General FAQ

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath can be a result of poor oral hygiene habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be caused by the foods you eat and unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking or chewing tobacco-based products. If you don't brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promotes bacteria growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath. In addition, odor-causing bacteria and food particles can cause bad breath if dentures, retainers, and other removable or fixed appliances are not properly cleaned.

Can keeping an aspirin beside a tooth that is aching help?

A toothache cannot be relieved by placing an aspirin tablet anywhere in the mouth. In fact, this is a dangerous habit. It can cause burns of the soft tissues around the area of placement. Therefore, aspirin tablets should not be placed in mouth to relieve tooth pain.

What are sealants and why do we need them?

Sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth or molars to keep out germs and food. The most important reason to get sealants is to prevent tooth decay. The chewing surface of our back teeth may have deep pits and grooves that our toothbrush bristles cannot clean. Sealants fill those grooves before decay attacks teeth.

When should children get their first dental x-ray?

Usually, most children will have had x-rays taken by the age of 5 or 6. As children begin to get their adult teeth around the age of 6, x-rays allow Dr. Corey to see if all of the adult teeth are growing in the jaw, look for bite problems, and determine if teeth are clean and healthy.

Why do I need a splint or Night Guard?

Many people grind and clench their teeth from time to time; the medical term for this is bruxism. Occasional teeth grinding does not usually cause harm, but when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged. In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing or loss of teeth. The chronic grinder may wear his teeth down to stumps. Grinding can lead to a multitude of problems including costly restorations like crowns, bridges, partials and dentures. That's why Dr. Corey prescribes Night Guards or splints to protect your teeth during sleep.

What causes plaque?

Plaque is the sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on teeth. It makes teeth "feel fuzzy" to the tongue and is most noticeable when teeth are not brushed. You can help prevent plaque by brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day with a rounded-tip, soft bristled toothbrush. Pay particular attention to the space where the gums and teeth meet. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride. See your hygienist every 6 months for a check-up and cleaning.

What causes cavities?

Cavities are the result of tooth decay. Tooth decay occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as breads, cereals, milk, soda, fruits, cakes, or candy are left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth digest these foods, turning them into acids. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth called cavities, or caries.

Do all wisdom teeth need to be extracted?

Normally, people have three permanent molars that develop in each quadrant of the mouth: upper and lower, right and left. The first molars usually grow into the mouth at around 6 years of age. The second molars grow in at around age 12. In many cases, wisdom teeth do not grow in properly, have a proper bite relationship, or have healthy gum tissue around them. Often wisdom teeth improperly erupt and become impacted, requiring them to be extracted or pulled.

Symptoms of impacted teeth:

• Pain
• Infection in the mouth
• Facial swelling
• Swelling of the gum line in the back of the mouth

Wisdom teeth are typically removed after the roots are formed or at least three-fourths developed. This primarily occurs within the adolescent years.

Are amalgams safe?

Dental amalgam is a combination of elemental liquid mercury and an alloy powder that is made up silver, tin, and copper. Mercury in dental amalgam is not poisonous; with other materials in dental amalgam, its chemical nature changes, so it is essentially harmless. The amount or mercury released in the mouth under the pressure of chewing and grinding is extremely small and no cause for alarm. In fact, it is less than what we are exposed to in food, air, and water.

Do you accept my insurance?

We will file your insurance claim. Your plan may require you to visit a participating provider. Dr. Corey is a provider with PHP. Typically, most insurance companies allow you to see any dentist you like.

My insurance did not pay as estimated, why?

If you should receive a letter from your insurance carrier stating our fee is above their usual, customary, and reasonable payment amount, your carrier may have set a ceiling or limit on various procedures. What your insurance carrier may not tell you is that other carriers may pay our charge in full.

The office of Dr. Samuel L. Corey DDS, PC has established what we feel to be reasonable and competitive fees for our services in this geographical area. The fees we charge for dental services are the same for every patient. We will give you a treatment estimate so that you may check with your insurance carrier to see what will be paid. It is the patient's responsibility to be aware of their benefits and procedures that are covered or unfortunately not covered.

We will gladly submit your claims at the time of service. We expect the unpaid (co-pay) portion to be satisfied at that time. Please remember your insurer dictates your coverage-we don't.

We feel that it is unfair for an insurance carrier to imply that we have mistreated you by overcharging for services rendered. This places the doctor in a sensitive situation, which could damage the patient/doctor relationship. We are very conscious of our charges and our commitment to you.

If you have any questions, please let us know so that we may be of service.