Common Questions
Many of our patients walk through our doors with questions about their visit. From procedures to insurance, we are often asked many similar questions. You may find this list of questions helpful before your visit. If you don’t see the answer to a particular question here, please call us at 678-714-2380 so we can help you further.
- What does FAGD stand for after a dentist's name?
- How do the doctors keep up to date on all of the current techniques and materials?
- How do I know when it's time to come in for a checkup?
- Do you accept referrals?
- Do you accept my insurance plan?
- What different payment options do you provide?
- How can I safely whiten my teeth?
- My gums bleed after I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?
- What precautions do you take to ensure patient safety?
- Crowns, veneers, onlays and inlays. Where can I learn more about these procedures?
- I want my front teeth to look better, but I do not want to wear braces. What would you recommend?
What does FAGD stand for after a dentist's name?
Your dentist is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists who are dedicated to professional development and continuing education. All AGD members must remain current with advances in the profession to provide quality patient treatment. A general dentist who is a "Fellow" in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) has been recognized by other general dentists as a leader and an example to other dentists of the importance of quality continuing dental education to patient care. Fellows have accepted the charge to keep abreast of advances in dentistry for the benefit of patients and the betterment of dentistry. They serve as mentors and leaders to other dentists pursuing continuing dental education. They set examples in their communities with their hard work, concern and involvement. To earn a Fellowship Award, your dentist must earn a minimum of 500 approved continuing dental education credits and pass a comprehensive 400 question examination. Your dentist must also be an Academy of General Dentistry member for five continuous years. While attaining Fellowship is a challenge, it allows dentists to remain current with what is new in dentistry, and to incorporate the latest techniques into their practices.
How do the doctors keep up to date on all of the current techniques and materials?
Because dentistry is constantly changing, we do a number of things to stay up to date on all of the current findings. Dr. Heil takes many more continuing education classes than the minimum requirement. In the past year she has traveled to South Carolina, Kentucky and Michigan to attend classes. Many times the entire staff attends a class together to improve the function of the whole office. She and members of our staff also belong to a variety of organizations that offer seminars and conferences on advances in dentistry.
How do I know when it's time to come in for a checkup?
We suggest visiting us at least every six months so that we can catch any problems in the early stages. If you have signs of periodontal disease (gum disease) we will need to see you more often to maintain the health of your gums. We recommend that children have their first visit at the age of three years to start a lifelong habit of good dental health.
Do you accept referrals?
We are always happy to welcome new patients to our office. We consider your referrals the highest compliment we could receive. We have found that our best new patients are usually referred by our great existing patients!
Do you accept my insurance plan?
Many of our patients have dental benefit plans, and we understand the importance of maximizing those benefits. We will help you determine the coverage you have available. However, our primary responsibility is to provide professional care to you, our patient. The actual cost of treatment varies widely depending on the procedures, as well as whether the services are preventive, restorative or cosmetic. We make every effort to present our patients with the best dental solution possible for their individual situation. Perhaps that's why so many of our patients have raved about their result: improved oral health and function, and a better smile - all with financial payment options and plans personalized for their individual needs.
Here are a few things you may not know about dental insurance:
- Your dental benefits are based upon a contract between your employer and an insurance company. If you have any questions regarding your dental benefits, please contact your employer or insurance company directly. Because your employer determines your plan benefits, every plan is different.
- Dental benefits differ greatly from medical benefits. In 1959, most dental benefit plans had a yearly maximum of $1,000. You may be surprised to know that the average dental benefit plan still has a yearly maximum of $1,000. That's right - there has been no significant increase in over 40 years! However, there have been significant increases in your premiums.
- Many people receive notification from their insurance company that dental fees are "above the usual and customary". An insurance company determines their reimbursement level by surveying a geographical area, calculating the average fee, then determines that 80% of the average fee is customary, Included in this survey are discount dental clinics and managed care facilities, which have severely reduced dental fees that bring down the average. Any doctor in private practice will probably have fees that insurance companies define as "higher than usual and customary".
- Many dental benefit plans tell their participants that they will be covered "up to 80% or 100%, but do not clearly specify the plan fee schedule allowance, annual maximums or limitations. It is not realistic to expect dental benefit plans to cover 80% or 100% of comprehensive dental services. Remember that the amount a plan reimburses is determined by how much your employer has paid for you dental benefit plan, it has nothing to do with your dental needs. You will get back only what your employer has put in, less the insurance company's profit margin.
- Insurance companies do NOT recognize many routine and newer dental services. In many cases they will only pay for the least expensive treatment, even when that means lower quality for you, the patient.
What different payment options do you provide?
We request payment at the time of your scheduled appointment. Our office accepts cash, check, and credit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express) for payment. The fee for each visit will be discussed prior to your appointment. Any amount not covered by your insurance is your responsibility.
We believe that money should not stand in the way of your having a healthy mouth. If you need extensive dental care and are concerned about financing it, we are happy to offer financing through CapitalOne. Please ask for more information or visit www.capitalonehealthcarefinance.com
How can I safely whiten my teeth?
There are many ways we can help you achieve a beautiful white smile. Since everyone is different, our doctors would like to look at your mouth before recommending a specific method. For fast results, we recommend BriteSmile in office whitening. For at home whitening, we recommend the Opalescence® system. If your teeth are cracked, chipped, or have existing fillings, veneers or bonding may be a better choice. Please ask us for more information.
My gums bleed after I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?
Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease. Recent research indicates that this disease can contribute to a variety of health problems, including heart disease and low birth weight babies. If your gums are bleeding, we recommend that you schedule an appointment with us. We perform a comprehensive check for gum disease during your initial appointment and re-check at your subsequent visits. If you have gum disease we will help you control it and restore your gums to a healthy condition.
What precautions do you take to ensure patient safety?
At Suwanee Family Dentistry, we take several precautions to ensure your safety as our patient. First, our staff keeps up-to-date on the latest sterilization procedures and research. Our office complies with and exceeds OSHA standards for safety. We also have a sterilization center where we can maximize efficient sterilization and minimize the chance of contamination through human error. All instruments and handpieces are heat sterilized after every patient. Many items are disposable and all countertops are wiped with hospital grade disinfectant between patients.
Crowns, veneers, onlays and inlays -- where can I learn more about these procedures?
At Suwanee Family Dentistry, we believe a patient is more confident with their dental care when they are more informed. Before you come to our office, please visit the Patient Education section of this website. Once you are here, we invite you to participate by asking questions. We will gladly show you images of your mouth from our intra-oral camera and discuss with you the advantages of each treatment options. We can also offer a more in-depth explanation with Caesy, a multimedia patient education system. As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words," and many of our patients have told us that the Caesy videos are very helpful.
I want my front teeth to look better, but I do not want to wear braces. What would you recommend?
There are a variety of ways to improve the appearance of your teeth without traditional metal braces. We may recommend Invisalign® to straighten your teeth. It works through a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. We can also improve the appearance of your teeth with veneers or bonding. If you would like to enhance the appearance of your smile, call us so we can schedule an appointment. After listening to your goals and concerns, we can suggest the best way to help you straighten your smile.
