Can I fill out the patient dental forms online?
What is your advice for home care?
Do you recommend any particular toothbrush or toothpaste?
Is it necessary to have my teeth cleaned at the Dental Office?
How long does it take to have my teeth cleaned?
Do you work on Children's teeth?
Do you quote prices over the phone?
Do you offer payment plans?
What insurance policies do you accept?
It's a weekend and I have a toothache -- What to do?
If I have a cavity when I'm pregnant, is Novacain a danger to my baby?
My teeth are sensitive all the time -- What can be done?
What is periodontal disease?
Is smoking bad for my teeth?
What are sealants?
When I've lost a lot of my teeth, should I get dentures, or will a bridge work?
What kind of filling materials do you offer?
What is an implant?
Help me understand Root Canal Treatment
Will tongue or lip piercing hurt my teeth?
Can you whiten teeth?
Explain the difference between Orthodontia and Cosmetic Dentistry
What is your advice for home care?
Taking good care of yourself is the foundation of a healthy life. Excellent home care will help keep your teeth and gums healthy and reduce your need for more dental work in the future.
Do you recommend any particular toothbrush or toothpaste?
Choose a toothpaste that tastes good, preferably with fluoride and not too abrasive. A soft toothbrush with a comfortable handle works fine. However, if you want to use an electric brush, we recommend Sonicare.
Is it necessary to have my teeth cleaned at the Dental Office?
Absolutely! Even great home care will not reach everything that needs to be cleaned off your teeth. Regular professional cleaning is a critical building block for a healthy mouth.
How long does it take to get my teeth cleaned?
A basic cleaning will take 30-50 minutes. If you have a healthy mouth and have received regular professional care this is a good average. Factors such as gum disease, crooked teeth, poor home care, and smoking can change the type of treatment needed.
Do you work on Children's teeth?
Yes. We really enjoy helping children learn to be healthy for a lifetime. The recommended time for a child's first dental appointment is 6 months after the first tooth comes in or at about one year.
Do you quote prices over the phone?
Yes. Be careful comparing prices over the phone. Not all offices are the same in what they include in a fee and may not treat different situations exactly the same. This is like asking a house painter to give you a quote without letting him look at your house.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We make it as easy as possible for people to afford the care they want. We accept most major credit cards and offer no interest options or up to 5 years to pay.
What insurance policies do you accept?
We work with almost all insurance plans. Our staff are experts at helping you receive the benefits you deserve.
It's a weekend and I have a toothache -- What to do?
We make sure you are always covered. Our patients rarely have emergencies but if the unexpected should happen we are always on call.
If I have a cavity when I'm pregnant, is Novacain a danger to my baby?
Local anesthetic (Novocaine) is very safe. However, we try to limit treatment during pregnancy to preventive care and treatment of pain or infection. The health of you and your baby are our first concern.
My teeth are sensitive all the time -- What can be done?
There are a number of possible reasons, and the first thing to do is to determine why. Are you grinding too hard, or have your gums receded, exposing the roots: has gum disease developed, or are cavities causing your sensitivity? Treatments may include special toothpastes, fillings, gum treatment, or a grinding guard.
What is periodontal disease?
That is infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth, starting with gingivitis and progressing, if untreated, to inflammation and erosion of the bone holding the teeth, resulting in tooth loss.
Is smoking bad for my teeth?
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you could ever do for your health, especially for teeth. It affects all phases of health, from the risk of cancer to reducing your ability to heal.
What are sealants?
Sealants are usually placed on permanent molars. They are thin acrylic resin coverings bonded over the grooves on the chewing surface of the teeth. This prevents bacteria from getting into the grooves and causing decay. They should be checked regularly to make sure they are still working.
When I've lost a lot of my teeth, should I get dentures, or will a bridge work?
Dentures, partials, bridges, implants- these are all ways of replacing missing teeth and restore function, comfort, and a beautiful smile. Which treatment or combination of treatments is best for you will depend on how good you want to look and chew and what condition your teeth, gums, and bone are in. Many of these questions can be answered during an initial free consultation.
What kind of filling materials do you offer?
We are skilled in placing porcelain, gold, composite and silver fillings. Which one is right for your situation will depend on how you want it to look and how long you want it to last.
What is an implant?
An implant is the closest thing we have to a real tooth replacement. Whether replacing individual teeth or anchoring a denture this procedure has had a huge impact on our ability to restore people's ability to chew and smile confidently.
Help me understand Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is the removal of the cause of pain and/or infection from inside the tooth. After the infection is cleaned out the space is sealed with a filling material. Once properly restored with a filling or crown the tooth should have many years of useful life.
Will tongue or lip piercing hurt my teeth?
The balls used in tongue piercing are very hard on the teeth. Patients have broken teeth by accidentally biting those metal balls. They usually break or chip teeth beside the tongue. That ball crashes around constantly, and you may not notice, but it is damaging your teeth. Lip piercing will result in irritation on the gums around the root of the teeth, leading to infection and eventual loss of the tooth.
Can you whiten teeth?
Yes, we offer three different levels of whitening, or bleaching as it is sometimes called. Please visit our Cosmetic Dentistry pages for the complete story.
Explain the difference between Orthodontia and Cosmetic Dentistry.
Orthodontics is the art and science of moving the teeth into their optimal position for looks and function.
Cosmetic dentistry encompasses a wide variety of treatments for making a smile look better. This may be as simple as slightly reshaping a single tooth or whitening to more advanced techniques such as porcelain veneers or direct bonding. The options available today are many and exciting. Call for a free consultation and see what it could do for you.
