Cosmetic Dentistry1. Does teeth whitening really work?2. What are Porcelain Veneers? 3. With porcelain veneers is bonding worth doing? 4. What part does preventive dentistry play in Cosmetic dentistry? General Dentistry1. What is plaque, and how does it affect my teeth?2. What is a tartar and how can I control it? 3. My gums bleed when I brush or floss. Is this normal? 4. How often should I have my teeth cleaned? 5. What can I do about bad breath? 6. What is a root canal treatment? Insurance and Payment Policy1. Do you accept my insurance?2. What are some questions and concerns abour insurance benefits? 3. What is your payment policy? 4. Do you offer payment plans? Cosmetic DentistryDoes teeth whitening really work?Today, bleaching
is very
predicatable and safe. It can be done in the dentist office or at home.
However regardless of the method you choose, touch-up is needed. The
over the counter systems can work, but because they do not use custom
trays, the gel does not uniformly touch the teeth and are therefore
usually slower and very unpredicatble.
What are Porcelain Veneers? The Porcelain veneers are a thin layer of pressed porcelain that are form-fitted and cemented to cover the front ot the teeth (it resembles fake nails and could be as thin as a contact lense). Veneers are the most conservative cosmetic treatment. They can be used in many cosmetic concerns such as closing gap between teeth, or to cover chipped, stained, or mis-aligned teeth. With porcelain veneers is bonding worth doing? Bonding is a composite (hard plastic resin) material that is applied to the teeth to correct many of the conditions that can be corrected by a veneer. If they are very minor corrections, then bonding might be more indicated. But, because it is plastic, it will chip, stain, etc. It is a viable alternative that you should discuss with your dentist. What part does preventive dentistry play in Cosmetic dentistry? Preventive dentistry is crucial for maintenance of our teeth. Also, since cosmetic restorations are made of glazed porcelain, regular followup appointments are important to maintain their high luster. General DentistryWhat is plaque, and how does it affect my teeth?Plaque is a colorless, sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. If left undisturbed, the bacteria in the plaque produce byproducts that can not only irritate the gums and make them bleed, but it can also lead to periodontal disease. A daily regimen of proper brushing, flossing and rinsing (plus, regular dental visits), will help you keep your teeth healthy. What is a tartar and how can I control it? In most cases, tartar is “hardened plaque” that has been left undisturbed. It's a black, solidified protein layer at the gum line that can only be removed safely with a dental scaling instrument during hygiene cleanings. The best way to control tartar is to brush and floss every day. My gums bleed when I brush or floss. Is this normal? Healthy tissue doesn't bleed. This is most likely a sign of early gingivitis. If you experience bleeding gums, see your dental health professional to review proper brushing and flossing techniques. Schedule a soft tissue evaluation with your dentist that will include x-rays and prophylaxis cleaning. Gum bleeding must be taken seriously because if left untreated, it will lead to periodontal disease. How often should I have my teeth cleaned? People accumulate plaque at different rates. Although most insurance plan coverage is for a twice a year schedule, it's sensible to get your teeth professionally cleaned as often as your dental health professional advises you, even if it's every 3 months. What can I do about bad breath? Proper brushing and flossing normally reduces the bacteria that causes bad breath. The newest addition to effective oral hygiene has been tongue cleaning. Since research shows that 85% of bad breath can be controlled by removing bacteria that colonizes on the back of the tongue, it's a good idea to use a tongue cleaner at least once a day. What is a root canal treatment? Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile! Insurance and Payment Policy
Do you accept my insurance? We accept insurance benefits provided by all PPO and indemnity plans. We are an In-network provider of many PPO plans (that helps you reduce your out-of-pocket expense). Here is a partial list of insurances we are provider of: Aetna Dental PPO AIG Allegiance Benefit Plan Management Ameriplan USA Ameritas Dental Insurance Anthem PPO Assurant PPO Benesight Blue Shield PPO Careington PPO Careington Platinum POS CCPOA Benefit Trust CIGNA PPO CDN PPO Connection Dental PPO Delta Dental PPO Delta Dental Premier Delta Kaiser Plan DenteMax First Dental Health PPO FiServ Health PPO Fortis/Assurant PPO GE Financial Genworth PPO Great West Healthcare Guardian PPO HealthComp Administrators HealthEdge Administrators Heathnet PPO Humana Dental Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Integrity Administrators Interactive Medical Systems Interplan PPO Jefferson Pilot Financial Lincoln Financial Group Mercer Administration Metlife Dental PPO Mutual of Omaha PPO ODS Health Operating Engineers PAI Premera Blue Cross Premier Access PPO Principal Financial PPO Regional Care Safeguard PPO Safe Health Dental Security Life Select Benefit Administrators Standard Insurance SunLife Financial PPO Teamsters union Transwestern Insurance U A Local 447 UFCW Northern California Health and welfare trust Unicare 100 and 200 Plans United Administration Service United Concordia United Health Care Washington Dental Wellcare PFFS (Private Fee for Service) WellPoint Blue care 100, 200, and 300 plans Wellpoint PPO This is just a partial list! If you are not sure if we are a provider of your insurance, please call our office at (916) 817-8900 and we will be happy to find that out for you. What are some questions and concerns abour insurance benefits? Employers and other plan sponsors offer dental benefits for a variety of reasons, including promotion of oral health and attraction and retention of high-quality employees. Regardless of why the plan is offered, its intent is the same: to help individuals by paying for a portion of the cost of their dental care. Almost all dental benefit plans are the result of a contract between the plan sponsor (usually an employer or a union) and the third party (usually an insurance company). For this reason, concerns about your dental plan should first be directed to your plan sponsor. Limitations in coverage are the result of the financial commitment the plan sponsor has agreed to make and the benefits the third-party payer will offer in exchange for that commitment. Treatment decisions must be made by you and your dentist. While dental benefit coverage should be taken into account, it should not be the deciding factor in your choice of treatment. American Dental Association has detailed FAQ on understanding your dental benefits here. What is your payment policy? We expect payment at the time of service. If you have insurance, we collect your estimated portion (deductible and/or copay) at the time of service. For your convinience, we accept payment in cash, major credit cards (Visa and Mastercard), and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard). Do you offer payment plans? We offer you some choices for a no-down-payment, no-interest payment plans. You must qualify for such plans through an easy credit application with our third party partners. Currently, we work with Citibank health card services, Chase HealthAdvance (formerly known as Unicorn Financial), and Carecredit Financial. You may visit their web-site and apply on your own. Alternatively, you may fill up the paper application in our office, and our friendly staff will submit the application on the web for an instant approval. Its that easy! Disclaimer: This web site is provided for information and education purposes only. No doctor/patient relationship is established by your use of this site. No diagnosis or treatment is being provided. The information contained here should be used in consultation with a qualified general dentist of your choice. No guarantees or warranties are made regarding any of the information contained within this web site. This web site is not intended to offer specific medical, dental or surgical advice to anyone. Further, this web site, Aatman Consulting, and Dr. Shah take no responsibility for web sites hyper-linked to this site and such hyperlinking does not imply any relationships or endorsements of the linked sites. |
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