FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

To restore teeth many factors must be considered. Including:
  • The strength needed to properly restore the tooth in order to withstand the forces of your bite.
  • How long the patient desires the treatment to last i.e. a short term fix vs. a long term solution.
  • The esthetics (how good does the patient want it to look).
We can apply all porcelain, porcelain over gold, or all gold that will protect the tooth and restore it to proper form and function. For large decayed or damaged surface areas, we can apply a protective covering, or onlay, adding strength and preventing decay. If you need fillings, we can use porcelain inlays to strengthen the tooth. And we can restore front teeth to natural shapes by applying paper-thin porcelain veneers. All of these procedures can change the look of your smile. At your next appointment, Dr. Gorman will be happy to explain any of them to you. While you’re there, you can also watch an interactive video or computer program that explains these techniques in a way that is easy to understand.
While jaw stretching, massaging, and various other TMJ home remedies may help temporarily alleviate TMJ pain for some people, the relief provided by these exercises is typically just that—temporary. Complete, lasting resolution of TMD can usually only be achieved via professional treatment that targets the underlying cause(s) of the condition.
The basic fact is, the insurance companies, as we all know, want to take care of you at the lowest cost possible, not really the best service or option available for you & we feel that your insurance should never dictate the quality or timing of your treatment. From a ton of research, and constant surveying of dentists, most dental insurances have a maximum benefit of anywhere from $800 to $2,300 dollars. This can obviously, usually cover some of your expenses. However, most of the cosmetic dentistry is considered not mandatory, and therefore not covered by insurance. If you have extensive or long term dental care, our office offers financial assistance through CareCredit.
Dental evaluations and treatments focus primarily on providing health and stability of teeth in occlusion, or contact. By contrast, myofunctional therapy is concerned with orofacial functional patterns and postures when teeth are apart, which they are for over 95% of each day and night.
Treatment time will depend upon the procedures you want. For instance, Zoom! Whitening takes about an hour in our office. Placing veneers normally requires two appointments. Complex restorative work may be done in phases, over weeks or months. We will let you know the time frame, financial information, and clinical procedure associated with your treatment plan so that you can make a truly informed decision about your dental care.
If left untreated, TMJ disorder may persist forever, never resolving on its own. In fact, it might actually worsen over time, causing symptoms to progressively increase in severity. Like most health-related conditions, being evaluated by and receiving treatment from a qualified professional like Dr. Gorman is the best way to resolve TMD.
While the exact answer to this question will depend on your unique treatment plan, Dr. Gorman generally recommends patients wear their TMJ oral appliance every night as they sleep. The pressure applied by the appliance works to gradually move the teeth and/or jaw(s) into proper position. Once optimal occlusion is achieved, the device helps maintain ideal positioning.
We work with most talented, experienced ceramists for all restorations and prosthetics. Our dental labs use materials that reflect light naturally, wear like natural enamel, and feel like natural dentition. When sub-par materials are used to craft dental work, the result is a white, fake-looking restoration. Rest assured, Dr. Gorman believes that a successful smile looks and feels natural and functions at peak performance.
Dr. Gorman is noted for his gentle touch and our team goes to great lengths to make your visit relaxed. Still, many people are jittery about coming to see us. Some will even put off an appointment (exposing themselves to more serious dental problems) rather than see a dentist. If you have had a past traumatic dental experience, difficulty becoming numb, a bad gag reflex, very sensitive teeth, or complex dental problems, we can offer sedation dentistry. For this service, we request that a companion accompany you to the office.
We accept cash, check, or credit card. Some patients prefer to finance their dental work through CareCredit.