Dentistry is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions, disorders, and diseases of the teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw. Often considered necessary for complete oral health, dental care can have an impact on the health of your entire body.
A dentist is a specialist who works to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. Drs. McDonald, Do, and Huynh completed at least eight years of schooling to obtain either a Doctorate of Dental Surgery or a Doctorate of Dental Medicine.
When your doctor is a pediatric dentist, this means that he or she specializes in caring for children from infancy through their teen years. A pediatric dentist has received the proper education and training needed to work with young kids.
Other specializations include:
Visiting our office regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. Dental care is important because it:
Your teeth may feel fine, but it’s still worthwhile to see our team regularly because problems can exist without you knowing. Your smile’s appearance is important, and we can help keep it healthy and looking beautiful.
With so many advances in dentistry, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, missing, or misshapen teeth. Today’s dentists offer many treatment choices that can help you smile with confidence, including:
Choosing a dentist who “clicks” with you and your family is important, and you may wish to consider several dentists before making your final decision. During your first visit, you should be able to determine whether the dentist is right for you. During your appointment, consider the following:
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children first see a dentist as early as six months of age and no later than one year. During this time, your child’s baby teeth will be coming in, and we can monitor the health of those first few teeth. After the first visit, be sure to schedule regular checkups every six months.
The office attempts to schedule appointments at your convenience and when time is available. Preschool children should be seen in the morning because they are fresher, and we can work more slowly with them to make them comfortable. Schoolchildren with a lot of work to be done should be seen in the morning for the same reason.
Dental appointments are an excused absence. Missing school can be kept to a minimum when regular dental care is continued.
Since appointed times are reserved exclusively for each patient, we ask that you please notify our office 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment time if you are unable to keep your appointment. Another patient who needs our care could be scheduled if we have sufficient time to notify the family. We realize that unexpected things can happen, but we ask for your assistance in this regard.
We invite you to stay with your youngster during routine dental procedures. We believe that the parent provides the greatest comfort for the child. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other kids who are not being treated should remain in the reception room with a supervising adult.
Children, teens, and adults should all see us for a regular checkup at least once every six months. Patients who are at a greater risk for oral cancer or gum disease may be required to come in more than just twice a year. Drs. McDonald, Do, and Huynh will help determine how often your little one should visit our office for regular checkups.
A cavity is a small hole that forms inside the tooth because of tooth decay. Cavities form when plaque buildup on the outside of the tooth combines with sugars and starches in the food we eat. This produces an acid that can eat away the enamel on your tooth.
If a cavity is left untreated, it can lead to more serious oral health problems. Cavities can be prevented by remembering to brush your teeth at least two times a day and floss between teeth at least once.
A filling is a synthetic material that dentists use to fill a cavity after all the tooth decay has been removed. Fillings do not generally hurt because we will numb the mouth with an anesthetic.
Fillings are made from a variety of different materials, including composites, gold, or ceramic. If your youngster needs a filling, be sure to talk to us about what type is best for his or her teeth.
According to our dentists and the American Dental Association, everyone should brush their teeth at least two times a day. Brushing keeps our teeth, gums, and mouth clean and healthy by removing bacteria-causing plaque.
It is also recommended to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride when we brush our teeth. Everyone should spend at least a minute on the top teeth and a minute on the bottom, and remember to brush the tongue; it will help keep your breath smelling fresh!
Your toothbrush will eventually wear out, especially if you are brushing your teeth twice a day for two to three minutes each time. We recommend that adults and children change their toothbrush every three months. If you are using an electric toothbrush, be sure to read the directions because you may not need to change toothbrush heads as frequently.
Patients with gum disease are encouraged to change their toothbrush every four to six weeks to keep bacteria from spreading. After brushing, rinse your toothbrush with hot water to kill germs and keep the bristles clean. If your son or daughter has been sick, be sure to change the toothbrush as soon as possible.
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is mostly caused by plaque and bacteria buildup that is not treated in its early stage. Other causes of periodontal disease include tobacco use, teeth grinding, some medications, and genetics.
Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease. If detected, it is treatable. Gingivitis, left untreated, may turn into gum disease. Advanced gum disease will lead to tooth and bone loss and is a permanent condition.
Brushing one’s teeth regularly and visiting the dentist every six months will help prevent gingivitis and more severe cases of periodontal disease. Common signs of gum disease:
Yes! In fact, it’s even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit their dentist regularly. With braces, food may be caught in places a toothbrush can’t reach. This causes bacteria to build up and may lead to cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. Our team will work closely with the orthodontist to make sure that your youngster’s teeth stay clean and healthy while he or she is wearing braces.
Simply call our practice! Our front desk staff will be happy to schedule your next dental checkup at your convenience. If you are a new patient, please let us know, and we will provide you with all the information you need for your first dental visit.
Payment for professional services is due at the time dental treatment is provided. Every effort will be made to provide a treatment plan that fits your timetable and budget, and gives your little one the best possible care. We accept cash, personal checks, debit cards, Visa, and Mastercard.
If we have received all of your insurance information on the day of the appointment, we will be happy to file your claim for you. You must be familiar with your insurance benefits, as we will collect from you the estimated amount insurance is not expected to pay.
By law, your insurance company is required to pay each claim within 30 days of receipt. We file all insurance claims electronically, so your carrier will receive each claim within days of the treatment.
You are responsible for any balance on your account after 30 days, whether insurance has paid or not. If you have not paid your balance within 60 days, a re-billing fee of 1.5% will be added to your account each month until paid. We will be glad to send a refund to you if your insurance pays us.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND that we file dental insurance as a courtesy to our patients. We do not have a contract with your insurance company; only you do. We are not responsible for how your insurance company handles its claims or for what benefits they pay on a claim.
We can only assist you in estimating your portion of the cost of treatment. We at no time guarantee what your insurance will or will not do with each claim. We also cannot be responsible for any errors in filing your insurance. Once again, we file claims as a courtesy to you.
