Your Questions

How does the doctor keep up to date on all of the current techniques and materials?
At what age should my children first see a dentist?
Do you accept my insurance plan?
What payment options do you provide?
How can I ask the Doctor questions directly?
How can I safely whiten my teeth?
My gums bleed after I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?
I really don't like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do to help me relax?
Crowns, veneers, onlays, inlays, and partials.where can I learn more about these procedures?
I want my front teeth to look better but I don't want to wear braces. What would you recommend?

How does the doctor keep up to date on all of the current techniques and materials?

Dr. Hale subscribes to the latest industry journals to keep tabs on research and development in the dental industry. He also takes time on a regular basis for continuing education, and ensures that his staff does the same. As a team and as individuals, our office makes it our responsibility to be familiar with the latest techniques and materials available.

At what age should my children first see a dentist?

We like to see children in our office by the age of three and four, so that we can anticipate the development of their overall bite and dental development prior to the emergence of the permanent teeth. At this young age, it's quite simple to recognize and take steps to prevent potential future problems. The first time we meet them, it's often at the time of one of the parent's appointments. We'll just introduce ourselves and make them comfortable with our team. Then, on their first real visit, we treat them gently and with special care, ensuring the experience is positive and non-threatening. Of course, if your toddler accidentally chips or knocks out a tooth prior to this age, you should let us know right away.

Do you accept my insurance plan?

We use a handy software program called Insurance Answers Plus. All you have to do is provide us with your company name and we can look up the details of your coverage in the program's database. The system is updated on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy of information.

What payment options do you provide?

We accept cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards. Your insurance co-pay is due at the time of your visit, but we'll be happy to help you structure a payment plan after that time to pay out any remaining charges. For more extensive procedures, we're also pleased to offer financing plans through Care Credit and Dental Fee Plan.

How can I ask the Doctor questions directly?

You can leave a message with our staff and Dr. Hale will call you back. In fact, Dr. Hale makes it a point to call his patients at home after they've undergone root canals, crown work, or extractions.

How can I safely whiten my teeth?

There are a number of procedures available to help whiten your smile, from at-home bleaching products to in-office supervised treatments. Dr. Hale can help evaluate your potential for whitening your teeth, based on their current color and the causes of any discoloration. Once you have decided on the most appropriate method, you'll probably spend anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks undergoing a series of simple whitening treatments. Most patients can safely experience a dramatic improvement.

My gums bleed after I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?

Yes, this can be an early sign of gum disease. We recommend you come in for an examination.

I really don't like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do to help me relax?

Your comfort is extremely important to us so we use a number of techniques and devices designed to make you feel more relaxed. These include education (knowledge can put you at ease), open communication (we listen!), sedation dentistry (oral sedation), nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and comfort items such as blankets, headphones, and your very own chair massager!

Crowns, onlays, inlays, veneers, and partials.where can I learn more about these procedures?

With today's technology, materials, and advanced techniques, we have many options for restoring weak, broken, chipped, discolored, and/or missing teeth, bringing your smile back to its original shape and function. For example, we can apply an all-porcelain crown, somewhat like a "cap", to cover the entire outside of the problem tooth. Crowns are also helpful to cover large areas of decay after they've been filled. Or, for smaller areas of decay, we can apply all-porcelain onlays or inlays. similar to crowns, but retaining more natural tooth structure. For unattractive front teeth, we can create pretty, natural shapes and shades by applying paper-thin porcelain veneers to the fronts. For patients who are missing a number of front/side teeth, we can create a removable partial denture, designed for either the upper or lower jaw, made of all acrylic or all metal. They're attached to existing teeth by means of precision acrylic clasps and must be removed for cleaning after eating, as well as for sleeping. For more information on any of these procedures, please feel free to talk with Dr. Hale during your visit or click here to visit the American Dental Association's library of oral health topics.

I want my front teeth to look better but I don't want to wear braces. What would you recommend?

There are several procedures that can give you a brighter, more attractive smile. These treatments include Invisalign (clear braces), veneers, bonding, and recontouring.