Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you face periodontal (gum) surgery or treatment, you may wonder about all of the hype surrounding laser gum treatment. At Smile Life Dental, we implemented this state-of-the-art procedure for the comfort and health benefits of our patients.

Periodontal disease requiring surgery involves removing all diseased tissue so that healthy tissue can grow back without risk of infection. Traditional surgery required incisions that often caused lengthy healing times. Additionally, traditional gum surgery lacked complete precision due to the nature of traditional surgery.

With laser gum treatments, we can precisely remove diseased tissue and promote healthy tissue regeneration using a soft tissue laser. Lasers provide our patients with faster healing times, increased comfort, decreased bleeding, and a better overall experience.

Laser gum treatments are not limited to periodontal disease treatment. We can use soft tissue dental lasers to treat cold sores, canker sores, perform cosmetic gum reshaping (gingival sculpting), and gum surgeries such as tongue ties and frenectomies.

At Smile Life Dental, we strive to continually provide the latest technology that modern dentistry has to offer so that we can give you the best dentistry in the most comfortable way possible. 

To learn more about laser gum treatments, contact our Wilmington, MA dental office.

In addition to traditional preventive dentistry such as brushing, flossing, exams, and regular dental cleanings, we help patients protect their teeth by taking prevention one step further.

Millions of Americans suffer from a condition known as bruxism, or clenching and grinding your teeth. Teeth grinding can damage your smile and put your health at risk! It can also lead to more severe problems such as jaw disorders, also known as TMJD, temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

When you grind your teeth at night, you can cause premature wear and tear, often chipping, and even cracking your teeth in your sleep. Your smile may have a worn look and appear flattened. This is not only an esthetic problem, but it also affects the comfort and function of your bite.

A nightguard, also known as an oral appliance, provides two layers of protection for your smile.

First, your nightguard creates a barrier between your upper and lower teeth that reduces the amount of wear on your teeth due to bruxism.

Secondly, your nightguard is specially designed to gently guide your jaw into a relaxed position that promotes muscle relaxation and joint health.

At Smile Life Dental, we create custom nightguards based on your needs. Give our Wilmington dental office a call today to schedule an evaluation and look forward to a beautiful smile for a lifetime!

CEREC technology began nearly three decades ago and has provided millions of high-quality restorations for patients. CEREC restorations are comparable in durability and longevity to full gold crowns, which are often used on molar teeth that receive most of the force from chewing.

What our patients love about CEREC goes beyond what studies show. CEREC crowns offer a number of valuable benefits that improve your smile.

CEREC Crowns Are Convenient

Same-day CEREC crowns eliminate the wait time associated with crowns created in the dental lab because we design and create them right here in our Wilmington dental office.

If you have ever worn a temporary crown, you know they can be a bit of a hassle. Sometimes they come off because they are secured using temporary cement for removal later. They can also feel a bit bulky and do not look as nice as a final crown.

You don’t have to have a gooey impression. We digitally scan the tooth for an accurate 3-D image.

CEREC Crowns Look Natural

A ceramic crown mimics tooth enamel, and part of the treatment process includes customization to make sure that your new crown matches your other teeth.

For more information about same-day dental crowns, contact your Wilmington dentist at Smile Life Dental.

Patients today are living longer and more active lifestyles than ever before. In fact, today’s adults and seniors often find themselves in a second career and leading active social lives, so it makes sense they would want to look their best as well as stay healthy! Dr. Paul Caselle can help you can look and feel great no matter your age.

At Smile Life Dental, we focus on treatment to protect your oral health, but we also want to support you in looking your best so that you have the self-confidence to live your life to the fullest. If something about the appearance of your smile bothers you, we can help.

We offer a wide range of cosmetic treatments from simple teeth whitening to full smile makeovers and everything in between. Cosmetic dentistry is versatile and allows us to address your concerns. We can provide you with a fully functional and comfortable smile in less time than you might think. 

Some of the cosmetic treatments we offer include: 

• Teeth whitening
• Tooth-colored fillings
• Cosmetic dental bonding
• Porcelain crowns
• Porcelain veneers
• Dental implants
• Full smile makeovers

Are you unhappy with your smile? Contact our Wilmington dental office for a cosmetic evaluation and Dr. Caselle can share treatment suggestions to help you achieve the smile of your dreams.

You may have met someone who has dentistry that looks fake, boxy, or unnatural, but at Smile Life Dental, Dr. Paul Caselle is committed to providing beautiful, natural-looking cosmetic dentistry for our patients.

Technology has come a long way, and so have the techniques used to improve the esthetics of your smile. Cosmetic restorations such as veneers can look so realistic that people would guess you were born with them!

We use the latest computer-aided design and manufacture techniques to create dental veneers that both improve your smile and look completely natural. We design each veneer so that the size, shape, and color match your age and facial structure. We take into account the shape of your smile and make recommendations that will offer you the highest function and beauty. We want your dentistry to feel comfortable and look great! 

Dental veneers are one of the ways you can make dramatic improvements to your smile. Whether you have a couple of problem teeth that you’re concerned about or you want a full smile makeover, dental veneers can solve problems such as:

• Crooked teeth
• Worn or chipped teeth
• Dark teeth
• Oddly shaped teeth
• Gaps between your teeth

At our Wilmington dental office, we can often create your veneers in just one day using CEREC technology!

When patients experience tooth loss, it can be an extremely traumatic experience, but with the latest advancements in tooth-replacement therapy, we can treat tooth loss efficiently and permanently. At Smile Life Dental, we can help you find the solution that will work best for you.

One of the most effective tooth replacement options available is the dental implant. Dental implants are the option most like your natural teeth. Because implants integrate with your jawbone, they offer stability for your dental restorations allowing you can chew and speak normally.

You have probably heard a lot of hype about dental implants, but it’s for a great reason! In addition to providing solutions for your missing teeth, dental implants also have the added benefit of supporting healthy bone structure. When you lose teeth, you begin to naturally lose bone. Replacing missing teeth with a dental implant can slow down or stop bone loss, and that’s great news for your remaining teeth that depend on your jaw bone for support.

In addition to the health benefits of dental implants, they also look great! We create custom restorations such implant-supported crowns and implant-supported bridges that match the rest of your natural teeth so that you have an attractive, seamless smile to share with the world. Contact our Wilmington dental office to learn more about dental implants and how they can benefit your smile.

We recommend a full set of radiographs, which includes images of all teeth, every five years. A full-mouth series includes both bitewing and vertical x-rays. Bitewings provide valuable information to detect decay and vertical x-rays show the roots of the teeth. Vertical x-rays show information about fractured roots, bone levels, and can even confirm infection.

A bitewing series is taken every year, or more, depending on your dental history to check for cavities in between the teeth.

In the event of a dental emergency, we may take one or more x-rays to diagnose your condition so that Dr. Caselle can provide proper treatment to get you out of pain fast.

With digital x-rays, the radiation exposure is minimal. The amount of radiation you get from sunlight is 35 millirems per year. Compare this to a digital x-ray, which is 0.15 millirems per exposure. Although the exposure is low, we still use a protective apron when taking x-rays for added safety.

If you have questions about the safety or necessity of your x-rays, let us know. We are always happy to provide useful information to help you get the most out of your dental care.

If you are pregnant, research now shows that it is okay to have x-rays taken if needed. However, you should check with your physician if there are any concerns. 

We would be delighted to welcome you into our dental family, as well as your family members, friends, and co-workers. We are happy to accept new patients from Wilmington, Reading, North Reading, Wakefield, Woburn, Burlington, Tewksbury, Andover, and the surrounding areas.

You might be wondering what you can expect when you arrive at our Wilmington dental office and understand that starting out at a new dental practice can be a bit intimidating. We are here to put your mind at ease with a friendly welcome and a team who genuinely cares about your oral health and wellbeing.

After we collect the necessary paperwork and insurance information, we will introduce you to the team and show you around.

First visits are especially important because you will have time to discuss any oral health conditions or concerns you might have about your teeth and smile. If you have questions, we welcome you to let us know. We want you to feel confident while you are in our care.

You can expect:

• A thorough exam of teeth and gums
• An oral cancer screening
• Digital dental x-rays
• Consultation and discussion
• A dental cleaning

We look forward to meeting you and to providing the high-quality dental care you deserve.

We see children of all ages and recommend children have their first visit at approximately age two when they have many of their teeth present, and they can follow instructions. This early childhood dental visit helps your child become familiar with the dental office sights and sounds in addition to giving Dr. Caselle a chance to make sure that their teeth are developing normally.

Your child’s first visit is an excellent time for us to talk with parents about their little one’s development and to answer any questions regarding what to expect in the upcoming months.

Parents should clean their child's teeth daily when they first appear in their mouth. Before teeth emerge, special cleaning cloths are available to rub along the gums to keep them healthy. We are happy to provide a demonstration on how to provide your child with the best oral hygiene care at home.

Please ask for our complimentary brochure, "Your Child's Teeth."

As your child grows, we will provide preventive dentistry treatments as needed.

• Dental cleanings
• Exams
• Bitewing x-rays
• Fluoride treatment
• Sealants

If a cavity develops, you can count on gentle treatment to repair your child’s tooth comfortably.

If you need a pediatric dentist in the Wilmington area, give us a call! We welcome patients of all ages.

It might seem tempting to skip dental appointments, especially if your teeth are feeling okay. Dental problems can be silent and remain unnoticed for long periods of time, leading to more serious and costly problems. With regular exams, we can help you to achieve optimum dental health and prevent dental problems. 

We recommend that you receive a dental exam and cleaning at a minimum of every six months. In some cases, we may recommend visiting the dentist more often. For patients managing periodontal disease or who have medical conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, or who are taking certain medications, 3-4 visits per year may provide you with the enhanced support you need to stay healthy.

We customize the dentistry we provide to meet the oral health needs of patients as they change over time. What worked when you were twenty may need adjustments by the time you reach your fifties. We are here to monitor your health and make recommendations that protect your teeth and your entire body for a lifetime.

It is not only crucial for your oral health, but also your overall health to have regular visits. Studies have shown that dental problems can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health concerns.

Good oral health means better overall health. To schedule a dental exam, contact our Wilmington dental office.

Many people look at their mouths and see teeth that are crowded or rotated, and may not consider orthodontics because they feel it is a cosmetic treatment. 

However, in many cases, this misalignment of teeth can lead to periodontal disease since it is more difficult to remove plaque and harmful bacteria. Also, poor alignment of teeth can create excessive pressure, resulting in chipping and grooves at the gumline. Eventually, this constant wear will result in gum recession, sensitivity, loose teeth, and tooth loss.

When teeth are correctly aligned, you reduce the chances of periodontal disease and the abnormal wear and trauma that can result. Research has shown that periodontal disease, if left untreated, may increase the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

At our Wilmington dental office, we are pleased to offer two treatment options to meet your orthodontic needs: Six Month Smiles and Invisalign.

Six Month Smiles addresses the alignment of the teeth that are visible when you smile using tooth-colored brackets and wires. Since we are only treating the front teeth, treatment takes approximately six months.

Invisalign uses nearly invisible aligners to gradually move teeth. They are removable, making it easy to care for your teeth throughout treatment.

We believe that patients deserve to have options when it comes to their dental treatment. If you are thinking of improving the appearance of your smile, but can’t imagine wearing traditional orthodontic brackets and wires, then Invisalign might be for you.

Invisalign is esthetic.

Because Invisalign aligners are made from a thin, completely clear, BPA-free plastic, they are very discreet. You can speak normally, and no one will notice that you are wearing orthodontic aligners.

Invisalign is comfortable.

Brackets can irritate the delicate tissue on the insides of your cheeks. Invisalign is smooth and will not create painful sores on your soft tissue. You do not have to have regular “tightening” appointments as you do with traditional orthodontics. Your aligner trays gradually move your teeth using low-force pressure, and most patients find it much more comfortable.

Invisalign is removable.

You can remove your trays to eat, drink hot beverages, and to clean your teeth, making them extremely convenient. Keeping your teeth clean is much easier! We do recommend that you wear your trays for 22 hours a day for the best results. 

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Invisalign, contact our Wilmington, MA dental office today. We can’t wait to help you achieve the beautiful smile you have always wanted.

Six Month Smiles is a practical and convenient way to achieve your ideal smile. Since we only treat the teeth that are visible when you smile, the treatment time is often much shorter – averaging about six months.

Six Month Smiles uses a memory wire to move teeth quickly into a more esthetic position. Constant force means your teeth move all the time, not just after “tightening” appointments. Six Months Smiles makes it possible for you to have a smile you feel proud of in a short period of time.

Orthodontic treatment with Six Month Smiles is perfect for older teen and adult patients wishing to achieve a more esthetic smile and better alignment in their anterior teeth. If you have jaw issues or a severely misaligned bite, we have other alternatives available in our office that can help you achieve excellent results.

Six Month Smiles can be used alone or in conjunction with other cosmetic dental treatments to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. 

Contact Us to Learn More about Six Month Smiles

We look forward to helping you achieve a smile that is both healthy and gives you confidence. To learn if you are a good candidate for Six Months Smiles, contact our Wilmington, MA dental office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Paul Caselle. 

Periodontal (gum) disease puts your oral health at risk and can cause tooth loss. Additionally, it can create social problems due to bad breath. Perhaps the most frightening of all is the effect that periodontal disease can have on your systemic health.

Periodontal disease is a chronic infection. As with any infection, it causes inflammation. It is easy for the bacteria from gum disease to travel freely through your bloodstream and can affect the health of your other systems such as circulatory, nervous, and respiratory systems. Researchers have discovered a link between gum disease and low birth-weight babies.

Heart disease – When periodontal disease is present, your chances of having a heart attack increase.

Stroke – Strokes are more common in people who also suffer from chronic gum disease.

Complications with respiratory illnesses – Both chronic bronchitis and COPD are more common in people who have untreated gum disease.

Pregnancy complications – Periodontal disease is more common during pregnancy because of hormonal changes. It is especially important to seek treatment because periodontal disease has been linked to low birth-weight.

Many researchers believe that the inflammatory nature of any infection is the cause of health complications linked to periodontal disease. The connection requires more research, but dentists and doctors know that gum disease puts your overall health at risk and that effective treatment supports good overall health and wellness. For a healthy smile and healthy gums, your Wilmington dentist, Dr. Caselle, will be happy to discuss your options.

If you have a dental emergency, please contact our office as soon as possible. If the office is closed, follow the instructions and call our emergency number and Dr. Caselle will get in touch right away.

Here are some steps to help you in the case of a dental emergency:

• Broken tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. If you notice swelling, place an ice pack on the area. If possible, keep the broken portion and bring it with you to the dentist. Restrict your diet to soft foods and avoid foods that are either too hot or cold.
• Lost filling: Usually a lost filling will result in a tooth feeling sensitive for a few days. You should contact our office for an appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, restrict your diet to soft foods and avoid food that is either hot or too cold. Even though your tooth may feel better after a few days, do not delay having your tooth fixed because long-term exposure can result in more damage to your tooth.
• Toothache: Clean the area by swishing with warm salt water and floss to remove any irritants on the tooth. Call our office for an appointment.
• Bitten lip or tongue: Place ice on the area of trauma to prevent swelling. If bleeding does not stop or slow, you should contact our office.

A white smile is beneficial when making first or even third impressions. Having white teeth represents health, beauty, and that you care about the way you look. Many places offer teeth whitening, but is it safe for the average person?

When completed under the supervision of a trained and experienced dentist, teeth whitening is completely safe for patients with healthy teeth and gums.

Teeth whitening typically utilizes a peroxide solution to remove the stains from teeth and penetrate the pores of your teeth to bleach away deeper stains. We offer both in-office and take-home whitening, often in combination, to achieve the best results.

By following directions exactly and following Dr. Caselle’s recommendation for how long to wear your trays, along with the type of gel that will work best for you, you can enjoy comfortable and effective teeth whitening.

If you do experience sensitivity, let us know! We can help. Desensitizing gel and fluoride treatments help reduce those symptoms and allow you to achieve excellent results. Side effects usually occur if you leave your trays in for too long or use too much whitening gel in each tooth receptacle. Only a small amount is necessary to achieve a whiter, brighter smile. Contact your Wilmington dentist at Smile Life Dental to learn more about teeth whitening.