Q. How often should I see a dentist?
A. The American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines recommend visiting a dentist every 6 months for a checkup and cleaning.
Q. What should I expect during my appointment?
A. For first time visits, one of our staff members will compile your medical and dental history. Your doctor will then examine your teeth and gums, screen you for oral pathologies, takeX-rays of your teeth as needed and complete a TMJ (temporomandibular or jaw joint) exam. After we review your dental profile, we will discuss a diagnosis with you. If treatment is needed, we will discuss your options for treatment and out of pocket expenses to help you determine the best plan that fit your needs.
During regular follow-up visits, we will examine your teeth and gums with the aide of any necessary xrays, screen you for oral cancer, clean your teeth and discuss any additional recommendations, if needed. We will discuss any pain or problems you may be experiencing and answer any questions you may have.
Q. What does “painless dentistry” mean?
A. While many may agree that going to the dentists is not on their list of favorite activities, we strive to achieve a painless dental experience for our patients. Painless dentistry is a means of ensuring your total experience in our office is as stress-free and pain-free as possible. We will discuss treatment options that may require no local anesthetic and whenever possible, alleviate pain by the means most comfortable to you.
Q. What if I have an emergency?
A. Please call our office as soon as you determine that you have a dental emergency due to pain, swelling, inflammation, or abscess. We will extend extra efforts to fit you into our schedule during normal weekday and weekend hours.
Q. Are payment plans available for my dental treatment?
A. Yes, if you are an active patient of record for 12 months or longer. In addition, we accept all PPO dental insurance and will submit your claims on your behalf as a courtesy to you.
Q. I'm interested in having whiter teeth, what whitening options are there?
A. There are several methods available for bleaching the teeth: in office, overnight or daily. Professional Zoom Whitening is done in our office. it is a professional whitening system that uses a the Zoom Laser Light and a penetrating bleaching agent to produce whiter and brighter smiles in minutes. One complete treatment session generally takes about 1 hour to get full results.
Other over-the-counter daily bleaching products are available, but it is important to use any bleaching product only under the supervision of a dentist. To achieve the whitening results you desire, the ADA recommends that you seek the professional advice of a dentist, including examination and diagnosis of the cause of tooth discoloration, before you begin any bleaching program.