Cavities, or tooth decay, is a fairly common dental ailment, particularly in children or young adults. Even though most of our patients are familiar with what cavities are, we find that many are still surprised when we tell them they have a cavity! That's because many cavities, especially early on, do not cause tooth pain & may not be visible to the untrained eye.

The choice between clear braces or metal braces is becoming an age-old debate at the orthodontist's office or the dentist's office. For many patients who wish to straighten their teeth, the choice comes down to balancing the affect of orthodontics on your appearance, it's impact on your budget, & the expected or desired outcome for your particular case.

We've all heard that the pen is mightier than the sword. You might also say that the toothbrush is mightier than the drill! That's because if you wield your toothbrush properly, it's a very powerful weapon against tooth decay & gum disease. But like any tool, if you want it to work best, you need to take care of it.

If you have dental insurance, your insurance company provides you with a certain dental benefits each year. In case you're not very familiar with insurance vocabulary, you can think of an insurance benefit as a dental service that the insurance company pays all or most of the cost of. Most dental plans cover the most common preventive services at 100%, meaning the insurance company pays 100% of the cost & you pay nothing.

We know many dental patients find the ins & outs of dental insurance confusing, but if you have dental insurance the most important thing for you to know is that you get two free cleanings per year!

When we talk to patients about dentistry, one of the main concerns they bring up is whether the dental care they receive will be gentle. As dentists, our main concern of course is your health, but we understand the desire to have a gentle dental care experience. We know it's not everyday you have to let another person look around your mouth, so we strive to do all we can to make sure your visit & your treatment comfortable, & we mean this in the broadest sense possible.

If you're looking to find the right dentist & establish a "dental home" for your family, you may wonder what the difference is between a pediatric dentist (a.k.a. a kids' dentist) & a family dentist.

Dental crowns, or caps, are one of the most common restorative dental procedures that dentists perform. If you've been told you need a crown, there's no reason to worry. Dental crowns allow us to restore your smile both functionally & aesthetically, & modern techniques mean we can complete the procedure faster than in the past.

You're used to going to the dentist & just seeing the doctor, the hygienist & maybe a dental assistant. But now you've been told you need to see a periodontist too. Now you're thinking, "Perio-what?"

Tooth extraction is when a tooth is removed from it's place in the gum & bone of your jaw. Compared to many dental procedures, tooth extraction can sound scary, especially when it's referred to as "oral surgery".