Common Dental Questions
- What is a crown and how long does it last? »
- I’d like to get my teeth whitened, but I’m worried about how my teeth will react. »
- Why don’t my teeth look whiter right after whitening treatment? »
- Do you offer any payment options? »
- How do you follow up with your patients after a dental procedure? »
- What should I do if I have an emergency? »
What is a crown and how long does it last?
A crown is a cap that covers your whole tooth to the gum line. It’s used to restore a tooth that has been broken or cracked to its normal size and shape. A crown is cemented on so that it actually strengthens the tooth.
Some crowns are made entirely of tooth-colored ceramic; others are made of mixed material, such as ceramic with gold. (The gold doesn’t show, just the tooth-colored surface.)
It’s hard to predict how long a crown will last, because it depends on many factors, such as the type of crown, how hard you bite, the type of foods you eat, and your overall oral health.
I’d like to get my teeth whitened, but I’m worried about how my teeth will react.
When Dr. Risos schedules whitening, she advises patients to use a fluoride gel for at least a week or more before. This coats the teeth and gets absorbed so it protects them from sensitivity. In addition, Dr. Risos strongly recommends that you use toothpaste for sensitive teeth after your whitening treatment.
Sometimes teeth will be sensitive after treatment, but most people never have a problem if they follow her recommendations before and after whitening.
Why don’t my teeth look whiter right after whitening treatment?
You have to give the whitening time to work. It can take one to two weeks for teeth to oxidize before they look as white as they’re going to get. Most of the time teeth become whiter after you stop the whitening process.
Do you offer any payment options?
We accept cash, check, credit cards (Visa and MasterCard), and Lending Club extended payment (which can usually be approved in just a few minutes).
How do you follow up with your patients after a dental procedure?
Dr. Risos is very strict on post-operative care; she always wants to see patients in her office at scheduled times to ensure that they’re doing okay. She’ll also call patients at home after procedures to check on them.
Patients can always feel free to call Dr. Risos and ask questions. If she can’t talk to them right away, she will call back.
What should I do if I have an emergency?
We know how upsetting it can be to talk to a machine if you’re having an emergency. That’s why we do it differently. Calls to Dr. Risos after hours are forwarded to a pager or to an employee’s cell phone; Dr. Risos will get back to you as quickly as possible.
