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FAQs
Convenient Answers to Your Questions
In order to communicate with you clearly and conveniently, we've provided some helpful answers to our most commonly asked questions. Of course, if you don't find your topic here, or if you'd rather discuss your question in person, just call or email us at any time.
- How does Dr. Shannon keep up to date on all of the current techniques and materials?
- What makes you different than any other dental practice I can visit?
- How do I know when its time to come in for a check-up?
- At what age should my children first see the dentist?
- Do you accept referrals?
- Is there a way I can ask Dr. Shannon questions directly?
- Do you accept my insurance plan?
- What different payment options do you provide?
- How can I have whiter teeth?
- Do I really have to floss every day? Is it really necessary to be so meticulous?
- What precautions do you take to ensure patient safety?
- I want my front teeth to look better, but I don't want to wear braces, what can you do to help?
- Can you tell me more about crowns, veneers, onlays and inlays?
- I really don't like to visit the dentist. What can you do to help me relax?
- What should I do if I have an emergency and the office is closed?
- Is it bad if my gums bleed after I brush my teeth?
- My breath has a terrible odor. Is there anything you can do to eliminate this problem?
How does Dr. Shannon keep up to date on all of the current techniques and materials?
Dr. Shannon subscribes to the latest industry journals to keep tabs on research and development in the dental industry, and attends ongoing continuing education seminars and conferences in various areas of specialty. Furthermore, he's spent over 300 hours in the last three years alone, learning directly from the experts at the renowned Panke Institute in complex areas such as occlusion and bite reconstruction. And, Dr. Shannon's commitment to long-term education doesn't end with himself: each of the staff pursues continuing education in their area of expertise as well.
What makes you different than any other dental practice I can visit?
That's a good question! In many ways, our practice offers the same things
as many others offering 'comprehensive, general and cosmetic' dentistry.
However, there's a difference in how we carry out those claims. When you
visit us, you'll notice right away how thoroughly we examine, discuss
and diagnose prior to any kind of treatment. This always includes a complete
health history, visual examination to check for any current concerns,
an intra-oral 'tour of the mouth', digital x-rays, oral cancer screening,
bruxism and TMJ screening, etc. And you'll hear about everything we're
doing, so that you understand what's going on.
Plus, we consider you as a person with ideas, desires and concerns of
your own… so we take as much time as needed to fully understand everything
from your viewpoint. We'll ask you about your oral health objectives,
how you feel about your smile, and what concerns you might have with your
bite, gums and general health. Once we've done all these critical things,
we'll discuss a practical treatment plan that leads to the very best oral
health possible.
How do I know when its time to come in for a check-up?
An average, healthy adult typically benefits from a professional cleaning and check up every six months. However, it's tough to generalize because every mouth is different. Some people are prone to gum disease, bruxism, or other ongoing oral health concerns that require more frequent visits. Others simply need a routine professional tartar removal at regular intervals. That's why we're so careful to check methodically and determine what kind of ongoing professional treatment will achieve your optimum dental health…which could translate to a check-up every 2, 3, 4 or 6 months, according to your needs.
At what age should my children first see the dentist?
We recommend that our patients bring their children in for that first dental visit after all of their primary teeth have erupted, but also when they are able to sit in a dentist's chair without fear. Generally, this is around the age of three. To make this a fun and non-threatening visit, we'll typically just count their teeth, introduce them to our staff, show them how the dental chair works, and let them become familiar with our equipment. This provides us with an opportunity to spot and prevent any potential oral health/dental problems while also establishing a friendship in preparation for doing any future work on the child's teeth.
Do you accept referrals?
We’re happy to accept referrals from other dental offices as well as from our patients. We do appreciate that new patients complete a patient evaluation form prior to the first visit—available on-line; we also appreciate receiving all records and x-rays ahead of time if possible.
Is there a way I can ask Dr. Shannon questions directly?
We encourage our patients to have open, direct communication with Dr. Shannon. Therefore, he’s available daily to answer your questions either via e-mail or voice mail. Depending on office traffic and the complexity of your questions, he strives to respond within 24 hours.
Do you accept my insurance plan?
Our office is willing to work with any insurance company. This means that we'll be happy to file your insurance for you and will accept payment from them as well. Of course, we ask that patients understand up front the limitations of their own coverage and take responsibility for their portion of the bill not covered by insurance. 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.
What different payment options do you provide?
We accept cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards. Your insurance plan co-pay is due at the time of your visit and you're responsible for the entire amount not covered by your insurance. For more extensive procedures, or in cases where patients prefer to pay over time, we recommend third-party financing options such as Care Credit. You can investigate this option on-line or simply let us know ahead of time that you desire to apply for such a service so that we can direct you as needed.
How can I have whiter teeth?
There are a number of procedures available to help whiten your smile. In many cases, an in-office whitening session can provide the change desired; in other cases, porcelain veneers offer a more effective solution. Dr. Shannon can help evaluate your potential for whitening your teeth based on their current color and the causes of any discoloration. If you opt for the whitening process, we offer a traditional at-home whitening system. This method requires anywhere from one to two weeks of daily sessions, and usually brings teeth up about two shades on the dental chart. To read more about this, please look in our patient education section, “What a Little Info Can Do”.
Do I really have to floss every day? Is it really necessary to be so meticulous?
A little regular flossing goes a long way and is truly critical for your overall oral health. It loosens food particles in tight spaces that your toothbrush cannot reach, it gets rid of plaque build-up that toothbrushes alone cannot remove, and it exercises your gum tissues. All of which is necessary to avoid gum disease. So, just think of daily flossing as the finishing touch after brushing—insurance for your smile’s future.
What precautions do you take to ensure patient safety?
Our entire practice team is well versed in state-of-the-art infection control techniques designed to ensure patient safety. This goes beyond wearing gloves and facemasks to prevent passing germs. It includes a specialized sterilization center and a water filtration system that guarantees a fresh, individualized, distilled water source for each patient.
I want my front teeth to look better, but I don't want to wear braces, what can you do to help?
Dr. Shannon has a number of ways to improve the look of your front teeth without the use of unsightly braces. For slightly crooked or unevenly worn teeth, a bit of reshaping and the addition of porcelain veneers or crowns is often sufficient to give them a bright, uniform look. We’d be happy to talk with you further about the option that best suits your individual situation.
Can you tell me more about crowns, veneers, onlays and inlays?
With today's technology, materials, and advanced techniques, we have many options for restoring weak, broken, chipped, discolored, and/or crooked teeth…bringing them back to their original shape and function. For example, we can apply an all-porcelain crown, somewhat like a 'cap', that covers the entire outside of the problem tooth. Crowns are also helpful to cover large areas of decay after they've been filled. Or, for large decayed or damaged surface chewing areas requiring restoration, we can apply a protective covering/filling or onlay made of either precious metal or composite resin material, thereby adding strength and preventing decay. If you need fillings, we can use porcelain inlays instead of silver amalgam… actually strengthening the tooth and protecting it against further fracture. Similarly, we can restore cracked, discolored, crooked or otherwise unattractive front teeth to pretty, natural shapes and shades by applying paper-thin porcelain veneers to the fronts. If you're interested in finding out more about these procedures, check out our patient library.
I really don't like to visit the dentist. What can you do to help me relax?
We understand that many people have qualms about having their teeth worked on. So we strive to create a relaxing atmosphere to put you at ease. Plus, we have headphones and DVD movies available so that you can keep your mind on more pleasant things. For more complex procedures or more anxious patients, we also offer nitrous, local anesthesia, or oral sedation as options to help you relax.
What should I do if I have an emergency and the office is closed?
If you have a true dental emergency, simply contact our office answering service, leave information as to the exact nature of your condition, and we will return your call right away.
Is it bad if my gums bleed after I brush my teeth?
It’s definitely not desirable to have bleeding gums following brushing. However, the condition may or may not require attention, depending on the source of the problem. Bleeding gums can be caused by any of the following: improper, rough, ‘scrubbing’ instead of gentle, circular brushing motions; using a hard-bristled tooth brush instead of a soft one; plaque and/or tartar build-up below the gum line; or gum sensitivity due to gingivitis or periodontal disease. If this problem persists despite correct brushing and flossing methods, or occurs every time you brush, contact our office to set up an evaluation appointment.
My breath has a terrible odor. Is there anything you can do to eliminate this problem?
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, 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. Or, we can recommend a specially–designed program, which includes a toothpaste and rinse that actually breaks the odor-causing sulfur bonds that cause bad breath. Finally, we may also suspect a systemic or internal problem such as an infection or underlying condition, in which case we may recommend a visit with your family physician or specialist to identify the cause.
