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What
can I expect at my first appointment?
At your first appointment, we take all necessary
films (what used to be known as x-rays) to provide you
with a complete comprehensive exam and diagnosis of your overall dental
health. In the case that we have a
hygiene appointment available, you may have a cleaning on the same day,
but usually you will have a second
appointment to perform your cleaning.
Once
your exam is complete, we provide you with a treatment plan and an estimate
of what your costs will
be for needed treatment. Keep in mind that this is an estimate only,
we can not fully know what your insurance
covers until they have paid your claim. You are responsible for whatever
your insurance does not pay.
How do I know if you accept my insurance?
The best way to find out is to call your dental
provider and find out if we are a preferred provider for your plan.
Even if we are not a preferred provider, and you are able to go to any
dentist, chances are very high that we
accept your plan. Once you have spoken to your insurance company, call
us and we will be happy to assist you
further.
What
dental plans do you accept?
We accept many plans as long as they are a PPO.
We do not accept any managed care or HMO plans, and we
do not accept Medi-Cal.
Do you do teeth whitening?
There are two ways of obtaining a whiter smile.
We have the professional strength white strips available and we
also make custom bleach trays. The custom bleach tray option consists
of two appointments. The first
appointment we make alginate impressions of your mouth and have custom
bleaching trays created. The next
appointment, one week later, you receive your whitening material. At
this time you try on your new custom
trays and we make any necessary modifications.
What
kind of filling materials do you offer?
We have two different materials that we use for
fillings. The first is an amalgam (silver) filling that is
predominately used in posterior teeth. The amalgam is a great option
due to the fact that it withstands the
greatest amount of pressure during chewing. We also have the composite
material (white) that is used all of the
time in anterior teeth, and is also an option for those that prefer
the more aesthetically pleasing choice in
posterior teeth. The advantage to the composite is that it actually
is bonded to the tooth; the disadvantage
is it does not withstand the chewing pressure quite as well as the amalgam
does. We will be happy to discuss
this further with you once we have done a complete oral evaluation,
and you may then choose one or a
combination of these options, depending on where the fillings need to
be placed.
Will
my insurance cover white fillings on posterior teeth?
Once again we strongly recommend that you call
your insurance company and inquire about your plan benefits.
Most insurance companies do not cover the white fillings on back teeth.
Often, plans pay up to the amount of
the amalgam filling leaving you with a higher co-pay out of pocket.
Do
you have Nitrous Oxide available?
We do have Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing
gas, available for those patients that would feel more
comfortable with the relaxing effects of the nitrous. The gas does not
put you to sleep, or eliminate the need
for anesthetic. When you are finished with your appointment you may
resume normal activities; you do not
need to bring anyone with you to drive you home.
Do
you perform sleep dentistry?
We do not perform sleep dentistry, but your insurance
company may be able to provide you with a name of
someone in your plan or your area that does.
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