Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

CEREC crowns are durable, but how you care for them affects how long they last. Here is what Dr. Kauffman recommends:

• Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily, paying close attention to the gumline around the crown where plaque tends to collect.
• Be careful with hard and sticky foods. Chewing ice, hard candies, or sticky foods can put unnecessary stress on the crown and risk dislodging or damaging it. Avoid using your teeth to open packaging.
• Ask about a nightguard if you grind your teeth. Bruxism places significant force on restorations over time. If Dr. Kauffman notices signs of grinding or clenching, he may recommend a nightguard to protect your crown and surrounding teeth.
• Limit staining substances. Although ceramic crowns resist staining better than natural enamel in some respects, limiting coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco helps maintain the appearance of both the crown and your surrounding teeth.
• Keep your regular appointments. Routine cleanings and exams allow Dr. Kauffman to monitor the crown, check the margins, and catch any concerns before they become larger problems.

Contact Us If Something Feels Off

If you notice sensitivity, a change in your bite, or any discomfort around the crown, call our Downtown Atlanta dental office at (404) 524-1981. Early attention usually means a simpler fix.

A little understanding of what to expect can make it easier to stay current with routine care. Here are answers to some of the questions patients ask most often about cleanings and exams.

How Often Should I Have a Cleaning and Exam?

For most patients, every six months works well. If you have a history of gum disease or other risk factors, Dr. Kauffman may recommend more frequent visits to keep a closer eye on your oral health. He will suggest a schedule based on your individual needs.

Does Insurance Cover Cleanings and Exams?

Most dental insurance plans cover preventive visits like cleanings and exams, often at little or no cost to you. We accept PPO plans, and Dr. Kauffman is an out-of-network provider. Our team can help you understand your coverage before your visit.

Why Do I Need Dental X-Rays, and Are They Safe?

X-rays let Dr. Kauffman see between and beneath your teeth, where decay and other problems often start. He uses digital x-rays, which expose you to significantly less radiation than traditional film, and only takes them when they will provide useful information about your care.

What's the Difference between Regular and Deep Cleanings?

Regular cleanings remove plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and along the gumline, and are part of your routine preventive visits. Deep cleanings, called scaling and root planing, go below the gumline to remove bacteria and tartar when gum disease is present. Dr. Kauffman recommends a deep cleaning only when your gum health calls for it.

Perimetrics InnerView® is a diagnostic device that measures what is happening structurally inside a tooth or implant, something traditional exams and x-rays cannot fully capture. Cracks, loose restorations, and implant instability often start beneath the surface long before you feel pain or a problem shows up on an x-ray.

How the Scan Works

During your exam, Dr. Kauffman uses a small handheld device that delivers a series of gentle micro-taps to the tooth or implant, each lasting only a couple of milliseconds. Sensors capture how the tooth responds, and the device's software analyzes that data to generate a numerical reading of the tooth's structural stability.

The entire process takes about three seconds per tooth, involves no radiation, and feels like light tapping rather than a procedure.

Tracking Change Over Time

What makes InnerView especially useful is the ability to track that number over time. Dr. Kauffman can record a baseline reading and compare it at future visits, which makes it possible to catch subtle structural changes early, sometimes before symptoms or visible damage appear.

As a beta tester for this technology, Dr. Kauffman has been able to offer this level of diagnostic insight to his Atlanta patients ahead of most practices.

Interested in learning more? Call us at (404) 524-1981 to schedule your next dental checkup to see our technology in action.

KöR® whitening works well for most adults who want to brighten their smile, including patients with stubborn or deep staining that other systems have not been able to treat. However, it is not the right choice for everyone, and Dr. Kauffman will evaluate your oral health before recommending it.

You may not be a candidate if you have:

• Untreated tooth decay or active gum disease needs to be addressed before any cosmetic treatment begins. 
• Significant tooth-colored restorations, crowns, or veneers, as KöR works only on natural enamel and will not change the color of existing restorations. 
• Severe pre-existing tooth sensitivity that may not respond even to KöR's built-in desensitizing agents.
• For people who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment, we recommend waiting to whiten until after pregnancy, as a precaution.

Treatment Options for Stained Teeth

If whitening is not the right fit, that does not mean your cosmetic goals are out of reach. Dr. Kauffman can discuss alternatives that may be a better match for your situation.

Porcelain veneers, for example, can address discoloration that whitening cannot correct, including staining from restorations, enamel irregularities, or teeth that have darkened due to trauma. Dental bonding is another option if you want to improve the appearance of one or two teeth without a full cosmetic commitment.

We’ll Help You Find the Right Solution

If you would like to schedule an appointment to see if KöR whitening is right for your needs, please call our downtown Atlanta dental practice at (404) 524-1981 to schedule a consultation.

You are a good veneers candidate if you have generally healthy teeth and gums, with cosmetic concerns rather than functional ones. During your consultation, Dr. Kauffman looks for a few key things:

• No active decay or gum disease
• Enough healthy enamel to safely prepare the teeth
• A bite that's reasonably well aligned.

If those conditions are met, veneers can be an excellent way to address chips, discoloration, gaps, or wear.

What to Consider Before Getting Veneers 

• Cosmetic, Not Functional — Veneers are not designed to correct bite problems or significant misalignment, and they should not be placed over decay or active gum disease.
• Permanent Tooth Alteration — Placing veneers requires removing some tooth enamel. This alteration is permanent, so once you have veneers, you will always need some type of covering on your teeth.
• Veneers Longevity — With proper care, porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 15 years or longer. They resist staining well, though Dr. Kauffman still recommends limiting heavily pigmented foods and beverages and avoiding habits like nail-biting or chewing ice that can chip them.

A More Conservative Option: Composite Veneers

If you are not ready to make a long-term commitment, composite veneers may be an alternative. Dr. Kauffman sculpts tooth-colored resin directly on your teeth in a single visit. They require less or no enamel removal and can be repaired or replaced more easily than porcelain.

The tradeoff is that composite veneers typically last 5–7 years compared to 10–15 years for porcelain. They are also more prone to staining. Dr. Kauffman can help you weigh both options based on your goals, timeline, and budget during your consultation.

Call us at (404) 524-1981to schedule.

Often, yes, and for many patients, this is one of the biggest advantages of sedation. When you need several procedures, sedation allows Dr. Kauffman to complete more of your treatment in a single appointment rather than spreading it across many visits.

Combining procedures in one appointment is especially helpful if you have a demanding schedule, if you feel anxious about returning repeatedly, or if you have put off extensive work for a long time. Imagine arriving for one appointment and waking up with significantly more done than you expected. Dr. Kauffman will review your treatment needs and let you know how much can reasonably be completed together while keeping you safe and comfortable.

Who Administers the Sedation?

Dr. Kauffman personally administers sedation at our downtown Atlanta dental office. He completed advanced training in IV conscious sedation and monitors you throughout your procedure, assisted by trained team members who track your comfort and vital signs.

Will I Be Unconscious During Sedation?

Not necessarily. Nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation keep you awake but relaxed, while IV sedation brings you to the edge of consciousness, where you may drift in and out. Dr. Kauffman will explain what to expect from the level of sedation that fits your treatment and comfort level.

If you have other questions or need to schedule an appointment, please call us at (404) 524-1981