A message from our founder,
Frequently Asked Questions
Throughout the years, patients have
been asking us a number of questions. Here are just a few of the more
commonly asked ones, but if there is a question here we have not answered,
please feel free to
call us to find out more. Perhaps we
will even add it to our list here!
- I
really do not like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do
to help me relax?
- I
want my front teeth to look better, but I do not want to wear braces.
What would you recommend?
- How
can I safely whiten my teeth?
- Do
you accept my insurance plan?
- What
is Smile Analysis?
- What
is Smile Design?
- At
what age should my children first see a dentist?
- When is a good time for my child to see an orthodontist?
- My
child has had an accident and his or her tooth has been entirely
knocked out. What should I do?
- Do
you accept referrals?
- What
payment options do you provide?
I really do
not like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do to help
me relax?
We understand some patients are very
nervous about going to the dentist. For those patients, we offer nitrous
oxide and other medications, even IV sedation, to really help you get
away from the procedure. We also offer CD players, headphones, hot towels and cozy blankets.
I want my front
teeth to look better, but I do not want to wear braces. What would
you recommend?
If your teeth are crooked, you do not
necessarily need braces. When you come in for a consultation, we can
talk to you about several other options, including porcelain veneers.
If you are a candidate for this sort of treatment, the whole process
will take about two weeks rather than two years, as is usually the
case with braces.
If you do need braces, however, you
may be a great candidate for invisalign®,
braces that are practically invisible. invisalign® can
give you the beautiful straight teeth you
have always wanted. It works through a series of invisible, removable
and comfortable aligners no one can tell you are wearing. So you can
smile during treatment as well as after. invisalign® has
been proven effective, and both Dr. Bonilla and Dr. Kanabar are certified to treat with invisalign®.
How can I safely
whiten my teeth?
We have the capability to provide in-office teeth
whitening in about two hours, resulting in teeth that are up to 10
shades lighter. If you can wait about two weeks for results, we offer
a home-whitening system. Both techniques are individually tailored
to each patient and will give a whiter smile. Give us a call, and we
will explain everything to you.
One telltale sign it is a good time
for you to whiten your teeth is if you are embarrassed to smile because
of the color of your teeth. Yellowish teeth are the result of years
of coffee or tea drinking, and/or smoking. Greenish teeth are usually
the result of tetracycline exposure as a child. If that is the case,
there is no reason to suffer any embarrassment because of the shade
of your teeth. Try it.
Do you accept
my insurance plan?
Yes! Texas law states that every employer
must offer a freedom of choice dental plan. You must sign up for this
option to allow you to go to any dentist. If you have any questions
about your
insurance,
please feel
free to
give us a call.
What is Smile
Analysis?
Each person has their own individual
smile, one uniquely shaped and balanced to the symmetry of their face.
With Smile Analysis, we can help show you what your best smile can
look like. We take into account many features of your face and mouth
to analyze and design the most enhancing smile for you. We take photographs
and study models of your mouth to assist in the analysis and to show
you what we see! Come in and talk to us about the exciting possibilities.
What is Smile
Design?
Great care is taken to design a smile
for each patient. After we understand your needs and goals, we consider
the shape of your face, color of your eyes, shape and contour of lips.
We evaluate factors like the symmetry of your eyes and nose to the
other dimensions. Once you have your new smile, your confidence soars.
Nothing frames the face better than an attractive, beautiful smile.
People are drawn to you without knowing why. A brilliant smile radiates
joy, excitement, healthy and vitality. A smile is a celebration of
life, a reflection of the heart and your number one asset.
At what age
should my children first see a dentist?
By age two, it is a good idea to bring
your child in to sit on your lap during one of your check-up appointments
with the hygienist. We play "show & tell", and conduct
a brief visual examination of your child. We talk about how you start
caring for you child's oral health. By age three, they have their own
appointment and know what to expect.
When is a good time for my child to see an orthodontist?
Age 7 is a good time for a first orthodontic appointment. Orthodontic treatment can be started on certain types of tooth problems before all permanent teeth have erupted. Early treatment, usually begun after the four permanent upper and lower teeth have erupted (ages 7-9) is recommended.
My child has
had an accident and his or her tooth has been entirely knocked out.
What should I do?
Do not panic, we can fix it. You will want
to call us right away, and by talking to you we can tell you if you need
to come in for emergency dental treatment, or if you can wait until
the next business day.
Caring for the tooth:
Hold the
tooth by the crown (the part which is visible in mouth). Avoid touching
the root of the tooth as this part has special attachment tissue which
is needed for re-implant success. If grossly soiled, clean it gently
with saline water. Commercially available storage media (available
in pharmacy) are the best to store the tooth until you get to the dentist
office. It is very important that the tooth is re-implanted ASAP as
success rate declines rapidly if tooth has stayed outside the socket
for more than 30 minutes to 1 hour. Try to put the clean tooth in the
socket by holding the crown, position the tooth in the socket if you
can (the next tooth can act as a guide), if not then use a storage medium
(usually the school nurse has it). If none is available, put tooth
in patient's saliva and drive to our office ASAP. If the tooth is
re-implanted in less than one hour, success rates are higher. A root
canal and some bonding will be necessary to stabilize it.
Do you accept
referrals?
Referrals are always welcome. We are
always looking forward to new patients so we can provide the same excellent
level of dentistry we provide to our existing patients. In fact, if
you refer a friend or family member (spouse or child not included)
you will receive a $50 credit toward your next appointment.
What payment
options do you provide?
We offer a payment in full discount
for procedures over $300. We accept checks and major credit cards,
such as American Express, MasterCard, Discover and Visa.