FAQs

Convenient Answers to Your Common Questions

We've designed this site to help maintain clear, convenient communication between our office and our clients. Part of this includes providing easy-access answers to your common questions, as we've done here. If there are topics or concerns we've not addressed, however, please contact our office and ask!

• How often should someone see the dentist?
• How does Dr. Voller keep up on all of the current techniques and materials?
• How can I safely whiten my teeth?
• My gums bleed when I brush my teeth. Should I be concerned?
• Is there anything you can do to help me relax when I come in for my appointment?
• Crowns, Veneers, Inlays and Onlays…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 can you recommend?
• Smile Analysis & Design
  • a. I'm so used to my smile, I take it for granted. How can your 'Smile Analysis' process help me determine what changes would be most beneficial?
  • b. After undergoing 'Smile Analysis', what is involved in 'Smile Design'?
• Do you accept my insurance plan? And, what about payment options for my part of the bill?
• Do you accept referrals?
• What do I do if I have an emergency when the office is closed?

How often should someone see the dentist?

We typically determine the appropriate time interval between re-care appointments according to your particular dental health status. Professional cleanings and check-ups are typically recommended for most adults every six months; this can vary considerably depending on your general health, the extent to which you've undergone restorative or cosmetic treatments, and your hereditary tendencies to oral health problems.

Appropriately timed hygiene visits ensure effective removal of hardened tartar in areas where your brushing and flossing hasn't reached, thus preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and the entire cascade of events that follow those two problems. These visits also ensure proper maintenance of any existing restorative/cosmetic work; plus, they provide us the important opportunity of screenings for 'hidden' concerns such as bite problems and oral cancer.

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How does Dr. Voller keep up on all of the current techniques and materials?

Dr. Voller is extremely active in pursuing the most advanced information about dentistry's latest research findings, technology, techniques, and materials. To this end, he subscribes to the latest industry journals, devotes considerable time daily consulting with other industry leaders via reading and posting clinical application data on an international dental experts' site. He also devotes significant amounts of time to continuing education studies, including traveling as needed to the most renowned institutions to gain hands-on experience with the masters. Dr. Voller has also published his own work in over a dozen dental journals, and is a frequent lecturer, teacher and mentor to fellow dental professionals.

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How can I safely whiten my teeth?

Professionally supervised tooth whitening has been shown to be an extremely safe procedure, as determined by over 800 objective studies on the subject. If you're interested in finding out what whitening could do for you, Dr. Voller can help evaluate your potential based on the current color of your teeth and the causes of any discoloration. Our dentist-supervised at-home method involves 10 days to two weeks of short daily sessions, wearing a customized tray appliance containing a tailored strength of whitening gel. With this simple method, most clients can expect to end up with teeth approximately 2-4 shades brighter on the dental shade chart.

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My gums bleed when I brush my teeth. Should I be concerned?

Absolutely! Bleeding gums is never a good sign. However, the condition may or may not require professional attention, depending on the source of the problem. Bleeding gums can be caused by improper, rough, 'scrubbing' instead of gentle, circular brushing motions; using a hard-bristled tooth brush instead of a soft one; plaque and/or tartar build-up below the gum line; or gum sensitivity due to gingivitis or periodontal disease.

If your problem persists despite correct brushing and flossing methods, or occurs every time you brush, it's likely to be the result of some level of gum disease, and we recommend you set up an evaluation appointment with Dr. Voller. We specialize in helping clients arrest and successfully treat all stages of gum disease, through the use of our excellent non-surgical gum care procedures.

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Is there anything you can do to help me relax when I come in for my appointment?

We understand how anxious many people can be about visiting the dentist. That's why we strive to create a relaxing atmosphere. For example, we take the time to get to know you, understand and talk through all of your concerns, and help alleviate them. We also have TV entertainment available in every treatment room, to help you relax. If necessary, we offer nitrous oxide prior to treatments for clients who are extremely anxious or where the procedure is complex. When you come in for your evaluation, just let us know how you're feeling, and we'll work together with you to put you completely at ease.

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Crowns, Veneers, Inlays and Onlays…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 crooked teeth…bringing them back to their original shape and function. For example, we can apply an all-porcelain crown, somewhat like a 'cap', that covers the entire outside of the problem tooth. Crowns are also helpful to cover large areas of decay after they've been filled. Or, for large decayed or damaged surface chewing areas requiring restoration, we can apply a protective covering/filling or onlay made of either precious metal, or composite resin material, thereby adding strength and preventing decay. If you need fillings, we can use porcelain inlays instead of silver amalgam… actually strengthening the tooth and protecting it against further fracture. Similarly, we can restore cracked, discolored, crooked or otherwise unattractive front teeth to pretty, natural shapes and shades by applying paper-thin porcelain veneers to the fronts. If you're interested in finding out more about these procedures, improve your education by checking out our Learning Library.

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

Dr. Voller has a number of ways to improve the look of your front teeth without the use of braces. For slightly crooked or unevenly worn teeth, a bit of reshaping and the addition of porcelain veneers may be sufficient to give them a bright, uniform look. In other cases, we may find it helpful to recontour the teeth, or create more appropriately shaped surfaces with porcelain crowns. In any case, we'd be happy to consult with you about the appearance of your front teeth and create a treatment plan to accomplish your objectives.

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Smile Analysis & Design

a. I'm so used to my smile, I take it for granted. How can your 'Smile Analysis' process help me determine what changes would be most beneficial?

Thorough smile analysis helps uncover hard-to-articulate aspects of your smile and your feelings about it…allowing us to determine which treatments or procedures would be most appropriate for creating change. Typically, analysis involves both emotional questions-- to determine how your smile affects your self-image, your interactions with others, and your relationships; and objective questions-to determine what structural/physical aspects of your smile concern you. You can even try answering these at home before you visit!

To do an emotional smile evaluation, ask yourself the following questions:

How do you feel about your smile? Do you love it's appearance? Does it make you feel confident? Or, do you turn away from people while smiling, or hide your mouth with your hand while talking? Do you cover your smile with your lips, or refrain from letting yourself smile fully in front of others? Do you close your mouth to smile for pictures? Do you hold back your true laugh so that your smile won't show? Are you embarrassed by the condition of your teeth, or by the length of time that's passed since you've seen a dentist? Have you ever wished that you had someone else's smile? How would a new, beautiful smile make you feel about yourself and about life? What would you like to change about it in order to make it seem 'beautiful' to you?

To do an objective smile evaluation, stand in front of a mirror using your normal smile. Now, think of something truly funny, and give yourself a big, laughing smile. If you're unhappy with your smile or your teeth, you probably don't use that smile very often. But, you could freely use such a contagious, happy smile if you felt confident about it! So, ask yourself the following questions:

What color are your teeth-white, yellow, darkened, or badly stained? Are there spaces or missing teeth anywhere? Are any teeth crooked, uneven, or out of alignment? Do they slant one way or the other? Do the biting edges of your upper teeth follow your lips' curvature? Are the edges even with each other, or are some too long or too short? Do the edges of your canine teeth look too long, sharp, or out of line? Do you grind your teeth? Are the edges chipped or worn? Are any teeth too short, fat, small, or large? Does the midline of your two front teeth center with your face and nose? Does your smile show too much gum, thick gums, receding gums, puffy gums, or uneven gums? Do you have silver/mercury fillings in any teeth? Do you have old, unnatural-looking crowns with darkened edges?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll be happy to know that we have answers for you. Read more about our services, or contact us today to share your answers with us, and obtain our professional evaluation.

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b. After undergoing 'Smile Analysis', what is involved in 'Smile Design'?

Smile Design involves several important steps. After an initial smile analysis, we conduct a consultation using digital imaging to preview exactly what your desired final smile can look like. After we all agree upon the final objectives, we create a treatment plan to accommodate those goals-some involving several lengthy appointments, some requiring much less time. In any case, we strive to create a smile that accurately conveys your unique personality, in keeping with your gender, age, and facial features. When we're finished, the new restorations will be undetectable…all that you'll see is a healthy, happy new smile that won't quit.

This kind of Smile Design is simple to explain, but extremely technical to perform. That's why it's so critical to choose a professional dentist such as Dr. Voller, who has obtained advanced training in the latest techniques and materials of restorative and cosmetic dentistry. In fact, Smile Design isn't taught in dental school, but requires post-graduate training, extensive hands-on experience, and incredible dedication to confidently apply both the artistic and scientific knowledge involved in successful, lasting smile work.

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Do you accept my insurance plan? And, what about payment options for my part of the bill?

We will be happy to help you file in order to maximize the benefits due you through your insurance plan, and to ensure that your claim is handled in an efficient manner. However, we are not part of any particular plan. You'll find that our front office team is well-versed in the latest coverage trends, and is more than happy to discuss the particulars of your plan with you prior to any treatments you may undergo. Click here to learn why you shouldn't let insurance dictate your treatment plan.

For the portion of the bill that remains your financial responsibility, we offer several types of payment options. We accept personal checks, major credit cards, or interest-free financing through Care Credit.

CareCredit is a flexible client/client payment program, specifically designed for healthcare expenses, that makes it easier for you to get the treatment or procedures you want and need. CareCredit is ideal for co-payments, deductibles, treatment and procedures not covered by insurance, and can be used at over 35,000 practices nationwide.

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Do you accept referrals?

We're happy to accept referrals from other dental offices as well as from recommendations by our clients to their families and friends. In fact, this is the highest compliment you can pay our practice…to send your friends and family to us to allow us to care for their teeth in the same way that we cared for you!

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What do I do if I have an emergency when the office is closed?

We allow time daily for the possibility that emergencies will need to be seen. However, should a problem arise after hours, Dr. Voller is available 24-7 through his cell phone, where you can reach him with questions, concerns, or emergency situations. He'll return the call as soon as possible, providing as much helpful information as possible over the phone and arranging to see you in person as needed.

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