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  • Dr. Bruce
  • Dr. Wintzell
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  • Forms
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    Instructions
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  • Meet Our Staff
  • Office Tour
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Q. How often should I see a dentist?
A. The American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines recommend visiting a dentist at least twice a year for an examination and professional cleaning. Our office also recommends a minimum of two visits per year.

Q. What do we do to make you and our employees safe from infection and disease?

1. All office staff follow recommended Universal Precaution hygiene practices, wash their hands with medicated soap, and put on fresh gloves for each patient.
2. All personnel wear gloves, face masks, and protective eyewear while treating patients.
3. All instruments are cleaned with the use of an ultrasonice machine and sterilized for each patient by heat/sterilization.
4. All dental burs are put through the ultrasonic solution then put in the dry heat system (Cox).
5. Disposable prophy cups are disposed of after each patient.
6. All parts of the dental unit (chair, light, and x-ray) are covered with clear plastic that is changed between each patient.
7. All counter tops are double wiped with approved disinfectants.
8. We use disposable supplies for each patient, whenever possible; for example: paper cups, anesthetic needles, prophy cups, bibs, headrest covers, etc. These items are used once per patient, then discarded.
9. Our sterilizer is monitored for effective sterilization by an independent laboratory.
10. Our dental team has taken continuing education in infection control and universal precaution. We will continue to update this information as it becomes available. We will continue to keep abreast of and implement any new infection control techniques and materials as they appear.
11. Once a year, the oxygen and nitrous oxide equipment is monitored for leakage in the air through an independent laboratory.

Q. What does “painless dentistry” mean?
A. Painless Dentistry is a means of ensuring your total experience in our office is as stress-free and comfortable as possible. We have many options to make your appointments pleasant and will discuss these with you in detail before treatment begins.

Q. What if I have an emergency?
A. Please call our office as soon as you determine that you have a dental emergency. In order to serve you better, we do allow time in our schedule for dental emergencies. After hours, please call our office for the doctor’s emergency contact number.

Q. Are payment plans available for my dental treatment?
A. When needed, we offer a variety of payment options tailored to fit your needs. After your treatment plan is prepared, our financial coordinator will assist in developing a plan to meet your needs.

Q. Can the dentist whiten my teeth?
A. There are several methods available for bleaching the teeth: in office, overnight, or daily. Zoom! bleaching is done in our office. One session generally lasts one and a half to two hours, and you can read or relax during the treatment. For at home bleaching, we make an impression of your teeth and create a mouthguard that fits your bite. Each day you fill the mouthguard with a small amount of bleaching gel for a few hours during the day. The at home bleaching process takes approximately 2-6 weeks depending on type of solution used.

Other over-the-counter daily bleaching products are available, but it is important to use any bleaching product only under the supervision of a dentist. To achieve the whitening results you desire, the ADA recommends that you seek the professional advice of a dentist, including examination and diagnosis of the cause of tooth discoloration, before you begin any bleaching program.

Q. What if I have a gap in my teeth, a chipped tooth, or teeth that do not respond to normal bleaching methods?
A. Porcelain veneers are designed to look like your natural teeth and are individually adhered to the fronts of your existing teeth with cement. Bonding utilizes a material to fill in areas of your teeth and correct chipping and shape problems. Both porcelain veneers and bonding are color-matched to the rest of your teeth.