Frequently Asked Questions

Preventive care, including regular check-ups and cleanings, is crucial for maintaining good oral health. It helps prevent cavities, gum disease, and other serious dental issues, ultimately saving you time, discomfort, and money in the long run.

For most patients, we recommend professional teeth cleanings every six months. However, based on your oral health needs, we may recommend more frequent visits.

A typical check-up includes a thorough cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, a comprehensive oral exam to check for cavities, gum disease, and other concerns, and often X-rays to detect issues not visible to the naked eye. We'll also discuss your oral hygiene habits and answer any questions you have.

We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily to remove food particles and plaque between teeth, and using an antimicrobial mouthwash.

Cavities, or dental caries, are caused by bacteria in your mouth that produce acids when they feed on sugars and starches. These acids erode tooth enamel, creating small holes.

The most common treatment for cavities is a dental filling. We remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then fill the space with a restorative material like composite resin.

Tooth restoration refers to various procedures used to repair or replace damaged or missing teeth. This can include fillings, crowns, bridges, and dental implants, all designed to restore the tooth's function, integrity, and appearance.

During your regular check-ups, Dr. Brasseaux will assess the health of your teeth and recommend restorations if decay, cracks, or other damage are detected that cannot be addressed with a simple filling.

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic. It's a state-of-the-art technology that allows us to design, create, and place a custom-fit, high-quality ceramic dental crown in a single office visit, eliminating the need for multiple appointments and temporary crowns.

The main benefits include:

• Crown in a Day
• Natural aesthetics: Made from tooth-colored ceramic to blend seamlessly with your smile.
• Durability: Strong and long-lasting restorations.
• Comfort: Digital impressions replace messy traditional molds

CEREC crowns are ideal for restoring teeth that are extensively decayed, fractured, or weakened, protecting them from further damage while restoring their shape, size, and strength.

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth and smile. This can include procedures like teeth whitening, veneers, bonding, and addressing issues like gaps, discoloration, or misshapen teeth.

If you're unhappy with the aesthetics of your smile, you may be a good candidate. During a consultation, Dr. Brasseaux will discuss your goals and assess your oral health to determine the best cosmetic options for you.

We offer teeth whitening, CEREC crowns (which have cosmetic benefits), Invisalign, and other restorative options that enhance aesthetics.

Professional teeth whitening uses a safe, concentrated whitening gel applied to your teeth. The gel penetrates the enamel to break down stains and discoloration, resulting in a brighter, whiter smile. We offer both in-office and at-home professional whitening options.

Yes, when performed or supervised by a dental professional, teeth whitening is very safe. We use professional-grade products designed to minimize sensitivity and protect your enamel.

The longevity of whitening results varies based on your diet and lifestyle habits (e.g., consumption of coffee, tea, red wine, smoking). With proper oral hygiene and occasional touch-ups, results can last for a significant period.

Invisalign is a modern orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear, custom-made, removable aligners to gradually straighten your teeth without the need for traditional metal braces.

Key benefits include:

• Virtually invisible: Aligners are clear and discreet.
• Removable: You can take them out to eat, brush, and floss.
• Comfortable: No wires or brackets to irritate your mouth.
• Predictable results: Advanced technology maps out your treatment plan.

The duration of Invisalign treatment varies for each individual, depending on the complexity of their case. During your consultation, Dr. Brasseaux will provide an estimated treatment timeline.

Yes! One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign is that you remove your aligners when eating or drinking anything other than water, so there are no dietary restrictions.

Most patients benefit from cleanings and exams every six months to prevent plaque buildup and catch decay early. If you have gum disease, diabetes, or smoke, quarterly visits reduce complications more effectively. Lafayette's humid climate doesn't directly affect oral health, but regular checkups ensure problems are addressed before they require more invasive treatment.

Your initial appointment includes a comprehensive exam, digital X-rays to assess bone and tooth structure, and oral cancer screening. We'll review your medical history, discuss any concerns you have, and create a treatment plan if issues are detected. New patient visits typically take longer than routine cleanings to ensure thorough evaluation.

CEREC technology allows crowns to be designed, milled, and placed in a single visit using digital impressions and in-office fabrication. This eliminates temporary crowns and multiple appointments. The ceramic material bonds directly to tooth structure, providing durability comparable to lab-made crowns without the wait time.

Clear aligner systems use custom trays that gradually shift teeth into alignment without metal brackets or wires. Treatment works for crowding, spacing, and mild bite issues. Aligners are removable for eating and cleaning, making oral hygiene easier than with fixed braces. Severe misalignment may still require traditional orthodontics.

A nightguard is a custom-fitted appliance that protects teeth from grinding and clenching damage during sleep. Signs you need one include worn tooth surfaces, jaw pain upon waking, frequent headaches, or chipped teeth. Untreated grinding wears down enamel and can lead to cracked teeth or TMJ issues over time.

Fillings restore small to moderate cavities by replacing decayed tooth structure with composite resin or amalgam. Crowns cover the entire visible portion of a tooth when decay is extensive, the tooth is cracked, or previous fillings have failed. Crowns provide structural support that fillings cannot once too much natural tooth is compromised.

Children should visit within six months of their first tooth erupting or by age one, whichever comes first. Early visits establish comfort with the dental environment and allow monitoring of tooth development. We check for decay, assess bite alignment, and discuss fluoride needs and proper brushing techniques with parents.

Early gum disease causes red, swollen gums that bleed during brushing or flossing. Advanced stages include receding gums, persistent bad breath, loose teeth, and visible pus between teeth and gums. Bone loss occurs without treatment, eventually leading to tooth loss. Professional cleaning removes tartar that brushing cannot.

Professional whitening uses higher peroxide concentrations than store products, delivering faster, more dramatic results. In-office treatments lighten teeth several shades in one visit. Take-home trays with custom-fitted applicators offer gradual whitening over two weeks. Results vary based on stain type-surface stains respond better than intrinsic discoloration from medication or trauma.

Wisdom teeth often lack sufficient space to erupt properly, causing impaction that leads to infection, cysts, or damage to adjacent teeth. Partially erupted wisdom teeth create pockets where bacteria accumulate, increasing decay and gum disease risk. Removal prevents these complications, especially when X-rays show problematic positioning before symptoms develop.