Frequently Asked Questions

It is virtually impossible to know unless you can see the results and criteria for yourself. Look at the credentials, educational background, and actual work performed by the dentist. Aesthetic dentistry is much more than making teeth white or using the term cosmetic in an office description. Ask to see examples of before and after cases performed on actual patients and completed by the dentist. Talk with other patients the dentist has performed similar work on, and find out how their personal experience was and how the dentistry looks.

Aesthetic dentistry is much more complicated than appearance alone. It is comprehensive in nature, and is as much about what we can’t see as it is what we can see. An aesthetic dentist is someone that can take the three-dimensional world we work in, bestow the artistry of a two-dimensional canvas painting, and alter the psyche and persona of an individual, all through the power of dentistry.

Absolutely you can! Truth is, aesthetic dentistry is not for everyone. Some just do not want to alter the tooth structure to gain that perfect smile. We are now offering a version of “clear braces” called Clear Correct®. With the use of advanced cad-cam technology, we can use clear aligners to move and straighten teeth in cases where extreme movements are not needed. Clear Correct® has been an amazing addition to the arsenal of treatment options we have for patients. Call for your consultation now!

“Smile Rejuvenation” is an incredible thing. Using the latest advancements in dental technology, we can now significantly alter the appearance of misaligned, discolored, and misshapen teeth in as little as two visits. The extents to which this can be performed, as well as the time frame depend on the severity of each individual case. Commonly referred to as “instant orthodontics”, the option of aesthetic dentistry often supersedes that of traditional orthodontics due to the difference in time. The possibilities are absolutely amazing. Reserve your cosmetic consultation, and allow yourself the chance to see what changes can be made in just a few short weeks.

Using the latest advancements in dental technology, we now have options and opportunities at our disposal that never even existed. Newer, faster, stronger, more effective alternatives to traditional style dentistry, allow patients the option to never be inconvenienced or hindered by anything directly related to a smile. Laser whitening (Brite Smile®) alternatives for an instantly brighter smile, eliminates stain and discoloration from chemical and physical elements. Bonded, strength enhancing, porcelain restorations, that can achieve the appearance and characteristics of perfectly straight and contoured teeth. State of the art materials and modalities of treatment such as bridges and implants, allow you the luxury of never having to live without teeth. A full complementing set of teeth not only improves self esteem, it improves the overall health and longevity by eliminating undue stress and forces from being placed on the remaining teeth.

The laser and in-office whitening procedure is a simplified, less messy alternative to brightening your smile using traditional tray delivery systems. No longer do you have to wait weeks for results or wear those uncomfortable trays for extended periods of time. The process takes about an hour to achieve the desired results. While relaxing in one of our comfortable, self-massaging dental chairs, the teeth to be whitened are isolated with barrier control solutions, and the whitening gel placed. The Brite Smile®, or Zoom® “laser” is placed into position and activated. The photo initiators contained in the whitening gel are activated with the use of the laser, and the process begins. The whitening gel is removed and re-applied for up to three sessions. Each session lasts for approximately 20 minutes. Once complete, all the barriers and solutions are removed and rinsed clean. We are now offering an alternative to the “laser” type whitening procedures called “KoR®”. This is an in-office, chairside whitening procedure which utilizes advanced chemical formulation to remove deep dark stains internal to the teeth such as tetracycline and iron staining. The results are incredible, and the inconvenience is eliminated. Call today to reserve your free Brite Smile® consultation.

As explained previously, aesthetic dentistry is taking so much more into consideration than just teeth. Through the use of laser technology, we have the capability to modify, and resculpt the surrounding gum tissue. Symmetry is as important with gum tissue as it is with teeth. The aesthetic difference of laser recontouring is the difference in a good looking smile enhancement and a great smile enhancement. Tissue modification is performed in the office during the restorative procedure, and is both predictable and fast in regards to healing.

Absolutely not! Dr. Bynum stands firm in his belief that the use of these types of materials are harmful to individual tooth health, and personal systemic health. Surveys taken by the American Dental Association (ADA) indicate that amalgam is the material of choice by over 3/4 of the dentists surveyed. Amalgam (silver) fillings are comprised of an abundance of metals (i.e., nickel, tin, copper, silver, etc.), with the major contributing element being mercury. That’s right, mercury! More alarming than the fact that dentists still place this material, is the reasoning behind it being the restoration of choice. From the surveys, the main reasons for being the primary material choice are that it is cheap, easy to place, and that it has longevity. What an incredible rationale for placing an inferior, potentially harmful restoration in somebody’s mouth.
Dr. Bynum refuses to place mercury fillings, and has not done so for the last 10 years. Some of the reasons why are:

• Amalgam fillings weaken teeth over time due to the physical properties of the material. As the material ages, it expands and contracts. From the inside, the tooth begins to fracture and split, unknown until the tooth actually breaks where you can see it.
• With the majority of the filling material being mercury, a very toxic and hazardous material, special precautions must be taken in its’ handling and disposal. State mandated laws prohibit the disposal of amalgam as ordinary waste. Instead, special filtration must be used to prevent water contamination, and scrap disposal must be sealed, marked as biohazardous, and disposed of by special departments located throughout the state. If it takes so much to dispose of effectively and safely, how can dentists be allowed to place this material in people’s mouths? Yet, the American Dental Association (ADA) still deems this material as safe. You be the judge!
• Several European countries have banned the use of dental amalgam due to its potential detrimental effects. These same countries also have mandated precautions be listed on the labels of such material. Precautions such as, do not use in children under the age of 12, and do not use in women who are pregnant.
• Amalgam fillings are completely unaesthetic, as they traditionally turn black in color from corrosion.

Neuromuscular dentistry is the science that evaluates and treats your overall oral health by considering how your muscles, teeth and joints all work together. It involves using the muscles and nerves to position the jaw into a physiologically balanced and functionally comfortable position. Using science and technology, we can determine if the muscles, nerves and jaw are in fact in harmony. Often times, when there is no balance and harmony within this system, the results are exacerbated and distributed throughout the body in the form of headaches, neck pain, and other related issues. The good news is that through the use of this technology, we can often diagnose and resolve the majority of the signs and symptoms that stem from this disharmony. Please see the section titled TMJ information for more information.

Full mouth rehabilitation is by far the most life changing process we are capable of performing. It involves restoring the teeth, the occlusion (bite), the muscles, the self-confidence, and the self-esteem back to a natural looking and youthful feeling condition. Full mouth rehabilitation can eliminate the variables that decrease the daily quality of life. Improve the level of satisfaction you have with your smile; eliminate the discomfort from chewing or temperature sensitive foods; improve the level of comfort experienced with sore jaw muscles and headaches, all by restoring your teeth to optimum level health and function.

Gum disease is known in dentistry as the “silent killer of teeth”. Nearly 3 out of 4 adults in the continental United States suffers from periodontal disease, without any knowledge of the destruction. Often referred to as “silent” because there is seldom any pain or discomfort, this disease process is destructive enough to alter the quality of life as age progresses by infecting the teeth and surrounding tissues. As seen in the news, newly found research has linked periodontal disease to cardiovascular (heart) disease. Now more than ever, this disease process is making its presence known and felt.

By using medicaments and chemical ablation, we are able to eliminate the offending bacteria that cause the rapid destruction of bone and gum tissue. Through the use of conservative, micro sonic antimicrobial periodontal therapy, our hygienists can interrupt the bacterial destruction by eliminating the diseased tissue and bacteria present in the gum pocket. By disinfecting the gum pocket and giving it a chance to heal through repeated and systematic use of periodontal therapy, the early to moderate stages of periodontal disease can be stopped and controlled in a comfortable, conservative manner.

Absolutely! You know snoring is very prevalent today for many reasons ranging from increased weight to allergies. Regardless of what the cause, the fact remains that snoring is never appreciated by those around it! Snoring is actually the result of a decreased airspace and even flow of oxygen inhalation and expulsion. Maintaining the airway is crucial in airflow exchange and critical to our health. With the use of appliance therapy such as snore guards and the like, we can minimize the amount of snoring that occurs, thus giving you and your spouse a better night’s sleep. Call for your consultation today and get that good night’s sleep you deserve!

Yes I can. Sleep apnea is a very serious condition leading to further medical complications ranging from diabetes to hypertension. That critical exchange of oxygen that our bodies need is impeded and the results are staggering as to the amount of people affected. Having practiced Neuromuscular Dentistry for as long as I have, we have found the connection between jaw position and the structures that support them to be intimate as far as seeing the results in the body. Through advanced techniques and diagnosis using sleep diagnostics and testing, we can now predictably assist with sleep apnea and also determining which professional to see in the process of treatment. Sometimes appliance therapy will assist, while CPAP assistance is needed in other situations. Regardless, we can help in determining who to see and how to help. Don’t let another day slip away. Call for your consultation today!