FAQs

To prevent cavities, brush twice daily, taking at least 2 minutes for each session, and floss between teeth to eliminate biofilm stuck there. Further, avoid sugary foods or drinks since they are a culprit for cavities. Receiving dental sealants is a great way of combating dental cavities. Make it a point to see a dentist every six months for professional teeth and gum cleanings. Again, get fluoride treatment since it makes teeth strong. Lastly, have a healthy diet with the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins for healthy, strong teeth.

Even when you strictly observe your brushing and flossing regimen, you will always have elements left in the mouth that attack your teeth and gums. Visiting a dentist at scheduled intervals is thus recommended to remove tartar, plaque, and deposits on teeth and gums. The American Dental Association advocates that families and individuals should see dentists for cleanings every six months, meaning twice yearly. Even so, some patients with risks for gum disease may need cleanings as frequently as every 3 to 4 months.

You should brush two to three times daily, mostly after snacking or eating. When it comes to flossing, do it once or twice daily. When you consume foods containing sugar, it takes as short as only five minutes for mouth bacteria to convert the sugar for fuel and release acids that act on the enamel. The acids are produced as a waste product that lowers the mouth's pH to a point where it can dissolve the enamel.

It takes roughly 5 to 7 days after deep cleaning for the gums to heal. Deep cleaning aftereffects can sometimes feel more extreme. You may have mild to moderate sensitivity, swelling, and pain for a day or two, besides some level of bleeding. In a week, the gums should heal and begin to reattach to the root surfaces. While the initial discomfort may be gone in a week, full recovery and reattachment could last up to 6 or 8 weeks. However, within that first week, you are back to normal brushing, flossing, drinking, and eating.

Biofilm, the sticky substance that appears cloudy or whitish, can turn into tartar. Something peculiar with tartar is that it's hard to remove with at-home brushing and flossing. Therefore, professional teeth cleaning is advised. A dentist accesses the gum pockets using special tools to clear plaque and tartar. Two processes are involved: scaling and root planning—scaling works to scrape off hardened tartar and the soft biofilm while planing works to smooth out the tooth surfaces to discourage tartar, biofilm, and bacterial accumulation.

Both electric and manual toothbrushes are equally effective at cleaning the teeth. Choosing a manual or electric toothbrush depends on how convenient and easy you find brushing your teeth. People with hand dexterity problems may consider using an electric toothbrush, which makes it easier to maneuver the mouth areas for a clean brushing experience. For instance, old individuals or those with arthritis can consider electric toothbrushes. Other people and children over three can also use electric toothbrushes.

Whenever you have a tooth knocked out, you want to find the fragments or the entire tooth. It is possible to get it mounted back in the socket. You can even do it yourself if you are able. You must hold the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the roots. You can rinse with water, but not antiseptic if it's dirty. Store the tooth safely in a milk container, or place it between the cheek and gums to remain moist as you get to the dentist.

Try to brush your teeth after eating or snacking, and avoid dry mouth by drinking water or fluids. Clean the tongue; it's a hiding place for bacteria. Again, floss once daily, and if you wear dentures or other removable appliances like mouthguards, clean them properly before putting them back in or after removing them. Please visit our dentist routinely for cleanings to eliminate biofilm, deposits, leftovers, and tartar.

Once you have had a deep cleaning procedure, you don't just eat any food. Avoid the ones that can stick in your gums. Foods such as chips, popcorn, and nuts get lodged in the gums. Again, sticky and chewy items like caramel, dried fruits, and chocolate are not recommended. You want to ensure that the gums are healing without any issues. This way, you can recover fast and avoid incidents where you hurt the just-treated gums.

While deep cleaning can effectively help promote gum and teeth health, it is not for everyone. Only patients showing signs of gingivitis, gum disease, and excessive plaque and tartar need deep cleaning. Otherwise, you don't need to undertake deep cleaning if your gums and teeth are clean and healthy. It is a relatively minimally invasive process that involves opening up the gum pockets to access sections below the gumline. Deep cleaning is thus a form of treatment and not a preventive measure. For people with healthy teeth and gums, prophylaxis would be fine.

In most cases, it depends on how severe your gum disease is. Patients may need a one-hour-long dental office visit, or they could require a two-hour appointment. Some patients require multiple visits since we find that it is appropriate to work on one side of the patient's mouth at a time. Where no extensive work is needed, you could have deep cleaning lasting approximately 45 minutes. Our dentist will determine the time needed and the number of visits.

To be precise, routine cleanings and deep cleanings are needed by different patients for different purposes at different times. Routine cleaning, which entails cleaning the areas above the gum line, is intended for people with healthy gum tissue and teeth. It is more of a preventive measure rather than a form of treatment. On the other hand, deep cleaning is needed when one has active gum disease. It is a form of treatment that entails clearing biofilm and tartar above and below the gum line. Therefore, both deep and routine cleaning is equally important.

Yes, it covers dental care but not in its entirety. Those enrolled in this health insurance plan can get up to $2000 in coverage for dental services they receive.

The coverage amount is distributed between preventive or diagnostic and emergency dental care. It doesn't cover X-rays, exams, cleanings, and other preventative procedures for adults. In kids, it covers most of these preventive care procedures and treatments, such as fillings, root canals, sealants, and fluoride treatment.

Not all dental offices or dentists in Arizona take Medicaid for adults. When seeking a dental clinic or dentist to engage with, it is prudent that you establish if they accept Medicaid for adults.

They include cleanings, exams, screenings and assessments, sealants, fluoride treatment, X-rays, and space maintainers. It also covers bridges, dentures, crowns, fillings, braces, and retainers. Kids can also get covered for emergency dental care and oral surgery.

Not all dentists who accept Medicaid offer treatment to patients enrolled in Medicaid. Make sure that other than accepting Medicaid, they provide a majority of the dental care services covered, including emergency care and medically necessary dental treatments.

Although you can apply for Medicaid online or by telephone, we can still assist you. Visit our dental office to see how to go about it.

As of 2023, the income limits to qualify for Medicaid are $14,580 for an adult individual and $30,000 for a family of four individuals, and $50,560 for a family of eight individuals.

Yes, you can have employer-sponsored insurance coverage while also being entitled to Medicaid to complement services or costs of dental care that Medicaid doesn't cover.

Both adults and children can receive coverage for dental emergency care from the Medicaid insurance plan. Emergency dental care involves avulsed or dislodged teeth, tooth abscesses, and dental injuries of soft tissues.

Yes; Medicaid doesn't cover the entire cost of dental care. You will have to meet the rest of the expenses that haven't been met with Medicaid. Medicaid covers up to $1000 for dental emergencies, and for entire dental services, it covers up to $2000 a year.

You are likely to qualify for Medicaid in Arizona if you have a disability, are pregnant, or are blind. You can apply for coverage if you are over 65 years, under 18, or have high medical bills.

Yes, children and young adults aged under 21 are considered first. Those over 65 years are also considered. You can still qualify for coverage outside of these age brackets.