FAQs

What type of toothbrush should I use?

We recommend an electric toothbrush. The bristles are soft and the head is small. Most of the patients we see who use an electric toothbrush do a better job cleaning than those who use a manual toothbrush. The key with any toothbrush is using it properly and devoting two minutes at a time to brushing. The brand of the toothbrush is not as critical as the type of bristle and the size of the head. A soft toothbrush with a small head is recommended because medium and hard brushes tend to cause irritation and contribute to recession of the gums, and a small head allows you to get around each tooth more completely and is less likely to injure your gums. It's unnecessary to "scrub" the teeth as long as you are brushing at least twice a day and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings.We would be happy to show you the proper technique for brushing.

Is one toothpaste better than others?

Generally, no. However, it's advisable to use a fluoride toothpaste to decrease incidence of dental decay. We recommend patients use what tastes good to them as long as it contains fluoride.

How often should I floss?

Flossing of the teeth once per day helps prevent cavities from forming between the teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. Flossing also helps to keep gums healthy. When you brush you only clean 3 sides of your tooth - the 2 sides that touch each other can only be cleaned with floss or floss aids.

What's the difference between a crown & a cap?

These are restorations to repair a severely broken tooth by covering all or most of the tooth after removing old fillings, fractured tooth structure, and decay. The restoration material is made of gold, porcelain, composites, or even stainless steel. Dentists refer to all of these restorations as "crowns". However, patients often refer to the tooth-colored ones as "caps" and the gold or stainless steel ones as "crowns".

What's the difference between a bridge & a partial denture?

Both bridges and partial dentures replace missing teeth. A bridge is permanently attached to abutment teeth or in some cases, implants. A partial denture is attached by clasps to the teeth and is easily removed by the patient.

Do I need to have a root canal because I need a crown?

No. While most teeth that have had root canal treatments do need crowns to strengthen the teeth and to return the teeth to normal form and function, not every tooth needing a crown also needs to have a root canal.

What insurance do you take?

We’re happy to accept Delta Dental, Cigna, and BlueCross BlueShield.

When are you open?

We’re open Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Friday appointments are also available, if scheduled in advance.

What kind of payment options do you accept?

In addition to insurance, we accept cash, check, money orders, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, and financing plans through CareCredit.

Where are you located?

Our office is conveniently located at 2690 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, AR 72714.