FAQ

PREVENTION TIPS and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PREVENTION TIPS

These prevention tips will help you have a healthy smile for life! The average patient that does everything on this page will save ten's of thousands of dollars and countless hours of dental chair time over their lifetime. Tips are in order of importance!

CLEAN: Become an expert at cleaning your mouth. Have you noticed the amount of dental products in store shelves now? We can customize a simple plan for you. One that shows you what techniques, tools, and products are best for you. Remember that technique is more important than products or tools.

REPAIR: Let us completely repair any problems that exist in your mouth so there are no gum infections, tartar, rough fillings, cavities or areas that trap plaque or food. This will also make step #1 easier.

LIVE HEALTHY: There is a huge relationship between your general health and periodontal disease, cavities, and cancer. Improve your sleep, reduce stress, get more aerobic exercise, improve your nutrition and have regular check ups by your physician.

ALIGN & PROTECT THE BITE: Adjust your bite and/or use a night guard. Adjusting the bite, or "equilibration", improves the way teeth come together. This has a massive impact on the longevity of your teeth, gums and dental work. Aligning and balancing car tires is a good analogy. The night guard adds another level of protection.

MONITOR & MAINTENANCE: Increase the frequency of your preventive maintenance appointments ("cleanings" and check ups). For most people, we recommend cleanings every 6 months and a check up yearly. Higher risk patients may need cleanings every 3 to 4 months.

SUGAR: Decrease or eliminate the amount and frequency of sugary foods & drinks.

F.A.Q.'s

How much does it cost? We understand that cost is a big concern for some people. Every situation is unique. The best way to know what something will cost is to get a complete treatment plan and estimate from Dr. Marquze. Also keep in mind that we do have financing available with approved credit and will happily give you all the information you need to make the necessary investments in your oral health.

Do you take my insurance? We are always looking out for you, and that includes helping you maximize your benefits. As long as your insurance gives you the freedom to pick your dentist, you should be able to use your benefits with us. We will be glad to file for you. HMO plans prevent you from picking your dentist. We are not an HMO provider, however we are providers with select PPO plans.

What is a crown? A custom made replacement for your enamel that is made of porcelain or metal. It is generally used when the tooth is too weak for a filling.

What is a root canal? The disinfection of the internal part of the tooth. It does NOT involve removing the roots. It is necessary when patients let cavities get too deep, the tooth fractures into the nerve, or the nerve dies.

What are dental implants? Anchors for either non-removable crowns or removable dentures. They are made of titanium alloy so they cannot get cavities. They help you chew better, look better and keep your bite from shifting by filling in missing spaces.

How long does an implant take? The surgical placement about 20 minutes. The healing wait time before you can begin chewing on them, 3-6 months.

Do implants hurt? The procedure itself is painless. There is always some post operative discomfort associated with any surgical procedure, everyone is different. Some of our patients may need a 4 day supply of a prescribed pain reliever, however it is rare that one of our patients has to use pain medicine beyond 12 hours after their appointment. All patients have felt up to going to work the next day.

What is the difference between a cleaning and a "deep cleaning"? The first is preventive and the other therapeutic. Cleanings are done to keep you out of trouble and focus mainly on cleaning the teeth above the gum line. "Deep cleanings" are done to get you out of trouble and focus on cleaning the roots below the gum line.

What are veneers? Strong, thin facings that bond onto your teeth to permanently change color or shape.

Do I need braces? Upon your exam we will let you know what treatment is needed to correct any problems with overcrowding, underbite or overbite and more. While some people do go the route of traditional braces, many of our patients choose to enjoy the same results offered by Invisalign "invisible" braces. This is somethign we can discuss in detail at your appointment.

Is bleaching safe? Yes. It does not harm your enamel or gums when used as directed, and we do have a few different options we would love to tell you more about during your visit.