Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have cavities?
Tooth Decay, or “cavities” often begin in hard to clean areas, such as the deep grooves in the tops of your teeth or in between your teeth. Decay results from plaque, a sticky film that forms on the teeth, not being removed from those hard to clean areas of the tooth. The bacteria in the plaque produce acid that eats into the tooth causing decay. Left untreated, a small cavity becomes larger and can spread beneath the hard enamel of the tooth into the softer dentin, destroying more tooth structure.

How can I prevent cavities from forming? Because tooth decay often begins in hard to reach areas, it is important to thoroughly floss and brush your teeth twice a day. Sipping on soda drinks, sucking on cough drops or candies, using chewing gum or other sugar rich foods can cause an increase in the incidence of decay. We recommend sugar free products whenever possible.

Do I really need to floss daily?
Flossing is a habit that once developed, gives the patient huge benefits. Flossing removes plaque that is starting to form on the tooth. Since you floss between the teeth, the floss is cleaning those hard to reach areas that your brush alone cannot reach. Not only are you removing plaque that is preventing decay from starting, but you are also removing the bacteria that cause periodontal disease.

Should I use an Electric Toothbrush?
An electric toothbrush is a valuable aid in removing plaque from the teeth and gums, especially for those patients who have trouble using a manual toothbrush due to some sort of physical limitations. We encourage all our patients to use an electric toothbrush if it will improve their level of home care.

How often should I have x-rays?
X-rays are taken to detect health or disease in areas that we are unable to visualize. X-rays are taken to give the dentist a true picture of your dental health

Cavity detecting X-rays (or bitewing x-rays) are usually taken once a year to check for decay between the teeth. These are the x-rays that are taken during your Hygiene visit.

Panoramic x-rays show your entire mouth in one picture. This x-ray is commonly taken to watch the development of wisdom teeth. It also shows the sinuses, jaw joints and any cysts or tumors that may be present, as well as supernumerary (extra) teeth, impacted teeth, and cancer. This x-ray is generally taken less often because it is used to diagnose situations that change very slowly.

A Full Series of X-rays is a group of x-rays, which show detailed views of each tooth. Generally, 14-18 views are taken and assembled to give an over all picture of your dental health. Because of the detail of these x-rays, they are very useful in detecting a variety of problems, such as bone loss or periodontal disease, decay, and abscesses at the end of the roots. These x-rays are taken every 3 – 5 years depending on the condition of your mouth.

Individual periapical x-rays are taken to diagnose an isolated problem in the mouth. They are most commonly taken when a problem with a specific tooth arises, such as pain or discomfort or a fracture of the tooth. This x-ray is taken as needed.

When should my children first see the dentist?
We recommend that children see the dentist at age 3, unless a specific problem arises before then. At this age, children are ready to take a “chair ride” and have their teeth counted. In our office, we call this a “Happy visit”. We want all of our patients to have a great experience every time they come to our office and we feel that this should start when they are young.

When do I need a Second opinion?
Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship, and this is particularly true with your health care professionals. As a patient, it is your right to have a clear understanding of your health and any problems that may exist. You should understand what treatment is needed and why, as well as the costs involved. If you don’t have this information, it is your responsibility to inquire further with your dentist. If you still feel uncertain about what or why treatment is needed, you may want to get a “second opinion” from another dentist. We will be glad to assist you with a “second opinion” in any way that we can.

What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums and bone surrounding the teeth. It is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque, the sticky film from food and bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. It is hard to see plaque. After plaque has been on the teeth for 24 hours, starts to calcify and become tartar of calculus. The bacteria in plaque and calculus produce toxins, that, combined with your body’s reaction to them, destroys the bone around your teeth. Once bone is lost, it never grows back on its own. When too much bone is lost, there is so little support for the teeth, they get loose and have to be removed.

Periodontal disease usually does not have any discomfort associated with it so most people who have periodontal disease are not aware of it. That’s why it is considered a silent disease.

8 Warning Signs of Gum Disease
• Gums that bleed when the teeth are brushed
• Constant bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• Pus at the gumline when the gums are pressed
• Teeth that are loose or changing in position
• Any change in the bite
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures

The only way that periodontal disease can be diagnosed is with a periodontal examination and x-rays. Initially, with patients new to our office, we can determine if you have periodontal disease during our Comprehensive Examination. For our existing patients, we examine you for periodontal disease during every recare hygiene visit.

What causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath may be caused by a variety of factors. Bad breath may be caused by periodontal disease. The bacteria in plaque and calculus, that are present in periodontal disease, can produce gases that cause the odor of bad breath. Certain foods, by themselves, or foods that cause indigestion can contribute to bad breath. Sinus problems with post-nasal drip can also be a contributing factor to bad breath. Poor oral hygiene, by leaving particles of food between the teeth or not removing plaque from the teeth, gums and even the tongue can also lead to bad breath. Some medications can also contribute to bad breath.

How does cigarette smoking affect my dental health?
The smoke from cigarette, cigar or pipe smoking can be very detrimental to your oral health. Smoking can contribute to periodontal disease by lowering the resistance of the oral tissues to the infection of periodontal disease. It can also interfere with the healing process once the factors causing periodontal disease are removed or after oral surgery is performed. Many times the use of implants is contraindicated due to the compromised healing encountered with the use of cigarettes. Also, smoking can stain the teeth causing unsightly discoloration of the teeth.

Missing Teeth: Can they be a problem?
When you lose a tooth, the biting forces change on the teeth next to the space, causing them to shift. Opposing teeth may even begin to extrude out of the socket, which means they to could eventually be lost. As your bite changes, it gets more difficult to chew your food, and you may suffer damage to your jaw joint. It’s also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted; harmful plaque and tartar collect in the new hard-to-reach places created by the shifting, causing tooth decay and periodontal disease. For all these reasons, it’s critical that we replace a lost tooth. There are several ways to replace a missing tooth. They include implants, bridges and dentures.

Do you accept my Insurance plan?
This is a question we are asked often! Approximately 60% of our patients receive benefits from a dental insurance plan.

Dr. Burks’ patients have many different insurance plans. We accept any insurance plan that allows you to choose your own Dentist. In addition, Dr. Burks is a Premiere Provider for Delta Dental insurance company.

Please contact us with any questions you may have regarding your insurance benefits. We are always happy to call your insurance company and find out specific information about your dental benefits.

Where can I get dental insurance?
If your employer does not offer a dental insurance plan, it is difficult to find dental insurance on your own. Limited plans are offered at a low cost through banking organizations and credit card companies. Many times, patients find that with these plans “you get what you pay for”.

Insurance is not always as helpful as you might think. Most patients expect their dental insurance plans to pay like their medical insurance plans. They don’t realize that dental insurance only pays a percentage of the dental expenses and the more involved your dental needs, the less your insurance company will pay. On top of that, your insurance company will only pay a certain dollar amount per benefit period, toward your care. If you have a typical dental plan, you may expect the insurance company to pay up to $1000/person per benefit year.

Just as a side note: This maximum $1000 amount has not changed since Dr. Burks started in practice in 1979. That $1000 certainly won’t purchase as much dentistry now as it did in 1979.

What forms of payment do you take?
Patients can pay by Check, Cash or Credit Card. We accept all major Credit cards for your convenience.

If insurance is involved, we will estimate your approximate cost for the treatment you have scheduled. Your portion is due at the time of your visit and we will submit a claim to your insurance company requesting reimbursement.

We always offer Payment Plans to our patients through Care Credit. Once approved, no interest and Low interest plans are available to help you pay for your dental care. Please visit their website at www.CareCredit.com for more information.