1. Where is your office ?
We currently serve two locations in the West Palm Beach Metro area. We serve the Western Communities of West Palm Beach - Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Acreage, Loxahatchee, Belle Glades and West Palm Beach at our office conveniently located on Southern Blvd just west off of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. We serve the residents of eastern West Palm Beach metro area - Downtown Lake Worth, Palm Beaches, Palm Springs, Lantana, Greenacres and West Palm Beach.
2. What do you offer for comfort and relaxation ?
We pride ourselves in making your every visit as comfortable and as stress-free as possible. We offer LASER dentistry which reduces the amount of shots and drills and this LASER technology eliminates the discomfort and pain mostly caused by drills and shots. We also have music CDs and cable television for the comfort of our patient. Our staff take comforting care of our patients and provide a relaxing ambience to help our patients get through procedures with little discomfort.
3. What can you do to whiten my teeth ?
We use the latest procedures and materials, such as in-office bleaching and veneers to help you achieve a radiant smile. We offer ZOOM2 as seen on Extreme Makeover to help brighten your smile for any occasion. See how others have gained renewed confidence and success with smile makeovers.
4. What are Invisalign Invisible Braces ?
We currently serve two locations in the West Palm Beach Metro area. We serve the Western Communities of West Palm Beach - Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Acreage, Loxahatchee, Belle Glades and West Palm Beach at our office conveniently located on Southern Blvd just west off of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. We serve the residents of eastern West Palm Beach metro area - Downtown Lake Worth, Palm Beaches, Palm Springs, Lantana, Greenacres and West Palm Beach.
5. What is conscious sedation ?
You are given a small pill to take an hour prior to your dental appointment. Your companion will accompany you to the office. By the time you arrive, you will be very drowsy.
When you arrive in our office, you will be escorted into the comfort room, covered with a thick, warm blanket and placed on a monitor to watch your vital signs. After you are comfortable, our doctors and the experienced clinical team at Palo Alto Dental Associates will take care of your dental needs.
When your treatment is completed, your companion will return you home to finish your comfortable, relaxing day. Read more about conscious sedation.
6. If I smoked for years, can whitening help me ?
The answer is yes, depending on the amount and type of staining. If whitening does not work, porcelain veneers will allow you to have the beautiful smile you have always wanted. A before and after example of porcelain veneers.
7. Is it normal for my gums to bleed when I brush ?
No. A comprehensive oral exam and cleaning, combined with good home care instruction will help you achieve healthy gums.
In general, bleeding gums are a sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease. However, other conditions may make your gums bleed. Bad gums could be as strong factor for heart attacks as smoking cigarettes, which is to blame for about 40,000 heart-related deaths a year - Daniel Haney, AP Medical Director.
A new study of fatty deposits lodged in the carotid arteries of stroke sufferers shows that 70% contain bacteria and that 40% of the bacteria comes from the mouth - USA Today.
Men with periodontal disease have stronger propensity for cardiovascular disease than men without periodontal disease, with those under 50 with periodontal disease having a greater risk than those over 50. - J. Periodontal
Diabetics with gum disease were three times more likely to have heart attacks than those with gum disease - USA Today.
8. What is an implant ?
Implants work by mimicking the structure of natural teeth. Like natural teeth, dental implants are secured in the jawbone. Successful dental implants become firmly embedded in the jaw, providing a chewing surface like that of natural teeth.
Implants can replace one tooth or multiple teeth depending on the circumstance. Please ask our doctors about this exciting procedure. More about implants...
9. I think I grind my teeth. Is this related to the headaches that I get in the morning and when I am stressed ?
Probably. The way the muscles and joints work in your jaw, consistent grinding can cause you some pain.
Typical problems include headaches in the morning, while you are under increased stress, sore muscles in your temple area, and a sore neck. You do not need to live with this type of discomfort.
Our doctors can make you a splint that will minimize or remove this problem altogether. Learn about TMD.
10. Do you accept insurance ?
Yes, we accept most major dental plans. As a courtesy to our patients, we check your benefits and will file all claims for you. We know and understand that insurance is a maze and is confusing. Hence, we work on our patients behalf to make it easy and also reduce your out of pocket expenses. We currently accept most major insurances (If you do not find your insurance carrier name on this list, please call our office - we will be glad to assist you).
AETNA, AMERIPLAN, ASSURANT, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, CAREINGTON, CIGNA, COMPBENEFITS, DELTA DENTAL, DENTEMAX, GUARDIAN, METLIFE, PRINCIPAL, SAFEGUARD, UNITHED HEALTHCARE, UNITED CONCORDIA
11. What type of payment options are available ?
We accept the following:
Major Credit Cards
Special payment plans
Credit available upon approval
12. Does Oral Health = Heart Disease ?
Heart disease may begin in your mouth, say researchers at Columbia University Medical Center.
In a study of 657 adults, they took samples of oral plaque and measured carotid artery thickness, an indication of atherosclerosis. What they found: Those with the highest levels of bacteria that cause gum disease had the thickest arteries.
Previous research has suggested a link between oral health and heart disease, but this is the first study to go inside the mouth and actually measure the amount of bacteria. The mouth may be a window to what's happening in your body say's study author Moise Desvarieux, an epidemiologist.