers are a form of cosmetic dentistry in which a shell or layer of tooth-colored porcelain is bonded to the surface of a tooth to correct worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing, discoloration, and chips or cracks.
Although dental veneers fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry because they create bright, white smiles with beautifully aligned, shapely teeth, they also protect the surface of damaged teeth and may eliminate the need for more extensive treatments. Other benefits of veneers include an improved smile appearance, and the need for minimal removal of tooth structure compared to crowns.
Brighton Healthy Smiles dentists strongly recommend that children and adults wear a mouth guard while playing any sport. It is always better to prevent an injury than to repair one. The earlier a child begins to wear the mouth guard, the easier it is to become comfortable and continue to wear it as they get older. A custom-made mouth guard is more comfortable and allows for better breathing than an over-the-counter mouth guard. Your Brighton Healthy Smiles dentist can recommend appropriate products to protect your teeth and your child’s teeth. Contact us today!
Brighton Healthy Smiles is excited to offer ICON, which is a revolutionary new approach to treatment of incipient cavities and unsightly white spots on teeth. ICON was developed in Europe over the past decade. It is the subject of numerous international studies proving its effectiveness. This breakthrough micro technology fills and reinforces demineralized enamel without destructive drilling or painful shots. ICON will minimize the appearance of white spots from fluorosis, demineralization, trauma and discoloration left after orthodontics. ICON provides a highly esthetic alternative to destructive treatments of white spots. This procedure is pain free it requires no drilling and no anesthetic and is completed in one appointment. After one appointment you will see the results!
An extraction means to have a tooth removed, usually because of disease, trauma or crowding. If you need an extraction, your dentist will first numb the area to lessen any discomfort. After the extraction, your dentist will advise you of what post extraction regimen to follow. In most cases a small amount of bleeding is normal. Your mouth will slowly fill in the bone where the tooth root was through the formation of a blood clot.
Brushing and flossing are the best ways to help prevent cavities, but it’s not always easy to clean every nook and cranny of your teeth – especially those back teeth you use to chew (called molars). Molars are rough, uneven and a favorite place for leftover food and cavity-causing bacteria to hide.
Still, there’s another safety net to help keep those teeth clean. It’s called a sealant, and it is a thin, protective coating that adheres to the chewing surface of your back teeth. Sealants are no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can keep cavities from forming and may even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity.
In fact, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your child’s dental health.
Yes! The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that the first dental visit should be between the ages of 6 months and 12 months. This way, we can make sure that you and your child are doing everything possible to reduce the risk of preventable dental problems. If an area of concern is noticed or if your child suffers mouth-related trauma, then the child should see a Brighton Healthy Smiles dentist for an evaluation.
