Frequently Asked Questions 1. Will my insurance cover my treatment? We are a preferred provider for Delta Dental’s Premier Plan, and will submit claim forms to other carriers for reimbursement based on the terms of your policy. Contact Michele or Janet for more information. We do not accept Medicare or Medicaid. 2. How much will this cost? At the time of your initial visit, you will receive a written estimate of your treatment plan, including our prompt payment discount policy. Please speak to Janet or Michele for an outline of your plan. 3. Can I pay my treatment out over a period of time? We have found that using Care Credit is an excellent way to make payments for your dental treatment. Please ask Janet or Michele about our no interest payment plans. 4. Is this work really necessary? One of the best ways to help you understand the necessity of treatment is to enable you to actually see what Dr. Hutt and his staff is seeing in your mouth. This is done with a special intraoral camera, about the size of a pen. The camera easily and painlessly fits into your mouth, and once positioned sends pictures to a monitor where your teeth and gums appear in full color, usually as a large image. Typical things like cracks, chips, decay, erosion and soft tissue inflammation are easy to discern, and Dr. Hutt can easily print a color image for you to take home to help others understand why you are having dental treatment. In addition x-rays are also used to identify problems area for treatment. 5. When you do root canal, do you remove the root of the tooth? Root canal therapy is a process that treats the area inside a tooth that is typically referred to as its “nerve”. The treatment removes the interior bacteria and pulp irritants that are present inside the tooth, not the root of the tooth. 6. How bright will my teeth become from a whitening procedure? There are a number of factors that play a role in teeth whitening outcomes, and not all patients obtain the same whitening results. Dr. Hutt will be pleased to discuss the treatment alternatives and the expected outcomes in terms of the number of shades of brightness you can expect. 7. If I bleach my teeth, will the existing bonding and crowns lighten also? Tooth-lightening is most ideal for patients who have healthy, unrestored teeth and would like to have a whiter, brighter smile. People with yellow or yellow-brown teeth tend to bleach best. In addition, fillings, bonding, veneers and crowns do not bleach, and may need to be changed to match the lighter teeth once bleaching is completed. 8. Will treatment be painful? Dr. Hutt has new ways to provide relatively painless treatment. Laser technology has changed forever the fear associated with dental treatment. Lasers can melt cavities and manage many soft tissue problems, eliminating the need for intimidating drills and surgical instruments. To eliminate the discomfort associated with injections, topical agents are applied to tissues prior to the injection. This combined with the use of Nitrous Oxide or "laughing gas" for relaxation can often reduce the pain, fear and anxiety associated with shots. And any residual pain is relatively rare, and can usually be taken care of using over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin or acetaminophen. 9. How long will this procedure take? Since treatments differ and are unique to your needs, at a consultation with Dr, Hutt, he will inform you of how long you can expect the entire procedure to last, from start to finish. 10. Why can't you just fill the tooth, instead of making a crown? Dental crowns are dental restorations that cover over and encase the tooth on which they are cemented to rebuild broken or decayed teeth. Crowns are typically used instead of fillings when it is necessary to restore a tooth to its original shape, to strengthen a tooth or improve its cosmetic appearance. 11. How long will a crown last? A crown is often referred to as a "cap" because it fits just like a cap covering the whole tooth. These restorations are most generally used in instances where a tooth has been fractured, broken, or had root canal treatment. Depending on the environment and the forces the crown is exposed to (chewing, biting, accidental trauma, tooth grinding) and how well you keep the tooth to which it is cemented free of dental plaque, a crown can last somewhat indefinitely, especially one positioned where its cosmetic appearance is not much of a concern. However five to fifteen years is typical. 12. How are inlays/onlays different from crowns? More conservative than a crown, inlays and onlays are two methods of restoring normal tooth structure after decay or other damage. Inlays and onlays are known as indirect fillings because unlike a standard filling that is done in Dr. Hutt’s office, both are made in a laboratory and cemented or bonded to the surface of the tooth during follow-up visit. And unlike standard fillings, inlays and onlays do not weaken the tooth structure, but actually strengthen it. After the procedure, the tooth can bear up to 50 - 75% more chewing force. An inlay is done when the tooth structure replaced is within the cusp tips of the tooth. If the damage is more extensive and the new structure covers the entire chewing surface including one or more tooth cusps, then the procedure is called an onlay. Inlays and onlays are is more conservative allowing you to keep more of your own natural tooth. When possible we provide treatment that is conservative, but we always do what is in your best interest. 13. What is perio disease? Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means "around the tooth." Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed. In the mildest form of the disease called gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care. If plaque from teeth and gums isn't removed by good daily dental care, over time it will harden into a crust called calculus or tartar. Once tartar forms, it starts to destroy gum tissue, causing gums to bleed and pull away from the teeth. Prevention is always better than treatment. By actively preventing disease and decay through regular home care, professional dental cleanings and regular exams, you will maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. 14. Why do my teeth appear to be loosening? As periodontitis spreads, causing further destruction of the gums, gum tissue becomes weakened and forms pockets around the base of teeth. Damage to deeper gum tissue can eventually spread to areas of the jawbone that support the teeth. This can cause teeth to become loose and fall out. If not treated, it can cause real trouble for your teeth. In addition to periodontal disease, the following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of loose teeth. Normal childhood tooth loss, jaw malalignment, bite alignment problems, bruxism, injury and diabetes. Ask Dr. Hutt about your symptoms. 15. What is Arestin and why is it necessary? When gingivitis goes untreated and oral health isn't properly managed, bacteria continue to grow and spread throughout the mouth. The toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums and stimulate a chronic inflammatory response, and eventually migrate beneath the gums and teeth, down to the bone that holds teeth in place. This is when periodontal diseases begin. ARESTIN® is an effective antibiotic treatment that comes in powder form. This powder is placed inside infected periodontal pockets. The ARESTIN® powder contains "Microspheres," which are tiny, bead-like particles that are smaller than grains of sand and are not visible to the eye. The Microspheres are filled with the antibiotic minocycline, and they release the drug over time into the infected periodontal pocket, killing bacteria that live there, hopefully eliminating the need for future gum surgery. 16. What is that terrible taste in my mouth? Chronic bad breath is a combination of chemical processes which involve the bacteria in your mouth. As is the rule with all bacteria in your mouth, if they are not removed they breakdown and produce volatile sulfur compounds. Sulfur is the chemical most often linked to the rotten egg smell. When sulfur compounds are present so is an odor. These compounds are also prevalent in dry mouths, (which many people experience first thing in the morning). Only about 10% of bad breath originates in the digestive system. About 90% of breath odor originates in the mouth. The bacteria that cause bad breath hide everywhere; in the gum tissue, around broken fillings, and especially on the tongue. About ˝ of the population has very deep papilla on the dorsum of the tongue which requires a tongue scraping along with brushing and flossing. Mouthwash and mints may actually make the problem worse. Most mouthwashes contain alcohol, which dries the mouth out. That leads to build-up of the sulfur in the mouth which produces bad breath. Mints that contain sugar lead to more bacteria in the mouth and that compounds the problem. Speak to Dr. Hutt about new toothpastes, rinses, and gels that contain chlorine dioxide which binds oxygen to the sulfur compounds and removes them. There are also many new cleaning devices available for reaching those hard to reach spots. 17. Should I have my mercury silver fillings replaced? Our recommendation is that you never allow another amalgam filling to be placed in your mouth—of course that would never happen in our office. The decision to replace amalgam fillings that are already in your mouth needs to be carefully considered. There are many reasons to consider the replacement of your existing amalgam fillings: Many of our patients come to us because their physician feels that they may have some health problems where mercury exposure or accumulation may be an issue. As an adjunct to their medical treatment, the physician recommends having their amalgam fillings carefully replaced with a more biocompatible material. Some people come to us because they have read and learned enough about mercury issues that they have decided they don't want this material in their mouths anymore and request that we replace it. Still others understand that mercury silver fillings are an obsolete material. They have learned that these fillings will eventually damage the underlying tooth structure and have elected to replace them with modern materials before irreversible damage has occurred. © Copyright 2007 Steven Hutt All Rights Reserved.