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FAQ To help you save time we will try to give you some quick information about our office. We'll also try to guess what may be of interest to you as a patient. Our new patients ask us most frequently one or more of the following questions:
I would like to become a patient of your office. What will my first appointment be? If you think you know who we are and how we function, your questions can be answered by this website or your referring friend. On your first appointment we would like to get to know you and your problems with a comprehensive examination. If you are not sure about us, feel free to appoint for a complimentary consultation. I had my teeth check recently. Why do I need an exam with your office? Your previous dentist was probably a great one – that’s why you selected him or her! He or she knew your mouth to perfection and was able to take good care of your oral health and the beauty of your smile. Now that you are allowing us to take care of you, we need to know in depth the condition of your teeth, gums, muscles, joints, soft tissues, and the look of your smile. Another situation may be that you are not happy with your previous dentist. In that case, even more so we need to understand your condition, your expectations, your desired results, or simply not to repeat the same behavior that made you look for care somewhere else! What does your new patient exam consist of? We take about an hour to get to know your condition and the problems or concerns you may have. We perform a four step examination: 1. An oral cancer, gum (or periodontal), and cavities evaluation; 2. The condition of your teeth and existing restorations; 3. The function of your bite, muscles and joints; 4. An esthetic evaluation, the smile, by taking photographs. If you don't have a recent set of x-rays (two years or less) that we may evaluate, a complete set of x-rays of your teeth and jaws may be needed. This thorough examination is needed in order to make sure we know your condition and help you make the right decisions when it comes to your health and smile. Think about boarding an airplane! Would you like to know your plane had all the systems thoroughly checked before take-off, or just briefly looked at? Would you like to have had it inspected all the time, or would you be happy that somebody did it some time ago? At this juncture, we like to address an issue that we found to be on many patients’ mind. Does this thorough exam mean that a lot of “problems” will be uncovered and a lot of treatment will be recommended? No! We will indeed point out to you each of the present problems and then ask you if you want to do anything about each one. You are completely in charge of your health, function and beauty! We give you a guided tour of your mouth and you decide if you want to do anything about the given situations. You may decide to do nothing at all, a little bit at a time, or defer any action for a later time. You are in charge! The consultation. In most situations there is not enough time at the initial examination appointment to discuss the conditions of your teeth, etc. Therefore, we give you another appointment, usually a week later, to discuss in detail the findings, including the x-rays and photographs in the form of a slide show. At that time we can answer any questions you may have and also discuss treatment options. There is no additional fee for this appointment, in other words, the examination fee includes the consultation. I have perfect oral hygiene and had my teeth cleaned regularly in another office. I just moved to Yes, you may come in for a “cleaning” only. At that time one of the doctors will give you a brief exam and together you will decide how to proceed. In our experience, some patients need indeed just a regular cleaning, and some will need more extensive periodontal work. The decision can only be made when you are in the office. This is the reason why all patients should start by having a complete exam, before any treatment (cleaning) is performed… but we are flexible enough to believe you when you think you know that you only need a cleaning! Also, what if you had a small cavity or hidden abscess and the doctors did not do a thorough exam? What if you had oral cancer in an early stage? What if you had a TMJ problem that left untreated may progress into a locked jaw? There are many problems that you as a patient may not be aware of, and it is our duty to uncover them in the beginning stages!
What are dental implants? People often refer to a dental implant as a replacement tooth, but it is actually a metal post or appliance that replaces the patient's tooth root or roots. Once the artificial root or roots are in, replacement teeth are put in place and thus anchored firmly to the bone by the implant. The patient's new teeth look, feel and work just like natural teeth. There are several types of dental implants suited to various dental conditions. Do I have to go to more than one doctor to get dental implants? There are very few dentists who can both place the implants and make and attach the teeth into the implants. Dentistry represents less than .5% of dentists qualified to do all the steps of implant dentistry from start to finish. It is not necessary to go to more than one doctor for this service and usually the result is more predictable when one fully trained doctor does the procedures needed to restore a patient to full comfort, function, and cosmetics. What are the benefits of implants? Dental implants are an alternative for:
Who is a candidate for dental implants? Because of recent advances in implant technology, more and more people are implant candidates - although many people may be told they are not. The only way to know for certain is to be evaluated by a practitioner who has received advanced training in implant dentistry. Typically, if a patient is healthy enough to undergo fixed bridgework procedures or routine extractions, he or she can also undergo dental implant procedures. What does the dental implant procedure involve? Most implants can be placed by a trained dentist in one or two office visits. Further visits will also be needed to fit the replacement teeth, which fasten to the implants. In addition, it is possible that some bone structure will have to be added to the patient's jaw or that other adjustments may have to be made. Tested methodologies now exist that can effectively and safely add bone where needed. This process can delay the placement of the implant for a period of months. Most insertions can be performed under the same local anesthesia used for routine fillings. Medication so the patient can sleep during the procedure is available with oral conscious Sedation or IV sedation. Temporary teeth are usually placed until permanent replacement teeth are made so that patients can lead normal lives during the interim. How long does an implant last? Implants have remained in patients' mouths for 30 years or longer. We recommend a preventive maintenance program to help insure the long-term success of your implants and teeth. How much does an implant cost as compared to other forms of dentistry? The cost of implant dentistry is comparable to that of fixed bridgework or other advanced dental procedures in most cases. Do implants require any special care? Dental implants and accompanying replacement teeth should be cared for in the same way as natural teeth. Although they cannot get decay, they are still subject to gum disease in the same way natural teeth are. Is there any chance of rejection of the dental implant? The body doesn 't reject a dental implant as it might a soft tissue implant such as a lung, heart or kidney. Dental implants are made of titanium, which is compatible with the body. How long will I be off work? Generally we recommend the day of the implant placement and the day after. Most of our patients are back to work the next day after implant placement. It's an individual decision. What will happen without treatment? When yu lose your teeth, you gradually lose the bone that supportsed the teeth. As this bone shrinks, problems with a lack of support lead to increased discomfort, mobility, lack of retention of dentures, and sharp, painful ridges, movable gums and sore spots. The tongue also enlarges to accommodate the space. With tooth loss, a five-fold decrease in function occurs and the diet shifts to softer foods. When bone is lost, the incidence of numbness to the lower lip or even fracture of the jaw increases. In addition, this progression will affect our ability to provide the treatment we could have before so much bone loss. It could require more implants or more extensive treatment. Or,it may be possible that we will not be able to provide the same treatment we recommend now. At its worst, the bone loss could be so severe that the only way for the person to have teeth of any kind would require a hip graft (taking bone from the patient's hip). Do all patients who want cosmetic makeovers get the same kind of teeth? Absolutely not! Each person has a look they want for themselves and they have facial structure and skin tones that guide us in making individual selections that vary in size, shape, and color for each person. Do I have to get my teeth capped to get rid of spaces between my front teeth? In most cases capping to correct spaces isn't necessary. Today with beautiful, natural looking porcelain veneers (also called porcelain facings) we can easily make dramatic cosmetic changes to remove spaces, fix cracked teeth, do minor tooth straightening, and change the color of your teeth. In many instances, little or no tooth structure needs to be removed to create the smile of your dreams. Is "tooth whitening" safe? Bleaching procedures are safe and approved by the American Dental Association. Bleaching does not wear away any tooth structure or make a tooth more susceptible to staining. Is gum surgery essential if I have periodontal (gum) disease? We have found, many times, surgery is not necessary following a conservative course of periodontal treatment. This type of care typically includes a series of nonsurgical gum treatments. Even when surgery is required, it often is needed only in a few areas of the mouth and results can be greatly enhanced by nonsurgical preparation. If periodontal disease is such a problem, why doesn't it hurt? This is, unfortunately, a very good question. Periodontal problems can become quite serious and extremely advanced without any pain whatsoever. That is why it is so important to be attentive to the warning signs - bleeding gums when brushing and flossing, swollen gums, receded gums, teeth changing position, pus or swelling around gums - to name a few. |
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1865 NW Boca Raton Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432 |
561-394-2668 |
