Frequently Asked Questions
Our entire team wants to make sure that our patients are fully educated on our dental procedures, treatments and therapies. We make sure that every single question is answered before moving forward with any dental procedure or treatment. Here are some frequently asked questions that you might have. If you have any further questions or concerns feel free to call us at 732-636-7110.
How often should I see a dentist?
The American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines recommend visiting a dentist at least twice a year for a check-up and professional cleaning. Our office also recommends a minimum of two visits per year.Some patients who have active gum disease or high cavity index may need to be seen more often.
I’m having a dental emergency. What should I do?
We know that dental emergencies are often frightening and almost always painful. The first step is to contact our office as soon as possible. We always reserve time in our schedule for emergency patients.
If your emergency occurs during business hours, we will get you in for treatment the same day. If it’s after hours, you can contact the covering doctor at our emergency number which is available on our answering system when you call our office. We will get back to you as quickly as possible.
In an emergency, there are some steps you can take before you get to our office for treatment:
Severe Pain: As you can guess, severe pain indicates a serious problem that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. You can use cold compresses on and off for 20 minutes to help reduce the pain until you get to our office. Over the counter pain medications like Naproxen (Aleve), Ibuprofen (Motrin) or Acetaminophen(Tyelenol) can be used for temporary pain relief if you are not allergic to them and do not have other medical conditions that prevent you from taking them.
Knocked-Out Tooth: Call our office immediately, because the sooner we see you, the better the chance we have of saving your tooth. Handle it by the crown carefully ( white portion that we see in our mouth ) and gently rinse it with bottled water to remove any dirt or debris. Do not scrub or dry the tooth and do not touch the root!. If you can reinsert the tooth in its socket, do so; if not, place it in a cup of cold milk as it is important to keep root moist. Call us immediately, and please bring your tooth with you to your emergency appointment.
Lost Crown: In some cases, it is possible to re-cement the crown into place, so keep it safe until you arrive at our office. We do not recommend using over-the-counter cement to try to place the crown back on your tooth.
Note: If your emergency involves trauma to your face or head or swelling with difficulty swallowing and breathing, call 911 or get to an emergency room immediately.
Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?
If you have wisdom teeth (not everyone gets them) and they are healthy, you probably don’t need to have them removed. Healthy means that they have completely erupted, are not out of proper position or alignment, and they can be easily cleaned as part of your regular oral hygiene routine.
Partially erupted or impacted wisdom teeth will almost always need to be removed to prevent overcrowding and protect surrounding teeth. It may be better to remove wisdom teeth before they cause problems, but that needs to be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Whether or not a wisdom tooth should be removed can only be decided by your dentist after a thorough evaluation.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes! We welcome new patients and would be glad to take care of your dental needs.
I like being seen by one doctor for all my treatment. Does the doctor perform root canal treatment, extractions and implants or will I be referred to a specialist?
Dr Bale is proficient and trained to perform root canals, place and restore implants and perform oral surgery and extractions. 98% of times, she performs all the necessary treatment for her patients. Only in 2% rare cases, she might refer you to a specialist if she feels that would be essential for a better treatment outcome.
Do you perform Invisalign?
Yes, Dr Bale is a certified Invisalign provider and has created plenty of successful Invisalign smiles. We will be glad to share some before and after pictures with you when you visit our office.
Are Dental X-rays harmful?
No, not if used judiciously and with necessary protection. We use digital X-rays which reduce radiation to you by 75% in comparison to film X-rays. Also you are covered with an apron which prevents any radiation from reaching your body other than your teeth and jaws.We take dental X-rays for a thorough evaluation of your oral health. The frequency and number of X-rays taken varies from patient to patient depending on multiple factors, one of them being the risk category the patient belongs to for gum disease and cavities. Individuals with higher risk need X-rays more often than individuals with low risk.
How long will my first appointment be?
Dr. Bale likes to take her time to do a thorough examination and also to be able to answer all your questions. Typically your first appointment ranges from 45 minutes to an hour.
Do you accept my insurance?
We work with your insurance to make sure your benefits don’t get wasted and you get your coverage at our office. Our friendly front desk team calls your insurance to get your coverage information and processes the paperwork even for the patients with out of network benefits, so that they get reimbursed by their insurance for services rendered and don’t lose out on their benefits.
Do you have payment plans?
We do understand that funding your dental treatment can sometimes be challenging. So we have partnered with two third party healthcare financing companies: Lending Club and Care Credit. Financing your treatment through Lending Club or Care Credit allows you to make smaller affordable monthly payments and get the necessary treatment in a timely manner. A lot of our patients take advantage of this provision to overcome any financial roadblocks in their treatment. Call us with any questions you have and we would love to assist you.