FAQs

family & cosmetic dentistry

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Smile Design?
What is a veneer?
What is a crown?
What are implants?
What's the difference between a silver filling and a tooth-colored filling?
What is a Soft Tissue Management Program?
What is root debridement?
What is the difference between SPT and a Perio Prophy?
Why do I need to have an exam? I only want a cleaning?
Why do you need to take x-rays?
How much radiation do you get from the x-rays?
What is a root canal?
What is the TMJ? What does TMD mean?
Will my insurance cover this treatment?
Do you have payment plans that can help cover the cost of treatment?
CareCredit?

1. Q: What is a Smile Design?

A: A Smile Design is an analysis aimed at improving your smile based on your dental condition and what you want to be changed. Some of the factors we take into account are teeth contour and color, shape of the lips, how much gum shows when you smile, symmetry, and facial proportions. Our goal is the smile and image that you desire, with excellent function, and ease of maintenance.

2. Q: What is a veneer?

A: A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain that is bonded to a tooth, (usually a front tooth), to correct or improve the alignment, contour, color, or size of a tooth. We can use veneers to close spaces, mask tooth blemishes, and brighten or "youthenize" a patient's smile.

3. Q: What is a crown?

A: A crown is a protective shell that is made to cover all or part of a tooth that has been lost due to decay or fracture. A crown can be made of different materials, usually of porcelain, metal, or resin, depending on the location of the tooth that is being restored.

4. Q: What are implants?

A: Implants are small, metallic, cylindrically shaped inserts that are placed in the underlying bone of the jaws to anchor one or more replacement teeth. While there are a variety of uses for implants, they have become especially helpful in the retention of lower and upper dentures. Many improvements realized during the last decade concerning their biocompatibility and insertion have rendered implants a very successful and routine alternative to replace missing teeth.

5. Q: What's the difference between a silver filling and a tooth-colored filling?

A: A silver filling is composed of an alloy of several metals: mainly, silver, mercury, and smaller amounts of other heavy metals. You may be aware of an ongoing debate about the detrimental effects of mercury in silver fillings with regard to kidney function and nerve transmission. A simple fact to keep in mind is that silver fillings have been used with great success for over a hundred years and there have been very, very few reports of problems related to their use. There is, however, a newer generation of tooth-colored fillings made from glass particles in a resin base. One distinct advantage of this material over silver fillings is that they are "bonded", which means they can prevent leakage by forming a seal between the filling and the tooth. For this reason, and because they are so much more esthetic, patients have opted almost exclusively for placement of tooth-colored over silver filling.

6. Q: What is a Soft Tissue Management Program?

A: A Soft Tissue Management Program is merely a systematic way to communicate diagnoses and treatment for periodontal (gums and bone) therapy. A true toothache and tooth decay preventive dental office will routinely monitor the condition of the gums as well as the teeth for all patients. We therefore probe the gums periodically and check for pocket depth and inflammation. If the findings indicate active disease is present, we may recommend specific therapies aimed at limiting or stopping its progress. The most important result of this program is that patients become better educated about the prevention of toothache and tooth decay through better oral health, and can begin to compare their own conditions with a known standard.

7. Q: What is root debridement?

A: Root debridement therapy (RDT) means simply to debride or clean the roots. This therapy is intended for those patients with periodontal (gum) disease, characterized by pockets 4mm and above, multiple bleeding points on probing, heavy calculus accumulated below the gum line, redness, swelling, and some degree of bone loss. Therapy consists of removal of the deposits with instruments and ultrasonics, and may involve removal of diseased tissue within the pocket with a laser. Patient comfort is maintained with local anesthesia given in the treatment area at each visit.

8. Q: What is the difference between SPT and a Perio Prophy?

A: Supportive Periodontal Therapy (SPT) is a maintenance check following either root debridement or gum surgery. Your pockets are probed and special attention is paid to those areas that had deep pre-existing pockets or bone loss prior to treatment. The goal of the SPT visit is to maintain those pockets at depths no greater than 4 mm with no bleeding. Localized laser treatment may be part of the SPT. The Periodontal Prophylaxis (Perio Prophy) is a preventive procedure that is recommended for patients with worsening pocket depths or inflammation. The goal of the Perio Prophy is to prevent a borderline gum condition from becoming active periodontal disease resulting in bone loss and requiring root debridement or gum surgery.

9. Q: Why do I need to have an exam? I only want a cleaning.

A: Without completing a thorough oral exam we cannot determine what kind of cleaning you might need whether it be a regular prophylaxis, or root debridement. A regular cleaning done on a patient with active gum disease is merely cosmetic and will not remove enough contaminants to levels that will promote healing. Whether or not you actually complete root debridement is your decision, but we are obliged to inform you of an existing periodontal condition, and we can only determine that by doing an exam of your teeth and gums.

10. Q: Why do you need to take x-rays?

A: A thorough comprehensive examination is not complete without an appropriate set of x-rays. These pictures allow us to inspect areas that we cannot see in a normal visual exam. For example, x-rays can reveal caries between teeth, bone loss due to gum disease, bone abscesses of teeth with infected pulps, root fractures and other root defects, bone tumors, and many other problems. Hence, they help us to detect facial pain, and more importantly, they can help to prevent small problems from becoming big ones.

11. Q: How much radiation do you get from the x-rays?

A: Radiation dosage is measured in REMs. Significant cellular injury can occur when an individual receives more than 5 REMs in a year. The dosage absorbed from a full series of x-rays is less than 1 REM. You would receive more radiation from sunburn. A full series is taken only once every 5 years. In our office we use "fast" film, the beam is localized, and a lead apron protects your body from stray radiation, so the actual dose a patient might receive is minimized.

12. Q: What is a root canal?

A: A root canal is the procedure that involves removing the nerve and blood vessels (dental pulp) from a tooth as a result of nerve death due to infection or trauma. Most of the time these infections are caused by the release of acids and toxins from the bacteria that cause cavities. Once the pulp is removed and the canals are free of debris, a sealer is placed in the canals to prevent further contamination. A small post may be inserted to help retain a core, and a crown is placed to prevent further breakage and restore the tooth to full function.

13. Q: What is the TMJ? What does TMD mean?

A: TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, the point at which the jawbone and the skull come together, which is slightly anterior to the ear canals. The TMJ, along with the teeth and muscles that move the lower jaw, make up the masticatory or chewing system. Imbalances or abrupt changes in any one of these components of the system can adversely affect the other components, and result in facial pain. Other signs of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) are: grinding or clenching the teeth, soreness or clicking in the joint, chewing muscle tightness, headaches, teeth sensitivity, and breakdown of the underlying bone and gums. If you suspect that you have TMD, seek an assessment of the problem by your dentist.

14. Q: Will my insurance cover this treatment?

A: Whether or not your insurance covers your treatment really depends on your particular plan. Most plans will cover crowns or major work at 50%, and fillings or basic procedures at 80%, with a deductible of $50, and a maximum annual allowance of $1000-2000. If you are on a DPO or provider-based network, your coverage will generally be at a lower rate. Insurances vary widely on coverage for tooth-colored fillings, nightguards, bite splints, implant restorations, and other less commonly prescribed appliances. Gener0y, we will contact your insurance company for you and provide an estimate of their allowances.

15. Q: Do you have payment plans that can help cover the cost of treatment?

A: Yes. We have plans up to 12 months at no interest with Care Credit or Norwest for qualified patients. Once the required information is submitted we can usually obtain immediate approval and begin treatment. If you have questions in this regard please call and ask for Lailani, our Financial Coordinator. She has been very successful in securing the appropriate plan for many of our patients.

16. Q: CareCredit

A: Care Credit is one of several payment options available to you to help cover the cost of dental treatment. If you qualify with Care Credit, a lending company specializes in healthcare will assist you with payment plans that can be customized to your specific needs for up to 12 months with no interest (0% rate for out patients). Usually applications can be submitted and returned in less than an hour. This method of payments has been very helpful to patients with large cases who need to start treatment immediately, but want to pay incrementally over time.