About the office and practice…
We focus on preventative, restorative, and esthetic dentistry and are committed to clinical excellence in an environment of trust, sensitivity, and understanding. Each patient receives individual attention and uncompromised care. While we realize that not everyone looks forward to a visit to the dentist, your comfort is very important to us. We employ a range of options to reduce discomfort or anxiety related to your visit. And what’s most important, we love what we do, everyday we are serving you – and it shows! These are some of the many reasons our clients look forward to their visits, not fear them.
What to expect…
During a visit, we educate our clients outlining a broad range of available options. Our services therefore range from simple cleanings to complex tooth replacement. We are partners with our clients so together we make the best decisions about their long-term dental health understanding their individual financial and dental insurance concerns.
Your First Visit
Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your appointment:
- X-rays (if available).
- A list of your current medical prescriptions.
- If you have dental insurance, bring your ID card and forms. This will save time and allow us to help you process any claims.
IMPORTANT: A parent or guardian must accompany all patients under 18 at the consultation visit.
Scheduling
Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. We will schedule your appointment as promptly as possible. If you have pain or an emergency situation, every attempt will be made to see you that day.
Please call (919) 781-8984 with any questions or to schedule an appointment.
Financial & Dental Insurance Policies
We understand the emotional and financial investment required to commit to a program of comprehensive dental care. At your first visit, we will review your treatment plan with you and provide a description of the proposed treatment including the timetable and estimated cost.
As a courtesy for our patients, we will file your dental insurance claims for covered services. Please bring your insurance card or information with you so we can assist you in this process. If you have a benefits information booklet, that will help us understand your insurance benefits.
We accept insurance assignment. Co-payments are expected at the time services are provided. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Healthcare Credit Line are accepted. The Healthcare Credit Line card is for dental care and can be applied for in our office.
Home Care Instructions
After fillings (white or silver)
When an anesthetic has been used, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while you are numb.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin (one tablet every 3-4 hours as needed for pain) work well to alleviate the tenderness. If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to hot or cold increases, contact our office.
Please wait 24 hours before chewing on new silver fillings.
You may chew with your white fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, since they are fully set when you leave the office.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent discomfort, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at 781-8984.
After crown and bridge appointments
Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made. Since the teeth will be anesthetized, the tongue, lips and roof of the mouth may be numb. Please refrain from eating and drinking hot beverages until the numbness is completely worn off.
Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. Call us if this happens and bring the temporary crown with you so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from moving and compromising the fit of your final restoration.
To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush normally, but floss carefully and don’t pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.
It is normal to experience some temperature and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. The sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. Mild pain medications may also be used as directed by our office.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at 781-8984.
After tooth extraction
After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.
After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush the teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.
Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.
It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.
After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately at 781-8984.
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