Here are answers to some of the questions we’re asked most often. If your question isn’t covered here, please don’t hesitate to contact our office – we’re happy to help!
Why do I need dental checkups? I haven’t had a cavity in years.
The aim of dental checkups is to prevent the development of potential problems and to treat any existing problems before they become more serious.
Even if you are past the cavity-prone years, regular dental checkups should be part of your preventive dental care. This is true regardless of your age. Along with brushing and flossing, dental checkups rank #1 in importance for maintaining your dental health.
During a dental checkup, your teeth will be examined, cleaned and polished. But we’re also looking for other things, including early signs of gum disease (which aren’t always obvious), as well as early signs of cancer or infection. This part of the dental checkup is especially important for adults, who more often lose teeth to gum disease than tooth decay.
How often should I have a dental checkup?
The frequency of your dental checkups will depend on many factors. As a general rule, dental checkups are recommended every 6 months. However, you may require them less or more often depending on your age, your diet, your rate of plaque buildup or any existing dental or medical problems you may have.
Do I really need dental x-rays?
Dental x-rays are often the only way to diagnose decay between teeth or detect hidden problems, such as, gum disease, cysts, abscesses, tumors or impacted wisdom teeth. In our office, we only use digital radiography, which minimizes the amount of your x-ray exposure by 90%.
How can you brighten your smile?
Tooth whitening isn’t just for celebrities, and it doesn’t have to be just for a special occasion!
Teeth whitening can brighten your smile, make you look younger, and give you a boost of confidence.
There are two methods with which you can whiten teeth.
- Laser whitening: Your teeth are whitened in one visit at the dental office using a high-intensity light
- Home whitening: A custom mouth guard type appliance is fabricated for your mouth. Into this appliance you will dispense the agent that whitens your teeth. By being able to do this at home, you will have the ability to control the rate at which you whiten
Talk to us about which whitening method makes the most sense for you.
Why should you save your tooth instead of extracting it?
One should generally avoid extracting their permanent teeth. If a tooth is extracted, the teeth in front, behind, and above or below will encroach upon the space. The spacing of the mouth will change. As well, the tongue may grow into the space of the missing teeth and the jaw could be affected. This could lead to pain in the joints.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin laminates of porcelain that are bonded to the front of teeth. The veneers allow the dentist to change the colour an/or the shape of the teeth. They are the best in cosmetic dentistry.
What is Cosmetic Dentistry?
People who choose cosmetic dental procedures for various reasons: To repair a defect such as malformed bite or crooked teeth, to treat an injury, or to just improve their overall appearance. For these and many other reasons, cosmetic dentistry has become a vital and important part of the dental profession and one of the fastest growing areas of dentistry.
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth structure, caused by acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. The destruction of the tooth’s structure can lead to a small hole in the tooth, called a cavity. When tooth decay isn’t treated, it can cause pain, infection and even tooth loss.
Over time, the decay process may cause your gums to pull away from your teeth, a condition called receding gums. In addition, the long-term decay process can lead to infections in your gums and can eat away at the bone structures under the teeth.
What is plaque?
Plaque is a sticky, bacteria film that forms on teeth. It contains bacteria, leftover food particls and saliva.
Plaque is one of the biggest causes for tooth decay. It also causes your gums to become irritated, inflamed, and in some cases, bleed.
What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures.
Billing & insurance options
Sending each insurance claim electronically:
After each procedure we will be sending insurance claims electronically to ensure a more relaxing visit. Some insurance policies don’t allow electronic claims submission; in those cases, we will submit a manual claim.
Allowing assignment:
After the claim is sent electronically, any insurance payments will be directed to the office.
However, please note that not all insurance companies allow this service. Therefore,
patients with insurance coverage that do not allow assignment are expected to make payments in full to the office as the insurance reimbursement will be directed to them.
Remaining patient balances:
It is the patient’s full responsibility to cover remaining amounts that have not been
covered by their insurance policy (i.e. difference in fee guides, coverage less than 100% etc.)
Retrieving insurance coverage information:
We do our best to retrieve most information about your dental coverage; however, most
insurance companies have a strict privacy policy, which does not allow dental offices to
obtain such information. Therefore, it becomes the patient’s responsibility to obtain
coverage information and to inform the office in order to ensure that we are staying
within dental benefits.
Note: We deal with all insurance companies, including all Government programs such as CDCP (Canadian Dental Care Plan)