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Frequently Asked Questions

Arizona Dentistry Serving Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, and Surrounding Areas

At the dental office of Dr. Lachot and Dr. Loo, we strive to keep our patients informed. Our doctors and staff are available to answer your questions regarding any of our cosmetic and general dentistry services. Click on the treatments below for answers to frequently asked questions:

Porcelain Veneers

Are porcelain veneers better than crowns?

They're an alternative to crowns. Veneers accomplish many of the same goals, such as:

• Changing the tooth's color
• Hiding defects
• Improving the tooth's size or shape
• Improving structural integrity of tooth.

Whether veneers or crowns are better in a given situation is for you and your dentist to decide.

What's the procedure like for getting veneers?

There are three appointments.

• In the first session, each tooth is shaved a little to make room for the veneer. A mold is made of the teeth, from which the laboratory will make the veneers. A "temporary" veneer will be placed until the second appointment.
• In the second session, the veneers are permanently bonded to the teeth and adjusted if necessary. There's an adjustment period while you get used to your new teeth.
• The third appointment is for follow-up and pictures of your newly enhanced smile and any necessary refinements (eg. shaping, polishing).

More porcelain veneer FAQs

Porcelain Fillings

Can I get my metal fillings changed to porcelain fillings?

Yes, probably. When metal fillings get old, they become brittle and can loosen allowing decay and demoralization to occur under the filling. If they are large in relation to the tooth size, they can eventually cause the tooth to fracture. Many people have them removed and porcelain fillings put in their place because the porcelain is:

• More durable
• Bonded to the tooth rather than just placed in the cavity, which strengthens the tooth and makes it less prone to micro-leakage
• More natural and attractive looking, since it matches the tooth

Are amalgam fillings ever a good idea?

Sometimes. If the cavity is small, amalgam is an acceptable choice, as a small amount of it won't cause the tooth to fracture. Also, when porcelain is used, the tooth must be kept dry, which can be awkward if the cavity is below the gum line.

More porcelain filling FAQs

AquaBrite Bleaching

My teeth need whitening, can I do it at home for less cost?

You can buy an over-the-counter teeth whitening product, follow the instructions, and hope for the best. It will probably work to some extent, but the results might be uneven, because the tray that comes in the kit was not custom-designed for your mouth.

Also, the whitening gel may leak out, since the tray probably won't fit correctly, and it could burn your gums.

A better idea is to enlist our help and do it at home with professional supervision. Dr. Lachot or Dr. Loo can provide you with a custom-made tray and a stronger whitening gel than comes in the kits. If you encounter any problems, you can call us immediately.

An even better idea is to have it done professionally, in two quick session while you listen to your favorite music.

Are there any side effects of teeth whitening?

Bleaching agents cause tooth sensitivity to heat and cold, even to air temperature. If this becomes too uncomfortable and you're whitening your teeth at home in partnership with your dentist, just halt the treatment for a few days. The sensitivity should fade in a day or two. If you have the whitening done professionally, in one session, you can use desensitizing products afterwards, which contain potassium nitrate or large amounts of fluoride or even some new professional type that can enhance the tooth structure.

More tooth whitening FAQs

Restorative Dentistry

What do dental implants do?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that provides support for a replacement tooth, which can be a single tooth, or part of a bridge. Done in this way, the replacement tooth doesn't rely on neighboring teeth for support, but has its own root support, like natural teeth. This preserves the neighboring teeth, as they don't have to be altered to provide that support.

This procedure can be an alternative to having a removable partial denture, or the implant can give support and stability to a full denture especially loose, wobbly, troublesome lower full dentures.

What kinds of implants are there?

There are two kinds:

• Endosteal - the most frequently used kind. It's placed right in the jaw bone and can include screws, blades or cylinders, all part of support for one or more teeth. It's usually used as an alternative to a bridge or removable denture.
• Subperiosteal - placed on top of the jaw bone with posts through the gum. These are used when a person has a smaller bone height.

Dental implants have a high success rate and both look and feel like your own natural teeth.

More dental implant FAQs

Clear Braces

The office of Dr Lachot is considered a premier provider for Invisalign surgery in the Scottsdale, Arizona area.

My front teeth are too crowded but I don't want to wear braces. Can they be fixed another way?

The old metal braces were effective, but rather unsightly and discouraged people from smiling. And they usually had to be worn for at least two years, maybe three. Today we have Invisalign. Instead of dark metal bands across your teeth, there's an almost invisible clear tray, or casing, which is custom-designed for you.

These up-to-date braces are removable for eating, brushing, or even for special occasions. They are actually a series of braces, planned ahead of time by Dr. Lachot or Dr. Loo.

Every 2 weeks you remove the current one and start wearing the next in the series. Gradually, over perhaps a year, they re-position your teeth to create a pleasing, even smile.

Are there any reasons to straighten your teeth besides having a "nice smile"?

Yes, there are several dental reasons.

• Straight teeth are easier to keep clean. When teeth are too crooked and/or crowded, it can be hard to floss adequately and brushing is less effective because of all the different angles of the teeth, promoting gum disease and tooth decay.
• Properly aligned teeth can chew more effectively, which helps with digestion
• Teeth properly aligned avoid the danger of bite problems, with the accompanying symptoms of headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, etc.

More clear braces FAQs

TMJ/TMD

Is a TMJ headache the same thing as a migraine?

No, although they are often confused because they center themselves in the temples. Migraines are related to heredity, so that if your mother and/or grandmother had them, you're more likely to have them.

They're often preceded by an "aura", warning signals like flashing lights, blind spots or slurred speech. Migraine pain is felt to be inside the head, whereas TMJ pain is felt as on the outside of the head.

There's no specific test to diagnose a migraine. If you've been told you have migraines and yet the prescribed medication isn't working for you, perhaps you have TMJ headaches. You could also have both.

I was told I have a TMJ problem, so why don't I have any symptoms?

Some of the symptoms may be just habits that don't interrupt your life.

• Perhaps you grind your teeth but don't notice any more
• Sometimes speech abnormalities are accepted as part of who you are, but are actually a TMJ symptom
• Some people chew food in an asymmetrical manner but think nothing of it
• For some, there's decreased hearing and/or ringing in the ears, but they don't think of it as related to their teeth

More TMJ/TMD FAQs

Laser Dentistry

What's a laser?

A laser is a beam of energy in the form of light, which is amplified with a special instrument. LASER stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Lasers were first developed in the early 1960s. There are many kinds of lasers, engineered for different purposes, but they're all unlike other lights such as flashlights, in that they're directional and very focused.

But lasers are different from each other in the wavelength they produce.

How do lasers help in dentistry?

Several lasers have been developed specifically for dentistry, allowing your dentist to work extremely accurately.

• The CO2 and diode lasers are used to cut soft tissues
• The Erbium: YAG laser cuts and shapes hard tissues (enamel)
• NdYAG laser precisely and efficiently helps us treat your periodontal disease without scalpels and sutures.

Lasers are used in 4 kinds of procedures:

• Whitening teeth - they speed up the action of the whitening gel
• Removing decay - they vaporize the bacteria
• Hardening bonding material - they speed up the hardening or curing
• Periodontal work - they reshape the gums and remove and destroy bacteria

Overall, lasers reduce the need for anesthetics, speed up procedures, reduce bleeding, reduce the risk of infection, and shorten healing time.

More laser dentistry FAQs

Light up your smile with innovative smile solutions from Dr. Lachot and Dr. Loo. Visit us today for your complimentary dental health consultation.