Dentists serving Derry, Londonderry, Windham, Hampstead and all of NH

X-rays are an integral part of our dental examination.  The American Dental Association recommends cavity finding bitewing x-rays once a year, and a set of full mouth x-rays (18 x-rays) every 3 years.  In order for us to provide you with a complete and thorough examination we will take x-rays at your comprehensive new patient evaluation.  If you have recent x-rays we ask that you acquire a copy of them prior to your appointment with us and bring them with you (or have them sent to us).

Full mouth x-rays provide very detailed information about the condition of the teeth and bone surrounding the teeth.  Panoramic x-rays are good at showing the overall health of the jaw bones (especially good for wisdom teeth) but are not useful for diagnosing cavities or bone loss from gum/periodontal disease.

These x-rays allow us to see between your teeth where most cavities in adults start.  Until these cavities get large they are not visible to the naked eye.  Allowing us to diagnose those cavities early, means early treatment.  The earlier we remove a cavity, the less tooth structure must be removed, thus the stronger your tooth will be.

18 x-rays are necessary to capture all of the detail required to make a full and complete radiographic diagnosis of your teeth and supporting bone.  The only exception is a person that may be missing several teeth.  For a person missing most or all of their teeth, we utilize a Panoramic x-ray.

An assistant is trained to assist the doctor performing dental procedures on a patient.  Some tasks can be performed solely by a dental assistant.  A dental hygienist has been educated in the art and treatment of dental prophylaxis (professional teeth cleaning) and periodontal therapy.  Hygienists must attend at least a two year program to receive a RDH license to practice in the state of New Hampshire.

In general (although it can vary greatly from person to person) you can expect to be numb for about 1.5 hours on your upper jaw, and 2-3 hours on your lower jaw.  During this time it is very important you are very careful not to injure yourself should you attempt to eat.

Dental insurance was not intended to cover the costs of all your dental needs. Every plan is different; some participants will be covered on a percentage basis and some based on fee-schedule limits and annual maximums. As a courtesy we will help try to get you a realistic estimate of what we feel your insurance company will pay towards your dental care. However, it is your plan, and ultimately your responsibility for reading and understanding what your plan covers and what its limitations are. If you have questions we suggest you contact either your insurance company or your employer.

People often make treatment decisions solely based on what their insurance will cover, assuming that their insurance will cover all costs associated with their oral healthcare. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case. Each individual's dental needs are different and unique. Once we have examined you and discussed the treatment options that are best suited to your overall needs, then you should consider your insurance coverage and its limits and/or constraints.

Ultimately you are responsible for paying the entire portion of your dental bill if your insurance fails to pay. We work for you, not your insurance company, and are not responsible for provisions in your insurance policy. We will assist you by submitting all of the required paperwork and information to help get your claim processed but cannot guarantee the insurance company will pay all or a portion of the claim.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a discipline within dentistry in which the primary focus is the modification of appearance of a patient's teeth and soft tissue. Teeth can be treated with procedures such as whitening, porcelain veneers, porcelains crowns, and soft tissue (gum) recontouring to give the teeth the appearance of a natural, healthy, "ideal" smile.