Hello, this is Dr. Perry at Farmington Family Dental. I wanted to let you know a little bit about what to expect when you come in to see us at our office. Your next dental visit will have a couple of things going on, and I thought you might want to know what those are.
Why is taking care of my teeth and mouth so important?
Taking care of your teeth and mouth is really important because it's not just about your teeth and mouth. A smile and the psychological effect that it has on people, the ability to smile, the ability to go out and enjoy things, is a big deal. But I'm going to set that aside for a moment. The second reason I have people take care of their mouths and teeth is that they live longer. I just saw somebody last week who came in, and they were missing a few teeth here, a few teeth there, and there are studies that show a person who's missing a few teeth like that, or they're going that route where they're losing their teeth. On average, that kind of person will live 10 years shorter than a person who has their complement of teeth, who can chew and eat what they need. What it comes down to is what you eat. The easiest-to-eat things generally are not good for us. They're high in carbohydrates and are processed type foods. It's just not good for you. The raw type foods take a little more chewing. Carrots, vegetables, and unprocessed foods take teeth to eat. And if you can't eat them, you can't eat them. If you're at the end of the spectrum of age where your doctor is starting to tell you to eat more of this, less of that, and you can't do it, that's why teeth matter so much. It's to preserve your lifespan and your quality of life more than anything else.
What is a normal dental checkup?
A normal dental checkup, sometimes called a prophylaxis, is about trying to prevent any problems. Our goal is to get you clean and monitor anything that could be going on or is going on inside your mouth that may need intervention now in the form of preventative work. Preventative work could be done at home or in my office depending on what it is, or there's an active problem that needs to be treated to get it back to healthy and restore your ability to function and reduce your risk of losing teeth in the future. All that happens during a routine exam. We check for oral cancer as well. I want to make sure you're healthy and you're walking out of our office in the best shape you can be in.
What are the different classifications of dental services?
There are three main classifications of dental services. When I think about it, I think about preventative work. Preventative things are just preventing disease, and that's the best place to sit. By the way, if all of our money is spent on preventative things, that's wise. What do they say? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That applies here. Prevention or preventative is one of the categories. The next category is aesthetic. It's a treatment, but it's not a treatment of a disease per se. It's the treatment of what things look like, making them look better. Sometimes there's a functional component, too. When you think about braces and aligning and straightening teeth, when teeth mesh up well together, they last longer, but it's also cosmetic in nature. Sometimes, there are things that blur the lines there. Then there's just run-of-the-mill treatment where we're treating an active problem, and it's functional in nature. We're either removing pathology, removing disease, or replacing a tooth, but we're restoring back to where the ideal is for you. Those are the three categories of treatment that we have here.
What are routine dental treatments?
Routine treatments, when I think of routine treatments, I think of the most common things we do: fillings, crowns, root canals, braces, implants, bone grafting types, or things like that are fairly routine in my office and happen on a regular basis.
What are cosmetic dental services?
Dental services that are considered cosmetic. If you think of cosmetology, it's the art or science of making something beautiful or optimizing what it looks like. Cosmetic is just changing appearance. Cosmetic services could be crowns, veneers, or bridges. It could be all sorts of different types of treatment. What defines a cosmetic treatment is the objective. Is the objective to restore function or to restore the look? If there's any amount of trying to restore the look, that is a cosmetic treatment at its core. This kind of topic of what cosmetics is gets a little tricky when you consider what insurance does and doesn't do. Typically, insurance companies look at cosmetic treatment and say, "We'll pay for the functional stuff, but not the cosmetic stuff." It gets a little hairy there sometimes, and we end up bending the lines to get insurance to do what they should be doing, which is taking care of your oral health.
What are restorative dental procedures?
Restorative dental procedures. The word restoration, when you think about restoring a house, is moving it from the state that it's in to an optimal state. Sometimes there's flood restoration. In fact, there's some rain outside. We're getting a thunderstorm. There'll probably be a few floods. Restoration is draining all the water, clearing out any mold that's grown, cleaning it up, and then fixing it back up to its ideal situation. In the mouth, it's no different. It's restoring something back to what it once was. When I think restorative in dentistry, I think fillings typically, but it could be some other things.
How will my dentist ensure that I do not experience pain during a dental treatment?
Gosh. When we talk about treatment, one of the first things people ask me is, "Is this going to hurt?" Now, aside from the joke that I have about it, and if you come here, I have a joke about that one, aside from that, how do we make sure it doesn't hurt? Back in the 60s or 40s, somewhere in that time period, dental anesthetic was invented. Novocaine is what most people know when they think anesthetic. There are better ones than Novocaine now. We've developed and iterated different chemicals that we use in local anesthetics to get somebody to where they're comfortable and not feeling any pain. It's been a remarkable journey as far as dentistry goes. If you're old enough to remember back in the 50s or 60s, those old-style dentists, some of them would tell you as a kid, "You're not feeling it. Just be quiet. You'll be fine, and we'll do this without anesthetic." That kind of brings a bitter taste into your mouth. In today's day and age, we don't do things like that. We want to make sure you're good and numb. I don't want you feeling anything uncomfortable. I don't want you feeling anything I'm doing. I will get you good and numb with local anesthetic, and it will be as comfortable as it can be to do dental work for you.
What options are available to ensure that I can afford dental services?
Affordability of dentistry is a hot topic right now. How do you afford it when you come to the dentist? Everyone knows dentists are expensive. If you don't have insurance, that can be hard, too. How do you pay for something when you need something done? I see three or four main ways people have dentistry done. One of the most common in my office is some amount of financing to set instead of a payment where it has to be due all upfront when we do services. Instead, we set it up on an arrangement where the person is paying a monthly amount. That monthly is kind of like a home loan or a car loan in the sense that it's just set up and structured over a month or longer time period to give you a break. Care Credit is one of the platforms or services we use to spread out those payments, but there are others that we use to get you to where you're able to afford the dentistry you need.
What is the best way to schedule a dental appointment?
Oh, shoot. What's the best way to schedule? Come on in. Give us a call at (573) 637-4404, and you'll be routed to one of our gals who answers phones for us. She'll do a great job talking with you and see what you need and get you lined up with an appropriate appointment to see me. Your first visit is going to be to come see us, see our office, meet me, and discuss what you're looking for from dentistry. As we get into that appointment, you'll see that we'll take the full approach. We'll look at everything going on. We'll see all that's going on that you're aware of, as well as perhaps some things you're not aware of. We'll get a plan put together on how to fix it in the best way that we can, and we'll get you arranged as far as the numbers and payment. There's no uncertainty. We've got everything arranged, and then we'll get you scheduled and taken care of.
I hope that's been helpful hearing some things about what to expect in our office or other offices, wherever you go for dentistry. We would be happy to help you here at Farmington Family Dental. Again, I'm Dr. Perry. Our phone number is (573) 637-4404. You can give us a call any day of the week that we're open. Monday through Thursday is typically when we're open. We'll get you lined up with an appointment and get you taken care of. Everyone deserves a smile that they like. Come on and see us, and we can help you out there.
Farmington Family Dental, your trusted dentist in Farmington, is committed to ensuring you achieve the smile of your dreams. We understand the significance of exuding confidence through your radiant smile, and we proudly stand by our Joyful Smile Guarantee. Our comprehensive suite of top-tier services includes cleanings, restorative procedures, orthodontics, and more. Coupled with our personalized attention and compassionate care, we strive to make your journey comfortable and stress-free. Get ready to proudly showcase your stunning teeth with Farmington Family Dental – because a beaming smile is always in vogue!
Welcome to an exceptional dental journey in Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at Farmington Family Dental. Nestled in the picturesque Farmington region, our practice has been founded with your well-being and comfort at the forefront. At Farmington Family Dental, we’ve elevated comfort and relaxation to new heights. The moment you step into our office, you’ll experience the palpable difference in care and ambiance.
Our Services
At Farmington Family Dental, we believe that a healthy smile is a beautiful smile. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of services to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape.
Routine Check-ups and Cleanings
Maintain your oral health with regular examinations and thorough cleanings to prevent issues and keep your smile bright.
Teeth Whitening
Brighten your smile with professional teeth whitening treatments that remove stains and discoloration.
Dental Implants
Replace missing teeth with durable and natural-looking dental implants, restoring both function and aesthetics.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Enhance your smile’s appearance through various cosmetic procedures like veneers, bonding, and smile makeovers.
Restorative Dentistry
Repair damaged or decayed teeth with restorative treatments like fillings, crowns, and bridges for a healthier smile.
Dental Crowns and Bridges
Strengthen weak or damaged teeth with dental crowns, or replace missing teeth with fixed dental bridges.
Veneers
Transform the look of your teeth with thin porcelain veneers that cover imperfections and provide a flawless smile.
Orthodontics
Achieve a straighter smile and improved bite alignment with orthodontic treatments like braces and aligners.
Fillings
Treat cavities and restore tooth integrity with dental fillings that blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Root Canal Therapy
Save infected or damaged teeth with root canal treatments that alleviate pain and preserve your natural smile.
Gum Disease Treatment
Address gum issues and prevent further damage with comprehensive gum disease treatments and therapies.
Dentures
Restore your smile’s function and aesthetics with partial or full dentures tailored to your specific needs.
Pediatric Dentistry
Ensure your child’s oral health from an early age with specialized dental care and education for young patients.
Emergency Dental Care
Receive prompt attention and relief for dental emergencies like toothaches, injuries, or infections.
Fastbraces
Facebraces is an innovative orthodontic treatment designed to straighten teeth in a shorter time frame compared to traditional braces, utilizing a unique triangular bracket and a specially shaped wire for efficient and effective alignment.
Sedation Dentistry
Ease anxiety and discomfort during dental procedures with sedation options that ensure a relaxed experience.
Nurturing Dental Partnerships
At Farmington Family Dental, we believe that dental care is a partnership between the patient and the dentist in Farmington. We take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and involve you in the decision-making process. We believe that informed patients are empowered to make the best choices for their oral health, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Crafting Personalized Smiles
We understand that each patient is unique, and that’s why, as your trusted dentist in Farmington, we tailor our treatments to your individual needs and preferences. Your smile is as distinct as you are, and we’re here to help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile that reflects your personality and enhances your overall well-being.
Are you ready to experience the Farmington Family Dental difference? We invite you to schedule an appointment and join our growing family of satisfied patients. From the moment you walk through our doors, you’ll be greeted with a warm smile and a commitment to exceptional care by a dentist in Farmington.
Thank you for considering Farmington Family Dental as your dental home. We look forward to serving you and helping you achieve the smile you deserve – one that’s healthy, beautiful, and uniquely yours.