How can I prevent tooth decay and gum disease?
Good oral hygiene is the best way to make sure your teeth are protected against tooth decay and gum disease. Brush twice a day and floss at least once per day. It may help to brush after meals, as well.

It's also very important to make regular visits to the dentist, which should be every six months. This allows your dentist to clean your teeth more thoroughly and check for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, and other complications. If the dentist finds these early on, they can be treated and reversed. A skipped appointment can mean a dental problem will have another six months to get worse, which can lead to severe tooth and gum tissue damage.

Do you accept my type of insurance?
Smile Arts Dentistry accepts most forms of dental insurance. We'll work with you to set up payment plans if your dental insurance cannot cover the full cost of a procedure or if you can't afford it in one payment. Please call us for more information. We are here to help you and we'll try to solve your problems as best as we can.

What should I do in a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies are as important to deal with effectively as any other medical emergency. Here are some ways to immediately handle various dental emergencies.

- Chipped or broken teeth should be rinsed with warm water. Placing a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes should stop any bleeding. A cold compress placed outside the mouth near the damaged tooth can keep swelling to a minimum and relieve some pain. Save the broken tooth pieces, if possible.

- Knocked out teeth can be saved if taken care of properly. First, retrieve the tooth by holding it from the part that is normally exposed in the mouth. Do not touch the root or other tissue. Rinse it off with water, but do not scrub it. If you can ease it back in to the socket, do so. Don't force it and make sure it goes in properly. If you can't put it back, keep it soaked in milk or some water with a bit of salt added.

If you can see a dentist, do so immediately. You'll have the best chances of saving the tooth if a dentist is able to place it within an hour of it being knocked out.

- Partially dislodged teeth should simply be treated with a cold compress on the outside of the mouth until you can see a dentist.