FAQ
Q. At what age do I start bringing my child to a dentist?
A. As a general rule, age 2 is a good time for the first dental visit. All primary teeth should be present and the child should be mature enough to be able to sit in the chair. However, it is a good idea to bring your child along for your check ups to make an easy introduction to the dental office. This can be done before age 2.
Q. Does your office do direct billing to the insurance companies?
A. Yes, we accept all insurance plans and provide direct billing through your insurance company.
Q. Do I need a root canal before a crown?
A. No, you don’t. However, after a root canal, a crown is recommended. Following root canal treatment, the tooth becomes brittle and can easily break. A crown is needed to restore the strength of the tooth.
Q. What is the right age to start orthodontic treatment?
A. It depends on the nature of the problem. If the problem is skeletal (cross bite, retrognathic mandible), the treatment should be initiated as early as six years of age. If the problem is strictly dental, then we wait until all permanent teeth are present. This is usually around 11 and 12 years of age.
Q. Which is the better treatment for a missing tooth — an implant or a bridge?
A. The best way to restore a missing tooth is with an implant. Having an implant is the closest to what nature gives us. If the teeth next to the missing one are heavily restored, a bridge replaces the missing tooth and at the same time rebuilds the strength of the adjacent teeth. In such cases, a bridge is a good option to consider.
Q. Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed and at what age?
A. Most of the time there is not enough room in the mouth to accommodate wisdom teeth. They may erupt only partially and create a site prone to infection. Sometimes they may effect second molars leading to decay and future loss of those teeth. In these cases, wisdom teeth should be extracted. Deeply impacted wisdom teeth can be left alone, but they should be monitored for possible cyst formation. We recommend a panoramic x-ray every five years. The best age to remove wisdom teeth is under 25 years.
Q. Why do I need to restore baby teeth when they will fall out anyway?
A. Primary teeth need to be restored in order to prevent discomfort and possible infection. Also, what is very important; baby teeth keep the space for the permanent teeth. If they are lost prematurely, permanent molars will drift forward and block out permanent pre-molars, creating an orthodontic problem. When baby teeth are prematurely lost, we recommend spacers to prevent loss in the needed space.
Q. If I would like to become a patient at your office, how do I transfer records from the old office
A. You need to sign a release form at our office and we will send it to your previous office. They will provide us with your records. This is an easy process that the staff at Dr. Viznyak’s office will look after for you.