Frequently Asked Questions
How do you handle
emergencies?
I'm quite nervous about dental
treatment. What can be done?
How will my insurance be handled?
What is your initial payment policy?
Do you allow payment plans?
Is whitening (bleaching) of my teeth safe?
What is the difference between over the counter products
and the dentist's whitening products?
How white will my teeth get?
What age patients do you treat?
I've been away from the dentist for a while. Where do I start?
I provide care for an elderly parent. How do I maintain their oral health?
My teeth are sensitive but I've been told that I
don't have decay or gum problems. What's up?
Q: How do you handle emergencies?
A: During regular office hours we do our best to see you that day.
We must honor our scheduled patients time, but we also don't want you to
be in pain any longer than absolutely necessary. We have an
answering service that handles all phone calls when we are out of the
office. If a patient of record is in pain the service will contact
Dr. Prybyl immediately and he will get in touch with you.
Sometimes a phone call with advice is good enough and sometimes he will
arrange to see you, at the office ASAP. If you are not a patient
of record, he will still contact you to discuss your concern and to help
you through your current crisis.
Q: I'm quite nervous about dental treatment.
What can be done?
A: We see several levels of anxiety when people come to our office.
Some mildly anxious people will relax enough when they experience the
level of care and compassion that is our standard of service. We
have a special delivery system for the anesthetic that minimizes the
"pinch" of the injection. People are constantly amazed at how easy
it is to get Novacain.
For people with stronger anxieties, we do have options that include Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas); pre-medicating with an anti-anxiety medicine (you must have another driver with you); or we will have an Anesthesiologist come in and sedate you. That allows you to "sleep" through the visit. This also allows Dr. Prybyl to work quickly and efficiently completing your treatment at a faster pace.
Q: How will my insurance be handled?
A: We are happy to work with your insurance company in any way to
maximize your benefits. We have the current procedure and payment
codes needed to provide the greatest benefit for you. If needed,
we can request a pre-treatment estimate to help you budget your dental
treatment. some insurance companies will not send payment directly
to the dental office. For those plans we ask you to pay on the day
of service. Then we take care of all the paperwork by submitting
the claim to your insurance company to reimburse you directly.
Q: What is your initial payment policy?
A: On a first visit to our office we ask for payment in full at the end
of treatment. This allows us time to verify your insurance and
establish a relationship with you prior to extending a line of credit to
you. We always allow a courtesy to our patients who pay with check
or cash, however, we do accept all major credit cards. After the
initial visit, if your insurance is one that will pay us directly, we
will submit the claim for you and only ask you to pay the amount that is
not covered.
Q: Do you allow payment plans?
A: Yes. After your initial visit, we offer a variety of interest
and no interest payment plans, depending on the treatment needed and
your financial situation.
Q: Is whitening (bleaching) of my teeth
safe?
A: Yes. For almost everyone over the age of 18 the procedure is
safe. Our studies are now about 20 years old and we have not seen
any long term harmful effects. When using the product your gum
tissue may get sensitive. This will usually pass quickly, however,
if it doesn't, let your dentist know. Also, your teeth may become
sensitive to cold temperatures during or shortly after treatment.
This too will pass.
Q: What is the difference between over the
counter products and the dentist's whitening products?
A: The products that a dentist uses are certified safe and useful.
They are generally a stronger concentration of the whitening substance.
If you do try a whitening product from a store be sure to check the
label for an ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval.
At least you will know that the product is safe.
Q: How white will my teeth get?
A: That is a good question. Unfortunately there is not a good
answer to this question which makes whitening frustrating at times.
We know that adults have sufficient stain build-up that they
will see result and
are almost always happy.
We can't easily predict how white you will get. For teenagers and
young adults, the results can be iffy. We assess each person when
they express an interest in whitening to see what results may be
possible.
Q: What age patients do you treat?
A: As a "General" family practice, we see
all ages. Dr. Prybyl has provided treatment on an
11 month old and a 100+ year old! If treatment needs are out of
the ordinary, Dr. Prybyl does work with a team of specialists and may
discuss having your treatment at one of their offices.
Q: I've been away from the dentist for a while. Where do I start?
A: This website is a good start! Welcome back from your "dental
vacation"! If you are having pain, then that is the place to
start. Let's help you get comfortable ASAP. If there are no
significant issues with pain then a general exam is the best thing to do
first. Let us evaluate your general oral health and make initial
recommendations. After that, a cleaning and/or x-rays may be most
appropriate. If we see significant issues, we work with a full
range of specialists to help with those needs.
Q: I provide care for an
elderly parent. How do I maintain their oral health?
A: This is truly a challenge and I'm glad you are interested in this
aspect of their health! If they are still in a cooperative frame
of mind, it is best to seat them in a chair such as a kitchen chair.
You could position yourself either standing behind them (make sure the
chair isn't too high for you) or seated in front of them. If you
have no experience with this, both positions will be awkward at first.
See which one settles in better for both of you.
Have your parent open their mouth. With your non-brushing hand gently hold their chin to steady their head. Set up the toothbrush the same way as for your own use. Make sure the brush is moist, some seniors have dry mouth conditions and this will be more comfortable for them. Then, brush as best you can! The key is to try to clean the rear-most teeth as thoroughly as possible. If they open too much, the cheek will be tight and you won't be able to reach the back teeth. You may need to have them close a little and brush by feel! The other challenging area is between the tongue and back teeth. They may try to help you by moving their tongue out of the way. You will probably find it easier if they try to leave their tongue in a normal position. Your brush will move easily between it and the teeth if it is relaxed. Over time you will get more comfortable. Remember, this isn't necessarily life threatening. Anything you do IS better than nothing.
One more point: At this stage of life food is important both for proper nutrition and for social time during the meal. So, while it isn't life threatening, oral health is very important. If you attempt any of this and have questions or problems, please call me. I will be happy to give you more suggestions that meet your specific needs and concerns.
Q: My teeth are sensitive but I've been told that I don't
have decay or gum problems. What's up?
A: There are many reasons for this... Let's see if I can find one that
lines up for you!
You may not have gum problems from an active infection standpoint, but your gums may have receded so that the root surface of the tooth is exposed. This part of the tooth is not insulated. Sometimes a desensitizing toothpaste will keep these areas calm. Sometimes a Periodontist (gum specialist) is needed to add gum tissue back over the exposed root. The reason for the gum recession will help us provide the proper care.
If you are a tooth scrubber, this may have irritated the gums. A change in brushing technique and a desensitizer should help. If you clench or grind your teeth, then a desensitizer alone won't work. In these cases we make a night appliance that keeps your teeth apart. After this, sometimes the sensitivity goes away. Others use the desensitizing toothpaste and it works more effectively now.
Another reason could be that your mouth doesn't have enough saliva (dry or cotton mouth) and the teeth tend to get dried out. Checking with your physician to see if there is a medical reason for this is a good place to start (many medications today have this as a side effect). There are some lubricating type solutions that we can recommend but it is best to see if a simple prescription change will do the job.
If none of these seem to fit your situation, call us! We will give you an evaluation to determine your specific symptoms and concerns and give you a custom diagnosis.