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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you treat children?
Yes, We love children and we try to make their
dental visits fun instead of frightening. Our goal is to
ensure that your child never has a bad experience at a
dental office, unlike so many of their parents.
We take the time to make dental appointments a
comfortable and positive experience for children. We
start slow and early - at the first appointment the
child dictates the process and we try to have fun.
We use regular fluoride treatments and sealants
on children to prevent them from getting
cavities. If they ever do get a small cavity, we may use air
abrasion whenever possible to treat it without freezing. (more)
2. How do I become a patient of Dr. Fletcher?
We are always happy to take new patients. Call us or
drop by to make an appointment.
When you call we will schedule your "New Patient
Examination," which consists
of a full dental examination, agreed upon set of x-rays,
inter-oral pictures, oral cancer screening and
consultation. Dr. Fletcher will also help you decide on
a treatment plan that is suited to your dental needs.
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3. What are my payment options? Do you bill
insurance companies directly?
We require payment directly from
you. We will submit all forms to your insurance
company and do predeterminations if necessary. We will also submit forms for
financing to Care Credit and other institutions on your
behalf.
4. What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard,
American Express), debit card and cash.
Preventative
5. What is the best way to prevent cavities?
The two major components involved in preventing cavities are home care and professional care. In particular, follow these simple steps:
· Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
· Floss daily.
· Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit the amount of refined sugars you eat.
· Brush immediately after eating sweets because the amount of time the teeth are exposed to sugar is a critical factor in the development of cavities.
· Check with your dentist about the use of sealants on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay.
· Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleaning, fluoride treatment and oral examinations.
6. What does a check up involve, and do I need one every six months?
To maintain a healthy smile we recommend that patients return every 3 - 6 months for a check up depending on their needs. Early detection of cavities, fractured teeth/fillings, gum disease and mouth cancer is the best way to prevent small problems from becoming big ones.
Check ups also include a dental cleaning, fluoride treatment and x-rays (annually, or as required). Of course, patients are free to opt out of any part of the dental check up.
7. Are dental x-rays safe and necessary?
Yes, dental x-rays are both safe and frequently necessary. The amount of radiation used to expose dental x-rays is miniscule.
Dental x-rays are usually necessary to diagnose problems that may be occurring in your teeth and supporting bone that are not visible to the naked eye. If such problems are allowed to develop until detectable by a visual exam or you feel pain, you will need more extensive treatment than if the problem was caught in the early stages.
8. What is a fluoride treatment and is it effective for adults as well as children?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that has some interesting and powerful effects on teeth. Applying fluoride to teeth reduces gum disease and cavities by preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth. In addition, it may relieve tooth sensitivity, and it reduces tooth staining.
Fluoride treatment is NOT just for children. We recommend fluoride treatment for all of our patients.
9. What should I know about dental treatment during pregnancy?
Dental care is vital during your pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy
often make the gum tissue very sensitive to plaque and irritation, which can lead to gingivitis. In addition, your eating habits may change, causing changes in your oral health.
If you have a dental "emergency" (such as unexplained pain or facial swelling) during your pregnancy, you should contact your dentist immediately. Also remember to inform your dentist about your pregnancy.
10. When should my child have his/her first dental appointment?
We recommend that children begin coming in when they are three years old. We find it is effective if the child comes in and observes while a parent is getting a check up. Of course the parent has to behave! Then we offer the child a ride in the chair. From there we see if we can examine, polish, x-ray and fluoride the teeth depending on the child's comfort level. Usually we get a little more done each visit until the child is completely comfortable. Each visit is rewarded with a treasure from the treasure box.
It is vital that a dental appointment never be traumatic for the child. If we are not able to provide enough treatment for the child's well being, we will refer him or her to a specialist in children's dentistry. Sometimes a child is unable to co-operate at a necessary level, often due to a previous traumatic medical visit.
11. What are dental sealants?
A dental sealant works like a raincoat for the tooth. Cavities most commonly develop on the biting surfaces of the back teeth (molars and premolars) due to the existence of deep pits and fissures. If these grooves are deep, it is impossible to clean them sufficiently with normal brushing. One way to prevent these areas from getting cavities is to flow a plastic resin into the grooves and thereby stop bacteria and food from reaching these areas. This plastic resin is called a "sealant." Sealants do not require freezing or drilling.
Our goal is to try to help children avoid ever getting cavities by using sealants and encouraging regular check ups that include fluoride treatment and training of home care activities, such as brushing and flossing.
12. What are mouth guards?
If you are involved in martial arts or other sports during which you might receive contact to the mouth, it is essential that you protect your teeth by wearing a mouth guard. A blow to the jaw would cause the upper and lower teeth to come into contact, and thereby damage your teeth. A number of different types of mouth guard are available and some fit well and are comfortable. Custom-made units, available from most dental offices, are generally more comfortable and therefore are more likely to be worn.
The bottom line is if you play any contact sport, get a mouth guard you can wear and wear it.
Restorative
13. What is Air Abrasion?
Air Abrasion is a method used to treat small cavities without drilling or freezing (no frozen lip!) This procedure is great for kids, apprehensive patients and patients with low sensitivity (90% of people).
14. What are Mercury-Free White Fillings?
In our practice we use only tooth colored fillings.
These fillings contain no mercury and are tooth colored
and matched to your teeth.
15. What's involved in tooth extraction?
When a tooth is removed, several important steps must be followed. First, if there is infection present, medication is required prior to treatment. Proper x-rays must be taken so that there are no surprises when the tooth is removed (for example, if it is close to a major nerve or sinus or it has a hooked root). At our office, we frequently have a patient take an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic or a sedative prior to the appointment.
At the extraction appointment, the area needs to be thoroughly frozen. The tooth/teeth are removed with great care using a variety of techniques designed to minimize damage to the surrounding tissue and teeth. The patient and family member are thoroughly instructed on home care after surgery. We will call to see how the patient is doing and schedule a visit the next week for a complimentary
follow-up to assess the healing.
16. What are dental implants?
A dental implant, or tooth implant, is an artificial root and tooth, which is used to replace a missing tooth permanently. Dental implants are surgically
inserted in the jawbone to replace teeth that have been lost or removed and to support dentures.
17. What are dentures?
Complete dentures are acrylic bases that are adapted to the gum tissues with either porcelain or hard plastic teeth. Partial dentures are smaller appliances that replace missing teeth around whatever remaining teeth there may be. The body of partial dentures may be metal, acrylic or a combination of the two. Usually metal clasps help stabilize a partial denture by clasping to existing teeth. As a result, partial dentures are usually much more stable than complete dentures.
18. What are crowns, caps and bridges?
Caps and crowns are different names for the same thing: the material that is placed on an individual tooth, (somewhat like a thimble over your finger) where there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left for a filling. A bridge spans a space where one or more teeth have been lost.
A crown is used when a tooth is being repaired and a bridge is used when a tooth is being replaced.
19. What is a root canal and how is it treated?
Usually root canal treatment is needed because the pulp inside the tooth has become
infected and/or has died which often results in severe pain. The dead and infected tissue must be removed from the pulp chamber and from the tiny canals that run down the middle of each root.
Root canal treatment has an extremely negative connotation. With proper medications and techniques, however, most root canals can be done with minimal discomfort. Often, because of the amount of damage done to the tooth prior to and during treatment, the affected tooth will require a supporting post and crown.
20. What is Gingivitis and what causes it?
If untreated Gingivitis can lead to Periodontal (Gum) Disease that involves inflammation and/or infection and results in the destruction of the tissues that support the teeth.
Periodontal Disease is the leading cause of bleeding gums and bad breath.
Periodontal Disease is not only the leading cause of bad breath, but recent studies have also linked it and other periodontal disease to heart disease, underweight children if periodontal disease affects the mother during pregnancy and respiratory fatalities in immune compromised patients (elderly).
We diagnose and treat Gum Disease using a non-surgical procedure that is thorough and safe. Our treatment plan includes follow up and training for self-care at home.
If we find that our treatment plan is not sufficient for the extent of periodontal disease we find, we will refer you to the appropriate specialist.
21. What causes bad breath and what can I do about it?
The vast majority of bad breath is caused by sulfur based byproducts from harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Most cases can be eliminated by treating the sources of bacteria in the mouth. The three major sources are bacteria in the gum tissues, bacteria on the surface of the tongue and tooth infections. Proper gum treatment by dental professionals and training on how to properly clean your tongue will eliminate this problem.
Cosmetic
22. What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are extremely thin (as thin as 1/100 inch) porcelain shells that are custom made for and permanently bonded to the front surface of your teeth.
The results can be dazzling.
23. What is involved in teeth bleaching/whitening?
Tooth whitening is actually a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel. The system we promote in our office uses a mild solution applied in a custom-fitted appliance that
can be worn over your teeth while you sleep. Results are usually seen after the first night. Maximum results generally occur when the process is continued for 10-14 nights. The degree of whiteness will vary from patient to patient depending on the structure of the teeth and the type of staining involved.
24. What is bonding?
Bonding is the application of tooth coloured filling material to the teeth. Bonding is usually done to improve the appearance of the teeth. Most commonly we use this to fill in the gaps between teeth, improve the colour of teeth or to create the illusion that the teeth are Hollywood straight. Sometimes bonding is done in conjunction with the repair of tooth chipping and the treatment of decay. At other times, it is done for strictly cosmetic reasons. Often, if bonding is done for cosmetic reasons, no freezing is required.
Many times, if a patient is interested in having bonding done, we bring him or her in for a bonding demonstration. At no cost and with no freezing, I will take some of the tooth coloured filling material and apply it to the teeth without actually bonding it. This gives the patient a chance to determine in advance what would look best without generating any cost. It also avoids the possibility that the patient will not be happy with the final result. Bonding takes only an hour or two at most and the results can be striking.
You do not have to be one of our patients to have our free bonding demonstration.
25. What is laser whitening ?
Laser whitening is a unique dental whitening technique. Before treatment, the patient is assessed to determine if he or she is a good candidate for the procedure. If the patient is a good candidate, he or she can book an appointment. At the appointment a small plastic barrier is placed at the gum line, and the patient is fitted with an apparatus that keeps the lips and tongue away from the teeth. A powerful whitening gel is applied to the teeth and is laser activated. After the activated gel has sat on the teeth for fifteen minutes, it is removed and the process is repeated two more times. The whole process requires about 90 minutes. Some whitening occurs immediately, but it becomes even more striking over the next 24 hours.
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