Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I am a new patient and would like to get started. What is my first appointment in your office?
A: Congratulations on your decision to get started with us! Your first appointment will be a New Patient Exam. During this exam, Dr. Rice will do a very thorough exam. Also, we will take photos and any necessary radiographs, and you and Dr. Rice will review these together. Afterwards, she will customize a treatment plan for you.

Q: I am a new patient with your office and I just want my teeth cleaned and nothing else. Why is a new patient exam necessary just to get my teeth cleaned?
A: Hopefully you have chosen our practice because you want to receive excellent dental care. Our goal is to provide excellent treatment for our patients. That includes thorough exams for the purpose of understanding your overall oral health. What if you had a small cavity that did not hurt, and your doctor did not do a thorough exam? So, your doctor did not "find" your cavity. Later your tooth abscessed (which can be very painful) and you needed to have a root canal. You would probably be upset that your doctor did not find this problem sooner. What if you had oral cancer, and by finding it in the early stages, your condition was treatable? Dr. Rice wants to provide complete treatment for you and, in order to do so, she must do a thorough exam in order to know and understand your overall oral health.

Q: What are Lumineers and Durathins? How are they different from traditional Veneers?
A: Lumineers and Durathins are a brand of porcelain veneers. Since they are a little thinner than the traditional veneer, the claim is that they can be bonded over the top of your teeth with no drilling or contouring because they add little bulk to the teeth. That makes them seem very easy to place. However, there are complexities in all cosmetic cases that must be considered before deciding what type of treatment you want or need.

For instance, if your dentist says he/she is not going to contour your teeth beforehand, the smile-design process becomes more complicated. Your dentist has very little room to work to make things look good. And no matter how great the ceramist, the lab cannot make up for a dentist’s lack of knowledge or expertise in a situation like this.

If your concerns are crooked teeth or dark-colored teeth, your goals may not be entirely met by Lumineers/Durathins. Discuss your goals with your dentist and together a customized treatment plan can be made for you.

Q: How long do veneers and Lumineers/Durathins last?
A: When cared for properly, porcelain veneers like Lumineers/Durathins can last for a very long time (10 or even 20 years). On average, they probably last 8 to 15 years. Failures are typically caused by poor oral hygiene or failure to wear a night guard or splint when one is recommended. In most cases, the work "failure" only represents that a new veneer must be made to replace the old one. The tooth is usually fine.

Q: I have a gap between my front teeth. What are my options for closing this gap?
A: Gaps between teeth (especially gaps that show in your smile) can take away from the beauty of your smile. Depending on the size of the gap, there are several options. For extremely large gaps, orthodontics is usually recommended. For small to moderate gaps, bonding or porcelain veneers may be the best solution for you. Dr. Rice will discuss your options with you and together we will customize an ideal treatment plan to give you the gorgeous smile you deserve.

Q: What is that black line I see around the gum line of my crowns (or other people’s crowns)?
A: The black likely indicates that there is dark metal underneath the white porcelain part of the crown. The black line you see around the crown was probably not there when the crown was placed. Over time, chronic inflammation of the gum tissue causes it to bleed easily and perhaps recede from the metal, exposing it. No longer is it necessary to have metal in crowns or that unattractive dark line. Metal free crowns are now available and very predictable restorations.

Q: I want to whiten my smile, but I am also thinking about getting bonding or veneers on my front teeth. What should I do first?
A: Dr. Rice always recommends whitening your teeth as the first step. Once your teeth are as white as you like, then we will match the bonding or veneers to that whiter shade. Our whitening procedures work quickly, so in no time you will have the beautiful smile you want and deserve. Remember to discontinue the use of whitening agents 2 weeks before your appointment for bonding or placement of veneers. This allows for maximum bonding strength to your teeth.

Q: I have some bonding and a crown on my front teeth and I would like to whiten my teeth. What are my options for whitening my smile?
A: Teeth whitening procedures are just as they sound. They whiten teeth. The bonding and crown will not whiten and will appear darker after your teeth become whiter. However, this should not keep you from having the white smile that you desire. It may be very simple to upgrade your bonding and crown after your whitening procedure. Chances are the new bonding and crown will be better looking as well. When you visit our office, Dr. Rice will work with you to customize a treatment plan to achieve a gorgeous white smile!

Q: I am missing a tooth and am considering an implant. What is the process for an implant? Are implants more feasible than dentures?
A: Oftentimes, implants are the best restoration for a missing tooth. Dr. Rice will discuss all of the options (and the pros and cons of each option) with you in order to customize an ideal treatment plan for you. The implant process is relatively simple and requires two steps. First, the implant is placed in to the tooth-socket where your tooth root used to be. Second, a restoration is created and placed on the implant to restore the crown of your tooth. One of our esteemed specialists places your implant and Dr. Rice will make the restoration(s).
For patients who are missing many or all of their teeth, implants may be the solution for restoring all of the missing teeth, offering a great life-improvement for these patients. Sometimes, a few implants may be placed in order to stabilize floppy dentures which is another terrific improvement in the lives of so many denture wearers.

Q: Dentures, Partial Dentures, Implants: Which one is right for me?
A: At your New Patient Exam, Dr. Rice will do a thorough exam and will take photos and necessary radiographs of your teeth, gums and jaws. You will review these images with Dr. Rice and together you will develop a treatment plan that is best for you.

Q: I am very nervous just thinking about dental treatment. Do you offer laughing gas?
A: At Dr. Rice’s office we will utilize nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for those patients who request it. Nitrous Oxide can help ease one’s anxiety. It has been proven to aid in pain reduction as well as aid in the amount of local anesthetic you may need for a given procedure. The level of sedation can be easily adjusted for the best possible effect for each individual patient. Sometimes valium is offered as an adjunctive service to relax our patient.

Q: What type of payments to do you accept?
A: We accept cash, checks, debit cards, and credit cards. We also offer no interest payment plans for your convenience.

Q: Why do I need an old filling replaced when it is not hurting?
A: Fillings need to be replaced when they begin to fail. This happens when the margin of the filling is no longer sealed against the margin of the tooth. Because of this open area, bacteria has a way to get in and around the filling, thus allowing recurrent decay to get close to the nerve. This puts some patients at risk for needing a root canal.

Q: I make sure my kids have fluoride treatments when they get their teeth cleaned, but why do I need one?
A: Adults need fluoride as much as children. As we age, we have areas in our mouth where the roots of our teeth are exposed. This root area is very susceptible to a cavity. By nourishing the entire mouth with fluoride, these root areas are protected. Recent studies show that our current method of fluoride varnish placement after your cleaning decreases your risk factor for cavities at the gum line.

Q: I regularly go to the dentist. Now, after about a year since my last cleaning, I was told I have early stages of gum disease. Can that happen?
A: Yes, just as some individuals have risk factors for heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, some of us may be at risk for periodontal disease and not show symptoms until later in life. Genetics, hormone changes, stress, and overall immune system changes are some of the ways that periodontal disease can begin to show up without having any outright symptoms. The good news is that, if detected early, treatment is minimal and prognosis is good. Be sure your dentist is watching out for any risk factors that might be present, and that basic pocket measurements are part of your routine care. Regular dental visits are an important part of keeping a Healthy Mouth for Life!

Q: I had braces as a teenager, but now in my 30’s I’ve noticed my teeth moving. Why is this?
A: Teeth are in a constant state of shifting and moving. Usually, tooth positions will stay about the same, as long as their forces against each other are fairly even. Sometimes, however, due to clenching and grinding, or tooth loss, these forces will actually allow teeth to shift out of their correct position. Adults may still be candidates for orthodontics or retainers.

Q: I wake up every morning with a headache and a tired jaw. What is going on with me?
A: You may be clenching or grinding your teeth. We all tend to do this a little if stress is present in our lives. Many people are helped by wearing a mouthpiece we call a "splint" or "nightguard". See your dentist if you think this might be going on with you. Failure to treat these symptoms can result in ongoing headaches and cracked, broken or worn down teeth.

Q: How do I know if I have gingivitis?
A: There are several signs of gingivitis. If your gums are red and puffy (swollen) you have gingivitis. If your gums bleed when you brush, you have gingivitis. Usually chronic bad breath is present with gingivitis due to all the untreated amount of bacteria present in your mouth. Pain is not a symptom of gingivitis.

Q: I’ve been told that I need a crown on a tooth. Why can’t the tooth just be filled like it was before?
A tooth should only be filled 1/3 the size of the chewing surface. If the filling is larger than that, you risk breaking the tooth with normal chewing pressure.