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What makes you different than any other dental practice I can visit?
When you become a patient of our practice, we think of you as a person, not just another set of teeth to restore and clean. Our goal is to help you obtain and then maintain the best possible oral health. So, we take time to understand your dental history and evaluate the best options for your particular dental needs. Plus , we help you understand the why's and wherefore's of preventive care through thorough patient education.
How do I know when its time to come in for a check-up?
An average, healthy adult typically benefits from a professional cleaning and check up every six months. However, it's tough to generalize because every mouth is different. Some people are prone to gum disease, bruxism , or other ongoing oral health concerns that require more frequent visits; others simply need a routine professional tartar removal at regular intervals. That's why we're so careful to check methodically and determine what kind of ongoing professional treatment will achieve your optimum dental health.which could translate to a check-up every 2, 3, 4 or 6 months, according to your needs.
At what age should my children first see the dentist?
We love treating children, and enjoy helping them get started on the road to good dental health at an early age. We typically recommend bringing them in for a first appointment at the age of 3, when they're able to sit still in the chair and allow us to do a brief examination. This simplified early visit allows us to spot and prevent any potential dental problems, and provides a comfortable, non-threatening dental office experience for your child.
How do the Doctors keep up to date on all of the current techniques and materials?
Our Doctors subscribe to the latest industry journals to keep tabs on research and development in the dental industry, and attend ongoing continuing education seminars and conferences.
Do you accept my insurance plan?
Our office is willing to work with any insurance company but our practice does not belong to any PPO or DMO insurance plans. This means that we'll be happy to file your insurance for you, and will accept payment from them as well. Of course, we ask that patients understand up front the limitations of their own coverage, and take responsibility for their portion of the bill not covered by insurance. For more information, please go to Practice Policies and Information.
What different payment options do you provide?
We gladly accept Cash, Money Orders, Personal Checks, Debit/Check Card, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. We also offer a flexible payment plan called CareCredit , which allows you to spread payments over time. This method of payment is for treatment plans that exceed $300. For more information please go to Practice Policies and Information.
How can I have whiter teeth?
There are a number of procedures available to help whiten your smile. Dr. Wayne and Dr. Julie can help evaluate your potential for whitening your teeth, based on their current color and the causes of any discoloration. Once you have decided on the most appropriate method, you'll probably spend anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks undergoing a series of simple whitening treatments. Most patients can expect to end up with teeth approximately 2 shades brighter on the dental shade chart.
What precautions do you take to ensure patient safety?
Our entire practice team is well-versed in state-of-the-art sanitation techniques designed to ensure patient safety. This goes beyond wearing gloves and face masks to prevent passing germs, but includes a specialized sanitation center and a water filtration system that guarantees a fresh water source for each patient.
I want my front teeth to look better, but I don't want to wear braces, what can you do to help?
We have a number of ways to improve the look of your front teeth without the use of braces. For slightly crooked or unevenly worn teeth, a bit of reshaping and the addition of porcelain veneers or crowns may be sufficient to give them a bright, uniform look. We have other alternatives. We'd be happy to talk with you further about the option that best suits your individual situation.
Can you tell me more about crowns and veneers?
With today's technology, materials, and advanced techniques, we have many options for restoring weak, broken, chipped, discolored, and/or missing teeth.bringing your smile back to it's original shape and function. For example, we can apply an all-porcelain crown, somewhat like a 'cap', to cover the entire outside of the problem tooth. Crowns are also helpful to cover large areas of decay after they've been filled. For unattractive front teeth, we can create pretty, natural shapes and shades by applying paper-thin porcelain veneers to the fronts. For more information on any of these procedures, please feel free to talk with Dr. Wayne or Dr. Julie during your visit.
I really don't like to visit the dentist. What can you do to help me relax?
We use nitrous oxide, a mild inhaled anesthetic which reduces anxiety for many people. Nitrous oxide combined with our careful, slow, compassionate local anesthesia technique is very satisfactory for most patients. We can also prescribe oral sedation for those patients who need it.
What should I do if I have an emergency and the office is closed?
If you are a patient of record and have a dental emergency after office hours, please call the main office number (972.393.2400) and you will be given instructions on how to reach us. Dr. Wayne, Dr. Julie or a team member will contact you as soon as possible.
My child has had an accident and knocked out an entire tooth. What do I do?
We consider this situation a TRUE dental emergency, where we're actually fighting to beat the clock. It is actually possible to re implant a tooth that has been knocked out ! The most important thing to keep in mind is to find the tooth, store it in milk or saliva, and get to the dental office as quickly as possible. (Please keep in mind that medical emergencies such as a head injury or concussion are even more serious and should be a priority if they occur at the same time.)
Is it bad if my gums bleed after I brush my teeth?
It's certainly not desirable to have bleeding gums following brushing. However, the condition may or may not require attention, depending on the source of the problem. Bleeding gums can be caused by any of the following: improper tooth brushing, rough scrubbing instead of gentle, massaging brushing motions; using a hard-bristled tooth brush instead of a soft one; plaque and/or tartar buildup below the gum line; or gum sensitivity due to gingivitis or periodontal disease, some medicines or certain medical conditions. If this problem persists despite correct brushing and flossing methods, or occurs every time you brush, contact our office to set up an evaluation appointment.
My spouse snores and keeps me up all night. I've heard that a dentist might be able to prescribe an appliance that prevents snoring. If this is true, how do I find out if you can help?
Snoring can be caused by a number of factors, so we encourage you to have your spouse come in for a consultation and analysis to determine the cause. In some cases, a person may actually stop breathing for short periods during the night, a condition called sleep apnea. In other cases, snoring can be caused by enlarged anatomical structures within the mouth and throat. During sleep, the throat area relaxes, allowing these structures to collapse against one another and obstruct clear airflow. In the latter situation, we can prescribe and fit a special appliance called a snore-guard, which gently holds the mouth and throat in an open position during relaxed sleep and thus prevents snoring.
DISCLAIMER
We have the right to post and alter for educational purposes. Dentists cannot diagnose or treat patients over the internet. Information posted on the website is for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal, medical and/or dental attention or diagnosis. Without all available information about a patient it is impossible to make a diagnosis. All answers are given in the form of general ideas. We make no warranty of any kind with respect to the subject matter and answers given as a response to a question. Only you, your dentist and health care provider can make an appropriate treatment decision. |
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