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You may have questions about some
of our policies or the treatments we use. Dr. Hughes always welcomes
your questions before and during your visit. For your convenience,
some of our most frequently asked questions are listed on this page.
If you don't see the information you need here, please call us at
580-223-3838 so we address your concern.
Dr. Hughes is extensively trained,
but because dentistry is constantly changing, he does a number of
things to stay up-to-date on all of the current findings. He frequently
attends continuing education courses that focus on the latest in
cosmetic and restorative dentistry. He also belongs to several organizations,
including the Academy of General Dentistry,
which encourage learning and offer seminars on advances in dentistry.
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Yes. Our office has a digital imaging
system. We can take pictures of your teeth with our digital camera
or intra-oral camera and use our imaging system to create a picture
of how a particular treatment or procedure would change the appearance
of your teeth. We also use magnification and monitors so you can
see highly detailed images of your teeth. If you have questions about
our digital imaging system, we would be more than happy to demonstrate
how it works.
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When you first visit our practice,
we recommend visiting us every three to four months. If you take
good care of your teeth, we may adjust this time period depending
on the state of your teeth.
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We would like to see children after
their third birthday. At this time, we will perform just a visual
exam to see how their teeth are doing. When your child is older,
we will complete a more comprehensive exam.
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Yes. We always welcome new patients
to our office.
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Our office accepts cash, check, and credit cards such as Master
Card, Visa, Discover, or American Express. As a service to our
patients, we also offer financing options, such as Care Credit to pay for extensive treatments. If
you have any questions, call us at 580-223-3838. |
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We know your schedule can change abruptly.
Please call us immediately so we can reschedule you. If you cancel
within 24 hours before your scheduled time, we reserve the right
to charge you a cancellation fee.
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If you have an emergency, please call
our office number at 580-223-3838 and follow the instructions to
contact our on-call doctor.
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If your child's tooth is knocked out
during office hours and there is no imminent medical emergency, please
contact us immediately. There is a chance we can replace the tooth
if we see your child within the first hour. When you call, our office
staff can advise you on the safest and most appropriate plan of action.
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Our office accepts cash, check, and
credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, Discover, and American Express.
Any amount not covered by your insurance is your responsibility.
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Dr. Hughes welcomes any of your questions
during your visit. If you have questions before your visit, you can
also call our office or Ask Dr. Hughes through
our online form.
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Many of our patients ask about whitening
their teeth. Since each mouth is unique, we need to evaluate your
teeth to recommend a specific method. If your teeth are cracked,
chipped, or discolored, Dr. Hughes may recommend restorative services,
such as veneers or bonding. If you want to bleach your teeth, we
use Opalescence in our office.
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We take several precautions to ensure
your safety as our patient. First, we keep up-to-date on the latest
sterilization procedures and research. Our office complies and exceeds
OSHA standards for safety. Our instruments are thoroughly sterilized
in accordance with ADA accepted guidelines. Most importantly, we
have a sterilization center where we can maximize efficient sterilization
and minimize the chance of contamination through human error. If
you have any questions, we would be happy to demonstrate our sterilization
procedures.
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Dr. Hughes usually recommends these
restorative procedures as part of a permanent restoration. They are
more durable, easy on your mouth, and aesthetic looking. You can
learn more about these procedures on our Dental
Articles section.
If you are curious about any procedure
we recommend, we welcome your questions. Dr. Hughes strives to keep
up on the latest research and findings. You can also use Caesy, the
patient education system in our office, to print information on a
particular procedure.
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There are a variety of ways to improve
the appearance of your teeth without braces. For example, Dr. Hughes
may recommend porcelain veneers. This device is a thin layer of porcelain
bonded to your teeth to make them look straight. Since each mouth
is unique, we need to evaluate your teeth to make a recommendation.
Call us so we can schedule an appointment. After listening to
your goals and concerns, Dr. Hughes can suggest ways to help you
straighten your smile.
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Yes, you should be very concerned
about bleeding gums, especially if you haven't had a check-up in
a while. Bleeding gums can be caused by a variety of things, from
a leaky filling to gum disease. While it may seem harmless, bleeding
gums can cause a variety of serious health problems. If your gums
are bleeding, call us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment so we can analyze
the cause.
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In a smile analysis, we look at all
the factors that compose a smile; these are the shape of a smile,
the size, the smile line, and the position of your teeth, lips, and
gums when you smile. We listen to what you want to accomplish and
any concerns you may have. Once we have this information, we can
provide a custom smile design.
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Using digital imaging software, Dr.
Hughes will generate an image of your new smile, review the smile
design results with you, and discuss the next steps to make it happen.
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Brushing cleans about 80% of your
teeth while flossing covers the remaining 20%. Although that seems
like a small percentage, this area is where all of the big problems
originate. That's why Dr. Hughes believes cleaning this area is very
important. When you come in for your visit, we'll be happy to discuss
flossing techniques and supplements to flossing.
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We offer several amenities, including
nitrous oxide, to make your visit comfortable. Often referred to
as laughing gas, nitrous can help anyone who is excessively nervous
about their visit, has a sensitive gag reflex, or requires surgery
or other complex operations. If you are  coming in for periodontal
treatment, we also offer Oraqix non-injection anesthetic, which can
make your visit more comfortable.
Before we can give
you either of these products, however, we need to discuss your medical
history with you. We will ask whether you or anyone in your family
has had difficulty with anesthetics. We also want to know if you
are pregnant, taking steroids, or on medication for high blood pressure.
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