Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The general recommendation is to schedule dental exams and teeth cleanings every six months. At M Shah DMD & Associates, we tailor these appointments to meet each patient’s individual needs.

For example, someone with no history of cavities and gum disease and brushes and flosses consistently may get by with fewer visits. Others who have a history or are dealing with advanced gum disease will require more frequent hygiene appointments.

We recommend you start with a visit to our Paoli, PA, dental office so we can perform a comprehensive examination to determine your needs. Our dentists will take digital x-rays if needed, so we have your most up-to-date information on file.

Using an intraoral camera, they will show you the condition of your teeth and point out any problem areas that need our attention. We will educate you about your oral health needs so that you can understand our recommendations and make confident and informed treatment decisions.

You will also meet with one of our experienced hygienists who will remove plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. If they find signs of gum disease, they will work with you to set up a treatment plan to treat it.

Schedule Your Next Teeth Cleaning with Us

Exams and teeth cleanings are preventive because they keep you a step ahead of cavities and gum disease and allow us to provide prompt treatment if necessary.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or have questions, please call our Paoli, PA, dental office so we can help you.

One reason dental implants are a popular tooth replacement is their longevity. Placed by a skilled specialist and restored by an experienced dentist, a dental implant can last a lifetime. 

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Unlike bridges and dentures that sit on top of the gums, a dental implant is a tiny titanium post placed surgically in the jawbone. After the implant has time to heal and integrate with the bone and tissue around it, it becomes part of your dental anatomy, just like the natural tooth was. 

When our implant dentist, Dr. Mehul Shah, attaches a crown, bridge, or denture to the implant, the result is a stable, secure prosthetic tooth. If you need full tooth replacement, several implants can support a denture that stays securely in place and allows you to return to eating your favorite foods. 

The key to maintaining a dental implant is to protect the jawbone that supports it. Untreated gum disease can lead to bone loss, putting your implant at significant risk for failure.  

At M Shah DMD & Associates, we help you avoid gum disease with routine teeth cleanings at our Paoli dental office. You do your part at home by brushing conscientiously at least twice a day and flossing once, and your implant will give you many years of service.

Call to Learn More about Dental Implants

Dr. Shah is an excellent choice for an implant dentist because of his meticulous attention to detail and high standards for quality dentistry. If you want to see if you are a good implant candidate, please call us at (610) 647-1666 to schedule a convenient appointment.

There’s no explicit age restriction on candidacy for dental implants; there are specific criteria that one must meet to be deemed a suitable candidate. To qualify as an appropriate candidate for implants, an individual must:

• Have a fully-formed jawbone. Again, there’s no specific age at which this happens, though in most cases, it’s between 18 and 24.
• Not suffer from gum disease and otherwise have healthy and strong gums to support a dental implant.
• Have enough density in their jawbone to support a dental implant. (This, in some cases, can be rectified through a bone graft).

What Exactly Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small titanium pegs placed into the jawbone's empty socket after tooth loss. Once in place, over a few weeks, in a process called "osseointegration," these pegs fuse permanently with the jawbone, creating both a completely natural-feeling tooth root and a solid point upon which to affix a tooth replacement (like a dental crown). Implants stand out as long-term tooth replacement options because they tackle tooth loss above the gumline and at the root.

Precisely Placing Dental Implants in Paoli, PA

If you’re in the Paoli area and looking for a skilled and caring dental care team to guide you through the dental implant process, contact dentist Dr. Mehul Shah and the team at M. Shah DMD & Associates to schedule a consultation.

If you have broken teeth, you probably avoid smiling when you talk to other people, and you may be embarrassed to go out in public. Fortunately, you have options that can help you reclaim your smile. So, what should you do if you have broken teeth?

Options for Broken Teeth

If you have broken teeth and want to improve the look of your smile, we can offer the following dental treatments:

Veneers

By adding a thin layer of porcelain to the front sides of your teeth, we can hide your broken teeth and give you a smile you can be proud of.

Composite Dental Bonding

We can use tooth-colored composite to improve the look of your broken teeth. This affordable cosmetic option can cover a variety of dental concerns.

Dental Crowns

If our dental team thinks dental crowns can preserve your broken teeth, we can place a tooth-colored cap on each broken tooth to give it a natural look and significantly improve your smile’s function.

We also offer several tooth replacement options in our dental office; if you want to discuss replacing your teeth with dental bridges or implants, contact us for more information.

Do You Need a Dentist in Paoli, PA?

If you have broken teeth in Paoli, PA, consider the expert dental team at M. Shah DMD & Associates. We can help you form a treatment plan to restore your smile. Your oral health is of the utmost importance to us, so please call our dental office at (610) 647-1666 to schedule an appointment.

Full smile makeovers include all the treatments and services patients need to restore their smile to a healthy, well-functioning state. No two patients have the same dental needs, so each smile makeover is tailored specifically for the individual.

At M Shah DMD & Associates, patients commonly come to us with a combination of cosmetic and restorative dental needs. For example, they may need crowns and implants for decayed or missing teeth and a couple of veneers to hide broken teeth.

Customized Dental Treatment Plans

Whatever your needs, you can trust Dr. Shah to work with you to carefully evaluate them and provide honest treatment recommendations. We present all available options and answer your questions carefully, so you understand what’s involved.

When performing your treatment, Dr. Shah uses the highest-quality materials to produce long-lasting, beautiful dentistry. He understands that dental treatment is an investment in your smile, so he takes great care to ensure that you are thrilled with the results of your smile makeover.

You Deserve a Healthy, Confident Smile

If you have multiple dental conditions to correct, rest assured we are a completely judgment-free dental practice. Our only goal is to help you achieve the healthy, comfortable smile you deserve.

Please call us at (610) 647-1666, so we can help you schedule a convenient appointment.

Invisalign clear aligners are a discreet, convenient treatment that addresses most orthodontic issues. Clear aligner therapy is an excellent option for adults because it produces a straight, even smile without the inconvenience of metal braces. 

The only way to know if clear aligners are right for you is to schedule an appointment with our Invisalign dentist, Dr. Mehul Shah. Clear aligners work well for many people who want to straighten their teeth because the treatment addresses many orthodontic issues, including:

• Crooked teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Gapped teeth
• Protruding teeth
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites

Invisalign may not be appropriate if you have a severe overbite or rotated teeth. However, Dr. Shah will evaluate your situation carefully and make a recommendation based on your unique needs. 

Do you worry that the time to straighten your teeth has passed? At M Shah DMD & Associates, we treat patients of all ages, from teens to seniors. It’s never too late for a straight smile!

Schedule an Invisalign Appointment to Learn More

Dr. Shah and our dental team enjoy helping patients discover their best smile with treatments like Invisalign clear braces.

Whatever your orthodontic needs are, we would love the opportunity to help you. Please call our Paoli, PA, dental office at (610) 647-1666 to schedule a convenient appointment.

Today’s dentistry offers a wide range of services to help you improve the look of your smile. There are so many options, from teeth whitening to cosmetic dental bonding to porcelain veneers. However, if your teeth aren’t as straight as they should be, you may be interested in Invisalign clear aligners. If that’s the case, you’ll likely have questions about how often you should wear your Invisalign aligners. Keep reading to learn more.

Invisalign from M. Shah, DMD & Associates

If you are a candidate for Invisalign, we can fit you with custom aligners that fit snugly over your teeth. These aligners will gently shift your teeth into the desired position. Invisalign aligners are both comfortable and nearly invisible, making them a popular choice for teens and adults.

Invisalign Wear Time

For optimal results, you need to wear your Invisalign clear aligners for 22 hours each day. You will only remove your aligners to eat, brush your teeth, and floss. You won't achieve the best results if you don’t wear your aligners as directed.

Considering Invisalign in Paoli, PA?

If you are curious whether Invisalign clear aligners are right for you, the expert dental team at M. Shah DMD & Associates is ready to take your call! We can assess your orthodontic condition and recommend a treatment plan to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. You can contact our dental office at (610) 647-1666. 

Cosmetic dentistry includes a wide selection of services such as teeth whitening, bonding, veneers, and Invisalign. However, every restorative dental treatment—dental crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures—is customized to enhance your oral health and improve your smile’s appearance.

If there’s something you don’t love about the look of your teeth, the dental team at M Shah DMD & Associates would love to help you!

Smile Improvements with Cosmetic Dentistry

Our assortment of cosmetic dental treatments makes it possible for us to solve numerous smile flaws, including:

• Chipped teeth
• Broken teeth
• Stained or yellow teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Uneven spacing
• Large gaps between teeth
• Tooth size or shape differences

We also offer full smile makeovers if you have multiple issues to correct and will create a customized treatment plan to help you achieve your goals. Our cosmetic dentists have high standards for quality dental work because we believe our patients deserve the best. 

When you invest in your smile, we want to be sure that the results are long-lasting and provide many years of use.

Schedule a Cosmetic Dentistry Appointment

Even a simple treatment like KöR teeth whitening or bonding can be life-transforming, especially if you feel self-conscious about sharing your smile. Dr. Shah and Dr. Logan would enjoy meeting with you to discuss your cosmetic dentistry goals and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Please call M Shah DMD & Associates at (610) 647-1666 to schedule an appointment to get started.

Teeth whitening is an easy and affordable treatment to keep your smile looking bright and youthful. Once you have a professional treatment with KöR whitening at our Paoli, PA, dental office, we recommend the following steps to maintain your beautiful results. 

• Avoid staining foods and drinks: This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how quickly foods with strong colors like blackberries, blueberries, or beets can stain your pearly whites. Additionally, coffee, dark tea, red wine, and colas are notorious for staining teeth, so keep your consumption to a minimum. 
• Don’t smoke: Smoking or using tobacco products leaves ugly hard-to-remove stains on your teeth and is bad for your oral health in general.
• Use whitening toothpaste: A good way to remove very light surface stains to maintain your bright smile is the regular use of whitening toothpaste. Look for products that whiten your teeth and strengthen your tooth enamel.
• Do monthly at-home touchups: With KöR whitening, you’ll receive a custom tray and supply of whitening gel so you can perform monthly touchups to maintain brilliant results. 
• Schedule regular teeth cleanings: One of the best ways to keep your smile white and healthy is to see your hygienist for routine teeth cleanings. These visits protect your gum health and remove plaque and tartar buildup for brighter, whiter teeth.

If you would like to schedule a teeth cleaning or learn more about KöR teeth whitening, please call M Shah DMD & Associates to schedule an appointment. 

Having one or more missing teeth can affect your self-confidence and cause oral health problems. Fortunately, our dental office can replace your missing teeth with a dental bridge. A bridge is a dental prosthetic that “bridges the gap” where your teeth used to be, but did you know there are different types of dental bridges? Keep reading to learn more.

4 Types of Dental Bridges

Depending on your dental situation, your Paoli dentist may give you the choice of any of the following types of dental bridges:

1. Traditional bridge – This is the most common type of bridge. Dental crowns are placed on the teeth adjacent to your missing teeth to support your prosthetic teeth and fill the gap in your smile.
2. Maryland bonded bridge – This bridge doesn’t require dental crowns to support it. Instead, it uses a metal framework on your adjacent teeth for support.
3. Cantilever bridge – This type of bridge uses a dental crown on one natural tooth to support one prosthetic tooth.
4. Implant-supported bridge – We can attach a dental bridge to dental implants to give you the stability you want without altering your teeth with dental crowns.

Want to Learn More about Dental Bridges in Paoli, PA?

If you have questions about the different types of dental bridges and which one might be best for you, we would love to help! At M. Shah DMD & Associates, we want to create a treatment plan that suits your needs and budget. You can reach our dental office at (610) 647-1666 to schedule an appointment.

Dental crowns, or “dental caps,” are tooth-shaped prosthetics made of porcelain, metal, or some combination thereof, that are either placed atop dental implants as permanent tooth replacements or provide a protective casing for cracked or otherwise severely damaged natural teeth to restore their form and function.

Can a Crown Be Placed on Any Tooth?

Dental crowns can be placed on most teeth, with front teeth, molars, and premolars the most common. However, some considerations and potential restrictions can prevent a tooth from being eligible for a crown.

Most importantly, a tooth must have a sufficiently healthy structure to securely support a crown. Teeth with extensive decay or structural damage may require additional treatments to supplement their strength or may be unsuitable for crowns. Additionally, teeth that are significantly misaligned and specific bite issues require some orthodontic adjustment before a crown can be placed.

Consult with your dentist to assess your oral health and dental alignment and determine your suitability for dental crowns.

Precision-Placed Dental Crowns in Paoli, PA

If you’re in the Paoli area and looking for a highly skilled and experienced dentist you can trust to determine your suitability for dental crowns and to expertly place them if appropriate, contact dentist Dr. Mehul Shah and the team at M. Shah DMD & Associates to schedule a consultation.

A broken tooth may impact surrounding teeth if it becomes infected and the infection spreads. Additionally, if a tooth splits Lengthwise, you’re at risk for tooth migration—adjacent teeth shifting to cover the newly empty space.

A jagged or broken tooth can also cut the tongue and cheeks, which can be painful and lead to an oral tissue infection.

Repairing or Replacing Broken Teeth in Paoli, PA

Depending on the severity of the tooth break, your dentist may be able to treat it and then cap the tooth with a dental crown. The crown is customized to fit the treated tooth and match surrounding teeth. It prevents further damage and restores your bite.

For minor breaks or tooth chips, your dentist may consider dental bonding to restore function and aesthetics.

For a knocked-out tooth, it’s crucial to replace it. We recommend a dental implant to prevent tooth shifting and jawbone deterioration.

Your dentist will assess the tooth damage and talk to you about the options that will best repair or replace the tooth.

Contact Your Dentist in 19301  

Contact our dental team today for additional information about broken teeth in Paoli, PA, tooth replacement, and restoration. If you have a fractured tooth, we encourage you to call us as soon as possible to schedule a consultation with the dentist.