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Questions

What patients ask us most, answered plainly. If your question isn’t here, ask us directly, or read our patient guides.

Do dental implants hurt?Surgery
Far less than most patients expect. Dr. Shin works minimally invasively as a matter of principle, disturbing as little tissue as the case allows, and that restraint does more than anything else to determine how you feel afterwards. Experience also lets him judge in advance where a particular patient is likely to feel discomfort, so he can plan the procedure around it rather than manage pain once it has appeared. The result is the remark our patients make most often in their reviews: it hurt considerably less than they had braced themselves for.Implant treatment
How long does an implant take from beginning to end?Surgery
Placement takes a single appointment. The implant then integrates with the jawbone over roughly two to six months, and the custom crown is fitted after that. Most patients resume their normal routine the day after placement.Implant treatment
Must all four wisdom teeth come out at once?Surgery
Not necessarily. It depends on your anatomy, your symptoms, and what the imaging shows. Some patients are best served by removing all four in one visit, while others need only one or two. We take a CBCT scan in our own office, which gives us precise three-dimensional information about the anatomy, including the exact position of each root and its relationship to the nerve and the sinus. Knowing that in advance is what lets us remove a tooth safely, with the least disturbance and the least pain possible. It is also what tells us honestly how many teeth genuinely need to come out. You will have that recommendation, and a written quotation for each tooth, at your consultation.Wisdom tooth extraction
What is recovery like after a wisdom tooth extraction?Surgery
Most patients return to their ordinary daily activity the following day. Because we avoid cutting gum and bone tissue wherever possible, healing is quicker than most people expect. The one restriction we ask you to observe is exercise. Please avoid strenuous physical activity for the first week. That means anything that raises your heart rate appreciably. Raised blood pressure at the surgical site is the most common cause of avoidable bleeding and delayed healing, so that week is worth giving. You will leave with written aftercare instructions and a number to call while you heal.Wisdom tooth extraction
How long does whitening last?Aesthetics
In-office results typically hold for several months to a couple of years, depending on your habits. Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco shorten that considerably. The annual pass of four sessions exists precisely to hold the shade against everyday staining.Professional whitening
Will veneers look artificial?Aesthetics
Not when they are designed properly. We produce a digital smile design so that you see the proposed result first, and we shape and shade each veneer against your own face and your neighboring teeth. For $300 you can go further and wear temporary try-in veneers before you commit to anything permanent.See our veneer results
What is the difference between bonding veneers and porcelain?Aesthetics

Both rebuild the whole smile. They differ in how they are made, how long they take, and how much of your own tooth is touched.

Of the two, BeforeBefore: worn, uneven front teethAfterAfter: porcelain veneersPorcelain veneers, upper arch. An actual patient of the practice. are the more highly aesthetic, with a glossier surface. They are crafted in a laboratory, so they take a little longer to finish — about two weeks from preparation to fitting. Depending on the case, a very small amount of tooth is reduced first. It is minimal, and it is what gives the better result.

By contrast, BeforeBefore: uneven, worn upper front teethAfterAfter: chairside resin veneers across the upper archChairside resin veneers, upper arch. An actual patient of the practice. are bonded directly onto the tooth and finished in a single sitting. In most cases they need no cutting of the teeth at all.

See our veneer results
Can veneers help sensitive teeth?Aesthetics
Frequently, yes. Sensitivity usually arises where enamel has worn away and exposed the dentin beneath. A veneer restores a protective covering over that surface, and many patients report a marked reduction in sensitivity to cold after treatment.Aesthetic treatments
Do you accept my insurance?Insurance
Most PPO insurance is accepted on an out-of-network basis, and we submit claims on your behalf so that you receive the maximum benefit available under your plan. Note your insurer in the enquiry form, or bring your card to your visit, and we will verify your benefits before treatment begins.See accepted plans

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