The day the braces come off should feel like a finish line. Then the brackets are gone, the teeth are straight, and a ring of chalky white patches sits right where each bracket used to be. Marks like these are common, and so are stains, chips, and worn edges in adults who never wore braces at all.
JAX Dental Studio offers cosmetic care for teens and adults who want their smiles to look even from edge to gum line. Families from St. Nicholas can take Atlantic Boulevard west to San Marco Square, then head south on Hendricks Avenue to reach the dentist near St. Nicholas many of their neighbors already see. Dr. Charles Poblenz starts by finding out why a problem formed, because the cause shapes the fix. Our San Marco office draws cosmetic patients from all areas we serve, including St. Nicholas just to the east.
The right treatment often depends on where you are in life. Here is how our cosmetic services line up for the patients we see most often.
Chalky marks around old bracket sites are the most common concern at this stage, and white spot removal is designed for them. Once the enamel is healthy, professional whitening can brighten a newly straightened smile. White marks can also come from fluorosis, early decay, or enamel that formed unevenly, so we check the cause even in teens who never wore braces.
Tooth-colored bonding repairs small chips and gaps, usually in one visit and with little or no removal of enamel. Porcelain veneers suit adults who want to change the color, shape, and spacing of several front teeth at once.
Dark metal fillings can be replaced with shade-matched composite, which bonds directly to the tooth and goes on in thin layers, each hardened with a special light. If you have a list of concerns, a smile makeover combines treatments into a single written plan with a clear order of steps.
Whatever your stage, the first visit is about finding the cause. Dr. Poblenz looks at your teeth, gums, and bite, then explains which option fits, what it involves, and what it costs before you decide anything.
We are in network with BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Cigna, Aetna, and Florida Combined Life, and we offer CareCredit, Cherry, and an in-house membership plan for patients without insurance.
Plaque collects around brackets and wires, and its acids pull minerals out of the enamel, leaving chalky areas. A 2024 review of 57 studies in the journal Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research found that about 55% of orthodontic patients had white spot lesions, and that fixed braces carried higher odds than other appliance types or no treatment.
Shallow spots often respond to microabrasion, a paste with a mild acid and fine abrasive that gently buffs away a very thin stained layer in a 30- to 60-minute session. Deeper spots may need bonding, and mild contrast can sometimes be softened by whitening the enamel around them. A spot that has already softened into a cavity needs a filling first, and our exam and digital X-rays help tell the two apart. To keep new spots from forming, especially during braces:
Spots that appear during braces are worth mentioning right away, because catching them early may leave you with more options. After the brackets come off, wearing your retainer as directed keeps your teeth in place while we work on their color.
St. Nicholas is a mostly residential neighborhood just east of San Marco, with Bishop Kenny High School on Atlantic Boulevard nearby. We see patients of all ages, so a teen’s white spot visit and a parent’s checkup can be booked as a pair, and our emergency dentistry near St. Nicholas is there for the day a tooth breaks or a toothache cannot wait.
Dr. Poblenz belongs to the American Academy of Clear Aligners as well as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, so he looks at white spots with both alignment and appearance in mind. If straightening is still ahead for someone in your family, ask how clear aligner therapy works at our office, including how cleaning around removable aligners differs from cleaning around brackets.
St. Nicholas patients often ask these questions when comparing cosmetic options. The answers below explain how each treatment works at our office.
In-office whitening applies a peroxide-based gel to each tooth in the chair, with your gums protected throughout. Take-home whitening uses custom trays made from impressions of your teeth and worn at home. Both lighten natural enamel, so the choice comes down to your timeline and how stubborn the discoloration is.
Good candidates have healthy teeth and gums, no active decay or untreated gum disease, enough enamel to support bonding, and a cosmetic concern that whitening alone cannot solve. If damage is significant, a crown may suit better, and more notable alignment concerns may call for clear aligners first. Dr. Poblenz confirms candidacy at your consultation.
Most bonding does not, because only the tooth surface is treated. The surface is lightly roughened and conditioned, then the resin is applied in layers, shaped by hand, cured with a light, and polished. Little to no enamel is removed, and any minor sensitivity afterward typically resolves quickly.
In many cases, yes. The iTero 5D scan taken at your consultation can illustrate potential results before treatment begins. We also review your recommended plan, timeline, and costs with you before scheduling anything, so you decide with the full picture in hand.
Price depends on which treatments your plan includes, how many teeth are treated, and whether any preparatory care comes first. We quote no estimate until we know your specific plan, then give an itemized breakdown at the consultation. Purely cosmetic work is generally not covered by insurance, but CareCredit and Cherry can finance what remains.
Straight teeth deserve an even color to go with them. A visit starts with a close look at each spot, stain, or chip, followed by a clear explanation of which treatment fits and what it costs. Most PPO plans are accepted here, and uninsured families can look at CareCredit, Cherry, or our in-house membership plan.
Dr. Charles Poblenz first worked in dentistry as a UNF student, helping out at the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, and that care for people still guides our office. Reserve a time online, or contact our office to schedule a cosmetic visit for yourself or your teen.
