- Why is oral health important?
- What do I do if I have and after hours emergency?
- What is Dental Insurance, and what can I expect from my policy?
- My gums bleed after I brush, is there anything I can do?
- Am I too old to have implants?
- How do cavities form?
- What does FAGD mean?
- Should I use a waterpik?
- What does DMD mean?
Q: Why Is Oral Health Important?
A:Besides the obvious importance of being able to chew food and smile there is mounting evidence that indicates a connection between oral health and other serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, low birth weight babies, and premature birth.
Q: What Do I Do If I Have And After Hours Emergency?
A: Our office has an answering service. There is always a dentist on call for patients of record. If you have an after hour dental emergency call our office number 714 525 0201 and an assistant will help you get in touch with Dr. Crial or the dentist on call.
Q: What Is Dental Insurance, And What Can I Expect From My Policy?
A: The term “dental insurance” is in the traditional sense is misleading. Insurance implies that after a certain deductible most of the costs associated with any loss is made up for by the insurer. Dental insurance is different. For any particular type of dental service a dental insurer will pick up a percentage of that service, up to a limit usually of $1000.00-$1500.00 dollars per year. The services covered and the percentage of those services as well as the annual limit is chosen by the employer and employee representatives. This varies from policy to policy.
It is important to remember that insurance companies make money by limiting their own risk. They often pay benefits on the most inexpensive treatment option. This is not always the ideal treatment option.
As a service to you we will submit your insurance claims for you to your insurance carrier free of charge. We will assist you in receiving the most benefits possible from you insurance carrier. However, the patient is ultimately responsible for the cost of the services provided in our office.
We do not accept insurance benefits as full payment for services rendered in our office unless your insurance carriers benefit for those services pays at 100%.
Q: My Gums Bleed After I Brush, Is There Anything I Can Do?
A: Gum disease is a term that is used for a variety of conditions, from simple gum inflammation to serious gum disease which can result in loss of teeth. Plaque can cause redness and swelling of the gums and that is call gingivitis. It is a mild form of gum disease in which gums bleed easily. It can be reversed with daily brushing and flossing. If not treated, gingivitis, can advance to a condition known as periodontitis which will require more frequent visits to the hygienist to remove calculus formed on the teeth.
In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth allowing 'pockets' of infection to form. If periodontitis is not treated, the bone and tissue supporting the teeth are destroyed and the teeth may become loose and have to be removed.
Gum disease symptoms may include: persistent bad breath, red or swollen gums; tender or bleeding gums; painful chewing; loose teeth and sensitive teeth.
Q: Am I Too Old To Have Implants?
A: Age has nothing to do with whether you should choose implants as a solution for missing teeth. Health has everything to do with your choice. Chewing your food well enhances digestion enormously. Good teeth mean essential nutrients are much more readily extracted from the food you eat contributing to higher energy levels, strength, vitality, and longevity.
The more teeth you have to chew your food with the more pleasant the experience will be. Your teeth are a social expression of your personality and are reflected in every sentence and in every simile.
As you can see implants and healthy teeth can contribute to a better quality of life.
Q: How Do Cavities Form?
A: The food that you eat is the same food that the bacteria in your mouth use to build their populations. As their colonies grow they produce acid. The acid desolves the structure of your teeth creating small cavities that, if go untreated, continue to grow in size until the you get a tooth ache. By the time a tooth aches so much tooth structure may be destroyed that a root canal or extraction may be necessary.
Q: What Does FAGD Mean?
A: It is a Fellowship award presented by the Academy of General Dentistry. It was created more than 50 years ago to honor those who clearly recognize and embrace the professional obligation to remain current in their knowledge and skills in order to insure delivery of the highest quality oral healthcare and to better serve patients. Fellowship in the AGD has evolved today into the most recognizable designation within the dental profession of commitment to continuing education, and it serves as a model by which to measure professional excellence.
Through hard work and sacrifice, Fellows have demonstrated their commitment to the professional responsibility incurred upon entering the dental profession; that is, to maintain knowledge and skills at the highest possible level, and to continue the educational process uninterrupted.
In doing this, Fellows actively seek to strengthen the bond of trust placed in them for the health and well-being of their patients.
Achieving Fellowship is an honor that symbolizes a member's commitment to this professional ideal, and marks a new beginning that brings added responsibilities and obligations.
Q: Should I Use A Waterpik?
A: Waterpik is a dental water jet that massages gums and removes gross debris from you teeth and gums. It is a nice supplement, but to remove all the bacterial plaque that causes gum disease and cavities brushing and flossing is also necessary.
Q: What Does DMD Mean?
A: DMD stands for Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree. DMD is equivalent to a DDS degree. Only a few schools give the DMD degree. They include Harvard, George Washington University in St. Louis, and Boston University among a few others.