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Common Concerns
Convenient Answers to Your Questions
We want to provide convenient, clear answers to all of your questions,
so we've compiled this list of frequently asked questions and
answers about our practice, philosophy, and procedures. If there's
anything we've left out, feel free to contact us by phone or email.
How does
Dr. O'Neil keep up to date on all of the current techniques and
materials?
Dr. O'Neil subscribes to the latest industry journals to keep
tabs on research and development in the dental industry, and takes
time on a regular basis for continuing education and hands-on
programs. He also takes part in the Internet Dental Forum, learning
about the most recent advances in dentistry directly and following
their development, from the masters themselves. Not only does
he share this information with our entire staff, but each team
member keeps up with her own area of expertise through continuing
education as well.
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Do you accept referrals?
We’re happy to accept referrals from other dental offices
as well as from recommendations by our patients to their family
and friends. We request that a patient evaluation form be completed
prior to the first visit; we also appreciate all recent records
and x-rays to be forwarded to our office.
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Do you accept my insurance plan?
Although we're not on any specific insurance PPO plan, we do accept
assignment and will be happy to help you file electronically and
efficiently to maximize the benefits due you.
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What different payment options do you provide?
We accept cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards, as
well as offering Care
Credit for helping finance larger procedure. In addition,
we offer a 5% discount for those patients able to pay on day of
service; and a 7% discount for those able to pay ahead of time.
We'll be glad to discuss these options with you further at the
time of treatment planning.
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At what age should my children first see the
dentist?
We recommend that our patients bring their children in for that
first dental visit after all of their primary teeth have erupted,
but also when they are able to sit in a dentist's chair without
fear. Generally, this is around the age of two and a half to three
years old. To make this a fun and non-threatening visit, we'll
typically just count their teeth, introduce them to our staff,
show them how the dental chair works, and let them become familiar
with our equipment. This provides us with an opportunity to spot
and prevent any potential oral health/dental problems while also
establishing a friendship in preparation for doing any future
work on the child's teeth.
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Crowns, Veneers, Onlays, Inlays and Partials…how
can I learn more about these procedures?
With today's technology, materials, and advanced techniques, we
have many options for restoring weak, broken, chipped, discolored,
and/or missing teeth…bringing your smile back to it's original
shape and function. For example, we can apply an all-porcelain
crown, somewhat like a 'cap', to cover the entire outside of the
problem tooth. Crowns are also helpful to cover large areas of
decay after they've been filled. Or, for smaller areas of decay,
we can apply all-porcelain onlays or inlays… similar to crowns,
but retaining more natural tooth structure. For unattractive front
teeth, we can create pretty, natural shapes and shades by applying
paper-thin porcelain veneers to the fronts. For patients who are
missing a number of front/side teeth, we can create a removable
partial denture, designed for either the upper or lower jaw, made
of all acrylic or all metal. They're attached to existing teeth
by means of precision acrylic clasps and must be removed for cleaning
after eating, as well as for sleeping. For more information on
any of these procedures, please feel free to talk with Dr. O'Neil
during your visit.
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My gums bleed when I brush my teeth. Should
I be concerned?
It is never a good sign when your gums bleed! However, the condition
may or may not require professional attention, depending on the
source of the problem. Bleeding gums can be caused by improper,
rough, ‘scrubbing’ instead of gentle, circular brushing
motions; using a hard-bristled tooth brush instead of a soft one;
plaque and/or tartar build-up below the gum line; or gum sensitivity
due to gingivitis or periodontal disease.
If your problem persists despite correct brushing and flossing
methods, or occurs every time you brush, it's likely to be the
result of some level of gum disease, and we recommend you set
up an evaluation appointment with Dr. O'Neil. We specialize in
helping patients arrest and successfully treat all stages of gum
disease, through the use of our excellent non-surgical soft tissue
management program.
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I have a temporary crown in my mouth. What
happens if it comes off or breaks?
If your temporary crown comes off or breaks, simply place it gently
back into position with Vaseline or toothpaste. Then, call our
office to schedule an appointment for Dr. O'Neil to re-apply it
as soon as possible.
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What do I do if I have an emergency when the
office is closed?
In case of a true dental emergency, please contact our office
voice mail and let us know the nature of your condition. We’ll
return your call right away, give you helpful information over
the phone, then determine if you need to be seen immediately.
If Dr. O'Neil knows he will not be available for emergencies,
he will make arrangements in advance with another dentist or two
in the area who should be available. Please call the office voice
mail for the name and phone number of the dentist(s). (In the
rare event you still have trouble locating one of these dentists,
you may simply try to contact another local dentist, as at various
times I have covered for each of the other area dentists and they
have covered for me.)
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If I have to cancel an appointment, will
I be charged?
While we do not normally charge for missed visits, we do appreciate
24 hour notice if you're unable to keep the appointment. This
simply allows us to offer the time slot to someone else and helps
us run the office more efficiently. If no-shows or last-minute
cancellations happen repeatedly, we may be forced to charge a
missed appointment fee.
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