In my 35+ years of practicing dentistry, I have received numerous awards, but the one I am most proud of, and signifies my dedication to being the best I can be for our patients, is the Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, which I earned in 1991. Only about 2,200 dentists out of nearly 200,000 dentists across the nation have received this award. A minimum of 1,100 hours of very specific studies from 16 different disciplines of dentistry must be completed. And since then, believe it or not, I have also completed nearly 2,000 additional hours of continuing education in implant dentistry, laser dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, etc. But what does this mean to you? It means, due to my additional training, we rarely need to refer our patients to specialists. About 99.9% of all dental needs we see, we can meet!

Its hard to believe I have been practicing general dentistry in Kingsville since 1977. Thats more than 35 years and I still find dentistry a fun and very fulfilling profession. I am still very excited about what we do here!

Our dental team is simply outstanding! We all attend continuing education courses several times a year and meet daily to discuss and plan a comfortable and pleasant dental experience for each and every one of our patients. Most importantly, we put our patients first and try hard to deliver the very best dental care possible painlessly.

Marcia Faltynski, Lead Dental Assistant marcia@kingsvilledentist.com Hi everyone! My name is Marcia and I am one of Dr. Clements hands in the back, where your clinical treatment is done. Ive worked with Dr. Clements as his Lead Assistant since 1988 25 years and counting! Being a known dental coward myself, I get the biggest kick out of helping put patients at ease about their impending dental treatment and making believers out of them. We dont just say were going to be gentle, we ALL go out of our way to be as gentle as possible ALWAYS! I look forward to helping to make a believer out of you too! See you at the chair!

Michelle Hinojosa, Administrative/Technical Assistant michelle@kingsvilledentist.com Hi! My name is Michelle and I have worked in the dental field since 2009, and here at Dr. Clements office since 2012. In addition to helping with a limited number of clinical procedures in the back, I also assist patients in determining which of our many financial options will work for them. I really enjoy the diversity of my job whether its helping with insurance and finance or just putting patients at ease with their upcoming dental treatment. Best of all, I enjoy watching them walk out with a great big smile!

Janet Dolan, Registered Dental Hygienist janet@kingsvilledentist.com Hi! My name is Janet and I am the dental hygienist here in Dr. Clements office. I grew up in Corpus Christi and continue to live in the Calallen area. I am the newest member of the team, joining in 2012. Although I have been in dentistry for more than 30 years, I am excited to use and improve my hygiene skills, especially in the area of laser periodontal therapy. I am thrilled and honored to be part of Dr. Clements team and I look forward to meeting all of you and helping you attain your dental health goals through continued excellent care.

High tech! Advanced tech! Cutting edge technology! These are the terms used on a daily basis to sell us dentists the latest and greatest of technologies! But 35 years of practice has taught me that fancy equipment does not make the dentist. Its the knowledge and experience in his/her head and the skill in his/her hands that truly can make the difference for patients. But that being said, I have also found that from time to time, when the time is right, the right technological advance can mean a huge benefit for patients. This is the case with two new pieces of cutting edge technology that we have recently added to our arsenal of dental tools.

Two dimensional film x-rays have long been a standard diagnostic tool in the dental office, as well as most medical offices and hospitals. When exposed correctly, they were little pieces of art that revealed tooth and bone structure, along with abscesses, decay, orthodontic and periodontic problems and more. Then came the digital age, and many dentists moved on to 2-D digital x-rays. I really felt that this early digital technology left a little to be desired as far as sharpness, clarity and diagnostic usefulness when compared to my film x-rays. So I stayed with film. As time went on, actually quite a few years, I began to see vast improvements in the technology along with many possible benefits for our patients.

Then 3-D Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) imaging was offered to the dental community. With CBCT we are able to generate an undistorted 3-D view of your head and neck area that we can use to accurately visualize both erupted and non-erupted teeth as well as their location, position and orientation. Conventional 2D radiography can not.

Our NewTom CBCT system uses SafeBeam technology, the safest technology available for patient and staff. It automatically adjusts the radiation dosage according to the patients age and size. A small child receives up to 40% less radiation than the already very low level for a full-sized adult. SafeBeam technology automatically and continuously monitors system operations eliminating the possibility of incorrect exposures. Our NewTom VGi uses much less radiation than most other cone-beam systems, and up to 20-50 times less radiation than conventional CT. Now, thats a benefit I want to offer to my patients!

Laser is another piece of cutting edge technology we have recently added for our patients. This technology is truly amazing! Our laser system was first cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to cut tooth structure in 1998, and since that time it has received numerous additional clearances from the FDA for a wide range of procedures on teeth, bone and gum tissue. Heat, vibration and pressure are the primary causes of pain associated with the use of the traditional dental drill. But cutting hard and soft tissues (teeth and gums) with our WaterLase laser does not generate heat, vibration or pressure, so many dental procedures can be performed nearly pain-free with fewer shots, less need for anesthesia, less use of the drill and fewer numb lips! Additionally, using the WaterLase for surgical procedures reduces bleeding, post-operative pain, swelling and the need for pain medication in many cases. When possible, using a laser is just a better and more comfortable way to get your dentistry done!

Simply put a dental implant is an artificial tooth root! More specifically, a dental implant is quite literally a screw-shaped titanium or ceramic post which we surgically place in the jawbone. Once in place, the surrounding bone and tissue begins to grow next to, around, and grab onto the implant in a process called osteointegration. The implant is made part of the jawbone providing the artificial root we need to replace your missing tooth. Surprisingly, the surgical placement of a dental implant is much easier for the patient than most extractions.

If you have several, or even all, of your teeth missing and if the surrounding bone is strong enough, multiple dental implants can be placed in order to support a fixed bridge (several teeth attached together and attached to the implants). This procedure actually helps save any adjacent teeth since your neighboring teeth are not used to support the bridge.

Standard implants are typically wider, longer and stronger, and theyre used in patients with a good amount of bone mass. These implants are shaped quite literally like a screw, but, instead of the flat head or Phillips head we are used to seeing, they have another set of internal threads which allow us to screw a variety of angled attachments into the standard implant in order to properly position your crown or bridge.

Mini implants are one piece with a trailer hitch ball on top that snaps into an O-ring female assembly that is embedded in your denture or partial. They can even be used with crowns to replace genetically missing teeth, especially anterior (front) incisor teeth. These implants are much smaller so they can be placed when there is less bone mass. Talk to a typical denture wearer and you will soon find out that stable, comfortable mini implant dentures can mean a happier, healthier, life-changing experience!

The answer depends on many factors. In most cases, if you are healthy enough to undergo routine dental procedures or oral surgery, and have good oral hygiene (no gum disease), then you are almost on your way. But if you are a heavy smoker or have uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease or other medical condition, you may have to address these conditions before proceeding since they may reduce the success rate of the implants. The last thing we need to determine is whether you have enough bone mass in your jaw to accommodate the size and placement of implants.

In our office, we do this with the help of a very special machine called a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanner. Using this high tech 3D digital scanning, we are able to see a cool three-dimensional picture of your mouth structures including your teeth, bone, sinuses, nerves, etc. When considering dental implants, we are looking to see if there is enough bone structure to accommodate the implants and exactly where to safely place them.

You might ask, Why wouldnt I have enough bone? The answer lies in your overall health, genetics and how many teeth you have been missing for how long. You see, your body does funny things when its missing teeth. When a tooth is missing in a particular area, there is nothing for the opposite tooth to chew against. After a while, the body realizes there no reason to have a bunch of bone in that area. So the bone is, to a greater or lesser degree, reabsorbed by the body and those resources are used elsewhere. This process is magnified for patients that have lost or had all of their teeth pulled in preparation for dentures. That is one reason why dentures are usually supported with mini-implants.

Once we have determined whether you are a candidate, we carefully map out the exact size and location for the implant with the use of a high tech 3D scan. After gently applying a conscious sedation and local anesthesia, the implant is surgically placed below the gum tissue in the bone structure of either the upper or lower arch of your mouth. Once placed, you are usually sent home for a few weeks or months to let the implant heal and integrate with the surrounding bone and tissue. This takes time but it allows for a good solid structural support for the rest of your reconstructive dentistry. When you return, the implant is uncovered with a laser procedure and an attachment that sticks up above the gum line is secured to the implant. Then, using that attachment as a foundation, a corresponding crown is created and secured in place. Voila! Your tooth is replaced!

There is also another implant technique called immediate placement and loading whereby the standard implant is placed immediately after the extraction of a natural tooth. This procedure normally entails also placing some bone graft materials in the socket along with the implant to help it integrate with the surrounding bone and tissue to ultimately form a good dense bony base to support it.

By the way, in case you were wondering, we use only artificial bone graft material which is sterile, granular mineral which is the consistency of wet sand. It is similar to, but not, bone. Even if you are not quite ready for a dental implant, bone grafting the tooth socket after an extraction definitely keeps your options open for the possibility of replacing that tooth with an implant in the future!

The best bridges (several crowns attached together) are those that are cemented in called fixed bridges. They require support from, and the crowning of, your teeth on either side of the missing tooth and they do require a little more effort when it comes to flossing under them. Fixed bridges work great if your supporting teeth also happen to need crowns.

If your neighboring teeth are sound, it is better to place a dental implant where the tooth is missing. A single crown is then cemented on top of the implant. This way, you can brush and floss normally between your teeth. Even though it entails more time, cost and effort, the implant way is generally best since it should serve you a lifetime. In fact, dental implants, depending on the tooths purpose, location in your mouth and your overall all health, have up to a 95% long term success rate and thats good in anybodys book!

If you need dentures or, unfortunately, have loose dentures, mini dental implants could provide the support necessary to create a strong stable denture fit! They are much smaller implants so they can be placed when there is less bone mass, which is very typical in seniors and anyone who has lost some or all of their natural teeth. These mini implants are one piece with a trailer hitch ball on top that snaps into an O-ring female assembly that is embedded in your denture or partial.

The implant technique is called immediate placement and loading whereby several mini implants are placed, with bone graft material if needed. By adding some artificial bone graft material to the sockets, we help the implants integrate with the surrounding bone and tissue to ultimately form a good dense bony base to support it.

When you already have loose dentures and the implants are placed, your denture is immediately modified to accommodate the mini implants. You simply wear it home and follow the aftercare directions. And with that you can throw away the denture adhesives, eliminate the fear of denture drop when speaking to your family and friends and start enjoying your favorite foods again! Believe it or not, research shows a good stable bite can add 10-20 years to your life!

Whether restored with a corresponding crown or a denture attachment, it is important to brush and floss your dental implants just as you would your natural teeth. You should be brushing after any meal or snack, and flossing at least once per day. If you have also been instructed to use a periodontal irrigator, use that once per day as well after your brushing and flossing. Poor oral hygiene is one of the biggest reasons why implants fail. We also recommend professional cleanings and/or periodontal (gum health) maintenance up to four times a year. When you have dental implants, it is absolutely necessary to promote and support healthy gums.

Yes, of course there are failures, but when weighed against a 90-95% success rate, you can see that the chances of failure are low. Failure can be for any number of reasons: rejection by the body, failure to integrate, genetics, medications, infections, failure to follow proper home care and professional maintenance, and others.

That is a personal choice and preference, but overall, as long as you are an implant candidate, they are usually the best solution for missing teeth. The expense is higher compared to other options due to the surgeries required, the high cost of the implants, parts and equipment, as well as the necessary extra training (which can be thousands of dollars per day) that your dentist must have just to place them.

Teeth that are not replaced cause problems. Your other teeth above and beside the empty spot will shift around and be unbalanced. You lose your chewing ability in that area because the partner tooth above or below has nowhere to chew. Missing teeth usually need to be replaced by some means and the most desirable way is with dental implants, followed by fixed or removable bridges.

The idea of laser dentistry sounds like a dream come true! After all, that would mean a little light would make things right and you wouldnt have to listen to that noisy drill. Right? Not exactly. While for many years now we have used a laser in our office to diagnose deep pit dental decay and to help heal canker and virus sores, the recent advances in laser technology now allow us to increase your comfort level and treatment options. When a laser can be used to help treat a specific dental problem, the new soft-tissue (gums) and hard-tissue (bone and tooth cutting) dental lasers have some distinct advantages and patient benefits over other methods of treatment.

Lasers have been used in dentistry since 1990. Our WaterLase was first cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to cut tooth structure in 1998, and since that time it has received numerous additional clearances from the FDA for a wide range of procedures on teeth, bone and gum tissue. The amount of energy generated to treat a given clinical situation is very specific. Sometimes the energy emitted is not much more than a laser pointer, all the way up to several watts of power which can be focused to cut the hard enamel of your tooth. In our office, we practice strict safety standards when using lasers and everyone must wear special glasses. In no cases will the laser make a deep or accidental cut because the energy is highly focused right at the tip, and actually cuts much slower than a scalpel. So there is no need to worry. We always show and demonstrate our laser equipment to patients before we use it. Even children quickly see and understand that there is nothing to be afraid of. By the way, I have personally been treated with laser, and it was A-OK!!

This is probably the first thought that comes to mind, Oh boy! No more drill! Well, yes and no! Dental lasers, that is hard-tissue dental lasers, can be used to prepare teeth for the filling of cavities just like a drill! The standard air turbine drill, developed in the 1950s, is still the major tool in use because it is so versatile. We still need it when removing old fillings and larger cavities, and in preparing teeth for crowns and bridges. Anesthetic is nearly always needed for these procedures, but dental lasers can often reduce or eliminate the need for shots. That means less or no numbness after your dental visit. The laser light energy also helps kill bacteria in cavity preparation. It is especially useful for cavities located at the gum line or on the tooth root because, as it cuts, it seals up tiny blood vessels in the gums, unlike the drill. So whats the bottom line? Lasers can mean less or no shots, less bleeding and no drill noise IF your treatment can be performed using a laser.

One of the main uses of the soft tissue dental laser is as an adjunctive aid in periodontal treatment. When gum disease is present in the mouth, bacteria can build up in the pockets between the gums and tooth roots. Their toxins cause bone destruction. This can lead to loosening of the teeth which ultimately leads to tooth loss if the bacterial infection isnt handled. But lucky for us, bacteria prefer darkness and do not like light especially bright, high energy light! This is why the laser can be used to reduce the bacterial count in a periodontal (gum) pocket almost to a level of sterilization. Also, it can remove unwanted inflamed gum tissue in the area, and help seal blood vessels and nerves. As a result, surgical procedures are more bloodless and healing is generally quicker and more pain-free. But most importantly, adding laser light deep in periodontal pockets, along with the usual mechanical and chemical treatment, can enhance the attachment of the teeth to the surrounding bone, thereby lessening the chances of tooth loss. Afterall, you keeping your teeth is our ultimate goal!

Root canal treatment requires careful cleaning and sealing of the internal canal systems of an infected tooth, where the nerves and blood vessels once were. The problem is, it is extremely difficult to clean and seal so many canals and microscopic tubules where bacteria can lodge and cause problems. In fact, most failures of root canal treatment are from this one factor. So in our office, before the root canal is sealed, laser energy, via a specially designed radial laser tip, is passed deep to the root tip and radiated outward to all areas as much as possible, to kill these hiding bacteria. While long term studies are not available to substantiate the effectiveness of this, it is still reasonable to surmise that this may help due to the antibacterial properties of laser energy.

For decay removal, we are using an FDA-approved Waterlase that uses laser energy in conjunction with a water mist that accomplishes vaporization (ablation) of decay. This particular laser wavelength is attracted to and excites water molecules. Since decay has water in its content, it can be excited to an extent of vaporization (ablation). Various power settings are used with varying amounts of water mist. Its really a very gentle procedure and does not require anesthesia in most cases.

The fact is lasers can be used to cut any soft-tissue in the mouth that a scalpel is used for. We are using an FDA-approved Waterlase that uses laser energy in conjunction with a water mist that accomplishes vaporization (ablation). When the laser tip is focused where needed over the soft tissue, it appears to cut similar to a scalpel. Its really a very gentle procedure and does not require anesthesia in most cases. In our office, we frequently use a laser for gum (periodontal) surgery, wisdom teeth surgery, cosmetic recontouring of gum tissues, removal of cysts or tumors and muscle attachment (frenum) removal, just to name a few. We have found that using the laser for these surgical procedures provides the added benefits of laser anesthesia, less bleeding and less post-operative pain, generally with quicker healing due to the gentler nature of the laser light.

Lasers cant be used for all cavities. Some areas are so deep or around corners, it is best to use the drill. Also enamel is very hard and can be removed with a laser, but it is slow. The drill can really speed things up on that type of situation.

Cosmetic dentistry is exactly what you would think. It focuses on improving the aesthetics of your teeth and mouth and the beauty of your smile, as opposed to traditional dentistry which focuses on oral function and the preservation of your teeth through the diagnosis and treatment of oral disease. In general, traditional dentistry addresses problems that truly need attention while cosmetic dentistry provides you with the procedures you want in order to look your best.

Cosmetic and traditional dentistry are not mutually exclusive. This is the case, when a badly decayed tooth needs a crown which just happens to be more perfect in size and color than your original tooth, or, when orthodontics is necessary to correct your improper bite which just happens to straighten those crooked front teeth that have stopped you from letting out big smiles for most of your life! Not surprisingly, with dental perfection being portrayed by Hollywood on a daily basis and baby boomers pursuing the Fountain of Youth through every avenue possible, cosmetic dentistry in the United States has become a very significant part of the dentistry we perform today!

That being said, when we look back, almost any aesthetic procedure that we do in our office, except for teeth whitening, can also be considered a functional procedure depending on the circumstances. In fact, usually its a combination of the two!

But while we are planning for your new smile, it is not uncommon to find dental problems that need to be addressed before or at the same time we work on the aesthetic points. Its very important that these functional needs are addressed because many times they can negatively affect your beautiful cosmetic dental work, leaving you, once again, unhappy with your smile.

Probably the most common reason is a diet of dark food and drinks like coffee, tea, colas, red wine, berries, etc. Insufficient oral hygiene can also lead to bacterial stains. Genetics that dictate: 1) your personal coloring (e.g. redheads tend to have redder, darker colored teeth), 2) a more porous enamel than average, 3) darker colored dentin (the second layer under enamel) or 4) thinner enamel, can also produce a less-than-desirable tooth color.

The most beautiful and perfectly created smile will never stay that way if the underlying or surrounding tissues are not healthy. Gum and decay infections are the most common problems we need to handle before cosmetic procedures.

A crown, also known as a cap, is a strong, long-lasting, tooth-shaped covering that is individually created to fit over your carefully prepared existing tooth or dental implant in order to strengthen, restore or improve the appearance of that tooth.

Single crowns are most commonly used when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to support a filling. And if your tooth is cracked, a crown can literally hold your tooth together so that the damage doesnt get any worse. It can also strengthen a tooth that has been weakened by infection. A crown can also replace a missing tooth when it is cemented to a dental implant thus preventing the shifting and tilting of nearby teeth. And, last but not least, a crown can restore and improve the size, shape and color of your existing tooth.

Our normal goal is to create a crown that looks as close as possible to a natural tooth, but sometimes a crown made of different material is better for our patient. One of the most common type of crowns we insert is called porcelain fused to metal. It actually is exactly as the name implies. A metal crown is created, then porcelain is fused to the metal thus covering the outside of the crown. The advantages of this crown is the strength of the metal and the general appearance and color of a natural tooth. For an even more enhanced, translucent, natural looking crown, we can offer our patients an all porcelain, super strong crown, usually used on anterior (front) teeth. And for our patients who clench and grind their teeth (especially their molars), all gold crowns offer extra strength and durability. Be assured, we will consider both appearance and function when suggesting the material most suitable for you.

The first step in getting a crown is having an impression made of your existing teeth. This is done by filling an arch-shaped tray with a impression material and pressing it onto your upper or lower arch. Within minutes, the material sets up, is popped off and used to create a temporary crown which we will insert until your permanent crown is made. Next, your tooth is slightly reduced in size and shape in order to accommodate your new crown. Then another impression is taken. Your temporary crown is inserted. At your next visit, the temporary crown is removed and replaced with a shiny new perfect tooth.

The most common cause is poor gum health. When gums are dark red or purple, it detracts from the aesthetics. Other causes are: 1) poor impressions that give a poor fit, 2) poor technical work by the porcelain technicians, and 3) poor choice of materials, including poor shade selection. In fact, all dentists should be aware of the high percentage of color blindness and consider their own possible weakness in this area. Someone else, like an assistant, can always help with shade selection.

Crowns can and many times do last a lifetime! I have several in my mouth that are 30 years old! Properly done and adequately maintained with good oral hygiene and checkups insure your best chances of lifetime wear.

A fixed bridge is a group of connected crowns, some of which are suspended over the area where a tooth or teeth are missing, and the others of which are anchored to the neighboring teeth (abutments) or dental implants for support. They are cemented in fixed so that you are not bothered with daily removal. This type of restoration replaces one or several missing teeth. The nice thing about fixed bridges is that they can restore both your bite and your beautiful smile.

Losing permanent teeth can cause many serious problems for your neighboring teeth and the remaining teeth will begin to tilt and shift. In fact, the tooth above or below the lost tooth can begin to move up or down and out of socket, which can accelerate periodontal disease and further break down bone structure. If the missing tooth is not replaced, more teeth may eventually be lost due to the improper forces exerted during chewing.

In our office, we provide two different types of fixed bridges. Traditional fixed bridges are comprised of two or more crowns, one on each side of the missing tooth or teeth, with one or more pontics (false teeth) suspended in between. The crowns on each end are supported by natural teeth or dental implants. Either way the fixed bridge is cemented to these supports along with the pontics which span across the area of missing teeth. The second kind of fixed bridge we use is called a cantilever bridge. In this case, there are only supporting teeth on one side of the missing tooth or teeth, therefore the pontic(s) stick out over the area where we need to replace missing teeth. Use of this type of bridge must be carefully chosen since there are definite limits to its use.

The nice thing about fixed bridges is that they are cemented in place and you dont have to remove them on a daily basis in order to clean them. Fixed bridges are usually more expensive but worth it because they last longer.

Fixed bridges can last possibly a lifetime, but the determining factor is how well they are cleaned and maintained. I have personally seen many bridges still functioning in mouths where I placed them over 30 years ago!

A dental veneer, also called a laminate, is an ultra-thin shell of tooth-colored porcelain designed to cover the front surface of your tooth. When veneers are bonded to carefully prepared teeth, the changes in color, shape, size or length result in a dramatic cosmetic improvement in your teeth and, ultimately, your smile!

This is where the artistry in dentistry really shines! I love creating that perfect smile with dental veneers. To do it correctly, many steps must be carefully completed with the help of high quality laboratory technicians. We use a dental lab near Hollywood, CA to get what I consider the best for our patients and, yes, we have the smiles in our office to prove it! Several members of our dental team, including myself, greet our patients with veneer-enhanced smiles! And our patients notice, compliment and demand their own perfect smile!

The procedure for getting a porcelain veneer is very similar to that of getting a crown. The main difference is that less of your natural tooth needs to be reduced in order to accommodate the veneer. In fact, the lingual, or tongue side of your tooth, is many times left untouched.

The first step in getting veneers is having an impression made of your existing teeth. This is done by filling an arch-shaped tray with a impression material and pressing it onto your upper or lower arch. Within minutes, the material sets up, is popped off and used to create a temporary veneer which we will insert until your permanent one is made. Next, the front of each tooth is slightly reduced in size and shape in order to accommodate your new veneers. Some cases need more or less reduction this is a highly individualized step. Then another impression is taken. Your temporary veneers are then fabricated in our office lab and are inserted over your prepared teeth. When we receive your permanent veneers from the Hollywood lab, you return to our office, the temporaries are removed, at which time we carefully place each veneer on its corresponding tooth to check for proper fit. This also gives you and us a sense of any shade or color variations. The reason we do this is because, at this point, we can still vary the shade of your veneer slightly by varying the shade of the bonding material we use. Once satisfied, each tooth is etched with a special cleaning agent and cemented into place. When we are all done, the smiles start coming and the life starts changing! Wow! And that is why we love dentistry!!

As a procedure, porcelain veneers have not been around as long as others, but we do have some that are over 20 years old. My own are seven years old. If done properly with excellent technique, I believe they too can last a lifetime.

Yes, but it is usually due to clenching, grinding or traumas all of which can and will hurt natural teeth too. Under normal careful wear, they do not come loose often; of course, if they do, save it and bring it into the office for rebonding.

To do correctly, this is a very exacting and difficult procedure. It takes extra training, excellent porcelain technician support, artistic talent, and practice! Many dentists try and fail at this because of these factors and thusly, dont offer them.

In a sentence? A very quick and inexpensive way to give your smile a polished, neater look. It is a gentle reshaping of the enamel of the anterior teeth to remove small chips, irregularities, roughness and crowding. It can be done in under 15 minutes and is one of the most dramatic and enjoyable ways to help our patients cosmetically. We do it routinely after all of our orthodontic cases, as a added value. In adults with worn or chipped teeth, it gives their smile some of its youth back. Our patients are routinely amazed and delighted at the results in such a short time, and for less cost than even one or two fillings!

Power Bleaching is the quickest and most hassle-free technique and is done here in our office. It is accomplished by thoroughly cleaning the teeth with air abrasion, which is key to getting a whiter, brighter tooth surface. Then highly concentrated whitening solutions are painted onto the teeth surfaces followed by a LASER light that activates the whitening process. This treatment creates the most dramatic effect and only takes about one and a half hours to complete. This is NOT the flashlight kit you may have seen in a mall or on TV, but real LASERs, used at the proper settings for the best possible whitening.

At-Home Tooth Whitening can whiten your teeth dramatically using various forms of hydrogen peroxide solutions, most often used in a gel form called carbamide peroxide. This is used with the tray method. A custom-made tray is constructed for each patient and the whitening gel is placed in the tray and worn on the teeth for one to four hours depending on the amount of staining. This process is safe and effective and is done as an at-home treatment. The tray process usually takes approximately 2-3 weeks to obtain the desired whitening effect.

Whitening Strips or Beauty Parlor Whitening are generally okay, but weak. You cannot whiten dirty or deeply stained teeth very much for very long. The techniques and chemicals available to dentists are far superior and much safer.