FAQ

Our team understands that many people feel nervous about going to the dentist, and we work hard to help you feel comfortable at our office. We strive to foster a welcoming, relaxing atmosphere, and offer several options to help you feel more at ease. This includes sedation dentistry, which involves using sedative medications to help you stay comfortable.

Maintaining good dental hygiene is important in keeping your breath fresh, but other factors can also contribute to bad breath. If you already brush and floss your teeth every day, and you keep up with your routine professional cleanings, we may suggest a small plastic tool called a tongue scraper to further improve your oral hygiene. This is used to clean away the bacterial buildup on your tongue. Our dentist may also recommend a special mouth rinse or toothpaste designed to break down odor-causing sulfur bonds that cause bad breath. Avoiding certain odor-causing foods, such as garlic and onions, can help to keep your breath fresh as well.

Several types of medical problems can also contribute to bad breath. If we suspect that this type of condition may be the cause, we will recommend that you visit your family physician or a specialist to resolve the problem.

A crown is a dental restoration that entirely covers the tooth, starting at the gums, in order to improve its health, functionality and appearance. Each dental crown is custom made to precisely fit your smile. Dr. Lichter may recommend a crown to repair a broken or seriously decayed tooth. Crowns can also be used to enhance the appearance of your smile, to attach a dental bridge or to complete a dental implant.

Yes, we offer digital X-rays at our office. Digital radiography is safer for your health and utilizes significantly less radiation than traditional X-rays. Our team is committed to continuously updating the technology and techniques at our office to provide you with the best possible dental experience.

Fluoride is a naturally found mineral that can help to protect your teeth from decay. Research has shown that fluoride reduces cavities in both children and adults. In addition to preventing cavities, fluoride can even repair early tooth decay. While some people worry about the health effects of fluoride, you can rest assured that fluoride is safe when used correctly.

When you visit our office for your regular appointments, we will provide a fluoride treatment that includes a higher concentration of fluoride than is found in toothpaste, mouth rinse or water.

Dental sealants can help to protect your teeth from tooth decay. The sealant is created from a plastic material that is painted onto the chewing surface of the molars and premolars (back teeth). This seals the natural grooves and pits of the teeth, which are a common site of decay. The dental sealant thus blocks out the plaque, bacteria and food particles that result in tooth decay. Sealants also form a smooth surface on the tooth, which makes it easier to effectively clean your teeth with normal brushing.

No, your gums should not bleed when you brush. This may be caused by periodontal disease, or you may be brushing too aggressively. If you notice that your gums bleed easily, we encourage you to contact our office and schedule an appointment. Our dentist and team will be able to evaluate your oral health and provide the treatment you need.

Also called gum disease, periodontal disease is a degenerative condition that affects the gum tissues. In the early stage of periodontal disease, called gingivitis, the gums become swollen, red, tender and bleed easily. This stage can often be reversed with proper care. If it is not halted early, however, the condition may progress into the more advanced phase, called periodontitis. Periodontitis is much more difficult to treat and may result in bone loss and tooth loss.

In most cases, tooth pain while chewing is caused by a fracture (crack) in the tooth. To relieve this pain, our dentist may recommend a dental inlay or onlay, a crown or a more advanced treatment. If you notice tooth pain, we urge you to contact our office as soon as possible to resolve the problem; putting off treatment may result in more serious damage and pain.

If you have noticed cracks and chips in your teeth, but you do not remember any type of injury or damage, you may suffer from a condition called bruxism. Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching, often results in chips and cracks in your teeth. Many people do not realize they suffer from bruxism because the grinding and clenching occurs at night while they sleep. In addition to tooth damage, bruxism may also cause frequent headaches, jaw pain and more. To protect your teeth and relieve these symptoms, Dr. Lichter may recommend a custom-made night guard. This is a specialized mouth guard that is worn over your teeth while you sleep to prevent clenching and grinding.

We offer several cosmetic dental treatments at our office, which are designed to enhance your smile’s beauty. With these services, we are able to correct cosmetic imperfections such as discolored or stained teeth, chipped or cracked teeth, misshapen teeth, gapped teeth and more. Based on your unique needs and desires, Dr. Lichter may recommend one or more of our high-quality cosmetic dentistry services to help you achieve a more beautiful, inviting smile.

Our team is happy to help you feel more confident in the appearance of your smile. We may recommend dental bonding or porcelain veneers to improve the aesthetics of your front teeth; these solutions can be used to enhance the appearance of teeth that are unevenly worn, slightly crooked or irregularly shaped.

Porcelain dental veneers are a great choice for improving the appearance of your smile. Veneers are very thin shells, created from tooth-colored porcelain, that fit over the front surface of your teeth. Our dentist may recommend porcelain veneers to improve several types of cosmetic dental flaws, including broken or chipped teeth, misshapen teeth, slightly uneven or crooked teeth, stained or darkened teeth, spaces between teeth, fractured or cracked teeth and very worn teeth. Veneers can change the shape, size and color of the teeth to give your smile a more inviting, attractive appearance. Because they are custom made from tooth-colored porcelain, your veneers will look natural and beautiful.

Both at-home and in-office whitening are effective options for brightening your smile. In most cases, at-home teeth whitening is more gradual than in-office whitening; however, at-home treatments allow you to whiten your teeth whenever it fits your schedule. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of each type of teeth whitening, we encourage you to speak with Dr. Lichter and our friendly team today.

Yes, the loss of a premolar or molar (back tooth) can affect both the appearance and function of your smile. Your smile will look darker, smaller and narrower because it will appear to stop short where the tooth is missing. This is exaggerated if the missing tooth has remaining teeth on both sides. The function of your smile is also compromised, making it more difficult to chew and eat as usual. This often results in additional pressure on the other teeth and can cause them to shift out of position. If you have lost a tooth, we encourage you to speak with our team about your options for tooth replacement.

We understand that tooth loss has a large impact on your oral health and function, as well as your appearance and self-esteem. Replacing your missing tooth can help to improve your ability to speak and chew, restore the volume and shape of your face, alleviate uneven stress on the bite and enhance your smile’s appearance

Dr. Lichter is pleased to offer several options for replacing missing teeth. A dental implant is a screw that is surgically placed in the jawbone to replace the tooth root, and then a replacement tooth is attached on top. Dental implants are permanent and can be used to replace one or multiple missing teeth. If you are missing just one tooth or a couple of teeth in a row, our dentist may suggest a dental bridge. Bridges are anchored on the neighboring teeth and are designed to match the look of your natural teeth. We also offer dentures, which are used to replace multiple missing teeth. To find out which tooth replacement option is right for you, we welcome you to contact our dentist today.

Once you have been scheduled to meet with our dentist, we will guide you through the process of completing necessary paperwork, which includes medical, dental and personal information. If you would like to complete these forms before your first appointment, it will help you save some time when you come to our office.

During your appointment, we will focus on getting to know you and helping you get to know us. We will listen to all of your concerns and goals for your teeth, smile, and oral health, and will gather the necessary information to evaluate your current oral health. This includes a comprehensive exam, digital X-rays and more. Based on our assessment of your dental health, we will recommend any treatments you need to improve your smile and to reach your goals. We are dedicated to helping you feel comfortable during your time here, and work hard to help you achieve all of your goals for your smile. We are also always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Yes, we are happy to accept new patient referrals from other dental offices. We also accept recommendations by our patients to their families and friends. Our team always loves to welcome new patients to our office, and we invite you to contact us if you would like to learn more.

Dr. Lichter and our team are committed to providing you with the high-quality, personalized care you need, no matter your financial situation. We offer several convenient payment options, including CareCredit® and Citi Health Card. These are outside financing companies that offer low monthly payments with no interest for up to 12 months. Please feel free to speak with a member of our friendly team to learn more about our payment options and financial arrangements.

We accept all major credit cards, cash and checks. We also accept all PPO dental insurance plans, including Delta Dental® and United Concordia®, and we are happy to help you maximize your benefits. If you would like monthly payment plans, we offer financing through two third-party companies, CareCredit and Citi Health Card. We invite you to contact our office today to learn more about our payment options.

Dental insurance is designed to help you pay for dental services, but most procedures are not fully covered by insurance. In particular, cosmetic dentistry is often not covered by dental insurance. To help you afford the dental care you want, we strive to help you maximize your dental insurance benefits. We also offer a variety of payment options to meet your needs, including monthly payment plans through CareCredit and Citi Health Card. For more information, we welcome you to call or visit us today.