1. Do you accept my insurance?

While we do not participate with any insurance plans, we will be happy to accept assignment from most PPO plans.  The patient is responsible for any balances not covered by the plan.  We will file all necessary paperwork to assure that you receive the maximum benefit allowed.

We take a great deal of pride in the restorative and cosmetic treatment we provide.  We use the latest diagnostic tools available.  And we spend a great deal of time with our patients.  No treatment is rushed or compromised.  The treatment we recommend is what is in the best interest of the patient, regardless of insurance coverage.  It would be very difficult to provide the level of care our patients expect while dealing with the constraints imposed by insurance companies.  Insurance companies direct and infuence treatment according to what is in their best interest, not what is in the patient's best interest.

For a very thorough explanation of DENTAL INSURANCE, see

"What you need to know about dentists, dental practices and dental insurance" click here: http://www.doctorspiller.com/Dental_Practices.htm

2. What financial arrangments are available?

As mentioned above, we do not participate with any insurance plans.  Payment is due on the day of treatment.  If you request, we will accept the insurance allowance as partial payment provided the balance is paid at the time of treatment.  We don't always know exactly how much the insurance company will pay in advance, and we are a paperless office and don't send billing statements.  Therefore, in order to accept your insurance allowance we require that you leave a credit or debit card on file to cover the balance of charges not paid by the insurance carrier within 90 days of claim submission.

If you can't afford to pay your bill in one lump payment, we can set up an automatic monthly credit or debit card payment for up to 3-6 months interest free, depending on the size of the bill.  Beyond that, financing through Chase Health Advantage can be arranged.  Under no circumstances will lab work be sent out for completion if the case is not paid for or a payment plan set up.

3. Should I brush before or after breakfast

This is a much more complicated question than you would think.  A quick search of the literature has revealed various different recommendations.

If you brush before you eat and then eat a breakfast that includes refined carbohydrates (sugars) those sugars will stay on your teeth and gumline throughout the day.  It can lead to bad breath, cavities and gum disease. 

On the other hand, if you eat or drink anything acidic (juice, grapefruit, etc.) The acid will soften the enamel of your teet, and brushing immediately after will wear away that softened enamel. 

The best advise I can give would be to follow any acidic food or drink with some cheese or milk, which will help neutralize the acid.  Also, wait 30-60 minutes to brush and floss.  Bring your brush with you to work and brush as soon as you get there, if you are pressed for time.

4. Will my teeth or gums become sensitive from bleaching?

Mild to moderate tooth sensitivity is a possibility with most bleaching procedures.  If this occurs, simply stop bleaching for a few days and the sensitivity will disappear.  You can then cut your frequency in half, i.e. continue bleaching once a day instead of twice a day, or every other day instead of every day.  In cases where teeth are very sensitive, a desensitizing toothpaste (e.g. Sensodyne), twice a day, will usually alleviate the symptoms, otherwise, we can give you a prescription strength fluoride gel, which you wear in the trays for 5 minutes after each bleaching session.  This technique has proven very effective.

Sensitivity CAN BE CONTROLLED and shouldn't be an obstacle to whitening your smile.

5. I want to have my teeth whitened. What is the best method?

There are many different methods of bleaching teeth.
However, they all use the same chemical, hydrogen peroxide.
The only difference between methods is in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and in the way it is applied to the teeth.

The most popular method involves custom fitted trays and a 15 - 20% bleach which the patient wears for approximately one hour per day for a week or two.
The longer the patient continues to wear the trays, the lighter the teeth become, until they reach a point at which additional lightening can no longer be detected.
Using the trays for very long periods of time (several months) has been shown to remove very dark stains, such as tetracycline stains.

6. What are the recommendations for patients taking Fosamax and other oral biphosphonates

There has been much discussion lately in the press resulting from a few cases where patients who were taking oral biphosphonates developed osteonecrosis  of the jaw.

1. there is a very low risk (estimated at 0.7 cases per 100,000 person-years exposure) of developing osteonecrosis

2. there are ways to minimize the risk, but not to eliminate the already low risk

3. the consensus is that good oral hygiene along with regular dental care is the best way to lower risk

4. there are no diagnostic techniques to identify those at increased risk for developing osteonecrosis