Frequently Asked Dental Questions – Hamden, CT

What makes you different from any other dental office I can visit?

Many things make us different. First, Dr. D’Andrea and Dr. Pantera all have the knowledge, experience, and skill to provide high-quality restorative and cosmetic dentistry to you and your family. Our dental team wants to provide you with the most relaxed and comfortable dental care possible. We all take great care to provide our services in a pain-free, gentle manner. We offer numerous amenities to help you feel calm in our dental office.

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while and you’re ashamed of the state of your teeth, don’t be. We know that some people dislike going to the dentist. For example, we offer the Wand (a computerized anesthesia delivery system), nitrous oxide, and sedation dentistry to help you relax and receive the treatments you need.

One of the best ways to experience what makes us different from other dentists in the area is to schedule an appointment at our dental office. Call us today to set up your first consultation.

How do the doctors keep up to date on all the current techniques and materials?

All of our dentists are extensively trained, but because dentistry is constantly changing, we do a number of things to stay up-to-date on all of the current findings. We frequently attend continuing education courses that focus on the latest in dentistry. We also belong to a variety of organizations that offer seminars and conferences on changes in dentistry.

We feel that following the latest developments in dentistry is an important part of our job and we are always happy to share our research and information with you. If you have questions about something you’ve heard, call our dental office for more information.

Do you accept my insurance plan?

Our dental office participates with some Anthem Blue Cross, Delta Dental, and BeneCare insurance plans. No matter what dental insurance you have, however, we’ll be happy to file your claims for you.

If you have insurance, we know that it may be essential to your dental care. That’s why we recommend that you review your insurance policy before your appointment. Many services that are necessary for your dental health are not covered under some plans.

We hope that you can choose the care you need when you need it and not when your insurance company dictates it. If you need extensive or long-term care, we offer CareCredit to help you finance your treatment. We’re always happy to answer your finance or insurance questions during your appointment or when you call us.

Will I be charged if I need to cancel an appointment?

We know your schedule can change abruptly. Please call us immediately so we can reschedule you. If you cancel within 24 hours before your scheduled time, we reserve the right to charge you a cancellation fee.

What do I do if I have an emergency when the dental office is closed?

If you have an emergency, call us and follow the instructions to contact our on-call doctor.

I have a temporary crown in my mouth. What happens if it comes off or breaks?

When a temporary crown falls off or breaks, reattach the crown by applying dental adhesive or toothpaste. Then, call us to schedule an appointment to re-cement or remake the temporary crown.

What different payment options do you provide?

We accept cash, check, Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express. You can use these methods to cover your co-pay amount at the beginning of your treatment. For extensive treatment, we provide a 5% courtesy discount when you pay for your entire treatment with cash or check before or at the beginning of treatment.

How can I safely whiten my teeth?

All it takes is someone to flash a bright, clean-looking smile for our patients to ask, “How can I get my smile to look like that?” Since each mouth is unique, we need to examine your teeth to recommend a specific method. We offer at-home whitening gel in our dental office. If your teeth are cracked, chipped, or discolored, we may recommend one of our restorative services, such as veneers or bonding instead. To find out which method may be best for you, call our dental office for more information.

What precautions do you take to ensure patient safety?

We take many precautions to ensure your safety as our patient. First, we keep up-to-date on the latest sterilization procedures and research. Our instruments are thoroughly sterilized in accordance with ADA accepted guidelines. Most importantly, we have a sterilization center where we can maximize efficient sterilization and minimize the chance of contamination through human error.

Your safety and comfort are extremely important to us. If you have any questions or concerns about sterilization, anyone on our team would be happy to demonstrate our procedures.

My gums bleed after I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?

Yes! You should be very concerned about bleeding gums, especially if you haven’t had a check-up in a while. Bleeding gums can mean a variety of different things. Sometimes, it may mean you are brushing too hard. Alternatively, it may mean you’ve developed gingivitis, one of the first stages of gum disease.

We won’t know for sure why your gums are bleeding until you schedule an appointment with our dental office today so we can help you.

Do I have to floss every day? Is it really that important?

When you brush, you clean about 80% of your teeth. Flossing covers the remaining 20%. Although that seems like a small percentage, this area is where all of the big problems originate. That’s why our dentists and dental hygiene team agree that cleaning this area is very important.

One of our dental hygienists will discuss flossing with you when you visit our dental office. They may recommend techniques to improve the way you brush and floss or discuss alternatives to flossing.

I really do not like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do to help me relax?

We strive to make our dental office a calm, relaxing environment where you can receive your dental care comfortably. Part of the reason is that we want you to enjoy your visit so you will feel confident about coming back for checkups and cleanings. The other reason is that we can work more gently and efficiently when you’re relaxed.

That’s why we offer sedation dentistry, a safe, effective way to help people who truly hate visiting the dentist’s office receive the care they need. If you need extensive or complex dentistry, we can also use it to help you receive treatment in as few appointments as possible.

We offer several types of sedation. If we need to numb an area in your mouth, we use the Wand, a computerized anesthetic delivery system. We also offer nitrous oxide (better known as laughing gas), which helps you feel comfortable during your appointment and clear-headed when you leave. We offer oral conscious sedation as well.

If you hate the dentist, don’t wait around in pain or fear anymore. Call our dental office to talk to one of our dental professionals and learn how sedation dentistry can help you.