Top Rated Dentist in Portland, OR - Frequently Asked Questions

A dental implant helps restore your missing teeth and improve your jaw structure, and can also help secure your dentures. A dental implant is a titanium post that replaces the root of a tooth. Once restored with a custom connection and a crown, it looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

Not only can dental implants improve the look of your smile, but they also provide retention and stability to other restorative dental work, resulting in a more natural feel than something like conventional dentures.

The security of the titanium implant offers stable support for your replacement tooth, bridges, or individual crowns. Dental implants also allow you to eat the foods you like without worrying about the consequences of tooth decay.

If you use removable dentures but aren’t fond of the glue that comes along with them, dental implants are an excellent option for securing your dentures. If you’re looking to secure your whole denture, check out the dentures service to read about other options Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry provides.

With the right dental care, your dental implants can last a lifetime. The providers at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry recommend the following tips to increase your success with your new implants:

• Brush twice a day and floss at least once daily
• If you’re a smoker, try to quit
• Schedule a dental cleaning and exam at least once every six months
• Try to avoid eating hard foods like ice or hard candy

To receive dental implants, you must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. The team at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry will help you find out if implants are right for you.

If you think dental implants might be the solution you’re looking for, call Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, or schedule an appointment online.

You may want to see a cosmetic dentist in Downtown Portland if you:

• Have a cracked, chipped, or broken tooth
• Have missing teeth
• Have stained teeth
• Have old dental restorations
• Have worn teeth from age or clenching and grinding

With the right cosmetic dental treatments, you can have a healthy smile. Dr. Wang believes in esthetics, but also the overall health of your teeth and gums. If any problems exist, such as tooth decay, gingivitis, or periodontal disease, Dr. Wang and his team will need to take care of those issues first.

Some of the cosmetic dentistry procedures that Dr. Ben may recommend include:

• Porcelain Veneers
• Dental Implants
• Crowns
• Bridges
• Tooth Colored Fillings
• Cosmetic Dental Bonding
• Invisible Braces

Depending on the treatment that you receive from Dr. Wang, special instructions will be given such as avoiding food and drink that will stain your teeth after you have had them whitened. With that being said, dental implant procedures often require six to twelve months of downtime. Regardless of the cosmetic dentistry procedure, you can be assured that Dr. Wang and his team from Centerport Dental will provide you with the best after care available.

Dr. Wang and his team at Centerport Dental offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services to patients in the Portland area. He combines a keen artistic eye with an emphasis on creating highly functional restorations in order to deliver results that not only look beautiful, but also help you maintain optimal levels of oral health for years to come.

As part of our commitment to providing you with the best cosmetic dentistry services available, Dr. Wang uses state-of-the-art technology and the finest quality materials with all of his restorations. In addition, he will always spend as much time as necessary to ensure you receive the exceptional care you deserve.

Veneers are dental cosmetic solutions specifically made to enhance the visible imperfections in your smile and make your teeth look more aligned and brighter. They help improve your “curb appeal,” so to speak.

Typically, veneers are made of porcelain or another material that takes on the color and quality of your natural teeth. The Centerport team meticulously reviews the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth before crafting your veneers, especially for you.

They prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel to make the veneer fit comfortably without looking large or abnormal among your natural teeth.

Veneers are strictly cosmetic dental devices, meaning they only fix the appearance of your teeth and can’t prevent or treat complications. The team might encourage you to use veneers to fix:

• Minor cracks and chips
• Broken teeth
• Stains or discoloration
• Short teeth
• Wide gaps

If you have other problems with your smile’s appearance, the team can help you decide if veneers are the right option to fix them. If the damage to your teeth makes them weaker than your other natural teeth, crowns or fillings may be a more appropriate treatment for them.

The Centerport team provides two different types of veneers. They discuss your needs and preferences to help you choose the right one. The two types are:

Direct veneers
Direct veneers are made of a composite resin instead of porcelain. Composite resin is more affordable and doesn’t require as much enamel to be removed. However, they don’t last quite as long as porcelain devices—if you care for them, they can last for 5-10 years.

Indirect veneers
Indirect veneers are made of porcelain and require minimal enamel removal to fit your teeth. They’re more stain-resistant than composite resin, so if you like a glass of wine or a cup of coffee without a straw, they may be your better option. With the right care, they last for one to two decades.

Call our office or click the online scheduler to request your veneers consultation at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry today.

Invisalign is a tooth straightening treatment that uses a series of clear plastic aligners to shift your teeth into alignment gradually. You place the mouthpieces over your teeth, and they exert gentle pressure that moves them toward the desired position and alignment.

Each week or two, you change the aligners until you complete the treatment. Dr. Wang periodically checks in on your progress to ensure the aligners are working correctly.

Dr. Wang takes a digital scan of your teeth and designs a course of treatment based on where your teeth are now and where they should be. Next, he sends the treatment plan to Invisalign, where they produce your customized mouthpieces.

Invisalign refines their technologies daily so they can help more people. To determine if you’re a good fit for this tooth straightening system, consult with Dr. Wang.

For the treatment to be successful, you must wear the aligners for at least 22 hours per day. If you know you won’t follow those guidelines, you may be a better candidate for the traditional wire and brackets orthodontic treatments.

In general, Invisalign helps correct the following alignment issues:

• Gaps in between teeth
• Malalignment of teeth
• Bite issues (such as a deep overbite or other malocclusions)
• Crowded teeth
• Improving the alignment of your teeth can help perfect the aesthetics of your smile and your oral health as a whole.

Invisalign aligners are much more convenient than braces because you can remove them to eat and brush. You don’t have to worry about food getting caught inside the brackets or following any dietary restrictions.

Because they’re clear, Invisalign aligners are much less noticeable than braces. Most people you encounter won’t even know you’re wearing them.

The Invisalign system requires fewer dentist appointments because they don’t need manual adjustments like traditional braces. The aligners are easier to use and offer much more control over your treatment and schedule.

To see if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, contact our team at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, by using the online booking feature or over the phone to set up an Invisalign consultation.

What are crowns and bridges?
Crowns and bridges are dental prostheses that cover or replace damaged or missing teeth. These two dental prostheses are recommended for different purposes, but they have similar end goals of restoring your ability to bite, chew, and speak comfortably, without fear of further tooth damage. Their purposes are:

Crowns
Crowns are fitted caps that go over teeth that can’t hold up to the forces of your bite by themselves. A tooth could be weak because of a fracture or decay, and a crown lets you use it normally by reinforcing the structure, think of it as a helmet for the tooth. You can also get crowns to fit over dental implant abutments or hold bridges in place.

Bridges
Dental bridges are fixed dental prostheses that are a great option for you if you’re missing one or several teeth next to each other. The dental bridges provided by the Centerport team include one or several false teeth to replace your missing teeth as well as two dental crowns that fit over your healthy teeth next to the gap. These crowns anchor the false tooth or teeth in place.

If you have missing, damaged, or fragile teeth, you have options: You can restore your smile with dental prostheses like crowns and bridges or leave your mouth as-is The Centerport team encourages you to consider these dental prostheses to fix your smile for several reasons, including:

• Improving your smile’s appearance
• Strengthening your bite
• Preventing new or worsening tooth damage
• Relieving the pain of a cracked or broken tooth
• Preventing your other teeth from drifting into the gap

The dental team will inform you of the benefits you can enjoy from having a crown or bridge prosthesis in your individual case.

At Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, Dr. Wang uses CEREC® technology to make your crowns or bridges the same day as your teeth are prepared for them. After Dr. Wang prepares your teeth for a crown, a digital scan is performed in place of the traditional impression to capture the details. CEREC software then converts the digital scan into a 3-D model, which allows Dr. Wang to verify, design, and “print” a custom porcelain restoration that fits precisely and looks natural.

Each CEREC crown or bridge is made entirely with monolithic porcelain, a durable material that has a toothlike transparency. They function and look better than traditional crowns and bridges made of porcelain and metal fused together. If you still have an older crown or bridge that doesn’t fit seamlessly among your other teeth, the Centerport team is happy to discuss replacement options for you that use the same day CEREC technology.

Call the office or click on the online scheduler to book a consultation for crowns or bridges at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry today.

When you have severe pain or an injury that can’t wait until the next available appointment, seek immediate dental care. Examples of dental emergencies include:

• Severe pain
• Swelling of the mouth or face
• Loss of a permanent tooth
• An abscessed tooth
• A severe crack in your tooth
• Broken dental work

If you’re unsure whether you require emergency dental care, you can always call Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry to help you make that determination.

If you experience a traumatic injury, such as an athletic accident or vehicle collision, seek an immediate medical evaluation. Head to the ER for any dental injury accompanied by unstoppable bleeding or a visible deformity.

If a fever or vomiting accompanies an infection or abscess, consult your doctor right away. These symptoms may signal that your infection has spread to other parts of the body.

If you can’t reach your dentist or are unsure what to do, you can always seek treatment at the closest emergency room.

In many cases, a cold compress and over-the-counter pain relievers help reduce pain and swelling. If you crack your tooth, bite your tongue, or have a toothache, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it.

If your tooth gets knocked out, try to place it back in the socket and hold it in place with moist gauze. If it doesn’t fit back in the socket, carry it in a glass of milk or water to the dentist’s office.

You should also bring any dislodged dental work such as crowns with you to the dentist.

While some dental emergencies are unavoidable, you can decrease their likelihood. First, practice proper oral hygiene habits and attend your routine cleanings. Dr. Wang can detect faulty dental work and other causes for concern before they become major problems.

To prevent your teeth or dental work from breaking, refrain from chewing hard substances like candy or ice. Athletes should wear appropriate safety gear, such as mouthguards, to prevent dental injuries.

If you need emergency dental services, call Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry. Their dental team reserves time in their schedule for urgent dental needs, so you don’t need to wait.

Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the joints that connect your upper jaw to your lower jaw. Its movement is responsible for your ability to bite down forcefully, chew, speak, yawn, and yell. You have two TMJs, one on either side of your jaw.

Your TMJs are susceptible to developing joint disorders that affect their movement and comfort. If you have pain in your jaw or other symptoms, you likely have one of a group of disorders called TMJ disorders.

Such issues often appear as the result of cartilage erosion from arthritis, an impact injury, or a slipped disc. The disc within the joint is responsible for shock absorption: If it moves out of place or erodes, it can cause discomfort when you move your jaw.

You’re especially susceptible to TMJ disorders if you habitually grind your teeth at night or during the day.

Symptoms of TMJ disorders are easy to identify because they all occur near the joint. If there’s an issue with one or both of your TMJs, it may cause:

• Jaw pain or tenderness
• Pain near your ears
• Pain in your temples
• Trouble chewing
• Jaw locking
• Clicking sounds when you move your jaw
• The sensation of bones grating against each other

Some symptoms by themselves, like clicking, don’t require treatment and are likely to go away on their own. If you have pain associated with your TMJ or if your jaw continuously locks into place, you should seek treatment at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry as soon as possible.

There are numerous causes and management strategies available for TMJ disorders. When you come to Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry for treatment, the first step is to identify the cause of your TMJ. The team will ask about your current health, look at your jaw, check your bite, listen to any clicking or grating sounds, and may request an X-ray or other imaging technique to view the joints.

Once they identify the cause and diagnose you with a TMJ disorder, they form a treatment plan fit for your needs. It may include:

• Oral appliances to prevent grinding
• Create a bite that is optimal for neuromuscular and joint harmony
• Physical therapy and exercises
• Pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications
• Muscle relaxants

Request your TMJ assessment at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry by phoning the office or by requesting an appointment online to use your jaw pain-free again.