F.A.Q.
We’d like to provide answers to your frequently asked questions. If you have questions not addressed here, please contact us via email or phone and we’ll be glad to talk them over with you.
Do you accept my insurance plan?
What different payment options do you provide?
Is it bad if my gums bleed after I brush my teeth?
I really don’t like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do to help me relax?
Can you tell me more about Crowns, Composites, and Veneers?
What do I do if I have an emergency when the office is closed?
Do you accept my insurance plan?
Our office is willing to work with most insurance companies. This means that we will be happy to file your insurance for you, and will accept payment from them as well. However, we ask that patients understand up front the limitations of their own coverage, and take responsibility for their portion of the bill not covered by insurance. We are well-versed in the latest coverage trends, and are more than happy to discuss the particulars of your plan with you prior to any treatments you may undergo.
What different payment options do you provide?
We accept cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards. Your insurance copay is due at the time of your visit, but we’ll be happy to help you apply for Care Credit which offers options to finance your dental needs.
At our office, we offer both a one-hour in-office whitening procedure, and an at-home whitening system. If you’re interested in finding out how this procedure could help you obtain a brighter, lighter smile, we will first evaluate your potential based on the current color of your teeth, and the causes of any discoloration. Once you and the doctor have decided on the most appropriate method, we’ll simply take you through the process. With our one-hour in-office system, most patients can expect to end up with teeth approximately 8 shades brighter on the dental shade chart; the at-home system may have similar results, but may take 4 to 6 weeks.
Is it bad if my gums bleed after I brush my teeth?
Bleeding gums are definitely something to be concerned about! Bleeding gums can be caused by any of the following: improper, rough, ’scrubbing’ instead of gentle, circular brushing motions; using a hard-bristled tooth brush instead of a soft one; plaque and/or tartar build-up below the gum line; or gum sensitivity due to gingivitis or periodontal disease. Most of the time, we find chronic gum disease to be the culprit. Your best and safest solution is to contact our office for an evaluation appointment.
I really don’t like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do to help me relax?
We understand how anxious many people can be about visiting the dentist. That’s why we strive to create a relaxing atmosphere, and offer relaxation and anti-anxiety aids for individual levels of concern. For example, before any procedure, we take the time to get to know you, understand your concerns, and help alleviate them. We also have personal headphones available for every treatment room, to help you relax. As necessary, we offer 2 levels of sedation. If you need only to take the “edge” off of the procedure, we will administer nitrous oxide with oxygen. If you need more, we can add a prescription sedative to take prior to the appointment. When you come in for your evaluation, just let us know how you’re feeling, and we’ll work together with you to put you completely at ease.
Can you tell me more about Crowns, Composites, and Veneers?
With today’s technology, materials, and advanced techniques, we have many options for restoring weak, broken, chipped, discolored, and/or crooked teeth…bringing them back to their original shape and function. For example, we can apply an all-porcelain crown, somewhat like a ‘cap’, that covers the entire outside of the problem tooth. Crowns are also helpful to cover large areas of decay after they’ve been filled. If you need fillings, we can use composite (tooth colored) restorations instead of silver amalgam. Similarly, we can restore cracked, discolored, crooked or otherwise unattractive front teeth to pretty, natural shapes and shades by applying paper-thin porcelain veneers to the fronts.
Simply click on the “Patient Registration” link at the top of this page, and we’ll be happy to provide you with the forms you’ll need ahead of time. If your computer has Adobe Acrobat, you can download the forms directly to your printer. If not, you can download Adobe Acrobat for free. You can also ope the forms using Microsoft Word. If you don’t have access to a computer, we can fax or mail the forms to you. Don’t worry though, if you don’t get the forms prior to the appointment you can simply come in a few minutes early to fill them out.
Since we consider our patients friends and family, we are extremely happy when they refer new patients to us. We also want our new friends to receive the same gentle and understanding care, so they will refer friends and family.
What do I do if I have an emergency when the office is closed?
In case of a true dental emergency, please call our office number as printed on our business card or in the phone book. You may reach Dr. Pearson or Dr. Aycox directly, if not, leave a message as to the nature of your condition. We will return the call as soon as possible, providing as much helpful information as possible over the phone and arranging to see you in person as needed.