One of our top values at Brigham Dental Care is patient education. We want to help you be your own advocate when it comes to your dental health, and we do that by offering information and answering your questions. We take the time to meet with you one on one and face to face, and we won't rush you through your appointments.
If at any time you have a question about dentistry, your oral health, or our practice, don't hesitate to ask! We've collected a few of the questions we hear most often right here for you. If your question isn't here or you'd like more information, just give us a call!
When should my child's first dental visit take place?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child first see the dentist when their first tooth erupts or by the age of 12 months. We agree with this recommendation.
While this may seem early, these first visits help to normalize the dental office for kids so they can see it as a safe, friendly, and routine place to be. This helps avoid problems like dental anxiety later in life. With the early development of good habits and a sense of comfort and confidence, they will have no problem seeing the dentist on a regular basis and practicing good home care habits for a lifetime!
During the first visit, we'll take a quick peek to make sure that everything looks good and then we'll discuss common early childhood dental concerns with you, including proper care of developing teeth and gums and nutrition. As your child gets older, we'll address issues like thumb sucking and pacifier use and when to break these habits, if necessary.
Regular happy visits give us a chance to check in with your child and track their development. We're also available in case your child has a dental emergency. Dental injuries are common in childhood, especially in kids who play sports. We can discuss preventive measures that will help protect your child's teeth from injury and disease.
We're proud that so many Morrisville families trust their children's dental care to us! Give us a call to schedule an appointment for your child.
Why do I need dental x-rays?
While a visual exam can tell us a great deal about your oral health, the fact is that many problems that develop occur beneath the enamel and the surface of your gums. If we wait for those problems to become visible, you may wind up with a bigger problem on your hands than you were counting on!
X-rays allows us to identify problems in their earliest stages, when treatment can be more conservative. This is both more comfortable and less costly for you! We don't ever want to see our patients in pain, and identifying problems early before you experience any symptoms is one way that we can avoid that.
X-rays are simple and painless. At Brigham Dental Care, we use digital x-rays, which emit far less radiation than traditional x-rays (and we still follow safety protocols like shielding aprons). Digital x-rays use a sensor that looks like traditional x-ray film but is actually far more comfortable to hold in your mouth. The x-rays develop almost instantly and are visible on a computer monitor so we can show you exactly what we see. This allows us to give you more information about your dental health and any developing conditions we identify.
What can I expect at my first visit?
First of all, welcome! We're always so excited to meet new people!
We've designed our office to be relaxing and inviting from the moment you first walk in. You'll be warmly greeted and welcomed by either Karen or Jodi (in fact, we'll all make a point of meeting you and getting to know you better!). You can either fill out your forms in our office or you can download them from this website beforehand and bring them with you. We'll check your insurance benefits and invite you to relax in our comfortable reception area, where you can enjoy free WiFi or fun brainteaser games. If you have children with you, they'll enjoy the children's area with its coloring books and natural wood toys.
Next, we'll bring you back and help you get comfortable. We offer blankets and pillows for your comfort. If needed, we'll take x-rays.
Dr. Ebert will then begin your examination. Your examination will include a thorough screening of your teeth and gums, screening for periodontal disease, and screening for oral cancer. We make use of state-of-the-art technology like DIAGNOdent, which allows us to discover cavities early when they are tiny, and VELscope, which helps us find any cell abnormalities that could lead to cancer in your soft tissues.
Dr. Ebert will answer your questions and discuss your current level of health and your home care routine with you. He'll also ask about your treatment goals to learn more about your needs.
We'll invite you back to the office for a no-fee Review of Findings visit. At this visit, Dr. Ebert will go over your x-rays and his findings from your examination. You and Dr. Ebert can then develop a treatment plan that will help you reach your dental health goals.
Will I have my teeth cleaned on the first visit?
It depends.
Not all dental cleanings are the same. The type of cleaning you get will depend a great deal on whether we find any concerns, and particularly if we find any signs of gum disease. Because we want your care to be personalized to your specific needs, we want to perform an examination and determine which type of cleaning treatment is more appropriate for you.
This can also affect the frequency of your cleanings. While every six months is appropriate for most patients, some, including those with active periodontal disease, may benefit from more frequent cleanings until we get the inflammation under control.
Some patients wonder why they need a cleaning at all! This is because despite the effectiveness of home tools like your toothbrush and dental floss, it's just about impossible to remove every trace of plaque from your teeth. Your teeth have a lot of nooks and crannies where plaque can hide and your brush and floss can't reach. Over time, the plaque in these areas will harden into tartar, which can only be removed with professional instruments.
Your cleaning allows us to remove those bits of plaque and tartar so that they don't lead to cavity formation and gum irritation and inflammation. Think of it as a fresh start!
Will I have my teeth cleaned on the first visit?
We make it easy for you to become a patient here at Brigham Dental Care! We'll do most of the work for you. All you have to do is sign a Release of Information form that allows us to communicate with your previous provider (this is required by law).
To get started, call our office or request an appointment using our convenient and secure online form. We'll find a time that works for you. Next, you can visit the Forms page on this website to download your important forms, including your Release of Information form (you can also come into the office to pick these up). Once you return the Release of Information form, we'll contact your previous provider to get your records, including any x-rays.
And that's it!
If you have any questions about your appointment or the records transfer, don't hesitate to give us a call. A friendly member of our team is always available to help you and give you the information you need. We want you to feel comfortable and confident at our practice, and we will help you in any way possible.
If you'd like to get started, give us a call today.
Why doesn't my dental insurance pay for this treatment?
Dental insurance is quite different from medical insurance. The amount of coverage varies considerably from plan to plan, as do covered procedures and out-of-pocket expenses. Many dental insurance plans limit the amount of treatment they will pay for each year, which can leave you high and dry.
We believe that decisions about your dental care should be made by you and your dentist, not your insurance company. While we accept and will bill all major insurance plans, we are not a preferred provider for any insurance company because we don't want them to dictate the kind of care we provide. Many insurance-driven practices require dentists to work "assembly-line" style and see many patients as quickly as possible. That's not what we're about here. We believe in quality interactions with our patients rather than cramming in as many patients as possible!
As we develop your treatment plan, we will check with your insurance to determine your coverage and your out-of-pocket expenses. These will be presented to you up front so that you know exactly what to expect. While surprises can be fun, nobody likes surprise bills! We will help you maximize your dental coverage so you can get the benefits you are entitled to.
If you don't have insurance or your insurance benefits don't cover the treatment you need, we can discuss other payment options such as CareCredit, a health care credit card that allows you to finance your treatment and pay for it in small monthly payments.