FAQ's

Absolutely!  We are accepting new patients at both our Oak Ridge and Brassfield locations.

We have different anesthetic methods to ensure your visit is pain-free. 

In our Oak Ridge office, we are not a participating provider with any insurance policies, although we can file for most insurance policies.  Our Brassfield office is considered in-network with Delta Dental.

Most dental insurance policies pay 100% on preventive and diagnostic services of what they consider “usual and customary” charges.  Your employer has gotten together with the insurance company to create a fee schedule on which they base these “usual and customary” charges.  If your employer selects a lower fee schedule, the reimbursement from the insurance will be lower and the balance will be your responsibility.  Our fees are directly in line with other dental offices in the area. 

Our goal is to always save teeth!  Sometimes if a tooth is too badly decayed, fractured down the root or broken below the gumline, we have no option but to remove the tooth.  When treatment is discussed, this is why we discourage putting it off, so that the tooth is in the best optimal condition to do the proposed treatment and save the tooth.

There are so many electric toothbrushes on the market, it’s impossible to know the pros and cons of each one.  Any electric toothbrush is generally better than a manual brush because the RPM’s with electric brushes create so much more movement that you could get with a manual brush.  The key point to remember with an electric toothbrush is to use light pressure and let the brush do the work for you! 

Using a piece of floss or flossers are both beneficial as your toothbrush bristles can’t reach directly between your teeth where floss would.  As long as you are adapting the floss to the tooth, either method is acceptable.

There are several whitening options available in today’s market.  We offer three different levels of tooth whitening in our office.  The lowest option is whitening strips.  These are similar to WhiteStrips, but stronger.  Our middle option is custom-made bleaching trays.  These are a great option because not only can you control the frequency and duration of your whitening, but it also allows youto have the trays and any future expense is just the whitening gel.  The highest option is our in-office whitening.  With the in-office whitening, this is the quickest option and your teeth may be shades lighter when you leave.  With our in-office whitening, we also make custom trays for upkeep!

We have a few financing options available depending upon your treatment plan and needs.  Our scheduling coordinators are experts at getting treatment done at an affordable payment.

Some people are predisposed to periodontal (gum) disease.  In those instances, a “regular cleaning” isn’t what is needed.  The definition of a healthy mouth cleaning is removing debris and polishing above the gumline.  Those with active gum disease have areas just below the gumline that need to be cleaned as well, therefore a more extensive cleaning is required.

Unfortunately dentist’s don’t have a crystal ball and can’t predict when something may break, fail, or become bothersome.  It’s always best to do treatment as soon as you’re able to, when the tooth has an active problem, such as tooth decay (cavity), or if it’s broken or fractured.  Procrastinating will only lead to the condition worsening, and can result in the tooth breaking or becoming painful.

We recommend bringing your children with you to the dentist around age 3.  The most frightening part for a small child is usually the unfamiliarity.  By having them come with you, they can hear the sounds and see what goes on, and see that everything is ok!  Then we would have them come back for their cleaning.

Fluoride is extremely beneficial for all ages.  Fluoride remineralizes the outermost layer of enamel, so it not only helps protect against cavities, but it also helps to desensitize. We encourage all patients to have a fluoride treatment at their cleaning appointments especially: children, patients at high risk for tooth decay, patients with lots of existing dental work, poor oral hygiene, those with gum recession, and anyone with sensitivities.

Unfortunately our office is not set up to file Medicaid.