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FAQs

What will cosmetic dentistry do for me?

Your smile reflects a lot about you; it can be an influence on both your social and professional life. The appearance of your teeth has a direct effect on the overall beauty of your face, and how others respond to you. If the quality of your teeth is making you feel self-conscious, Dr. Don Davis and his experienced clinical team at Lake Creek Family Dental Care will provide personalized attention to your problem(s).

We offer dental make-overs that are effective in correcting deformities and other dental problems.

What options do I have with filling replacement?

If you have silver-mercury, amalgam fillings placed into the teeth for cavities, which are now corroding and leaking, it may be time for a filling replacement. New advents in dentistry technology have introduced tooth-colored resin fillings, which are made up of glass particles in a plastic matrix. This putty-like material will be bonded to your tooth and blends to the natural color of the tooth, and is actually stronger and longer-lasting than silver-mercury amalgam fillings. Resin restorations can cost anywhere from $150 to $350 per tooth.

How can I fix discolored and/or stained teeth?

Dark, discolored, and stained teeth can be corrected through teeth whitening. At Lake Creek Family Dental Care, we have a teeth whitening solution that is custom-made and placed in a see-through tray that fits over the teeth. It is a similar version of a mouthpiece worn by a professional boxer.

However, patients have two options when undergoing teeth whitening:

Zoom power whitening: This treatment requires only one office visit.
At-home-whitening: An at-home-use treatment that requires a series of treatments, the results are typically apparent within one week.

How do I know if I am a good candidate for teeth whitening?

Someone who is a good candidate for teeth whitening is looking to lighten the color of their teeth and remove staining due to aging, coffee, tea, or tobacco. Results vary depending on a person's habits (i.e. smoking, prior medication use, etc.). An ideal candidate should not have sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, teeth with worn enamel, or is currently breastfeeding and/or pregnant.

Is teeth whitening safe?

Teeth whitening is both safe and effective. Typically, the only side effect from teeth whitening treatment is having sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, which usually subside within two to three days.

What options do I have in restoring broken teeth?

Depending on the severity of the damage, there are different options in restoring the look of a patient's teeth, such as these cosmetic dentistry procedures:

Bonding
Porcelain veneers
Crowns

What is dental bonding?

Dental bonding hides natural flaws, such as stains, gaps, and malformed teeth, through the placement of a thin coating on the front surface of the teeth. The putty-like bonding material is sculpted, shaped, and colored to meet your needs. Once the material is prepared to match the patient's needs, a high-intensity light is used to harden the surface of the material. The plastic is then smoothed and polished.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are used when the contour, color, or shape of the teeth are in need of significant change, due to small, discolored or misshapen teeth. A porcelain veneer consists of a thin piece of porcelain that is about the same size as a fingernail. The veneer is bonded over the tooth and blended to conceal the problem.

What are crowns?

A crown is used when fillings or composite plastics cannot replace a part of a tooth that is missing. Some crowns are built on a metal base, which fits snugly on a tooth to restore and strengthen the entire top surface of the tooth. Anterior crowns are made of all porcelain, which provides a very beautiful white smile with no sight of any metal.

What are dental crowns made of?

Dental crowns are made up of gold or porcelain. In some cases, they can also be made of stainless steel. The porcelain crowns are built upon a metal base, designed to fit perfectly over a natural tooth and is matched closely to its color. Lake Creek Family Dental Care has a dental laboratory on site, which allows the lab technician to design a custom shade to match your natural tooth color while you are in the office.

Why get dental crowns?

If you want to restore the appearance of your teeth and smile, you can use dental crowns to recap slightly damaged teeth and still maintain the same shape and size as the natural tooth.

What is sedation dentistry?

Dr. Davis can ensure a quick and easy recovery for those who fear dental work. Sedation dentistry offers patients a relaxing dental appointment.

Who is an ideal candidate for sedation dentistry at Lake Creek Family Dental?

People who have…

High fear of dental work
Traumatic dental experiences
Difficulty getting numb
A bad gag reflex
Very sensitive teeth
Complex dental problems
Limited time to complete dental care

In addition, people who hate needles and shots; noises, smells, and the taste associated with dental care; and are afraid or embarrassed of their teeth are also good candidates for sedation dentistry.

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Common questions about sedation dentistry:

Will I be unconscious?

No, you will be in a deeply relaxed state, and will be responsive.

Will I be monitored?

Yes, a member of our staff will always be with you. Your vital signs will be monitored during the entire visit.

How long will I be relaxed?

It depends on your needs; it can range between two to six hours.

Will someone need to accompany me?

Yes, due to the sedative effects of the medication, you will need someone to drive you to your appointment and take you home.

How does sedation dentistry work?

Dr. Davis will give you a small pill to take an hour prior to your treatment. By the time you arrive to our office for to your surgery, you should feel extremely drowsy. (Someone should drive and accompany you during your appointment.)

What are the first steps in getting orthodontic braces?

What usually happens during an initial orthodontic exam?

The dentist will fully evaluate your mouth by doing the following:

Taking impressions of your teeth, which are created into a model
Taking photographs of your teeth, face, and smile
Your medical history and dental health history will be examined
X-rays will be taken of your head and teeth

From this examination, the dentist will evaluate your specific needs and come up with a treatment plan.

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Dr. Don Davis, what are the first steps in getting orthodontic braces?

What usually happens during an initial orthodontic exam?

In order to determine your specific needs, a dentist will completely evaluate your mouth. This will likely include:

Impressions of your teeth, from which models are made (these are useful for the doctor, and will remind you exactly how your teeth looked before correction).
Photographs of your teeth, face, and smile
X-rays of your head and teeth
Your medical health history and dental health history
The doctor will then carefully evaluate your specific needs and provide you with a treatment plan for correction.

What is Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.

Invisalign® uses a series of clear removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets.

Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide. In fact, over 70% of all U.S. dentists are certified to treat patients with Invisalign®.

How Does Invisalign® Work?

You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.

As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move — little by little, week by week — until they have straightened to the final position your dentist has prescribed. You'll visit your dentist about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.

Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.

Why Invisalign®?

Invisalign® can help you get the great smile you've always wanted because it's…

Invisible, so no one can tell you're straightening your teeth.� Now you can smile during treatment as well as after.
Removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment; plus brushing and flossing are no problem.
Comfortable, because it has not metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.� And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments.

Invisalign® Can Work for You

A vast majority of adults and adolescents can be treated with Invisalign®.

Invisalign® treats a wide variety of cases, including crowding, space closure, narrow arches, relapse, anterior intrusion, and limited treatment cases.

Match Your Teeth

Although only an Invisalign® certified dentist can determine if Invisalign® is right for you, there's a quick way to tell if you might be a candidate. Take a look at some of the past Invisalign® patients below.

How Do I Get Started?

Getting started with treatment couldn't be easier. In fact, you can be on your way to straighter teeth and a beautiful smile within weeks of visiting your dentist.

Step 1:�Visit Your Dentist

During this first step you will need to make an appointment with an Invisalign® Certified Dentist.

During the initial visit, your dentist will help you decide on your course of treatment. He will take bite impressions of your teeth and send them, along with a set of precise instructions, to Invisalign®.

Step 2: Invisalign® Makes Your Aligners

Invisalign® uses advanced 3-D computer imaging technology to transform your bite impressions into a custom-made series of clear and removable aligners. There may be as many as 48 in the series or as few as 12, depending on your individual treatment plan.

Step 3:�You Receive Your Aligners in a Few Weeks

During your next visit to your dentist, you will receive your first set of aligners. Your dentist will most likely give you a few additional sets for you to wear before you return for your next visit.

Step 4: You Wear Your Aligners

You'll wear each set of aligners day and night for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months, but will vary from case to case. You'll visit your dentist only about every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.

Step 5:�You've Finished The Treatment

Congratulations! When you're finished wearing each aligner in the series, your treatment will be complete and you will have the beautiful smile you've always wanted.

How much does Invisalign® cost?

As with other types of orthodontic treatment, the cost of Invisalign® is heavily dependent on the complexity of a patient's case. However, the cost is generally more expensive than traditional braces.� To find out more about specific cost information, call Lake Creek Family Dental Care at (512) 879-9202.

Does insurance cover Invisalign®?

Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, each patient should review their coverage. However, if a patient has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign® should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces.

How does Invisalign® effectively move teeth?

Like brackets and archwires, Invisalign® Aligners move teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth. The principal difference is that Invisalign® not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application. At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.

The Technology Behind Invisalign®

You may wonder what goes on at Invisalign® between the time that your dentist takes impressions of your teeth and when you receive your first set of aligners. State of the art computer technology plays a vital role in the process. In fact, Invisalign's® high-volume, customized manufacturing process is the first of its kind in the world.

To ensure a high degree of accuracy throughout the process, impressions are taken of your teeth by your doctor.
Your doctor sends Invisalign® your impressions which are used to make plaster models of your teeth.
Using advanced imaging technology, Invisalign® transforms your plaster models into a highly accurate 3-D digital image.

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