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Is
it covered by insurance? |
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Most insurance companies pay 100% for preventive procedures,
80% for restorative procedures like fillings, root canals, extractions,
and 50% for crowns, bridges, dentures and braces. The most common
non-coverage items would be sealants on bicuspids and implants.
Some companies do cover these though. Have a ? Call and ask us.
226-0441.
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What
are the causes of an abscessed tooth? |
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The most common is decay. The tooth gets infected and abscesses.
The other common way is through injury. Unlike other parts of
the body that can swell and get lots of oxygen to the area, a
tooth can not swell. The cells inside the tooth don't get enough
oxygen and thus the cells begin to complain with pain and sensitivity.
If it abscesses it is called a sterile abscess.
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What
can I do for a toothache? |
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See us as soon as you can. If that is not possible and the tooth
is sensitive to cold, use over the counter medications like ambisol
and numbs it.
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Metals
and Allergies |
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One out of every seven women and one out of thirty men have an
allergy to nickel. We no longer use nickel-containing products.
Please let us know if you are allergic to any other metals, including
silver amalgam.
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Why
do I need a crown? |
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The most common reason for a person to need a crown is that too
much of the tooth is missing. The existing filling should cover
no more than two third across the top of the tooth, and replace
none of the cusp.
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What
can I do about canker sores and cold sores? |
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There is something that can be done! For cold sore (those that
break out on the lips and stay for two weeks) you should try Zovirax.
This is an anti-viral medication that works very well for most
people. It comes in a tube and is applied from the very beginning
(the prodromal stage), even before you see it every four hours
until it is gone.
For canker sores it's a little tougher. The cause is still unknown.
However, palliative treatment can be done to make them more comfortable
and decrease the time they hang around. Try the following:
- Canker compound, a mixture of topical anesthetic, antibiotic
and a steroid. (Salmon Pharmacy)
- Aphthasol, a new prescription drug. You apply this topically.
- Avoid the foods that bring them on. For many people this means
tomatoes, nuts or sometimes just stress.
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How
long can I wait before I have this work done? |
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The sooner you get your dental work done the better. The longer
you put it off, the larger the lesions get. The larger they get
the more expensive and painful they get.
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How
often should I have my teeth cleaned? |
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Most patients fit into a three to six month range. We can determine
a schedule for you at you cleaning appointment. If you go too
long, your gum tissues will begin to recede away from the build
up of plaque and calculus. This can lead to other problems.
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Does
fluoride really help adults? |
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Fluoride helps adults topically, whereas in children they get
fluoride built right into the permanent teeth as they develop.
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How
long will this take? |
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We know how long each procedure takes so we can schedule properly.
You should notice that we usually run on time. Ask us about your
appointment-we can tell you the expected length of your visit.
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How
much will this cost? |
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We are very sensitive to costs. Dentistry can be quite expensive.
We check our fees with national surveys and find that we are at
or below the national and regional averages for all of our procedures.
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Are
you an orthodontist? |
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I am a general dentist who performs simple orthodontics. Much
like I do simple root canals and save the really tough ones for
the endodontist. Or like the fact I remove most wisdom teeth but
send the really tough ones or those who want to be put out, to
an oral surgeon.
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Do
you take new patients? |
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YES! Unlike a physician, who gets swamped with new patients,
a dentist gets someone done and they usually don't need much for
years.
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Can
I make monthly payments? |
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YES, for up to three months. We are not a lending institution,
but if you need more than three months to pay for your work, we
have resources that lend money for dentistry for several years.
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Will
I be able to drive home? |
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If you have been pre-medicated with systemic medications, you
should have some here to drive you home. If you've received a
local anesthetic and had nitrous oxide, once you have breathed
oxygen for several minutes, you will be able to drive your self
home.
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Is
this going to hurt? |
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If you get enough anesthetic you should be comfortable during
any procedure.
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How
can I prevent cavities? |
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Brush each tooth several times per day. Floss all of your teeth
at least daily. Avoid frequent contact with refined sugar.
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Do
soft brushes really clean my teeth? |
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They may not stimulate your gums as much as harder bristled brushes,
but they get into the hard places to reach and are more gentle on
your gums and teeth.
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