New Patients Welcome | Most Insurance Accepted
Fax: 631.587.7398
West Babylon, NY 11704
Frequently Asked Questions
We encourage our patients to ask questions about their dental care. Here are some questions that we receive most often.
- If my tooth doesn’t hurt, why do I need to have a crown?
- Can you show me what my teeth will look like ahead of time?
- At what age should my child first see a dentist?
- Do you accept my insurance plan?
- What do I do if I have an emergency and the office is closed?
- I have a temporary crown in my mouth. What happens if it comes off or breaks?
- What will happen on my first visit to your office?
- What different payment options do you provide?
- What makes you different from any other dental practice I could visit?
- My gums bleed when I brush. Is this something that I should be concerned about?
If my tooth doesn’t hurt, why do I need to have a crown?
If your tooth already has large silver fillings, they may be showing signs of wear such as cracking. Even if the tooth doesn’t hurt, cracked fillings can let decay back into your tooth—which means you could ultimately lose it.
Crowns are great for restoring teeth that are fractured or that have very large fillings. They not only strengthen the tooth but are also very natural in appearance.
Can you show me what my teeth will look like ahead of time?
Yes. We do it in three-dimensional wax models so you can really get an idea of what it will look like.
Although many dentists use imaging software to show patients what their teeth will look like, we’ve found that it’s not always possible to do what the digital image shows. That’s why we prefer to take an impression of a patient’s mouth and then do a simulation in wax of veneers or whatever cosmetic procedure we’re suggesting. Instead of just looking at a picture, you can actually see how your teeth would look and how your bite would work.
At what age should my child first see a dentist?
We usually suggest a child should be three or four years old—as soon as they’ve had some kind of “away from mommy” experience like preschool. Before we schedule an appointment, we’ll usually have children come in with their mom to “test drive” the dental chair. If the child is okay with this, we can schedule an appointment. If he/she is uncomfortable or upset, we may suggest holding off a bit longer. The idea is to make the dental office a comfortable place for them to visit; we do not want to traumatize them in any way.
Of course, if your child is in pain or has a dental problem, we’ll be glad to examine him/her at any age from infant up.
Do you accept my insurance plan?
We will work with you to maximize your benefits under your specific insurance plan. We have a staff member who does nothing but insurance claims. She previously worked for insurance companies, so she knows all the ins and outs of the insurance process.
We do accept assignment of benefits from some companies, but you will be responsible for any portion of your fee that is not covered.
What do I do if I have an emergency and the office is closed?
Please call the office number. The recording will tell you to press 3 to get in touch with our answering service. The service pages the doctor on call, who will then call you back as soon as possible.
We have you covered 24/7 in the event of an emergency; one of the three doctors in our practice is always on call and ready to assist you.
I have a temporary crown in my mouth. What happens if it comes off or breaks?
For more information, please refer to post-care instructions.
What will happen on my first visit to your office?
We are very thorough in our initial exam. We will take any necessary x-rays, do a periodontal exam, oral cancer screening, and intra oral camera examination on all our patients. In some cases photographs and models of your teeth may also be necessary.
We always take the time to talk with you about your needs, your expectations, your fears and your concerns. We’ll also go over the financial aspect of your treatment so you’re aware of your financial responsibilities and your options for payment. Then we’ll prioritize treatment in the way that is best for you.
What different payment options do you provide?
We accept cash and credit cards, and offer some discounts for prepayment. Just ask!
For longer-term treatments, we work with several different financing companies so you can choose the option (including some 12-month, interest-free plans) that works best for you.
We do accept insurance as partial payment on your dental treatment; you are responsible for any part of the treatment not covered by your insurance.
What makes you different from any other dental practice I could visit?
We believe in delivering quality dental care for our community while maintaining the highest standards of our profession. What sets us apart is explained in our mission statement:
“We care about helping people and we’d like to give them more than they expect... We want patients leaving our office feeling uplifted, as though they’ve had a great experience. Our key words are genuineness, cheerful, gentleness, caring, trustworthy, honesty, respect, efficiency, and follow through.” 
In the practical sense, that translates into details like extended hours (we’re here 12 hours a day Monday through Thursday, until 5 p.m. on Friday, and even six hours on Saturdays).
We have a wide range of expertise, so you can get all your dental care in one office. That improves communication about your treatment if more than one dentist is involved in your treatment—when you’re getting an implant, for example.
There are many other things that set us apart, such as our large hygiene department, which has real expertise in maintaining your soft tissues; and our state-of-the-art equipment, such as digital x-rays.
We invite you to make an appointment and see for yourself why we are a very different type of dental office than you’ve ever visited before.
My gums bleed when I brush. Is this something that I should be concerned about?
Bleeding is always a sign of a problem. If your fingers were bleeding, wouldn’t you be concerned?
Bleeding gums are no different. They are one signal that you may have periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease is a serious problem—it can lead not only to tooth loss, but has also been linked to systemic problems such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
So if you gums are bleeding, call our office right away to have them checked out.
