Q. How often should I see a dentist?
A. The American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines recommend visiting a dentist every six months for a periodic exam and professional cleaning.
The American Association of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends that children should be seen six months after their first tooth erupts which is usually age one.
Q. What should I expect during my appointment?
A. We will review your medical and dental history during your first visit. We will examine your teeth and gums, perform an oral cancer screening, take X-rays of your teeth as needed and complete a TMJ (temporomandibular or jaw joint) exam. After we review your existing dental conditions, we will discuss treatment recommendations and alternatives with you. If treatments, such as root canals (endodontics), braces (orthodontics) or extractions and biopsies (oral surgery) are recommended, we may treat you in our office or refer you to a specialist.
Continued comprehensive care is completed at six month periodic exams. Any changes in your medical history and/or medications are annotated as well as your blood pressure. An examination of your teeth and gums is completed as well as an oral cancer screening. We are always willing to discuss any concerns you may have about your oral health and answer any questions you may have about our recommendations.
Q. What does “painless dentistry” mean?
A. Painless dentistry is a means of ensuring your total experience in our office is as stress-free and pain-free as possible. We offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for the comfort of our patients.
Q. What if I have an emergency?
A. Please call our office as soon as you determine that you have a dental emergency. We will be glad to work you in to our schedule if you have a dental emergency during regular business hours. After hours, over the weekend and during holidays, our office number will be forwarded to one of our staff members' phones. We will contact you and determine the best course of action for your condition.
Q. Are payment plans available for my dental treatment?
A. We process all dental insurance plans and are a preferred provider for Aetna, Delta Dental, MetLife and United Concordia (Tricare). We accept most major credit cards, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. Additionally, we accept Care Credit financing.
Q. Can the dentist whiten my teeth?
A. Teeth may be bleached in the office in a single two hour appointment or with take home bleaching trays that may be worn each day for as little as one hour.
If you elect to have bleaching done in our office you will find that the time will pass quickly as you are able to watch TV in our comfortable dental chairs. In office bleaching is especially effective on a single tooth that is darkened as the result of trauma or root canal treatment.
For take home bleaching trays, we make an impression of your teeth and create a tray that fits your teeth exactly. Each day you place a small amount of bleaching gel in the tray and wear it as prescribed on a daily basis. The overnight bleaching process takes approximately two weeks depending upon the frequency trays are worn.
Q. What if I have a gap in my teeth, a chipped tooth or teeth that do not respond to normal bleaching methods?
A. Porcelain veneers are designed to look like your natural teeth and are individually and permanently attached to the front of your existing teeth. Bonding utilizes a composite material to fill in chipped or missing areas of your teeth. Both porcelain veneers and bonding are color-matched to the rest of your teeth.