FAQ
What is Esthetic Dentistry?
Esthetic dentistry is the contemporary term for the blend of strength, durability and beauty achieved by using state of the art bonded tooth colored restorative materials. These materials are typically made from very high strength porcelain or composite (a resin base highly filled with hardened particles of glass, porcelain, and heat and light cured resin).
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What is Bonding?
Bonding is the chemical and mechanical process by which these wonderful, modern, tooth colored restorations are attached to a person's natural tooth to replace areas that may have decayed, broken or chipped. The bonding process makes the filling more resistant to the harsh environment in the mouth (food, saliva, bacteria, etc). Bonding helps to reinforce the natural tooth structure rather than weakening it like some of the older filling materials may have done.
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What are Veneers?
Veneers are thin, very strong porcelain facings (they sort of look like fake fingernails for teeth) that are bonded onto the front of teeth to correct many different cosmetic problems such as color discrepancies, stains (like those caused by taking Tetracycline at a very young age), slight crowding and/or alignment problems (some even call them "instant braces" for this reason), to replace large unsightly fillings, to fill in gaps between teeth, or sometimes just to make a person's smile look the way they've always wanted it to look, straight, white, even and beautiful! Because veneers are made of porcelain, they never change shape or color.....you'll have a permanent white smile!!
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Will Bleaching Harm my Teeth?
Dentists have been bleaching teeth by one of a number of different methods for many years and current research indicates that the newest techniques are very safe, effective and comfortable for the vast majority of patients. Our entire team has bleached their teeth many times without any undesirable side effect. By the way, all the "whitening" toothpaste in the world won't really lighten your teeth no matter what the TV commercials say.
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How are Onlays Different from Crowns?
When a tooth needs more structural support than a filling can provide the treatment options include an inlay, onlay or a crown. Inlays and onlays strengthen and protect the tooth just like a crown. The main difference is that inlays and onlays require removal of only the damaged and decayed areas of the tooth while crowns often require removal of additional healthy tooth structure. The bottom line is inlays and onlays are the most conservative and healthy option when a tooth needs more structural support than a filling can provide. They are our treatment of choice when this situation arises. We only suggest crowns when decay or trauma extensively damages a tooth such that inlays or onlays are technically impossible.
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I Have Headaches, Can you Help?
Symptoms such as headaches and neck pain may be directly related to your bite. If your bite is not in balance, then the muscles in your face that position your jaw and muscles of your neck that balance your head must work harder to allow you to function, thereby causing pain. Other signs and symptoms of bite problems include: tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, joint noises (clicking and popping), and numbness in the fingers. For more information about this connection, check out: www.leadingdentist.com.
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Does your Office Accept my Insurance?
Our office accepts dental insurance. Our goal is to always help you maximize your dental insurance coverage. Please keep in mind that the prime mandate of insurance companies is cost containment a strategy that does not necessarily equate to high quality dental care. Since our office is committed to providing quality services to you and not your insurance company, we will never let an insurance company dictate what it feels is best for your mouth. Click on the following link to learn more about dental insurance.
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What Payment Options do you Offer?
High quality aesthetic dentistry is an excellent investment in your health and well being. We believe that financial considerations should not be an obstacle to obtaining the treatment you desire. We have a variety of payment options to help make quality dental care affordable. Many of our patients choose to pay for their dental investment over time. We work with companies such as Wells Fargo Bank, Dental Fee Plan and Care Credit who all provide credit options specifically for dental procedures. These companies offer the following benefits:
* No initial payments
* 3 and 6 months no interest options
* Low, fixed rates with terms ranging from 18 to 60 months
* No prepayment penalty
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Does your office see Children?
Our office loves to see kids! We feel that early, preventative care is essential to long term dental health. Each of our team members has received special training to insure that your child's visit will be a positive one. Our office typically begins seeing children at the age of three, but every situation is different. There are some circumstances when it is absolutely critical that a child see a children-only dentist. We will discuss these special situations with the parents, should the need arise.
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Why is it important to see a dentist with extended postdoctoral training?
We feel it is absolutely critical to see a dentist that has appropriate training to be able to provide quality and excellence. All dentists receive the same basic education at traditional dental schools; however, modern day techniques and materials are NOT taught at the dental school level. Advanced training is not required by any regulating entity. Dentists who wish to further their knowledge and provide the latest treatments, must seek postdoctoral training. Dr. Eric Duncan has received his postdoctoral training at two of the most prestigiuos centers for advanced training: the Pankey Institute and the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dentistry (LVI). Dr. Duncan has primarily studied at LVI. LVI graduates are among the most progressive dentists in the world. Capitalizing on the talent and knowledge of some of the most experienced dentists in the world, LVI offers a comprehensive and revolutionary curriculum. Once mastered, LVI graduates are able to offer the amazing benefits of their LVI training to you - their patient.
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Care. Comfort. Service
Your choice to have Brookpointe Dental treat your smile means you will receive the best care, comfort, service, and advanced dentistry available. Call today to set up your consultation.
What is Esthetic Dentistry?
What is Bonding?
What are Veneers?
Will Bleaching Harm my Teeth?
How are Onlays Different from Crowns?
I Have Headaches, Can you Help?
Does your Office Accept my Insurance?
What Payment Options do you Offer?
Does your office see Children?
Why is it important to see a dentist with extended postdoctoral training?
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