Dental FAQ

The list, to be complete, must include not only restorative procedures, but periodontal and plastic surgical procedures. The list of restorative procedures is: porcelain veneers, crowns, inlays, onlays, composite restoration, and bonding. The list of periodontal and plastic surgical procedures is: esthetic recontouring, ridge augmentation, gum leveling surgery, implant surgery, and other advanced periodontal procedures.

Preventative dentistry is crucial for the maintenance of our teeth. Because many of the cosmetic restorations are highly glazed porcelain, regular follow up is imperative to maintain their high luster.

An accredited dentist has presented 5 specific but different cosmetic cases to their peers and have been found to demonstrate a higher level of dental excellence in cosmetic dentistry. They have earned their distinction not by passing an exam or attending a course but by presenting close-up photos of individual cases that have been closely scrutinized by their colleagues.

Every situation is different and only after the initial visit can our office manager determine what may or may not be covered by insurance. You may be surprised what we can get coverage for.

Cosmetic dentistry has evolved over the past 15-20 years. It is not recognized as a specialty by ADA but several organizations, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED), have been formed to education and disseminate knowledge within the dental community. The AACD has an accreditation process which distinguishes those individuals with advanced skills.

Composites if placed with exacting technique (rubber dam isolation and modem bonding agents) get as close as we have ever been able to restore the tooth to its original strength in the most conservative fashion. The composites are a very hard “plastic” that bonds (micromechanically fuse) to the tooth to hold the tooth together. Amalgams have multiple disadvantages. Amalgam is a metal which expands and contracts with hot, cold and biting.

Today, bleaching is very predictable and safe. It can be done in the dentist office or at home. No matter what method you choose, touch-up is needed. Generally, your teeth can be lighted one shade even if you have tetracycline staining. A color chart or photographs should be used to confirm the results. The over the counter systems can work, but because they do not use the custom trays, the gel does not uniformly touch the teeth and are therefore usually slower and very unpredictable.

The newer toothbrushes such as Sonicare, Rotadent, Braun are all probably more effective in removing plaque then a manual toothbrush. They are still not a substitute for flossing which eliminated the plaque from the surfaces between the teeth.

In our office, this is our goal with every patient and every visit. To minimize the discomfort with injections we shake the cheek and use a warm anesthetic. Pharmacologically, with the use of a combination of local anesthesia, we can attain incredibly profound local anesthesia. For the slightly more apprehensive patient, our office offers N2O (laughing gas) or I.V. sedation- a light form of twilight sleep.

Yes,

• Aetna • Ameritas • Blue Cross and Blue Shield • CIGNA • Cigna Dental • Commercial Insurance Company • Comprehensive Medical & Dental Plan • Coventry Health Care • Delta Dental • Delta Health System • Delta Premier • Dental Network of America • DenteMax • DenteMax Dental • Guardian Dental • Health Net Life Insurance Co • HealthNet • Humana • Kaiser Permanente • Medi-Cal • Medicaid • MultiPlan • Oregon Dental Service • Tricare • United Concordia • United Healthcare Dental • UnitedHealthCare • WellPoint • Worker’s Compensation