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Frequently Asked Questions

What services do we offer?

Do we accept dental insurance?

Please contact our office for more information.

Do we offer a payment plan?

Often times a payment plan can be worked out with an established patient for more extensive treatment plans.

Also, care can be spread out over several months and a little bit done each month if finances are a problem and that way it is not too much of a financial burden.

We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover and debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo.

If you have insurance we ask that you pay your portion as services are rendered, as well as your deductible at the first appointment.

Do we see emergencies and new patients?

We are accepting new patients and as stated above we try to get emergencies in and treated on the same day.

How often should I have my teeth cleaned?

In general you should have your teeth cleaned every six months. There are exceptions depending on the health of your gums. Your personal needs can be determined at your examination.

Why should I get my teeth cleaned?

Between cleanings plaque, stains, and hard deposits form on your teeth even with the best of home care. It is important to get the plaque, stains and especially the hard deposits removed at least every six months because the hard deposits irritate the gum tissues and cause them to pull back and as they pull back the bone and supporting structures of the teeth pull back also. This whole process is termed periodontal disease and it is a leading cause of tooth loss.

Recent research has shown a link between the health of a person’s teeth and gum tissues to other types of diseases involving the rest of their body. Gum disease may lead to heart disease and has been related to diabetes. Infections in a person’s mouth quite logically lead to other problems and therefore it only makes good sense to maintain a person’s oral health so that they may stay as healthy as possible.

What does a dental examination include?

In a dental examination after a routine cleaning or check-up the entire mouth is examined. This includes examining the teeth for cavities, both visually and with X-rays, an examination of the cheeks and gums and a check around the teeth for possible bone loss. The relationship of the upper teeth to the lower teeth is recorded and a screening is done for oral cancer. Then findings are presented to the patient and treatment plans discussed so that any problems found can be corrected.

Do we offer fillings that match the color of teeth?

Although in years past the silver fillings were more or less the standard for the back teeth the trend now is more toward restoring cavities with the white tooth colored fillings. They do cost a little more, and some of the insurance companies only pay toward them at the silver-filling rate. But, in contrast to the silver (amalgam) fillings, they are not held in place by being packed in between the sides of the tooth. They actually bond to the tooth structure itself, and stick to it harder than the tooth structure sticks to itself. In short, they look much better and are stronger, and they do not contain any mercury in any form as the silver fillings do.

When should a child have his/her first dental appointment?

It is generally recommended that a child should have his first dental appointment no later than his third birthday. Many dentists recommend a child have his first appointment when his first tooth comes in. Sometimes parents bring their small children along when they get their cleaning done and the child gets an idea of what to expect when it is time for their own first appointment. Until the first check-up it is very important that the parents keep their child’s teeth clean by brushing them and flossing them for them after every time they eat.

Why do we take X-ray’s every six months?

Most of the decay that occurs happens in between the teeth where it cannot be seen on a visual examination. Therefore we take X-rays to check these areas and to catch these smaller areas of decay before it gets large enough to cause a tooth to need a root canal or to be extracted. Other things show up on X-rays also such as infection and fractures and different types of cancers. It is important to catch all of these things early while they are little and we find that even in six months a lot of things can sometimes occur and that once a year is just too long between X-ray examinations.

A beautiful smile is always in style!