About our office
Q: Does your office currently accept new patient?
A: We always welcome new patients to our practice. We will make every effort to accommodate your dental needs. You can call our office to schedule your appointment.
Q: How long does it take to get an appointment?
A: It depends on your dental needs and available time on our schedule. For Urgent care, we can schedule a same day appointment to alleviate pain and treat any dental conditions that need to be treated right away. For regular appointment please call our office for available time.
Q: Does your office offer payment plan?
A: We prefer to collect all fees at time of service. Other payment options include paying by credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover.) Under certain conditions, we do offer payment plans to our patients. However, such payment arrangement must be agreed before any service is rendered.
About dental health
Q: Are amalgam fillings safe?
A: According to American Dental Association “Dental amalgam is a stable alloy made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements. Although dental amalgam continues to be a safe, commonly used restorative material, some concern has been raised because of its mercury content. However, the mercury in amalgam combines with other metals to render it stable and safe for use in filling teeth.
While questions have arisen about the safety of dental amalgam relating to its mercury content, the major U.S. and international scientific and health bodies, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, among others have been satisfied that dental amalgam is a safe, reliable and effective restorative material.”
However, other options (including composite and porcelain) are available to restore your tooth to its healthy condition. For additional information you can visit the American Dental Association website.
Q: Is “tooth whitening” safe?
A: There are so many different products available for teeth whitening both in office for take home. We can not advise on the safety of all products on the market. A thorough oral examination, performed by a licensed dentist, is essential to determine if bleaching is an appropriate course of treatment. The dentist then supervises the use of bleaching agents within the context of a comprehensive, appropriately sequenced treatment plan. This is especially important for patients with many fillings, crowns, and extremely dark stains. For additional information on teeth whitening you can visit the American Dental Association website.
Q: How often should I brush and floss?
A: In general, floss at least once a day before brushing your teeth and brush at least twice a day.
It is not how often you brush or floss. It is more important to floss and brush your teeth correctly to prevent periodontal disease: To properly floss, use about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. You should use fluoride toothpaste and a good toothbrush. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums. Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes. Brush all surfaces of your teeth. And do not forget to brush your tongue to remove bacteria on the tongue.
Do not be afraid to talk to your dentist and ask for proper brush and floss technique.
Q: How can I tell if I have gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease)?
A: Periodontal diseases are infection that effect gum and bone supporting teeth. Bacteria are the primary cause of periodontal diseases. Bacteria form in plaque, which is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms over the teeth and destroys bone. Over time plaque that is not removed by regular brushing and flossing harden into tartar (calculus) which require scaling (teeth cleaning) by dentist. Without proper care of your teeth (regular brushing, flossing and visit to your dentist) gum tissue may become irritated, inflamed and bleed easily. This is early stage of periodontal disease known as gingivitis. Left untreated, bacteria infection will spread to bone supporting the teeth. The infection then cause small space (pocket) to form between the gums and teeth. The bacteria in the pocket will destroy bone tissue supporting the teeth. This is early stage of periodontitis. As the infections increase and pockets become deeper, the gums will continue to recede exposing the root of the teeth. The bacteria continue to destroy bone tissue and eventually the teeth will become loose and fall out or must be removed by the dentist.
At some point, most people will suffer from periodontal disease and may not even know about it. There are no early warning signs except for occasional bleeding and redness around the gums when brushing and mouth odor. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more obvious. If you observe any of these signs, you need to see the dentist:
- Gums that bleed easily
- Gums that is red, swollen or tender
- Gums that have pulled away from teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus between teeth and gums
- Loose teeth
- Teeth that look longer
Q: At what age should my baby start to see a dentist?
A: You should schedule your child’s first dental visit as soon as the first tooth comes in (normally between 6 to 12 months of age) and no later than your child’s first birthday. Tooth decay can begin as soon as the teeth emerge. Decay in primary teeth (your child’s first set of teeth) can cause pain and can harm the development of the permanent teeth that are still growing inside the gums. Early dental care will keep your child’s teeth healthy.
About dental insurance
Q: What are different types of dental insurance?
A: There are numerous dental plans. In general, they can be divided into two categories: managed care and fee-for-service.
Managed Care dental plans are cost containment systems that direct the utilization of health care by a) restricting the type, level and frequency of treatment; b) limiting the access to care; and c) controlling the level of reimbursement for services. These plans include Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) which patients select a dentist from a network/list of providers who have agreed to render services at a contracted fee. (If patients select an out of network provider, higher co-pay and deductible may applied.) And Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) or capitation plans pay contracted dentists a fixed amount (usually on a monthly basis) per enrolled family or individual, regardless of utilization. In return, the dentists agree to provide specific types of treatment to the patient at no charge (for other treatments, a co-payment is required.)
Fee-for-Service (or direct reimbursement) dental plans are typically freedom-of-choice arrangements under which a dentist is paid for each service rendered according to the fees established by the dentist. This is a self-funded dental benefits plan that reimburses patients a percentage of the amount spent on dental care by the sponsor/employer.
Q: Why my insurance does not pay for my treatment?
A: Most people often are surprised to find that their dental insurance benefits do not cover all of their dentist recommended treatment.
Generally dental insurance coverage is a contract between the insurance company (insurance carrier) and insurance plan sponsor (employer) that provides benefit to subscriber (employee.) The levels of reimbursement in these contracts vary widely. Benefit is subject to the terms in the contract such is annual maximum, pre-existing conditions, exclusion of certain procedures, prefer provider, lease expensive alternative treatment, etc…
If you have specific question regarding dental insurance reimbursement of certain dental procedure please contact your employer or insurance company for further clarification of coverage.
Your dentist will recommend the best course of treatment for your oral health. You will have to make the decision about recommended treatment. While dental benefit coverage should be taken into consideration, it should not be the deciding factor in determining your choice of treatment.
Q: Which insurance company provides the best coverage/benefits?
A: As dental provider we do not evaluate dental insurance plans. You need to evaluate the plan and select the one that fit your need. For more information regarding dental insurance benefit and coverage you can visit the American Dental Association website.