We have made our current patient update forms / new patient forms available to you as Adobe Acrobat files. Please complete the following sections: Patient Information, Health Information, Allergy, Medical History and the Insurance Information ( if you are updating, complete this section only if your insurance has changed since your last visit ), include your signature and the date at the bottom. For your convenience we recommend printing and completing these forms at home.
Please remember to bring your updated / new forms with you to your next / first appointment. If you have a problem getting these files to print properly please call our office and we will gladly send or fax them to you.
Ability to pay is of deep concern to many dental patients. We share your concern and are prepared to offer you a number of payment options.
- We accept most insurance plans and file claims as a courtesy for our patients. However, our professional services are rendered to you, not your insurance company, therefore you are personally responsible for the entire balance that insurance does not cover.
- We accept cash and checks
- We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express
- We participate with CareCredit, a flexible monthly payment option. Care Credit, the nation's leading patient payment program enables you to finance 100% of your care with no money down, no upfront costs, no annual fees, and no pre-payment penalties.
- CareCredit can be used by the entire family for ongoing treatment without having to reapply. CareCredit offers a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, and it only takes a few minutes to apply. To learn more about CareCredit, call 1-800-365-8295, or visit their website at www.carecredit.com
Your scheduled appointment has been reserved specifically for you. As a courtesy our office will give you a reminder call by telephone. If you cannot keep your reserved appointment time please inform us at least 24 hours in advance, so we can offer another patient this time.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made Since the teeth will anesthetized, the tongue, the lips, and roof of the mouth may be numb. Please refrain from eating and drinking hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off.
Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. Call us if this happens and bring the temporary crown with you so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from moving and compromising the fit of your final restoration.
To keep the temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), hard foods, and, if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush normally, but pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.
It is normal to experience some temperature and pressure sensitivity for each appointment. The sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. Mild pain medications may be used as directed by our office. If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at (207) 427-6064.
Root Canals
Root canal therapy often takes more than one appointment to complete. A temporary filling or crown is placed to protect the tooth between appointments. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
Between appointments it is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out or, or if the temporary crown comes off call us so that it can be replaced.
It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment especially when chewing. To control the discomfort, take the pain medication as recommended. To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit).
If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as prescribed, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary in place, avoid eating all sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to continue to brush and floss normally.
Usually the last step after root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth. A crown covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future. If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent swelling or pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (207) 427-6064.
Fillings
When anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Your gums may be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm salt water (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and swelling.
Don't chew hard foods or chew directly on your new silver fillings for twenty-four hours. If possible chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. You may chew right away on white filling since they set completely on the day of your appointment.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions and concerns, please call our office at (207)427-6064.
Extractions
After an extraction, it's important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That's why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after the extraction. If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.
After the blood clot forms it is important to protect it especially for the next 24 hours.
SO DON'T
- Smoke
- Suck through a straw
- Rinse your mouth vigorously
- Clean the teeth next to the extraction site
- Drink alcoholic beverages
- Spit
These activities will dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours, this keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding, and helps the healing process.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and have some swelling. You can use an ice bag to keep this to a minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours.
Use pain medication, only as directed, call the office if it doesn't seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluids and eat only nutritious foods on the day of the extraction. Don't drink alcoholic beverages and avoid hot and spicy foods. You can begin eating normally the next day or as soon as it is comfortable.
Gently rinse your mouth with salt water three times a day beginning the day after the extraction (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit). Also, rinse gently after meals, it helps keep food out of the extraction site. It is very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours; this should include brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing at least once a day. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh.
Call us right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication. After a few days you will be feeling fine and can resume your normal activities.