Ask Dr. Conover Philadelphia, PA Dentist

Click on a question to see Dr. Conover’s answer

What are porcelain veneers?

How does whitening work?

What is KoR Deep Bleaching?

Can you tell me about take-home Whitening?

What will my temps look like?

Can you tell me more about dental implants?

What is the Dental Implant Process?

How Many Dental Implants Should Be Placed?

Who Should I see About Getting Dental Implants?

Are There Different Types of Dental Implants?

My gums bleed when I brush. Should I be concerned?


What are porcelain veneers?

Answer: Dr. Conover uses porcelain veneers for the same reasons as bonding (to lighten stains, close gaps, and even alter crooked or malformed teeth). They are considerably more durable and stain resistant than bonding.

The veneer is actually a thin piece of porcelain similar in size to a fingernail. Once it is “bonded” onto the tooth it becomes extremely strong. Dr. Doray also blends the veneer in with the remaining tooth structure so that it is unnoticeable to the naked-eye. Once in place, it looks, feels, and functions just like a regular tooth.

We can use porcelain veneers to change the shape and color of a single tooth or, if necessary, revamp an entire smile. Porcelain veneers can also be used to correct teeth that have been worn from clenching and grinding.

Please call us at (215) 395-6076 for consultation. You may ask Dr. Conover or any of our professional team questions you have about the benefits of porcelain veneers. To view before and after pictures of actual cases, visit our Smile Gallery. Back to top

How does whitening work?

Before Teeth Whitening in Philadelphia After Teeth Whitening in Philadelphia

Answer: More people than ever are choosing to whiten their smile. With so many products on the market, many of our patients ask what we recommend. Dr. Doray is happy to be able to offer our patients several teeth whitening options depending on their individual situation.

What is Kor Deep Bleaching?

Dr. Doray is now excited to offer Deep Bleaching to her patients interested in getting the most dramatic results possible.

Deep Bleaching uses a combination of 2-3 in-office treatments with take-home treatments. Unlike other whitening techniques, Deep Bleaching offers significant lightening even for patients with very dark teeth or tetracycline staining. Deep Bleaching can actually whiten teeth to a level previously unattainable.

Your teeth will get considerably whiter with Deep Bleaching, so the effect will last much longer than more conventional teeth-whitening methods.

Deep Bleaching works by restoring your teeth’s ability to absorb oxygen. The oxygen from the Deep Bleaching gel is absorbed deeply into the tooth, dissolving stain molecules.

Take-home Whitening

More effective than drug-store whitening options and less expensive than in-office whitening procedures, take-home whitening is a great choice for the more budget-conscious patient.

This safe and simple treatment is a great way to help you restore your gleaming smile. Take-home trays are a convenient way to achieve a brighter smile over time or to touch up after a previous whitening treatment.

First, we take impressions of your teeth to craft your custom whitening trays — one for your upper teeth and one for your lower teeth. After making sure your bleaching trays fit properly, we’ll show you how to apply the hydrogen peroxide tooth-whitening gel and discuss the amount of time your bleaching trays should be worn each day to achieve your desired results.

What will my temps look like?

Before and after teeth whitening

Answer: Temporary restorations are an important component of more advanced dentistry. Dr. Doray makes temporary veneers, onlays, crowns, and bridges that are comfortable and very esthetic. We know that you want to look your best during all stages of treatment.

When teeth have been reshaped for porcelain veneers, porcelain fillings, crowns, or bridges, they must be covered to restore comfort, function, and esthetics while waiting for the final restorations to be custom made. Temporary restorations are also placed on implants for similar reasons.

In more complex cases, these temporary restorations allow Dr. Conover and the patient to evaluate the proposed final restoration and to make any desired modifications before its completion. They serve as the “blueprint” for the final result, allowing the patient to preview the proposed smile and the laboratory to achieve exactly what Dr. Conover prescribes.

Successful esthetic dentistry requires attention to detail at every stage of treatment, including temporary restorations. Dr. Doray is considered an expert on the subject of temporary materials and techniques. She has been invited to speak nationally to dentists and to author articles and chapters on this topic.

Can you tell me more about dental implants?

Anatomy of a dental implant

A dental implant is a titanium metal replacement for a root of a tooth that is surgically implanted in the jawbone.

As the body heals for approximately two to six months after the surgery, the bone around the implant fuses to the implant through a process called osseointegration.

After the healing phase is complete, the implants are used to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures. Dental implants are the most natural replacement for a missing tooth.

What is the Dental Implant Process?

We begin with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical and dental history, and a full clinical examination of the entire mouth and missing tooth area. The clinical exam should also include specific X-rays.

After assessing the patient, a comprehensive treatment plan can be devised. From that point, implants are surgically placed in the jawbone under local anesthesia.

The length of the healing time is based on the quality and quantity of bone, as well as the type of implant placed. After adequate healing is allowed to occur, the implant can be used to support a crown, bridge, or denture.

How Many Dental Implants Should Be Placed?

This is a question that should be determined during the treatment planning phase. A general rule-of-thumb is to place one implant for each tooth to be replaced, although this is not always necessary.

Other considerations in planning the number of implants needed for successful treatment include the quality and quantity of the patient’s bone, the anatomy of the bone, functional concerns and the type of final restoration that is desirable.

It is vitally important to the long-term success of the restoration to have the correct number of supporting implants. Simply stated, the most costly mistake is to have an implant fail because not enough implants are placed to support the teeth.

If the number of implants is limited due to financial constraints of the patient, then the type of restoration must be altered or possibly another type of treatment considered.

Who Should I see About Getting Dental Implants?

When getting dental implants, you should select a dentist or dental team with in-depth knowledge and prior experience with all aspects of the treatment. Dr. Conover has training and experience restoring teeth with dental implants.

It is also important to know that implant treatment consists of two components: a surgical phase and a restorative phase.

Traditionally, a dental surgeon, like an oral surgeon or a periodontist, performs the surgical component. A general dentist, or prosthodontist and laboratory technician performs the restorative component.

However, as implant dentistry has become more sophisticated, sometimes a dentist who specializes in restorative dentistry conducts the entire procedure.

Are There Different Types of Dental Implants?

Yes, several types are available. The American Dental Association considers both the endosteal and the subperiosteal implants to be acceptable.

An important factor for selection is to determine whether your jawbone can adequately support the implant. Most dental implants placed today are endosteal root form fixtures (similar to a man-made tooth root).

For more information about Dental Implants, schedule an appointment with Dr. Conover.

My gums bleed when I brush. Should I be concerned?

Answer: If you have swollen, bleeding gums, you may have periodontal gum disease. And the sooner we treat it, the better. Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause serious loss of teeth and bone, and it has recently been linked to heart disease and stroke as well as premature and low-weight babies.

According to the American Dental Association, 75 to 80% of all adults will have some form of gum disease. Periodontal disease can go on for years without pain and without detection unless specific examination procedures are performed. Visual oral examination by itself (even by a dentist) will not reliably detect periodontal disease until it has reached an advanced stage.

Early detection and adequate diagnosis require measurement of pockets (the crevice between tooth and gum) with a periodontal probe. Although the procedure is simple, painless and requires only a few minutes, millions of American adults have never had it done.

Dr. Conover performs a complete periodontal examination and diagnosis as part of your initial comprehensive evaluation. Then Dr. Conover makes the appropriate assessment and prescribes a custom periodontal treatment.

Early detection and appropriate treatment is critical to prevent tooth loss and disfigurement. We have a highly successful non-surgical periodontal treatment program available in our office. Dr. Conover also works with a team of excellent periodontists if further treatment is needed.

Schedule a Dental Exam & Consultation Today

Please feel free to call our office at (215) 395-6076 to schedule a comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Conover if you have experienced any of the following signs of periodontal disease: bleeding gums, redness of gum tissue, swelling of gums around the teeth, breath odor, receding gums, or mobility of teeth.