Yes, we are! Please give us a call or fill out the Appointment Request form on our site to learn more about scheduling an appointment at our office.

Sometime between the ages of 2 and 3 is a wonderful time for a child’s first dental visit. It is helpful for them to have all of their baby teeth and to be old enough to follow basic instructions. If you have any questions or concerns before this age, we are happy to see them or refer them to a Pediatric Dentist. You can read more about this on the Dentistry for Children page.

Well, that depends! If you have been in the care of a dentist recently, then your first visit will typically involve gathering any necessary information (your health history, x-rays if needed, etc.), cleaning your teeth with the hygienist, and an exam by the Doctor. If it has been some time (usually 3 years or more) since you have been to the dentist, we will spend your first visit focused on getting to know you, your teeth, and your dental health goals - you will meet with the Doctor first for a thorough exam and to discuss these things. Then you will come back later for a cleaning with a hygienist.

We do accept all insurance but we are NOT in network with any insurance. We are an out of network provider (also known as a fee-for-service provider). We file your insurance directly with your carrier just like an in-network provider and most insurance does pay a portion of your treatment. The difference is that if your treatment is not fully covered by your insurance company, then you are responsible to cover the balance at the time of service. We often submit pre-treatment requests to get a best estimate on what your portion may be, and we seek to be very transparent with you regarding finances. We think the level of care we strive to provide and the caring atmosphere of our practice is worth the difference. We invite you to come and see for yourself!

No, we do not accept Medicaid.

Tarter build-up and stain accumulates on your teeth that you simply cannot brush away at home. This build-up is the perfect home for plaque to settle into and cause gingivitis (gum inflammation), which eventually leads to periodontitis (bone loss). By receiving a professional dental cleaning at least every 6 months, we remove that build-up to enable your oral hygiene at home to be effective. We are also able to screen you for cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and other diseases of the oral cavity.

X-rays allow us to see inside the teeth and bone like no visual inspection can. By routine screening of the teeth and bones, we frequently find cavities (both small and large), abscesses, tooth resorption, and other boney changes. We occasionally will even diagnose cysts and tumors. Because we always want to find, and treat if indicated, these anomalies early, we take routine x-rays. Usually we take cavity detecting x-rays (“bitewings”) once a year and a panoramic x-ray to look at the bones and jaw every 5 years. For patients with a very lower history of cavities, we will take bitewing x-rays even less frequently as indicated.

We follow the American Dental Association’s guidelines for x-ray frequency. All our equipment is digital, which gives you the lowest possible radiation dose that modern equipment allows. The x-ray radiation received for a full exam at our office is less than the radiation you would receive by flying from Charlotte to California.

Both a power toothbrush and a manual toothbrush can clean your teeth very well. However, using a manual toothbrush does require more time and focused attention to what you are doing while brushing. There isn’t a right or wrong answer here (but for what it’s worth, all the hygienists and doctors at our office prefer an electric brush themselves). We sell electric toothbrushes in our office at our cost if you are interested in purchasing one!

That will depend on what type of sedation you receive. If you just use nitrous oxide (laughing gas), you will be able to drive yourself home. However, if you receive oral conscious sedation (a pill), you will require a companion to bring you and drive you home from your visit. Learn more about sedation on our site under Other Services.