Have a question? We have an answer. |
|
This is your opportunity to learn a little bit about certain aspects of the dental profession. If you have a question regarding the latest techniques or simply how we can make your experience a little more enjoyable, search our list of Q&A's or ask a question of your own and we will promptly get back to you.
We take a set of x-rays on the first visit for all adult patients unless a recent set is available from your prior dentist. After the initial visit, the frequency of x-rays depends on your home care and your risk of gum disease, cavities or oral cancer. While we try to minimize the use of x-rays, our first priority is to treat any oral disease early and before it becomes complex or expensive. Limited new x-rays are taken on an average of every 2 -3 years for those patients who practice good home care, have regular cleanings, maintain a relatively good diet, and have a low rate of new cavities. Patients who do not practice good prevention can expect limited x-rays taken every six months to avoid missing developing conditions. · Do you accept children as patients? Yes. We have a family practice and enjoy seeing children in our practice. When necessary we work with specialists for difficult problems but are able to care for the majority of kids in our office in a fun way. We have a special children's area in our waiting room equipped with toys, books and games. During dental treatment we provide children with headphones for listening to tapes and video glasses for watching an assortment of children's movies. We find that most children look forward to their visits to our office. · When should I schedule my child's first visit to the dental office? Children should first visit the dental office between one and two and a half years of age. We counsel all parents during pregnancy and after delivery on prevention, oral hygiene, fluoride, sealants and office visits. By age two and a half a "play" visit is established to check for any problems and have children get used to our office. When parents follow our dental advice offered during pregnancy and after birth, cavities and other dental problems are not usually present. · Does your office help process our dental insurance? Yes. Using the latest software, we help our patients by submitting their insurance claims, often electronically, and monitoring the insurance payments to maximize their benefits. Most plans pay different percentages of the dental fee, so we have many choices available to handle any costs not covered by insurance including discounts for payment at the time of service, payment plans and charge cards. · Do I need fluoride treatments? Everybody needs fluoride. It is an essential nutrient that is important in the development of teeth. Fluoride also helps harden the enamel and prevents decay later in life. For children, adequate amounts of fluoride are available if there is fluoride in your drinking water and your child drinks water or a product containing water i.e. infant formula made with water or orange juice concentrate mixed with water. If there is no fluoride in your water or if your child drinks pop or pre-mixed beverages, then there may not be enough fluoride for your child's development of healthy teeth. In that case we will prescribe the appropriate dose of fluoride available in drop or pill form. Adults should use a toothpaste containing fluoride. When sensitivity or a high rate of cavities exist, we prescribe a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste available through our office or at your pharmacy. · What toothpaste do you recommend? Look on the box of toothpaste to see if the toothpaste you are considering is approved by the ADA (American Dental Association) and contains fluoride. Once these two conditions are met, one toothpaste is as good as another. Proper brushing and flossing are more critical for your dental health than the type of toothpaste used. For some adults, a prescription fluoride toothpaste is recommended for sensitive teeth and those who are cavity prone. For young children, use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to prevent swallowing excess amounts of fluoride. Toothpaste should be kept out of the reach of toddlers, as ingesting a large amount is unhealthy. · Do over-the-counter whitening products work? This is a difficult question to answer because of the variety of products available in over- the-counter whitening products. These products contain many variables-chemical content, product strength, and method of application. When tooth whitening is done in our office, we clean the teeth first, use a custom designed tray to apply an even amount of properly concentrated material, monitor the results, and have a 99% success rate. There are minimal complications without the uneven results, missed areas, and damage to the enamel which may occur in over-the-counter products. · How do I know when a dental problem can wait? In general, it is not good to leave any dental problem untreated. Sensitivity to temperature or sweets often indicates a cavity is getting close to the nerve. This will usually progress to a toothache and should be treated soon after symptoms begin, before the aching is constant. Once an ache is constant, or if the nerve dies, root canal treatment is often necessary. This can be avoided if cavities are diagnosed early during routine maintenance visits or when symptoms first appear. It also saves a considerable amount of money to treat problems early since root canal therapy and other complex treatment is so much more expensive. · Are root canals as bad as I've heard? No. When treated using modern technology, a root canal is often as easy as getting a routine filling. However, if left untreated or if an infection occurs, a root canal can take more treatment time and have more soreness associated with it than a routine dental visit.
|
 |