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We will soon welcome our newest Team Member, Samantha

I am very pleased to announce that we have just hired our newest Team Member, Samantha H., who will be joining us sometime in the next 2 weeks as our full-time Orthodontic Assistant. With the dramatic increase in patients getting 6MonthSmiles Clear Adult Braces, as well as the Comprehensive Orthodontics we now offer for teens,  now that we have the additional chairs to accommodate them in a more timely manner, it became important to have an assistant with real experience. Rosie has done well, but her real knowledge and expertise is in the areas of fillings, crowns, bridges, LANAP, and other aspects of general dentistry, and this will allow her to provide more dedicated assisting time with me, in order to make your appointments go more smoothly and quickly. Some of you have already met Samantha when she came to us for a working interview, and you can surely attest (please feel free to comment here :-) ) to how pleasant and skilled she is, as pretty much all of you requested her back at your next appointment!  With 13 years of experience, she is fast AND easy-on-the-teeth.  We are sure that you will all love working with her.

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:32-04:00 June 6th, 2010|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Cosmetic dentistry, Dental Braces, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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Smiles by Payet Dentistry is Moving in May!

As we've been telling so many of our patients in recent months, we are moving to a new office around the middle of May 2010, and we're REALLY excited about this!  For a number of reasons, our new office is going to make it so much easier for us to see even more patients, faster, with BETTER customer service than we already strive to offer every day.  Read on for more........: Expanding from 3 Treatment Rooms to 6: We will be dedicating at least 1 of those new rooms strictly to our Six Month Braces, because we are seeing so many adults who want a pretty, straight smile, but who don't want or need to go through comprehensive orthodontics.  In addition, we will be soon adding Tip-Edge Orthodontics for our teen patients, which will make orthodontic treatment for both parents and teens even more convenient. Private Consultation Room: Oh how nice this will be.  For a while now, we've had to use a converted treatment room for consultations, but it's never been as quiet and private as we'd have liked.  That's changing!  You'll have total quiet and privacy when discussing whatever you need to tell us. Kid's Play Area:  There will be a small area in the Reception are just for kids to play, which will make it so much easier for parents with those small children to keep their appointments. Internet Bar + Free WiFi: In today's interconnected world, it's so important to be able to stay connected.  We will have a separate WiFi network just for our patients, and the one that we use will be securely encrypted to maintain privacy.  And while we will work to ensure your waits are minimal, if [...]

By | 2014-08-27T16:03:27-04:00 April 19th, 2010|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Cosmetic dentistry, LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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SmilesbyPayet Dentistry moving in May & Other Updates

Here at SmilesbyPayet Dentistry, there are some very exciting changes coming to our Charlotte family dental office that we want you to know about.  In order to really stay on top of things, you can subscribe to the RSS feed or you can become a Fan on our Facebook Page Facebook.com/TheCharlotteDentist to get all the latest updates. So here goes: We're MOVING! Our new office will be located at 4601 Park Rd. at the corner of Park Rd. and Abbey Place, which is just 1 stoplight south of the intersection of Park Rd. and Woodlawn Rd., where you'll find the Park Rd. Shopping Center.  It's really easy to find - the big, white, square building on the corner opposite the Bank of America Branch; we'll be Suite 175.  This new office will have some tremendous advantages: MUCH easier to find!  Our name will be easy to read on the Monument sign right on Park Rd., and if you're using GPS, it won't be a problem at all, compared to our current Morrocroft Professional Park location. We're growing so fast, we're moving from our current 3 treatment rooms to SIX!  Due to the incredibly popularity of our 6MonthSmiles adult cosmetic braces (listen to our radio spot on WLNK), we'll be dedicating 1 of those rooms exclusively to our orthodontic patients. A truly PRIVATE consultation room.  Whenever discussing financial matters, health conditions, personal fears, whatever else that you don't want anyone else to hear, of course you want privacy, and our current office doesn't give us that luxury as we'd like.  In the new office, you'll have complete privacy. A childrens' play area!  They will be able to scribble on the walls, play Xbox, and more. Big-screen [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:36-04:00 March 17th, 2010|Cosmetic dentistry, Family dentistry, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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Six-Month Adult Braces + 2 CEREC Porcelain Veneers equals one happy patient!

Ever since we started doing Six Month Braces in 2004, the number of smile makeovers that we've done with porcelain veneers has dropped dramatically. This is because we can create beautiful smiles much more conservatively with six-month braces than we can with veneers, simply because there is no drilling on the teeth. There are times however, when porcelain veneers are an excellent option. Caroline's case is a perfect example of how the two can work together: we first used six-month braces to straighten her teeth, then whitened them.  Finally, we used our CEREC CAD/CAM machine to make to 2 porcelain veneers right in our office, in a single appointment to complete the smile makeover by matching her peg lateral incisors to match the rest of her smile. If you are interested in learning more about either porcelain veneers or Six Month Braces (see more in our Before and After Smile Gallery), please contact us at either 704-364-7069, or Request an Appointment Online.

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:39-04:00 March 14th, 2010|Cosmetic dentistry, Dental photography, Porcelain Veneers, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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Complete Smile Makeover with Porcelain Crowns

A Full-Mouth Smile Reconstruction Quite some time ago, I showed this case as an example of how badly teeth can be damaged by grinding them, whether at night, in the daytime, or both, and why something as simple and inexpensive as a nightguard (my recommendation is a NTI-tss).  It is especially inexpensive in comparison to the cost of rebuilding a smile that is so broken down.  This gentleman came to us in 2008, looking for options to feel good about his smile again for various reasons.  After plenty of discussion, we agreed that the only option that would truly give him the smile that he wanted was a Total Smile Makeover/Reconstruction with porcelain crowns. After showing the Before-After pictures of his smile, I'll discuss some of the issues you need to consider if you are thinking about significant cosmetic dentistry for yourself. Frequently Asked Questions about Smile Reconstruction When rebuilding a smile such as this, it is crucial to establish a proper bite relationship of the top and bottom teeth.  Sometimes this can take a little while to figure out, because - when the teeth are so worn, the patient has long since adapted to a very bad bite relationship.  The muscles have to be relaxed, accurate records taken, and excellent communication is necessary among the patient, the doctor, and the lab, to ensure that the crowns are made to look good, feel good, and last a long time. However, in severe wear cases, we always remind the patient that s/he already did a pretty good job destroying their natural set of teeth, so a nightguard is an absolute requirement as "insurance" to protect their investment, and even then they are more likely to break [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:43-04:00 March 7th, 2010|Bruxism & Parafunction, Cosmetic dentistry, Dental photography, Porcelain Crowns|0 Comments
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What’s the difference between Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease?

This is one of those simple questions that can seem quite confusing to the public, because most dental offices don't do an adequate job explaining the difference, and sadly, periodontal disease is still one of the most under-diagnosed and under-treated diseases in the United States.  Part of the reason for the lack of treatment does come from the lack of proper diagnosis, but the other part is most commonly that patients believe that treatment for periodontal disease is too uncomfortable or that it doesn't seem to work very well.  Fortunately, we now have a genuine treatment that both works and is comfortable: Laser Periodontal TherapyTM.  Still, it is important to understand the difference, so you can know if you do or don't have either gingivitis or periodontal disease, and what you can do about it. Gingivitis In the simplest terms, Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, caused by a build-up of plaque around the teeth that is not completely and regularly cleaned by good brushing and flossing. You could think of it as a paper cut on your skin -- you know, it gets really red and irritated and sore, will bleed a bit, but if you take good care of it by putting ointment on and a bandaid (the equivalent of good brushing and flossing), it will go away quickly. What do you need to do to cure gingivitis? Brushing at least twice/day Flossing at least once, preferably twice/day, with good technique, and possibly Using a non-alcohol-based, fluoride mouthrinse. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to become periodontal disease if there are other contributing factors, but it does not automatically do so, and it can be reversed with improved care of your teeth and [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:48-04:00 February 16th, 2010|Gingivitis, LANAP - Laser Surgery for Gum Disease, Periodontal (Gum) Disease|0 Comments
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Cosmetic Dentistry with Porcelain Veneers

While Six-Month Braces has become increasingly popular with our Charlotte area patients who desire a Smile Makeover, there are times that Porcelain Veneers are a better option, or at least an equally viable option. 6 Reasons to Choose Porcelain Veneers over Six Month Braces I've included a short video of a few Smile Makeovers done in our office over the years to demonstrate what can be accomplished with porcelain veneers.  Should you have any questions or desire a Complimentary Consultation of your own, please call 704-364-7069 or Request an Appointment Online. Comments and Questions are always welcome!

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:52-04:00 February 7th, 2010|Cosmetic dentistry, Porcelain Crowns, Porcelain Veneers, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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Tetracycline-stained teeth: a Complete Smile Makeover

How to Fix Teeth Stained by Tetracycline When it comes to teeth that were stained a VERY dark brown or grey when you were young and took the antibiotic tetracycline, there are unfortunately not a lot of options for making a dramatic change.  While Deep BleachingTM is the most conservative option, it  isn't necessarily for everyone.  And if you've already had some previous cosmetic dentistry done and also want that redone to look better with the modern techniques cosmetic dentistry can offer, you most likely need a Total Smile Makeover. Replacing ugly old porcelain-and-metal crowns with a dark grey line at the gums with porcelain-to-gold crowns that look beautiful, natural, and white - to cover tetracycline-stained teeth. Chan was just such a patient when he first came to my office back in 2005; his old porcelain-to-metal crowns had been done many years previously, but his bite never felt quite right, and he just wasn't thrilled with the look.  In addition, over time his gums had receded slightly, leaving the grey metal edges exposed and unattractive.  Honestly, his teeth were the absolute darkest brown stained teeth I've EVER seen, even 5 years later. Could porcelain veneers be used to treat tetracycline-stained teeth?  Possibly, but it's highly unlikely in a case like this.  We actually NEEDED metal under the crowns (nowadays we have a different option) to mask the super-dark teeth, so we ended up choosing CaptekTM crowns, which have a very high gold content to give a beautiful, natural light reflection that looks fabulous. Not only that, but they've been proven to help repel plaque at the gum level and keep gums super-healthy. As you can imagine, Chan is MUCH happier with his smile [...]

By | 2017-11-07T12:36:32-05:00 January 28th, 2010|Cosmetic dentistry|0 Comments
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Frequently Asked Questions about Six Month Braces

Commonly Asked Questions at a Six-Month Braces Consultation These questions really aren't surprising, and you've probably wondered about them already yourself if you're considering this remarkable cosmetic dental option, so here are your answers: Can you REALLY move my teeth in just Six Months? Yes, we really can.  I know it seems hard to believe, because most everyone thinks that you have to wear braces for 18 months to 3 years to get everything right.  You can take a look at this Smile Gallery to see a whole bunch of people who've had their front teeth straightened in 6 months or less. HOW do you move teeth that fast? It's quite simple, really, and it's not magic or rocket science.  Basically, since we're really doing cosmetic braces, this is an alternative to porcelain veneers.  That means we are just concentrating on straightening the front teeth, NOT trying to correct major bite problems. Answer these 3 questions and you'll know if you're a good candidate for Six Month Braces: Do you have any jaw or muscle pain, or a history of headaches? Do you have any difficulty chewing or biting normally, or is your bite really "off" in the back teeth? Do you have some spaces in the front teeth you'd like closed or crowded front teeth you want straightened? If you answered NO the first 2 questions but YES to the last question, then you are probably a good candidate for Six Month Braces! WHEN CAN WE START!? This is, of course, the most fun question.  It's amazing how many times patients will want to start RIGHT NOW.  As in, before they've even left the Complimentary Consultation appointment.  And most of the time, we can [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:43:55-04:00 January 28th, 2010|Cosmetic dentistry, Six-Month Braces|0 Comments
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Biolase tries to copycat Millenium Dental Technologies, or…..BUYER BEWARE

In a move that clearly indicates the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not always truly understand what it approves, another dental laser manufacturer (BIOLASE Technology, Inc) has received clearance to market their laser, the Waterlase MD TM, for the same LANAP Procedure that was originally patented and approved by the FDA for the Millenium Dental Technologies Periolase MVP-7 laser -- EVEN THOUGH Biolase has not a single shred of clinical research demonstrating that it can do what it claims. In fact, the Waterlase MD is a completely different kind of laser, called an erbium, whereas the Periolase is a Nd:YAG; the letters may not seem to mean much, but there is, in fact, a DRASTIC difference. Not only is the type of laser different, but the Waterlase has virtually NONE Of the settings possible that make the Periolase so SAFE.  It's complicated physics, and I won't bore you with that, but suffice it to say, it is basically impossible for the Waterlase to do what the Periolase does. The Periolase has 10 years experience and thousands of users who consistently get the same results because of demanding training and all the specifics that make it work as it does.  If you want to be sure that your gum disease is being treated by a laser dentist with the EVIDENCE that it works, make sure you choose a dentist licensed and trained to use the Periolase MVP-7 dental laser.  I'll be adding a page to my website soon that will list dentists across the nation who offer the only proven laser treatment for periodontal (gum) disease.

By | 2015-07-28T09:44:09-04:00 December 21st, 2009|Laser Dentistry|0 Comments
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