Your Questions
Find the Answers You Need
What makes you different from any other dental practice I could visit?
Can you help me get a brighter smile?
I’ve heard that some dentists use lasers in their dental practice. Do you? How are lasers helpful?
Why do you use digital x-rays?
What payment options do you provide?
My gums bleed when I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?
Bad breath is a real concern to me. Can you help?
Can you show me what my new smile will look like ahead of time?
I get extremely nervous when I go to the dentist. What can you do for me?
I have no other options but to get dentures. Will they look natural?
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
What makes you different from any other dental practice I could visit?
We believe our philosophy and practice of co-diagnosis is what sets us apart. We really want our patients’ input on their treatments; we want to know what your desires are, what your needs are, and what result you want to achieve. We take the time to listen carefully to what you're telling us and also to ask the right questions so that we can best understand your needs.
You’ll never get any high-pressure sales talk from us. We believe in working together in a relaxed, friendly setting to develop a treatment plan that you are comfortable with —one that’s individualized to meet your specific needs, goals and desires.
Because we believe in making your treatment as comfortable and relaxed as possible, we offer Sedation Dentistry.
We strive to make dentistry as financially feasible as possible. That is why we offer "payment options" such as 12-18 months same as cash.
Can you help me get a brighter smile?
Yes! In our office, we use a deep bleaching technique for whitening smiles—the Zoom Teeth Whitening System. The Zoom Teeth Whitening system was invented by Dr. William Dorfman, who is featured on the ABC television show “Extreme Makeover.” It’s the same system used by Hollywood stars, which means that you can have a beautiful, white smile just like theirs.
Teeth Whitening is safe, but requires a dentist’s supervision to ensure the best results. Ask us about your teeth whitening options during your next visit.
I’ve heard that some dentists use lasers in their dental practice. Do you? How is laser dentistry helpful?
Lasers and other high-tech dental equipment help us provide very high-quality dental work while ensuring your comfort and safety. In our Chesapeake office we use two types of lasers:
The first laser we use is DIAGNOdent by Kavo. This laser tool helps us detect dental cavities and is so precise that it actually quantifies the amount of decay in your teeth.
The other type of laser we use is the Diolase laser by Biolase, which is approved by the FDA for use on soft gum tissue. Diolase allows us to perform gum surgery without cutting, without stitching, and with minimal bleeding.
Lasers offer one more very important advantage to our patients: laser surgery is much less expensive than traditional gum surgery, resulting in major financial savings.
Why do you use digital x-rays?
Digital x-rays are good for our patients. They cut the amount of radiation to your body by as much as 90 percent (when compared to traditional x-rays). In addition, digital x-rays increase the speed of diagnosis since digital images are faster to produce.
Digital x-rays also enhance our ability to diagnosis problems because they can be enlarged on the computer screen. And, since they are visible on the computer screen, digital x-rays give you a better view and a clearer understanding of any problem areas in your mouth. This works well with the co-diagnosis philosophy of our practice, which involves you in every step of the treatment decision-making process.
What payment options do you provide?
Because we truly want to help you get a healthy mouth and a great looking smile, we offer a variety of payment options. We accept most insurance plans. We also accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and personal checks. Through Care Credit we also offer 12-18 months same as cash. You can extend your payment options as long as 60 months paying a minimal interest. We try to be as creative as possible with our Financial Options. Don’t let financial concerns keep you from receiving the care you need.
My gums bleed when I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?
Yes. Be sure to let us know if your gums are bleeding because it may be an indication of periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease is caused by bacteria and, if left untreated, it can cause you to lose bone in your jaw and to eventually lose teeth as well.
Medical researchers have also linked the bacteria in gum disease to systemic health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
We can treat your gum disease by deep cleaning the pockets of your gums and, if necessary, with laser soft tissue surgery. (Please also see question above on laser dentistry.)
Bad breath is a real concern to me. Can you help?
Bad breath is one of those things even your best friends won’t mention. So unfortunately, many people walk around with bad breath without even knowing it. Or if they do suspect it, they try temporary cover-ups, like breath mints or alcohol-based mouthwashes that dry out your mouth and increase your susceptibility to bad breath. However, bad breath actually results from the natural decay of oral bacteria, human cells and food debris…a process that goes on inside your mouth continually and creates strong odorous molecules called volatile sulfur compounds. So, what's the solution? Enter the revolutionary CloSYSII System—a four-part program that stops bad breath at its source! Instead of trying to mask odors, the active ingredients actually eliminate the sulfur compounds for up to five hours.
A multi-step system provides a thorough and complete approach to eliminating bad breath. If you are concerned about bad breath, we suggest you call the office for an evaluation and we can introduce you to the CloSYSII System.
Can you show me what my new smile will look like ahead of time?
Yes. Before we start any smile makeover, we do a complete analysis of your current smile using digital x-rays and digital photography. We’ll look at the individual proportions of your face and then design a smile that will look great with your features. Finally, we do a wax mock-up of your smile so you can see what it will look like.
Then—working with one of the best ceramists in the area—we will build your new smile. With the use of today’s laminates, all ceramic crowns and veneers, you can have a major smile transformation within two or three weeks.
We do try to accommodate patients with emergencies, getting them into our office the same day for treatment if at all possible. If you have an emergency, please call our Chesapeake dental office.
I get extremely nervous when I go to the dentist. What can you do for me?
Dr. Simmons is very sympathic to each patients needs and feels that the key to minimizing patient anxiety is a caring, friendly staff along with methods of conscious sedation dentistry.
I have no other options but to get dentures. Will they look natural?
Dr. Simmons is in partnership with a high quality lab that will customize dentures for you. Dr. Simmons works closely with the lab who uses the best materials available. This material has strength and beauty gives a more natural appearance.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
If you snore habitually, sleep restlessly, gasp for air at night, or feel drowsy or fatigued in the daytime, you may have sleep apnea. You can take this simple test (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) to determine your level of likelihood.