2650 Lake Sahara Dr. Suite 160,
Las Vegas, NV 89117 | 702 734 0776
Introducing the amazing CEREC system
CEREC is a CAD/CAM chairside system that delivers superb quality porcelain restorations quickly, precisely and efficiently. Just look at these benefits!
Most teeth with existing silver/mercury fillings that need restoration can be completed with a CEREC chairside restoration that is completed in one visit, like the picture above. The replacement of the silver/mercury restorations above was completed in one visit. View the CEREC Gallery.
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Why isn’t your office on the insurance Preferred Provider list?
An HMO/DMO/PPO insurance company sets a cap on fees that can be charged for procedures. By joining a HMO/DMO/PPO group, the dentist agrees to abide by these restrictions, which enables the company and the patient to know the predetermined costs. Because fees are controlled, it is possible that a participating dentist may need to control your treatment options, the materials used and the time that can be spent with you during treatment, none of which can be construed as beneficial to you, the patient. Our office believes your dental health is too important to allow any third party insurer determine how your teeth should be cleaned or restored!
Why does my insurance only provide $1000 of coverage a year?
In the mid 1960’s increased competition forced the insurance companies to start offering other services in addition to medical insurance. Many companies started offering $1000 worth of annual dental insurance to sweetin’ the pot so to speak. Over the past forty years we have seen some plans increase their coverage to $1500 or $2000, but a majority still only provide $1000 of annual coverage. If these plans had kept up with the rate of inflation they should be offering $6000 worth of coverage. Why the insurance companies haven’t increased the annual benefit is anyone’s guess. It is safe to assume that your dental health is not one of those reasons.
How does dental insurance differ from other types of insurance?
Dental insurance really isn’t insurance at all. It is really just a benefit. When you purchase a car you call your auto insurance carrier and are given a quote based on the type of vehicle you have purchased. Any time you submit a claim to your car insurance the premium is adjusted higher. If you get a speeding ticket, or are in a car accident the amount you pay goes up. If you use your auto insurance too much, the insurance company will stop coverage all together! With dental insurance, everybody has the same type of car. When you signed up for dental insurance, did they inquire about your current dental health or past dental history? A healthy mouth pays the same as an unhealthy mouth that may require extensive treatment. Each year you are allowed to up to $1000(or whatever limit your policy states) every year. This amount does not roll over into the next year. If you use all of it or none of it your premium stays the same. Auto, Health, Life, and Disability insurance are necessary for catastrophic events that could lead to financial ruin. Fortunately, there aren’t too many catastropic events that can happen to your mouth. Routine hygiene visits and check ups can usually catch problems before they become catastrophes. Dental insurance is a benefit that provides $1000-$2000 towards dental care. Which means that dental insurance is the only type of insurance that doesn’t provide coverage for major dental events, it is better used towards routine dental care. Think of dental insurance as a dental coupon, in which you can use toward care.
My insurance policy states that they pay 50% for major coverage. Why isn’t that 50% of your office’s fee?
The insurance companies use a term “Usual, Customary, and Reasonable” or “UCR”. We really don’t know how they come up with fees, but one thing is for sure they don’t adjust these fees for rates of inflation or new technology. There are some insurance companies that haven’t adjusted their fees in many years, which explains why they haven’t raised their annual benefit in 40 years either. Our fees reflect the time, technology and experience necessary to provide quality dental care in the 21st century. Unfortunately we are unable to provide high level dental care at fees determined by a third party.
My employer is dropping dental insurance coverage, should i purchase private dental coverage?
Some companies still offer dental insurance coverage, but will defer the cost to the employee. This can be very expensive, some plans can cost $400-$600 annually. Some companies are dropping coverage all together. Since most dental coverage plans offer $1000-$2000 of annual dental benefit as we discussed before it doesn’t make much sense to pay $600 for $1000 worth dental benefit. For most people in this situation it is far better to pay themselves the $600 and self fund their own dental insurance. $600 would be more than enough to cover routine hygiene visits, xray and exams annually. If any other work is necessary, such as a few fillings or a crown, our office has some flexible financing plans that are very reasonable.
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Tooth pain can occur in many forms, it can be isolated to one tooth, or many, it can be instigated by temperature(hot or cold) or when chewing. Let’s take a look at the most common instances of tooth pain.
There are two basic types of tooth pain.
• Sharp and Dull
Sharp tooth pain is caused by many factors.
• A broken cusp of a tooth
• Decay at the gumline
• A space between a crown/filling at the gumline
• A filling or crown that is too high when chewing
• Grinding and our clenching.
• Cold temperatures
Sharp tooth pain rarely lingers, it is short duration and often instigated by the factors listed above. Sharp tooth pain relief is usually accomplished by repairing fractured cusp with a crown or onlay, adjusting the crown/filling that is too high when biting, checking for and removing any decay or faulty crowns/fillings at the gumline. Sharp tooth pain should always be evaluated because Sharp tooth pain can lead to Dull pain, which is discussed below.
Dull tooth pain is often more serious, and usually means the nerve inside the tooth has been irreveribly damaged.
Dull tooth pain is usually initiated with Hot temperatures, Hot coffee or soup.
It will tend to ache for a significant period of time.
It can wake you up in the middle of the night or just start to ache spontaneously.
It can also be initiated by tapping on the tooth.
Dull tooth pain originates from the nerve/pulp of the tooth. Dull tooth pain usually requires root canal therapy to relieve the problem.
Tooth pain is often an indicator of a potentially serious problem that should be addressed by a dentist, If you live in the Las Vegas area call 702 734 0776 for a check up!
One of the easiest ways to enhance your smile is to Whiten your teeth!
Today there are many ways to whiten teeth… There are strips, trays, lasers, high powered lights and paint on products. These devices don’t actually whiten teeth themselves, they deliver or activate peroxide, the whitening agent. Peroxide is the key component in whitening teeth. Take home systems such as: Strips, Trays, and Paint ons have a lower concentration. The in office “Laser” whitening systems use a high concentration Hydrogen Peroxide. The laser or light systems only mildly improve the activation of the peroxide, many times the peroxide itself if left on the teeth long enough will provide the same results with or with out the light...!
Whitening Systems
Paint on- This is purchased at a drug store and painted on the teeth before bed, while it sounds like an intriguing idea, it is usually washed off in a few minutes and probably doesn’t deliver much whitening power.
WhiteStrips- whitestrips do work but they only whiten the front 6 teeth on the top and bottom. Whitestrips are a very good way to get started, but probably won’t be as successful as custom made trays. Whitestrips are a very cost effective way to begin the whitening process. Our office is able to provide Whitestrips with twice the peroxide concentration than a box purchased from the drugstore.
Take Home Trays-The easiest most successful form of tooth whitening. We take a quick impression of the top and bottom teeth, which gives us a very accurate model of your teeth! We use those models to create a tray that adapts to your teeth. This tray will hold the peroxide that whitens your teeth. These trays are worn with the peroxide in place for a few hours a day, for 2-4 weeks. Once you are satisfied with the results, you can keep the trays handy for a touch up every few months.
In Office Whitening There are many name brands that are available, products like Zoom, BrightSmile, Boost. All of these systems are implemented in the dental office. Each visit is about 60-90 minutes in length, because the gums are completely isolated to prevent burning of the tissue. A high concentration Hydrogen Peroxide is applied outer surfaces of the teeth. The peroxide needs to be in contact with the teeth for a total of 45-60 minutes. Every 15 minutes or so fresh peroxide is applied. Often a light or laser is used to help activate the peroxide. On average it takes 2-6 visits to get the same results as a 4 week take home session. We feel in office whitening is most effective when used in conjuction with take home trays! It is a great jump start!
Creating Smiles
for You!
