Dental Care FAQ

Your first visit to Hooks Family Dentistry will consist of a complete dental examination with Dr. Hooks. He will sit down with you to discuss your unique dental needs and how best we might fulfill your goals for your smile. During this oral exam, Dr. Hooks will check for signs of oral cancer as well as any other abnormalities, such as tooth decay, jaw dysfunction, or defective fillings. He will also check your periodontal (gum) health to ensure that you are not experiencing gum disease. If you don’t exhibit any signs of periodontal disease, then we will perform a routine cleaning. Otherwise, we will come up with a more comprehensive treatment plan to get your gums back to optimal health.

Additionally, a member of our team will most likely take X-rays of your mouth. If you have recently had X-rays taken at another dentist, we ask that you bring them with you to your appointment or you email them to our office at contact@hooksdds.com. The American Dental Association recommends that full series X-rays be taken every three years.

A first visit will take around an hour and a half for adults and roughly 45 minutes for children. The cost of an initial adult visit includes the complete exam, full-series X-rays, teeth cleaning and polishing, fluoride treatment, oral cancer screening, periodontal diagnosis, and at-home oral hygiene instructions. The cost of an initial children’s visit includes the complete exam, bite analysis/orthodontic evaluation teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment, and brushing instructions.

Throughout your time with us, we strive to make your appointment as enjoyable as possible. If you have any questions during your visit, please do not hesitate to ask. You can save time at your initial check-in process by filling out new patient paperwork at home and bringing it with you.

Dental insurance plans vary widely in their exclusions, deductibles, maximum benefits, co-pays, and fee schedules. Most benefits are determined as an agreement between the insurance company and the sponsor/employer. We’ve seen some insurance plans that only cover the least expensive treatment option, regardless of professional recommendations. We want to make clear that what your insurance will cover is not always all you need to maintain optimal oral health.

We ask that all new patients bring their current dental insurance information with them so we can have the information on file. If your insurance plan has changed, we ask that you please keep us updated. We use this information to advise you regarding your financial options and treatment plan, and to submit your claims for you.

Once we have received benefits information from your insurance company, we will be able to give you an estimate of costs regarding what is covered and how much you will have to pay out-of-pocket. If you have any questions about whether your dental insurance is covered, you can visit our Financial page or contact our office.

It’s important to see the dentist every six months so we can detect and diagnose problems while they are still small. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, there is a chance that problems have developed and caused serious damage that requires subsequently more serious (and expensive) procedures to correct. For example, the chance of beating oral cancer increases the earlier you catch it, and damage from gum disease can be reversed if we treat it in its earliest stages. We would much rather keep up your oral health and prevent issues than react to them once they’ve progressed.

Additionally, over time, plaque can build up on your tooth and sometimes become calculus or tartar. During routine cleanings, we remove this substance so that it doesn’t stay on your teeth and lead to tooth decay or damage.

It’s still crucial that you take proper care of your teeth and gums at home, even if you come to the dentist twice a year. Don’t forget to brush and floss at least twice a day!

The amount of radiation in X-rays used in dentistry is extremely small. Our office also uses digital X-rays, which have significantly less radiation that traditional X-rays. Whenever you are getting X-rays taken at our office, we make sure to take all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and comfort.