Frequently Asked Questions
New Patients | General
| Technology | Cosmetic
Insurance | Emergency
New Patients
I'm afraid to go to the dentist, but I know I should. What can I
do?
Don't put it off any longer. Make a call to our friendly staff or e-mail
Dr. Smith or Dr. Roy and tell them about your fears. By developing a
relationship with us, you are also involving yourself with your treatment
plan. We can discuss options to help you control and decide your own
treatment and techniques to help you relax and feel more comfortable
during your visit.
I really don't like visiting the dentist, is there anything you can
do to help me relax?
We have created a virtual "tooth spa" for you. As a recent
dental magazine described us:
"... a patient enters the foyer, is instantly relaxed by a
peaceful, beautiful atmosphere and is escorted by a staff member who
just received their weekly massage to a treatment room where their teeth
are visible in color radiographic form on a television monitor. A massage
chair is humming, cookies are baking, their favorite entertainment medium
is playing and many of the procedures involve no drilling."
(Click here to
read the article)
We also can provide anti-anxiety measures such as IV sedation, laughing
gas, etc. Please be open and unashamed in requesting assistance to control
your anxiety so you can relax at your next visit.
Are you accepting new patients?
Absolutely! We will always accept new patients and look forward to
exceeding your expectations with our dental care.
Do you accept referrals?
Your referral is the highest compliment that you can give our practice.
We welcome your referrals and will always strive to accommodate the
needs of your friends and family. However, you might send your enemies
elsewhere!
Do you schedule early or late appointments?
The practice is open on Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm,
and are not closed for lunch. The latest checkup (cleaning) appointment
is 3:50-4:00 pm, depending on your x-ray needs. If you desire an early
or late appointment, we highly recommend that you preappoint your next
visit before you leave our office. This will insure that you are able
to schedule at the time most convenient for you.
What if I need to cancel an appointment, will I be charged?
Last minute cancellations deny other patients the benefit of treatment
they need. We appreciate every effort you can make to give us as much
notice as possible if you need to change an appointment. We do understand
that occasionally an emergency will present itself and that there is
no other option. Patients are not charged for these cancellations but
if you have repeated occurrences we may suggest that you find another
dental provider.
I'm a new patient and know there are probably forms to be filled
out. Can I do it in advance?
Sure. We have our new patient
forms set up so you can simply click on the one you need, print
it and complete it at home. Don't forget to bring it with you for your
first visit!
Can I choose which dentist works on me, or which hygienist cleans
my teeth?
You can always request your "favorite" doctor or hygienist.
We note this in your file and make every effort to insure that you get
treatment from the person you want. Occasionally, due to illness or
some unavoidable delay, we are unable to honor these requests. If this
happens you will be offered the option to reschedule or see another
dental provider.
Where are you located?
The Cottonwood Medical & Dental Center, 4301 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite
100, Irving, TX 75038. Situated 2 miles north of Hwy. 183 and 2 miles
south of Hwy. 114 on the west side of MacArthur, we enjoy a close proximity
to the Four Seasons Resort and Club , Holiday Inn Express Hotel and
Suites, Healthcare Associates of Irving (The Boardwalk) and Cottonwood
Valley.
What are the different payment options you provide?
Our staff will estimate your insurance coverage at each visit and ask
you to pay the difference each time. Please note that this is an ESTIMATE
only. If there is an additional balance due after the insurance claim
is paid we will bill you. We gladly accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover
and American Express. If you desire a payment plan, we offer the services
of an outside company, Capital One® Healthcare Financesm. They have excellent terms
and offer the advantages of paying for your treatment over an extended
period of time.
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General
When did your name change? Is this still Dr. Smith's office?
With the dawn of the new century and the addition of Dr. Jeff M. Roy
to our practice, we decided to adopt a new name to celebrate our innovative
technology, additional staff and office transformation.
I see other "21st Century Dental" offices. Are you guys
part of a franchise?
Absolutely not! We are an individual practice and do not belong to
any franchise or corporate groups. From a legal perspective, we own
the trademark for "21st Century Dental". In fact, if you see
any others with this name, you might pass along this little nugget :-)
What makes you different than any other dental practice I can visit?
If you choose to visit us, you will not have to ask that question.
In our most humble opinion, nowhere on this planet will you find an
atmosphere that combines a sincere, amiable staff attitude in a posh,
eclectic and technologically advanced setting quite like what you will
find here. More importantly, we pride ourselves in our integrity. Don't
look for any sales pitches here. Our concern is providing what you want
or need in dental care, whether that be a new winning smile, or a gentle
reminder that floss was not invented for emergencies.
How do I know when it's time to come in for a checkup?
Although everyone has different requirements, most of our patients
return every 3 to 6 months for a routine checkup. This timeframe varies
depending on your particular oral health and needs. Our computer system
will generate a postcard reminder which will be mailed to you approximately
one month prior to your due date. Due to the nature of computers, postal
delivery systems and of course, human beings, it's a good idea to flag
your calendar to contact us when you will be due.
What about my children, at what age do they first see a dentist?
This varies with the child. Age 3 is typically a good age to have them
come in with Mom or Dad and sit in the chair. If they will allow us
to count their teeth, they will usually cooperate enough to have their
first "official" visit. However, we will never suggest doing
anything that might create stress in the mind of the child.
Trauma at a young age can carry over to adulthood (as you may well
know). If you wish to have your child seen prior to age 3, we may refer
you to a pediatric dentist. Just a preventive reminder, never let your
child fall asleep with a bottle in his/her mouth containing milk or
juice…only water.
My breath needs help and I brush everyday. Is it just me or is there
something you can do to help?
It could, indeed, be your own imagination. This makes up about 10%
of those who feel their breath needs help. However, if you are in the
other 90%, there are various things we would suggest. First, there could
be a health condition that contributes. If you have not had a recent
physical with your physician of choice, we highly recommend it.
Next, we need to consider your tongue. It harbors 85% of the bacteria
in your mouth, and if not cleaned regularly, volatile sulfur compounds
(VSCs) can proliferate and create an odor you are uncomfortable with.
Regular tongue scraping with an instrument made for that task is helpful.
Another method for ridding your mouth of those VSCs is by rinsing regularly
with a stabilized chlorine dioxide mouthwash. These can be bought through
our office. Unfortunately, the 3 companies who make them are all multilevel
organizations, so the stores do not carry these.
One recent discovery is the use of an herbal combination called "Tooth and Gum
Tonic" put together by a small company in Ohio. An independent
research organization tested a variety of mouthwashes, and although
the chlorine dioxides outlasted other "alcohol" mouthwashes,
"Tooth and Gum Tonic" fared even better. We have this in our
office as well, but we can get you the address if you wish to order
it yourself.
Do I really have to floss every day?
Yep. Actually, you don't HAVE to, but if you want our advice, just
get in the habit. You will keep your teeth longer, and it has been shown
to increase your life expectancy by over 6 years! (If Oprah said it,
it must be true)
What is a "fee for service" dentist?
A fee-for-service dentist (like Dr. Smith and Dr. Roy) is a dentist
paid directly by the patient for services provided, based on the dentist's
cost to provide them. Treatment options and materials as well as the
time the doctor spends with you is not controlled by an insurance group,
company or third party.
Is there a way I can ask the Doctor questions directly?
During your appointment, feel free to ask the doctor any questions
that you may have. If you need extended time for questions, we may suggest
you reschedule for an individual consultation so you can have some uninterrupted
time. If you wish to speak to one of the doctors via telephone, they
are usually unavailable during working hours. Feel free to leave a message,
and they will make every effort to contact you that evening. They also
gladly receive e-mail messages and respond within 24 hours, sometimes
within minutes!
What kind of toothbrush should I use?
Again, this can vary with each individual, but in our opinion, the
standard of care has become the electric, or sonic, toothbrushes. They
prevent you from causing damage to susceptible tooth structure, yet
do a more thorough job on the plaque than a regular toothbrush. Our
favorite has recently become the Sonicare,
which has a sonic action that creates a polished feel to your teeth.
Is it bad if my gums bleed after I brush my teeth?
If your hair bled, would you be concerned? Likewise, if your gums bleed,
it is a sign that there is an underlying problem that needs professional
attention.
Crowns, veneers, onlays, inlays, partials…where can I learn
more about what you guys are talking about?
Just click
here!
I love your web site, and would like to know who did yours! Can you
connect me to the designer?
Thank you! We're very proud of our new web site and appreciate your
interest. Please contact TNT
Dental
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Technology
Why do I need to wear those funny orange glasses when you work on
me?
We employ the use of lasers during several dental procedures. Lest
we inadvertently perform Lasik surgery on an unsuspecting eye, we have
you wear these glasses during those procedures. You may also be asked
to wear them during other procedures if the doctor feels the safety
of your eyes is at risk.
How do the doctors keep up to date on all the current techniques
and materials?
You will be hard-pressed to find a procedure, material or technique
with which our doctors are unfamiliar. Aside from the many clinical
journals they read and the courses they attend, they converse daily
with over 1000 dentists worldwide via the magic of the Internet. This
network is an invaluable resource for keeping our office on the leading
edge of technology and dental research.
Both doctors attend in excess of 200 hours of continuing education every year - roughly 180 more than required by the state.
I've always been nervous about getting x-rays. Are there any dangers?
Do you have any way to cut down on the amount of radiation you use on
me?
Realistically, x-rays are relatively harmless at the doses that are
used in dentistry. However, we understand any concern you may have,
and have therefore embraced the newest player in this arena. Digital
radiography has come of age, and we are pleased to offer it in our
office. It decreases the amount of radiation absorbed by 80-90%, but
to be honest, we are more thrilled with the diagnostics it provides.
We can blow the image up on our monitor, enhance the resolution, and
search for abnormalities with many tools available.
I don't like drills. Are there any other options?
Another good question! In line with our philosophy of minimally invasive
microdentistry, a technique known as "air abrasion" can
be used when decay has not spread too far. Basically, it mimics what
you may know as sandblasting, but on a much smaller scale. Instead of
sand particles, it uses aluminum oxide to abrade away the decay without
creating collateral damage to the surrounding tooth structure. This
not only removes the need for drills, but most of the time, anesthesia
can be averted. Sound nice? It is!
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Cosmetic
I'm interested in some cosmetic dentistry but I'm afraid I won't
like the result. How can I tell what I'll look like with a new smile?
What a great question! Coincidentally, we have an imaging system that
works with our 3 digital and 4 intraoral cameras. If you are curious
what a new smile would look like, just let us take a picture when you
are in. After we
work our magic,
we can either send you a before/after picture in the mail or via
an e-mail attachment.
How can I have whiter teeth?
Your mouth is different from everyone else's, but generally, whitening
your teeth at home with our lab-fabricated custom-made whitening trays
or prescription strength whitening strips is effective. You probably have several friends who have done this,
so ask around! We also use a new procedure we have termed Extreme Whitening. Another option is through the placement of porcelain
veneers. These can also reshape teeth that are misaligned or abnormal
in size. If you have specific questions on pricing, technique or feasibility
for yourself, let us know. We would be happy to schedule a no-cost cosmetic
consultation, which would include some imaging to show you what is possible.
I want my teeth to look straighter but I don't want to wear braces.
What can I do?
As stated before, porcelain veneers are ideal for this. These can be
used for "instant braces". In about 3 weeks, not only can
front teeth appear to be straight, but also designed any color you want!
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Insurance
Do you accept my insurance plan?
If you belong to a traditional insurance plan (sometimes called an
indemnity plan) or PPO, we can assist you by filing your insurance claim.
Our practice is not a member of any networks or DMO insurance plans. If you
are not sure what type of plan you have, we will be happy to call for
you and explain your benefits to the best of our ability.
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Emergency
What do I do if I have an emergency when the office is closed?
Dr. Smith or Dr. Roy will be on call when the office is closed. If
you are a patient of record you should call the main office phone number.
There will be directions on how to contact us. A doctor or staff member
will return your call as soon as possible.
I have a temporary crown in my mouth, what happens if it comes off
or breaks?
Unless it is a painful or cosmetic problem, there is no immediate concern.
If it happens during business hours, we should be able to see you immediately.
If after hours, we will let you be the judge, but generally, if it's
OK with YOU to wait a few days, it's OK with US. However, we do not
want a temporary to be off for greater than 2-3 days.
My child has had an accident and his/her tooth has been entirely
knocked out. What do I do?
Try to place it between the cheek and gum (like a chaw, for you Texans)
if the child will allow it. If not, place it in a glass of milk and,
either way, see a dentist immediately. There is a much better chance
of replacing the tooth if it is done within the first hour. Again, we
can't stress immediately enough.
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