FAQs

Absolutely. All second opinions we may need are offered free of charge. We want all of our patients, whether they be existing or new ones, to be completely informed of all their options, the benefits/risks of specific procedures, and any alternative treatments that may be available. We promise our consultations will be informative and relaxing as we have an open conversation about any dental concerns you may have. We love conversing about dentistry and want you to feel confident in any dental decisions you make. Our team of dental professionals and our experienced dentist, Dr. Brian H. Chan, have extensive knowledge on many procedures and we have worked with patients with a wide range of dental needs. That being said, we can offer you a knowledgeable, reliable second opinion on any of the services that our team offers. Feel free to reach out with any questions or to see if we can help with your unique needs. Our team of professionals understand that dental care can be a large investment that sometimes requires a little shopping around, and we are confident that we can assist you in making the right decision to meet all of your needs. You don’t have to go through a procedure that you aren’t sure about, instead you can come visit our office for another opinion that can help you make the best decision. Contact us today if you have any questions or concerns, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment!

No one wants to wait weeks or months for an appointment and we generally can find time for you to see Dr. Brian Chan within a week. Our staff is committed to having meaningful relationships with our patients through providing top quality dental care. In our office, we believe that can only be accomplished by seeing one patient at a time so that you have our full, undivided attention. We also understand the importance of time and take great pride in starting and finishing an appointment on time. We guarantee that you will not have an appointment where you need to wait more than a few minutes to be seen. We do not like it when it happens to us and we certainly do not want that to happen to you. Dental emergencies are a high priority for our office. We usually have time blocked off in our daily schedule for any same-day or next-day emergencies that may come up. Dr. Brian Chan is easily accessible after hours by phone as well so your needs can be addressed in a timely fashion. Regardless of the severity of your dental emergency, visiting a dentist is the first step needed to ensure that no further damage occurs in your mouth. Please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call, and our staff will gladly fit you into our schedule as soon as possible for an emergency appointment!

White fillings are also known as composites that are made up of a composition of glass and plastic micro particles. The ones we use in our office are certified BPA free and blend in very well with your surrounding natural teeth. Tooth-colored fillings require less tooth preparation and repairs can be completed with relative ease. On the other hand, silver fillings (amalgam) are made up of a mixture of various metals. Unfortunately, more healthy tooth structure must be removed to create a strong and durable repair. Of course, the other problem with silver fillings is that they are much more obvious than tooth-colored fillings. While amalgam fillings do have the longest track record in dentistry, they are quickly being phased out for the more conservative tooth-colored fillings that improve the health of your tooth and the appearance of your smile. Every patient is different and presents different needs, so we can discuss your options for fillings at your appointment. Our team of dental professionals can help you make the right decision for your oral health that meets your budget as well. Contact the team at Complete Dental Smiles today with any questions, or to schedule a convenient appointment or consultation with Dr. Chan.

Placing fillings are a routine procedure in general dentistry. A filling is a restoration used to replace a cavity. Cavities are areas of continually weakened tooth structure caused by aggressive bacteria. Cavities are notorious for causing sensitivity to sweets, anything cold, and depending on the size of the cavity, pain. After a cavity is physically removed, there is a void left in the tooth that has to be filled in order to strengthen the tooth again. Cavities can be prevented by maintain a healthy diet combined with good oral hygiene techniques such as brushing and flossing. It’s always best to address a cavity as soon as possible to ensure that it does not worsen and become a root canal. Regular trips to the dentist for professional cleanings and exams are the best way to prevent cavities, as your dentist can give you more information on your unique oral health needs. At Classic Dental Smiles, we want to ensure that every patient we work with has great oral health! If you have any questions about dental fillings, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment to have a cavity filled, give us a call today for more information at 858-485-6781.

When dental restorations are needed, we at Classic Dental Smiles look to mimic what nature gave us. That is, we look for something that will be strong functionally and look naturally beautiful. In the past, dentists used silver colored fillings because it was the best thing we had at the time. Obviously, things have changed quite a bit over the years and there are now much better materials available for use to use. Tooth-colored fillings are based from resin compounds rather than metal compounds. Not only are these fillings less stressful to our teeth but they are naturally esthetic as well. Placing them does not require extensive tooth preparation; only the affected areas with decay need to be removed. Additionally, white fillings can be patched effectively if needed. At Classic Dental Smiles, we also have the ability to place larger hybrid restorations that are a mix of resin and porcelain. This provides the benefit of two worlds: the restoration can better flex with the tooth while providing the resiliency of porcelain. This is accomplished in one visit using our Cerec technology. Additionally, these types of hybrid restorations can be repaired just like regular tooth-colored fillings. We believe in everything that we do and stand behind our work. We strongly believe that resin fillings are better than silver fillings and as a result, have eliminated the placement of silver fillings in our practice. If we need a filling, it won’t be silver!

We have state-of-the-art technology in the form of 3D xrays (CBCT). Less than 5% of dentists in San Diego have this technology in their office; we are part of that top 5%. These pictures gives us absolute clarity regarding the area in question in three dimensions of space. Using special software, we can digitally plan out where the implant should go and where the final crown will be. The whole process is mapped out from start to finish so any potential complications can be identified and avoided before the procedure even starts. The best part is that this can all be done digitally without having to take any physical/goopy impressions!

We make sure our patients are comfortable and fully numb before the procedure starts. Once full anesthesia has been achieved, the placement of the implant usually does not hurt (you’re numb!). After the procedure has been completed, we can confidently say that with all of the implants we have placed, nothing more than a few tabs of Advil or Tylenol is needed on occasion. Some minor soreness can be expected but most of our patients do not need any pain medication at all. In fact, it’s not unusual for someone to come in early in the morning to have the implant placed and then go straight to work right after. Thanks to the advancement of modern dentistry, the placement of a dental implant is now more safe and comfortable than ever before!

The total appointment time from start to finish is usually an hour. Of course, it all depends on the situation but in most cases we see, the actual procedure to place a single implant takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes. The more implants that need to be placed, the longer the procedure will be but in general, it’s much shorter than one might expect. This is why we take time to carefully plan out every phase of the procedure, to help ensure things run as smoothly as possible.

A dental implant is a titanium post that is placed into the jawbone beneath the gums and serves as the foundation for a dental crown to sit on. It is the best replacement for a missing tooth or multiple teeth. Dental implants can also be used to anchor a partial or full denture. They come in various shapes and sizes so it is critical that we get all the proper diagnostic information to properly plan the appropriate implant for the empty space.

In short, just the name. D.D.S. stands for “Doctor of Dental Surgery” while D.M.D. stands for “Doctor of Dental Medicine.” D.D.S. degrees were initially given when dentistry became organized back in the late 1800’s. However, the designation of D.M.D. came about when schools such as Harvard decided to give out degrees in Latin. It was a nomenclature change. Simply put, they just wanted to change the name because they did not like the way it sounded in Latin. Both are the same in scope and practice. Some dental schools give out D.M.D. degrees while others give out D.D.S. degrees. Both degrees are given by accredited American dental institutions, both require meeting the same rigorous academic standards and clinical licensure testing, and both are given at schools that require 3-4 years of postgraduate training. The American Dental Association (the governing board of dentistry) has made it clear that there is no difference in function between “Doctor of Dental Surgery” and “Doctor of Dental Medicine”. The difference is only in the name. Before settling in Rancho Bernardo, Dr. Brian Chan graduated from the Loma Linda School Of Dentistry where D.D.S. degrees are awarded. Same with his father, uncle, and two cousins, who all graduated from the same school and all have the same degrees!

No, no, never, no! Mouthrinses are effective in some cases, but there’s no way around it – nothing can replace brushing and flossing for optimal effect. The biofilm that forms on our teeth (also known as plaque) is a thin layer of bacteria that needs to be physically removed. In other words, no mouth rinse will be as effective as a diligent routine of brushing or flossing (despite what some misleading ads may say). Think of a plate of food after you have eaten a meal; in order for it to get really clean, you need to physically scrub away any of the debris left on it. By contrast, using a mouthrinse is like dipping it in soapy water (or any other cleaning solution) and hoping the plate will come out perfectly clean. If flossing is not possible because of a physical handicap, there are a number of different flossing aides and devices that we can recommend to help get those teeth sparkling clean! The best thing to do is to come see us and have your teeth evaluated. Once we are familiar with your mouth, we can make customized recommendations and partner with you in achieving a healthy, bright smile!

This is one of the most common questions that we see, simply because patients want to keep up on their oral health, but don’t want to go to the dentist more than they have to. The ideal schedule for dental visits is to have an exam as well as a professional teeth cleaning once every six months. In some cases, it may be more appropriate to have your teeth cleaned more frequently (once every three or four months, for instance). At Classic Dental Smiles, Dr. Brian Chan will check your teeth and gums every 6 months to ensure there are no problems developing that need attention and to confirm that you are up to date with all of your oral health needs. Of course, if you feel that yore in need of dental attention between cleanings and exams, we encourage you to give us a call to arrange an appointment at our Rancho Bernardo office. If you would like more information about the frequency of visits for you and your family, please contact us. Our experienced dentist in Rancho Bernardo can answer any questions that you may have about the process. Give us a call today for more information on how we can help, and schedule your first routine cleaning with our office today!