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Dental Insurance

Who checks with the insurance company

If I need a dental procedure, is the dentist’s office responsible for finding out if my insurance will cover it or am I?

Elizabeth B.- Long Island, NY

Elizabeth,

How this works will depend on the dental office you go to for your care. Some dental offices don’t accept dental insurance, because they prefer to set their own fees. In that case, the patient is responsible for all of the cost and generally it is paid upfront.

With dentists that do accept insurance, many times the office will help you in knowing how much the insurance will cover and how much you will be responsible for.  Your insurance will not cover everything, so you will have a portion to pay. The amount they estimate for you before insurance is just that–an estimate. If the amount ends up being more, because the insurance paid less than expected, that is still your responsibility.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Brandon Schmidt.

White Fillings

Sensitive composite filling

I had some composite fillings placed on my teeth. I’m not having pain or sensitivity. But, one of the fillings feels a little uncomfortable when it is pressed. My dentist has already replaced it once.  Does he need to do it again?

Sylvia- Alaska

Sylvia,

Though I couldn’t be certain without seeing your tooth myself, I really don’t think you have anything you worry about. It is not uncommon for there to be some sensitivity to your white fillings for several days.

You may also be interested in learning about porcelain crowns.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Bonding

yellow bonding

My daughter had bonding done to cover some discoloration. Now her two front teeth are yellow. Why is that?

Richie B.- Ohio

Richie,

The dentist decides on the coloring for the dental bonding, so they’ve made the composite into a yellowish color.  Generally, you would discuss things like color ahead of time.  I’d ask your dentist to re-do the bonding, being specific about what you’re looking for in the color.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Braces

Didn’t remove braces

When I was a teenager I had braces. My parents died and I was put in the foster system. One thing led to another, and I ran away. Because I was on my own, I never had braces removed. I’m really embarrassed about that. I’m in a job where I can afford some dental care. Is there anything I can do about it now?

Kevin, Austin, TX

Kevin,

The only thing you can at this point is to have the braces removed. After that procedure is completed, you can see what kind of damage was done to your teeth. it is possible you may need to get either porcelain crowns or maybe even porcelain veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Implants

Blade Implant question

I’m trying to decide on the type of implant to get. Should I get a blade implant or a screw implant?

Sara G.- Ogden, UT

Sara,

Blade implants are often used when there is not enough jaw bone for a traditional dental implant. The look a little like an inverted pic ax. These type of implants have about a 50% success rate.

You should have been made aware of a bone grafting procedure that can be done to enable you to have the more stable implant procedure done. This builds up your bone, so that a full-sized implant can be placed, giving you a higher chance of success.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Gum Disease

Deep Pocket

I have a deep pocket. My dentist did a special treatment to get it clean, but I’m wondering what else I can do?

Jenna- Baltimore

Jenna,

First, your dentist will probably do a deep cleaning every three months or so until it is completely under control. Usually a deep cleaning will get things under control for you to take over from there. What you’ll have to do is make sure you brush and floss thoroughly and regularly.

If those things don’t get it under control you may need to have a crown lengthening done with a periodontist, though some dentists know how to do this procedure themselves.

You might be interested in learning about Laser Dentistry.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Teeth Whitening

Can I bleach my teeth with clorox?

I’ve been using whitening toothpaste for months now and my teeth are no whiter. I really want to whiten my teeth, so I’m wondering if I can use my bleach at home, like Clorox?

Anthony P.- Miami, FL

Anthony,

The ingredient that dentists use to whiten your teeth is not bleach. Bleach will actually poison you, so under no circumstances should you use Clorox. In small amounts, bleach can remove moisture from your teeth. That will cause them to weaken and become brittle. Small amounts also causes vomiting and stomach irritation. Larger amounts act as a poison causing heart issues, shock, and death.

The whitening toothpastes cannot do a deep whitening, like you can get from your dentist’s office. The most it can do is remove surface stains. If your stains are below the surface you will not be satisfied with anything but professional results.

My suggestion is that you go to your dentist and ask for professional teeth whitening. The gel they use will oxidize  your teeth from the inside out, eliminating all your stains and giving you a bright, white smile.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Gum Disease

Gum overgrowth

Is it normal for gums to kind of grow down as you get older? When I turned 14 mine started creeping down. It makes me look weird. How can I fix it?

Miranda R.- Minnesota

Miranda,

Sometimes the hormonal changes your body goes through during puberty can lead to gum overgrowth. If it is from hormones, it will fix itself when your hormone levels normalize. However, this can also be caused from poor oral hygiene and can lead to gingivitis (gum disease).

Sometimes an antibiotic will be needed to deal with bacteria, but this really depends on the severity of your case. I recommend you talk to your dentist and see what he or she thinks.

You may also be interested in learning about Porcelain Veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Teeth Whitening

Review of Luster White Premium At Home Teeth Whitening

Luster White Premium is advertised as an at-home type of Zoom Whitening. Does it really work?  Your teeth will get whiter….for a while, then the whitening will fade away. Rather than the whitening coming from a bleaching agent that whitens your teeth from the inside out as you get with professional teeth whitening, Luster White has a pigment in the “super whitener”–zinc oxide– that sticks to your teeth and makes them look whiter. This is  only temporary. The light that come with the kit does nothing and seems to only be psychological in nature.

My opinion is that it is a waste of money. If you’re determined to do an over-the-counter kit instead of professional teeth whitening, than I’d suggest Crest Whitestrips. They will whiten your teeth, though it will take significantly longer than it would if you went through a dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Crooked Teeth

Straightening teeth as an adult

I’m 41 and can finally afford to get my teeth straightened. The problem is when I see adults with braces I think they look ridiculous. Is there another way to straighten teeth?

Daniel- Madison, WI

Daniel,

There are a couple of ways to get your teeth straightened without traditional braces:

The first is to use Invisalign. These aligners cannot be seen, even at a conversational distance. They also straighten your teeth in about half the time of traditional braces.

Another option is to get porcelain veneers. These don’t actually straighten your teeth, but will make them look straight. They can be done in about two appointments. One to design your smile and the other to have them bonded on.

You and your dentist can discuss which is the best option for you.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.