What is the soonest I could get an appointment in your office?
We offer same day emergency appointments. Our schedule is very flexible, and we would be able to schedule your first visit appointment usually within 5 days.
Do you have special payment plans available?
Yes, you can go to the following link for more information: Care Credit or Citi Health Card.
How long does a Dental Implant last?
Dental implants will last over 20 years with routine in office and proper home care.
What are crowns?
Crowns are usually used for your back teeth and cover the entire tooth. They are used after a tooth has had a root canal, or if a tooth has a large decay. They look and feel like your natural tooth.
How much does a Dental Implant cost?
The cost of an implant will be determined on how many implants are needed. You may schedule a consultation with our periodontist to get full in detail costs of your procedure.
How Can I Improve My Smile?
Our office prides ourselves on the use of the latest techniques to give you the smile you want. These services include porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, composite fillings and porcelain crowns
What is the Difference Between White and Silver Filling?
Silver fillings are called amalgam fillings and they have been used in dentistry for many years; however, over the last decade the dental community have started to use more white fillings, which are called composites. Composite fillings look and feel more natural and have been shown to be safer for the patient.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease can take you by surprise if you do not visit your dentist on a regular basis. Some people have signs that will warn you of periodontal disease and some people do not. Some of the signs include bleeding upon brushing and flossing, bad breath, spontaneous bleeding of the gums and pain. If not taken care of, periodontal disease will lead to bone loss and eventually tooth loss.
How Do You Treat Periodontal Disease?
At our office, we take periodontal disease seriously and start immediate treatment. Our patients go through a series of cleanings, scaling and root planing, laser therapy and the use of local antibiotics. Once a diagnosis of periodontal disease has been made then we recommend patients to visit our office every 3 months for regular cleanings. If the periodontal disease is past a certain stage we refer patients directly to the periodontist. Some patients with periodontal disease may require surgery to stop the progression of the disease.
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is caused when plaque and bacteria enter the gums and cause irritation. Often times bleeding occurs upon brushing with gingivitis and needs professional hygiene treatment. Our hygienist will instruct you on how often you need professional treatment and will go over proper brushing and flossing techniques. Gingivitis, when left untreated, will lead to periodontal disease.
What should I do to prevent gum disease and tooth decay?
The prevention of gum disease and tooth decay starts with good home care and regular dental check-ups. Daily brushing and flossing are imperative to good oral health. Visiting your dentist every 6 months is also recommended to keep good oral health.
Why are my teeth sensitive?
Sensitive teeth usually occur as we get older. Often times we tend to brush too hard and our gums get receded. Once recession has occurred the dentin is exposed, which is the sensitive part of a tooth. You can manage your sensitivity at home by using special toothpastes. If that does not alleviate the pain then there are some dental procedures that can help manage the sensitivity.
Will my insurance cover all the expenses?
It is hard to determine if your insurance will cover all of the expenses. First, you need to determine if you have PPO or HMO insurance. Then you need to determine which procedures your insurance does and does not cover. Often times, insurance does not cover the full costs of treatments. Our dentists do a full diagnosis based on your dental needs and our office will inform you on what procedures are covered and which ones are not covered.
How much is my dental treatment going to cost?
The cost of your dental treatment will depend on multiple different factors. Some factors include insurance coverage, amount of work needed, and complexity of your diagnosis.
At what age should a child visit a dentist for the first time?
It is generally recommended that an infant be seen by a dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in.
What happens at the first dental visit?
The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. This visit gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist in a non-threatening and friendly way. Some dentists may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and the dentist.
During the examination, the dentist will check all of your child’s existing teeth for decay, examine your child’s bite, and look for any potential problems with the gums, jaw, and oral tissues. If indicated, the dentist will clean any teeth and assess the need for fluoride. He or she will also educate parents about oral health care basics for children and discuss dental developmental issues and answer any questions.
Topics your dentist may discuss with you might include:
- Good oral hygiene practices for your child’s teeth and gums
- Cavity prevention
- Fluoride needs
- Oral habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking)
- Developmental milestones
- Teething
- Proper nutrition
- Schedule of dental checkup visits. Many dentists like to see children every 6 months to build up the child’s comfort and confidence level in visiting the dentist, to monitor the development of the teeth, and to promptly treat any developing problems.
It’s important to know that the parent or legal guardian who accompanies the child for this first visit will be asked to complete medical and health information forms concerning the child. Come prepared with the necessary information.
What’s the difference between a pediatric dentist and a regular dentist?
A pediatric dentist has at least two additional years of training beyond dental school. The additional training focuses on management and treatment of a child’s developing teeth, child behavior, physical growth and development, and the special needs of children’s dentistry. Although either type of dentist is capable of addressing your child’s oral health care needs, a pediatric dentist, his or her staff, and even the office dècor are all geared to care for children and to put them at ease. If your child has special needs, care from a pediatric dentist should be considered. Ask your dentist or your child’s physician what he or she recommends for your child.
When should children get their first dental X-ray?
There is no hard and fast rule for when to start getting dental x-rays. Some children who may be at higher risk for dental problems (for example, those prone to baby bottle tooth decay or those with cleft lip/palate) should have x-rays taken earlier than others. Usually, most children will have had x-rays taken by the age of 5 or 6. As children begin to get their adult teeth (at about the age of 6), x-rays play an important role in helping your dentist see if all of the adult teeth are growing in the jaw, to look for bite problems, and to determine if teeth are clean and healthy.
What to Expect
The dentist will perform a complete oral examination and discuss any treatment you may need. The examination can identify conditions such as tooth decay, periodontal disease, and even oral cancer.
Teeth cleaning may be performed during your first visit, or might be scheduled for a follow-up visit depending on the condition of your teeth and gums.
Your first appointment will take between 1–1½ hours. Patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
What to Bring
With just a few simple forms, we’ll ask for relevant medical history, any medications you might be taking, your dental history, and any dental insurance coverage you may have.
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General Oral Surgery
Bleeding:
Bleeding is expected following an oral surgery. If a gauze pad has been placed in your mouth following surgery, leave it there for at least 30 minutes — holding it firmly over the surgical site.
If bleeding continues, place additional gauze pads over the site of operation and apply pressure by using your finger, or by firmly biting.
Rinsing:
Do not rinse your mouth for at least seven days following surgery! Rinsing or spitting may dislodge the graft. Resume your normal hygiene the next day; although, avoid brushing directly over the area. A small amount of toothpaste on a fingertip or cotton swab may be used to keep the area clean.
Swelling and Discoloration:
A certain amount of swelling and discoloration should be expected –– the height of the swelling occurring the 48 hours following surgery. The discoloration may not show up for two to three days following surgery, and can take up to two weeks to completely resolve.
Place an ice bag or cold towel on your face for 30 minutes of every hour during the first 48 hours.
After the second day, you may place a warm heating pad or towel to your face for no more than 20 minutes of every hour.
Smoking:
Don’t smoke for at least seven days!
Pain:
Pain is usually the worst from four to eight hours following the operation, even with your prescribed medication. Follow your doctor’s orders — if severe pain persists after 12 hours, call your dental specialist.
Driving:
All patients who undergo general anesthesia, or intravenous sedation are required to leave with a companion, and should refrain from driving a car, or operating heavy machinery for 24 hours.
Crowns:
Don’t chew on anything until your numbness is gone (approx three to five hours after leaving the office).
Refrain from eating sticky foods. Your temporary veneer will be held in place by an adhesive that is very susceptible to sticky foods. These foods may dislodge or even break your crown.
A temporary crown will not be strong. If you’re not gentle — you may break or dislodge the crown.
Don’t leave your temporary restoration out of your mouth.
Use dental adhesive to carefully place your crown.
Dentures:
We hope you realize that the process of getting your dentures to fit and feel just right is not instantaneous; however, we promise to work with you until we have your dentures fitting and feeling right.
Your mouth will have a few “sore spots” after wearing dentures for a long period of time. Don’t worry! We’ll fix that during your next visit.
Your bite may not feel normal for a few weeks. We will adjust the contact surfaces of your teeth after your dentures/partials have settled into place.
Brush your gums with a regular toothbrush once a day
Brush your dentures with a mild toothpaste
We recommend removing your dentures at night and soaking them in water.
Extractions:
After an extraction, your healing process will revolve around the formation of a blood clot. We realize this sounds a bit odd, but a clot will reduce bleeding, and allow healing to commence.
Here are some important things to keep in mind:
Don’t smoke.
Actively rinse your mouth with warm salt water three times a day — preferably after meals.
Don’t clean anywhere around the extraction site! You could dislodge the clot!
Drink plenty of fluids.
Eat soft, nutritious foods before and after the extraction.
Don’t consume alcoholic beverages.
Avoid spicy foods.
You’re on strict orders for the first 24 hours. Engage only in calm activities. Low blood pressure reduces bleeding, and further promotes the healing process.
Use an ice bag to help regulate pain and swelling. The swelling usually subsides after 24 hours. To further control discomfort — it may be necessary to take your prescribed medications. It’s in your best interest to follow your doctor’s orders.
Normally, you can resume your diet and dental hygiene habits the following day — or when it’s comfortable to do so. To promote healing, it’s also important to brush and floss daily.
Call your dental office immediately if you have bleeding, severe pain, a reaction to medication, or continued swelling after two to three days.
Root Canals:
Remember for the three to four days following the surgery:
Avoid both hard and sticky foods (especially gum).
Chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
Don’t drink alcoholic beverages.
Don’t smoke for at least 4-5 days (this may cause dry sockets).
Rinse three times a day with warm salt water — preferably after meals.
Standard root canal therapy can often take two or more appointments to complete. Temporary fillings or crowns are placed by your dental specialist to protect your tooth. It’s important that you are attentive of your temporary fillings/crowns. It’s normal for a small portion of your filling to wear away or break off; however, if the entire crown or filling comes off, call your dental specialist so it can be replaced.
It’s common for patients to experience mild discomfort for one to two days; activities like chewing could result in discomfort for several days after the procedure. To combat this discomfort, pain medication may be prescribed. If your dental specialist prescribes antibiotics, follow your doctor’s indicated instructions.
Veneers:
Plastic restorations will serve you while your permanent veneers are being made. The plastic restorations are designed and attached in a way that makes removing them simple.
If your temporary veneers fall out, it’s important to immediately notify your dental specialist. Dental adhesives can be used to fix a temporary veneer.
Some things to remember:
- The size, shape, and color of the temporary veneer does not at all resemble the final veneer
- Temporary veneers may leak saliva or food.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold is normal.
- Avoid heavy brushing.
- Rinse with warm salt water three times daily — preferably after meals.
Your permanent veneers will be made out of the finest materials available; however, there are a few things you must remember:
Avoid chewing extremely hard foods (candy, ice, raw veggies, etc.) Use proper dental hygiene! Proper brushing, flossing, and regularly scheduled clean-ups are vital to the long term quality of your veneers.