Frequently Asked Questions in Indianapolis IN

We recommend that that most people see a dentist at least every 6 months for regular care. However, there are certain circumstances where we may recommend that you see us every 3 or 4 months for your checkups.

We will try our best to get you in same day or As Soon As Possible for a dental emergency.

There can be many symptoms of dental problems that may cause you to seek dental treatment. Pain, swelling, bleeding gums, chewing sensitivity or anything that seems abnormal to you, is a reason to seek dental treatment right away. However, it can be very common for cavities and other dental issues to also be present and not cause you any pain. It’s for that reason that it’s very important that you regularly see a dentist, even if you are not having any noticeable problems.

There are many things you can do to maintain good oral hygiene at home. We always recommend brushing for 2 mins, twice a day, ideally with an electric toothbrush. You should also be incorporating flossing or water flossing into your daily routine. Other good at home habits are using a mouth rinse and tongue scraping. Our hygienists can send you home with a personalized recommendation of what you can be doing at home and what products might be a good fit for you.

There are many different types of fillings and Dr Foss will determine which type is best for you depending on your individual situation.

You should give us a call ASAP and we can help guide you on where to go and what to do in any dental emergency.

There are always certain risks with any sort of treatment. However, our dental team can help talk through any risks/benefits with you and help to ease any dental anxiety you may have about your dental treatment.

Dental anxiety is very common and our dental team has a lot of experience in helping people overcome their dental fears. The first thing is to communicate with us about your dental phobia so we can help determine the best treatments and ways to help you. Many patients prefer to listen to music or wear headphones if the sound of the drill is a source of anxiety for you. We also offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation which can greatly help relax you during dental appointments. We are confident that we can find an option that will help reduce your dental anxiety while at our office.

Dental implants have many benefits. They are going to be the best replacement option to help give you maximum function while preserving your bone and keeping your natural facial contours. Implants are going to be the replacement option that best mimics what a natural tooth looks and feels like.

Yes! In fact we encourage pregnant women to make sure they’re regularly seeing their dentist. Hormone changes and morning sickness can contribute greatly to many dental problems. And patients that have periodontal disease are at a greater risk for preterm birth and low weight, so it is imperative that they be regularly seeing a dentist through their pregnancy.

There are many different whitening options out there today. There are whitening toothpastes, mouth rinses, strips and even in office treatments. It’s best to consult with your dentist prior to any teeth whitening so we can recommended the best option personalized to you.

They are many different things that can cause bad breath. Some of the common causes are poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, decay, certain foods and bacterial buildup in the mouth. Depending on the cause, the treatments can include improving oral hygiene, using a tongue scraper, treating any dry mouth present and of course seeing the dentist regularly to evaluate and recommend any personalized treatments.

Depending on your dental health, we typically want to see patients every 6 months. However, in some situation we may want to see you sooner, such as every 3 or 4 months.

We do offer sedation options for patient that would like them in order to help feel more comfortable during their procedures. We offer nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Nitrous oxide is a gas your breath in during your procedure that helps relax and calm you down. At the end of the procedure you will be fine to drive yourself home once we’re finished. Nitrous is commonly recommended for children having restorative procdures done to help calm any nerves they may have.

We also offer oral sedation, which is where we prescribe you a benzodiazepine pill to take prior to your procedures. You will still be awake and able to respond during this type of sedation but you’ll have a blurry memory of the procedure. For this type of sedation, we will monitor you continuously during the procedure and you will have to have a driver to take you to and from your appointment and care for you until your sedation drugs have fully worn off.

There are many factors at play that can contribute to your risk of getting cavities. These factors include a genetic component as well as the food and drink you consume and even the medications you take. We can discuss at your dental appointments what factors we think personally could be contributing to your high decay risk and what we can do to try to help that.

During the first dental visit, we typically do a compreshensive exam, which may include a full mouth of xrays, a panoramic xray, intraoral images and a full clinical head and neck exam. We will discuss any problems or issues you’re having and will make a treatment plan for any treatment we recommend. Sometimes, we are able to complete your cleaning at the first appointment too, but can’t guarantee there will be time to do the cleaning at that first appointment.

Yes, dental care is safe for children and we recommend all kids see a dentist at least every 6 months, starting at around ages 1-3.

Most childern’s first dental visit will be between the ages of 1-3. The first visit is usually pretty short and involves getting the child comfortable at the dental office and introducing them to what we do at a dental appointment. We will try to make their first visit and happy visit so they will be excited to come back in the future!