Hygiene
Program | Cosmetic Dentistry
| Unique Services
Dental Insurance
| Financial Matters | Special
|
Apicoectomes |
Inlays |
In our office, your periodontal health is of the utmost importance, since the long term condition of your teeth and any restorative treatment depends on stable, healthy gums and supporting bone. Each patient's periodontal diagnosis is unique and we strongly believe in the design and implementation of a program that will most effectively address those individual needs.
Your first hygiene visit will usually consist of a periodontal history and evaluation in which the health and positioning of your gums are determined and recorded. This evaluation combined with your full mouth series of x-rays provides us with the information necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. Also, at this visit, your home care habits will be assessed and discussed and modifications may be suggested.
Depending on the results of your periodontal evaluation and the amount of tartar and stain accumulated, this may be the only cleaning appointment necessary for some patients. It may be recommended for others, however, that additional hygiene treatments or even a referral to a periodontist (specialist in gum problems) may be necessary. A financial estimate will be given for these extended treatment plans.
Dr. Grampp and the hygienist will discuss your diagnosis, prognosis and periodontal treatment plan with you. They will make recommendations for your next hygiene maintenance visit. This may range from a two month interval to six months. Again, this is tailored to your individual needs and may be altered at future visits depending on your progress. It is important to make this next appointment before you leave in order to insure continuity of care.
All these recommendations are made in order to help you achieve your optimum periodontal health, so that you may enjoy your teeth for a lifetime. We realize that many of our patients are covered by insurance plans which place limitations on the amount and frequency of dental care. We, however, care most about YOU and our first consideration has to be what is best for you. We do, therefore, recommend treatment without regard to insurance coverage. If this raises a financial concern for you, please advise us so that financial arrangements may be discussed before treatment is rendered.
As noted, we place great emphasis on prevention and our highly qualified staff takes pride in providing the best care available. We will gladly answer any questions you may have!
Porcelain
Veneers | Teeth Whitening | Bonding
| Dental Implants | Laser
Dentistry
Interoral
Camera | Metal Free Crowns
and Bridges
If there is anything that you don't like about your smile, there is usually a way to change it. Usually these changes can be made easier and faster than you might think. Whether you have discolored or stained teeth, chipped or broken teeth, rotated or crooked teeth, even missing teeth or teeth with gaps between, we can give you that beautiful white straight smile that you've always wanted. Generally, we can make these changes in just one or two visits.
Not only does restoring one's teeth beautify your smile, but by enhancing your smile, it can go a long way toward restoring and improving your self-esteem as well.
Porcelain Veneers up to Cosmetic Dentistry
In as few as two comfortable appointments, we can quickly and permanently transform smiles using cosmetic veneers; thin layers of beautifully crafted porcelain that are custom-made to fit you. The veneers are permanently bonded directly to the teeth using space-age adhesive technology. The veneers are durable, more natural looking than any other restoration and do not stain or wear down. Porcelain veneers give you the opportunity to instantly renew your smile. Ideal for front teeth, porcelain veneers improve your overall smile by bonding new "fronts" on existing teeth. Porcelain veneers allow us to reshape teeth, straighten the crooked ones, and make them whiter, while getting a permanent change. All this is possible in two visits about two or three weeks apart. We use the most advanced material which is stronger than your own teeth and is extremely life-like.
Teeth Whitening up to Cosmetic Dentistry
The state-of-the-art whitening materials and techniques that we recommend have been unbelievably effective and easy in whitening teeth. We have whitened hundreds of our patient's teeth since the materials first became available. The satisfaction with the results has been unanimous.
Bonding up to Cosmetic Dentistry
Often times small changes can make big differences. Bonding is a way of adding a matching tooth colored tilling material to teeth to change the shape of teeth. We can quickly and painlessly close spaces, repair chips, fill in voids or holes and even change the color of teeth in one appointment--by adding to, not removing, tooth structure. You'll be amazed how easily we can repair teeth that may have bothered you for years. Ask how bonding can change and improve your smile!
Dental Implants up to Cosmetic Dentistry
Whether you need a single tooth or a whole mouthful, dental implants are a way to permanently replace missing teeth. An implant is like a man made tooth root that you can attach a crown, bridge, or denture to. Implants are most helpful for patients with dentures. They can make dentures completely stable. Implants are the solution for replacing missing teeth.
Laser Dentistry up to Cosmetic Dentistry
The latest technology to enter the dental field is lasers. We use lasers to make our tooth colored fillings stronger and more durable. It can be used for gum surgery, and now, for the first time, it can be used to prepare teeth for fillings. Dr. Grampp was one of the first dentists in Arizona to receive and utilize this technology.
The advantage to using the laser is that it is noiseless, painless and requires no anesthetic most of the time. (No shots!) Also it practically sterilizes the treatment area and that means less sensitivity. Although it cannot be used in every situation, it is another way we offer the latest in technology.
Interoral Camera up to Cosmetic Dentistry
When you have an examination, we can use an interoral camera to see things like never before--magnified 40 times on a TV monitor. It helps us correctly diagnose problems better, earlier, and more accurately. You can see and understand what we are seeing.
Metal Free Crowns and Bridges up to Cosmetic Dentistry
With the advent of some amazing new state-of-the-art tooth colored material, we can now provide full crowns and even permanent bridges that have no metal. Yet, they are actually stronger than traditional porcelain fused to metal crowns and bridges. Obviously, without metal they look very natural, like your own teeth. Also, because these new materials are bonded to your teeth, they "seal" the teeth better and, consequently, they stay in much better. If you have any allergies to metal or jewelry, this will be a healthier more natural alternative to any crowns or bridges you've had before.
Tooth
Colored Fillings | Microdentistry |
Prevention | Halitosis
Cosmetic Imaging
| Dentistry Without Mercury
We are proud of our philosophy to recommend and provide treatment to our patients just as we would our own mouths or that of our families or friends
Tooth Colored Fillings up to Unique Services
This office does not use any mercury or "silver" filling material for reasons based on scientific evidence, patients' concerns about their health and safety, strength, durability, and aesthetic concerns. Tooth colored composite restorative material has no reported health side effects. These new materials wear like your own teeth and since they bond to teeth, they actually strengthen them. In addition to health concerns, people generally want to look their best. If I can provide you with both excellent function and the best possible aesthetics, why not do so? I believe that tooth colored composite fillings fulfill the requirements that my patients desire.
Microdentistry up to Unique Services
We provide air abrasion as a way to perform microdentistry. Microdentistry is the philosophy and practice of finding and treating decay as early as possible, of removing as little tooth structure as possible, of making the smallest possible restoration (filling) and of assuring that those restorations are long lasting and look natural. Air abrasion is the latest way to perform microdentistry. Air abrasion is a gentle spray of air and powder mix that removes tooth decay while removing as little tooth structure as possible. By controlling the speed and intensity of both the powder and the air, the procedure is virtually painless. And yes, that means no anesthetic!
Prevention up to Unique Services
Sealants are used to prevent and guard against the onset of decay. Sealants are a clear, white, or slightly tinted, thin plastic coating, applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. They protect the irregular surfaces which tend to trap food and bacterial debris, thus causing cavities.
Halitosis up to Unique Services
Nobody want to talk about it, but for many it is a continued problem. When regular oral hygiene isn't enough, oral rinses that contain oxidizing agents are the most effective way to control bad breath. We provide information, special cleaning instruments and solutions to help you eliminate mouth odor. Regular professional cleanings are a big part of eliminating chronic bad breath.
Cosmetic Imaging up to Unique Services
Thinking about making some changes to your smile but you're not quite sure how it will look or what to expect? Well no, through the magic of computers, it is possible to preview your new smile before any treatment is actually undertaken. Let's say that you saw the preview and wanted to make some other changes. We can virtually make any changes that you think that you might prefer and then you can decide if you like them before you do any thing.
One thing to remember, it always looks better in real life once the actual dentistry is completed than it does on any simulated picture. However, it is great to be able to visualize what could be before you make the final decision to get that smile you always wanted.
Dentistry Without Mercury up to Unique Services
For years there has been controversy surrounding the use of silver mercury fillings. We haven't used this material for fillings in years. There is no question that mercury leaks out of these fillings. There is no debate that mercury is not good for you. How much harm it may or may not cause is debatable. However, there is no good reason to continue its use. In fact, it has already been outlawed in several European countries. I believe it is only a matter of time before we outlaw it in this country.
The main advantage to using tooth colored filling materials is not only that they look better, aren't a health concern and start to deteriorate from the beginning, but since these new materials bond to teeth, they actually strengthen teeth.
If you would like more information about the concerns that mercury raises, we would be glad to give you any information that you may desire. Please contact us through our guestbook.
As a courtesy, we will fill out the insurance form for the patients. We accept virtually all credit cards- Visa, MC, Amex, Discover. We have many payment options for payment arrangements. If longer term financing is available we have several outside financing services that can even offer interest free financing. Plus we offer a pre-payment discount.
We accept Delta Dental Insurance.
Dental Insurance Facts You Should Know
Fact #1: Many insurance companies utilize an "alternative treatment option", which gives them the "right" to pay for a less expensive procedure as an acceptable alternative. even though it may not be what you actually need.
Fact #2: You may receive a letter from your insurance company stating that dental fees charged are higher than "usual and customary". To establish "usual and customary", the insurance company surveys a geographic area, finds the average fee, and typically takes 90% of this average fee as their "usual and customary". This less than average fee also includes discount clinic fees within the area. Interestingly, this "usual and customary" fee schedule varies from company to company. Also, many insurance companies do not update their fee annually, but more like every few years.
Fact #3: Some insurance companies tell their insurers that "fees are above the usual and customary" rather than saying "our benefits are low" or "below average". The amount your plan pays is actually determined by how much your employer paid for the contract with the insurance company. The less paid premiums, the lower the benefits received. Remember that you get back only what your employer and you paid in, less the insurance company profits. The insurance company is in business to make money. The fewer benefits they pay out, the more money they make.
Fact #4: Dental insurance is rarely meant to be a pay-all, but rather to be an aid in payment.
Fact #5: Many plans tell insurers they are covered for "80 to 100%", but do not explain that this percentage payment is based on a fee schedule that often is not published or given to anyone outside the insurance company. It may be 80% of a fee schedule that they have set.
Fact #6: Many accepted and routine services are not covered by insurance carriers even if these procedure would save the insurance company money over the years (i.e. adult sealants and/or fluoride treatments). It may be in your best interest to receive a certain treatment, yet it may not be covered.
Fact #7: Insurance contracts are actually between the patient and the insurance company-- not the dentist and the insurance company. It is therefore often beneficial for the patient to contact the employer or carrier if a dispute arises. We deal with hundreds of insurance companies. Fortunately you only have to deal with one-your own.
Our competent staff wants to help you receive the maximum benefits that you are entitled to receive under your contract. We want you to feel comfortable in dealing with these matters and know that we are there to support you to receive these benefits.
It is most important to us that very patient be completely informed and understands not only the treatment to be rendered in our office, but also of the financial investment for that treatment. The necessity to complete a particular treatment plan is based on an estimate derived from your examination. If additional problems arise as treatment progresses, this estimate may have to be revised. You will be informed, and agreement determined, before any unexpected treatment is performed.
For our new patients and those involved in extensive treatment, specific financial arrangements are usually discussed as part of a separate consultation visit. For those patients with limited (1-2 visits) treatment, please advise our staff if financial arrangements are necessary. Otherwise, it will be expected that payment be made in full on the day of service. In-office financing is available for up to six months. Long term financing is available to our patients through outside financing sources.
Senior citizens are granted a 10% courtesy discount on services.
Also, we offer a 5% professional courtesy to patients who pre-pay on services over $600.
Never underestimate the value of a beautiful smile. We can provide that. We can give you that beautiful smile you've always wanted. In order to see what the possibilities are to give you a great smile, we offer a complimentary cosmetic consultation to give you options on changing your smile.