Dental Questions and Dental Answers

In order to communicate with consideration and clarity, we've assembled this list of frequently asked questions and answers about our practice, philosophy, and procedures. Of course, if you have further questions, feel free to contact us by phone or email.

• I'm so used to my smile, I take it for granted. How can your 'Smile Analysis' process help me determine what changes would be most beneficial?
• After doing a Smile Analysis, what is involved in Smile Design?
• How long will restorative or cosmetic dentistry take!?
• Will my treatments hurt? Is there anything you can do to help me relax?
• I want my front teeth to look better, but I don't want to wear braces. Can you help me?
• My breath has a terrible odor, even though I brush every day. What can I do about it?
• Do you accept my insurance plan?
• What different payment options do you provide?
• What if I have to cancel an appointment.will I be charged?
• What if I have an emergency and your office is closed?

I'm so used to my smile, I take it for granted. How can your 'Smile Analysis' process help me determine what changes would be most beneficial?

Thorough smile analysis helps uncover hard-to-articulate aspects of your smile and your feelings about it, allowing us to determine which treatments or procedures would be most appropriate for creating change. Typically, analysis involves both emotional questions-- to determine how your smile affects your self-image, your interactions with others, and your relationships; and objective questions-to determine what structural/physical aspects of your smile concern you. You can even try answering these at home before you visit!

To do an emotional smile evaluation, ask yourself the following questions:

How do you feel about your smile? Do you love its appearance? Does it make you feel confident? Or, do you turn away from people while smiling or hide your mouth with your hand while talking? Do you cover your smile with your lips or refrain from letting yourself smile fully in front of others? Do you close your mouth to smile for pictures? Do you hold back your true laugh so that your smile won't show? Are you embarrassed by the condition of your teeth or by the length of time that's passed since you've seen a dentist? Have you ever wished that you had someone else's smile? How would a new, beautiful smile make you feel about yourself and about life? What would you like to change about it in order to make it seem 'beautiful' to you?

To do an objective smile evaluation, stand in front of a mirror using your normal smile. Now, think of something truly funny and give yourself a big, laughing smile. If you're unhappy with your smile or your teeth, you probably don't use that smile very often. But, you could freely use such a contagious, happy smile if you felt confident about it! So ask yourself the following questions:

What color are your teeth-white, yellow, darkened, or badly stained? Are there spaces or missing teeth anywhere? Are any teeth crooked, uneven, or out of alignment? Do they slant one way or the other? Do the biting edges of your upper teeth follow your lips' curvature? Are the edges even with each other, or are some too long or too short? Do the edges of your canine teeth look too long, sharp, or out of line? Do you grind your teeth? Are the edges chipped or worn? Are any teeth too short, fat, small, or large? Does the midline of your two front teeth center with your face and nose? Does your smile show too much gum, thick gums, receding gums, puffy gums, or uneven gums? Do you have silver/mercury fillings in any teeth? Do you have old, unnatural-looking crowns with darkened edges?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll be happy to know that we have answers for you. Read more about our services or contact us today to share your answers with us and obtain our professional evaluation.

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After doing a Smile Analysis, what is involved in Smile Design?

Smile Design involves several important steps. After an initial smile analysis, we conduct a consultation using digital imaging to preview exactly what your desired final smile can look like. After we all agree upon the final objectives, we create a treatment plan to accommodate those goals-some involving several lengthy appointments, some requiring much less time. In any case, we strive to create a smile that accurately conveys your unique personality, in keeping with your gender, age, and facial features. When we're finished, the new restorations will be undetectable.all that you'll see is a healthy, happy new smile that won't quit.

This kind of Smile Design is simple to explain, but extremely technical to perform. That's why it's so critical to choose a professional dentist such as Dr. Jacobsen who has obtained advanced training in the latest techniques and materials of restorative and cosmetic dentistry. In fact, Smile Design isn't taught in dental school, but requires post-graduate training, extensive hands-on experience, and incredible dedication to confidently apply both the artistic and scientific knowledge involved in successful, lasting smile work.

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How long will restorative or cosmetic dentistry take!?

Of course, the answer to this question depends entirely upon the complexity of the treatment. You may require an appointment as short as 90 minutes for an in-office whitening procedure, a couple hours for bonding, or a couple of extensive appointments for treatments such as bridges or porcelain veneers. In the latter case, the first appointment allows us to prepare the teeth and create impressions to send to our laboratory; the second appointment is for careful seating and fitting of the restorations.

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Will my treatments hurt? Is there anything you can do to help me relax?

With today's advanced techniques, equipment, and effective medications, we have any number of excellent ways to keep you comfortable during your appointment(s). In fact, we routinely cover this topic with you during our treatment planning, arranging for a completely anxiety-free procedure. Sometimes this may involve prescription stress-relief pre-medications and/or you may benefit from our wonderful, relaxing amenities such as in-chair movies, blankets, and foot warmers. In any case, there's simply no reason NOT to pursue the smile of your dreams simply out of concern for comfort.

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I want my front teeth to look better, but I don't want to wear braces. Can you help me?

Dr. Jacobsen has a number of ways to improve the look of your front teeth without the use of braces. For slightly crooked or unevenly worn teeth, a bit of reshaping and the addition of "instant orthodontics" --porcelain veneers-- may be sufficient to give them a bright, uniform look. Or, you may be a candidate for the "Invisalign" invisible braces. In more pronounced cases, we might want to refer you to an orthodontist specialist. We'd be happy to talk with you further about the option that best suits your individual situation.

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My breath has a terrible odor, even though I brush every day. What can I do about it?

Millions of people struggle with halitosis, or bad breath, despite daily teeth brushing. Here's a checklist of procedures that can eliminate the problem: twice daily brushing, daily flossing, and tongue cleaning; regular professional cleanings; and careful cleaning of any dentures or removable dental appliances. However, if your hygiene is meticulous and the problem persists, we can offer several solutions. First, we can provide a plastic tool called a tongue scraper that cleans away bacterial build-up on your tongue and significantly alleviates odor. We will also recommend a specially-prepared rinse or toothpaste designed to actually break the odor-causing sulfur bonds that cause bad breath. Finally, if we suspect a systemic or internal problem such as an infection or underlying condition, we may recommend a visit with your family physician or specialist to identify and treat the cause.

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Do you accept my insurance plan?

Although we're not part of any particular PPO or HMO plan, we will work with any insurance company and will be more than happy to file for you to maximize any allowable benefits due you for the procedures and treatments that we determine are in your best interests.

However, please understand up front the limitations of your own coverage, and take responsibility for your portion of the bill not covered by insurance. For example, our fees are not negotiable, as they've been determined based on our time, materials and overhead costs. Unfortunately, insurance companies vary in their coverage amounts for various dental procedures. Often, a company will consider a complex, but needed, procedure to be 'over and above customary treatment'. In any case, we're well-versed in the latest coverage trends and are more than happy to discuss the particulars of your plan with you prior to any treatments you may undergo.

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What different payment options do you provide?

We accept cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards. For more extensive procedures, we're also pleased to recommend obtaining financing plans through Care Credit. Care Credit offers several months of interest free financing and a 5-minute online/phone approval process.

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What if I have to cancel an appointment.will I be charged?

We strive to provide the very best care for each and every patient. Part of this involves being conscientious and considerate of each patient's time. Therefore, we request 48 hours of notice for all cancellations so that we can use your reserved time slot for another person. Patients with a habitual trend of cancellation without proper notice will be let go from our practice.

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What if I have an emergency and your office is closed?

For after hours emergencies, please call Dr. Jacobsen directly at 602-332-6202.

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