How can we help you?
Our team is always available to answer any questions that you may have about our services. We offer comprehensive dentistry based on research and coupled with years of experience. If you have any questions about this or about specific treatments or procedures, we invite you to contact our Newnan, GA dental office today.
Meanwhile, the questions we hear most frequently from our patients are addressed below for your convenience.
We offer payment methods that include: cash, check, American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and CareCredit. Any returned checks will be subject to additional fees. We offer payment plan options through CareCredit. CareCredit enables you to finance one hundred percent of your needed dental treatment with no money down, no interest, no upfront costs and no repayment penalties. This service can be used for your entire family for any ongoing treatment without having to reapply. CareCredit offers many options based on a wide variety of treatments or procedures. If you have any questions regarding CareCredit, please check out their website at carecredit.com or give them a call 800-839-9078.
In order to serve our patients to the best of our abilities, Southern Rivers Dental will file all private care insurance plans. These are plans that do not require you to select a dentist from a list or require our office to accept a reduced fee for our services. This means we work with thousands of insurance companies to better serve our community. Since we file insurance claims for you, we do our best to give an estimate of treatment cost based on the history of payments by your plan. We ask that you pay your co-payment, which is the estimated amount not covered by your insurance provider.
Traditionally co-payments are due on treatments needed beyond basic cleanings and exams (i.e. fillings, crowns, extractions).
Dental insurance is a patient benefit provided by their employer and the contract lies between the patient, employer and the insurance company. Southern Rivers Dental is not a party to that contract. By law, in Georgia, insurance companies are required to provide payment within fifteen days of receiving a claim. Southern Rivers Dental will file your claim the day of service as a courtesy for you.
We will fully cooperate with the regulations and requests of your insurance provider that may assist in the claim. Once your insurance provider has paid their portion, Southern Rivers Dental will send a statement to you for any remaining balance. If your insurance provider has not submitted payment within thirty days, any unpaid balance becomes the patient’s responsibility. It is the patient’s responsibility to follow up on outstanding insurance claims.
If your insurance provider pays you directly, then you are responsible for your invoice in full.
DENTURES
We offer quality dentures to all our patients. Dentures are generally removable, but we provide affixed dentures to allow ease of wear. Like the All-on-4® treatment concept, affixed or anchored dentures are attached to the jawbone with a few strategically placed dental implants. A dental implant is a thin, titanium post surgically implanted in your gum. These strong posts can support arch of restoration teeth on a denture.
The benefits of anchored dentures include:
- Jawbone support to help prevent bone loss
- No denture slippage while speaking or chewing
- No adhesives
- No realigns
An affixed or anchored denture represents a more permanent feeling restoration, and patients often choose this option to provide peace of mind and a hassle-free denture experience based on no adhesives or realigns.
One of our dentists will assess your oral health to determine whether you’re a good candidate for implant-retained dentures.
Will my procedure hurt?
We understand that oral exams and certain dental procedures can raise your anxiety levels. Our team makes every effort to ensure a pleasant and relaxing dental experience for every patient to help you through. This includes utilizing the latest technologies coupled with the experience of our dentists.
Our thorough but gentle team pays close attention to your comfort level throughout your appointment. We offer neck pillows and blankets to complement your comfort, too. Additionally, we offer nitrous oxide for ultimate relaxation, and if you are feeling especially anxious–or if you’re undergoing an invasive procedure–we can provide IV sedation. With IV sedation, you likely won’t remember your dental treatment or procedure. However, IV sedation is safe, and we monitor you closely until you’re alert.
If you decide on IV sedation, it is important to have a friend or family member on hand to drive you home following your treatment or procedure.
Our compassionate team is dedicated to your comfort and your oral health.
Can your office take care of all of my dental needs?
We pride ourselves on practicing comprehensive, preventive, general, and cosmetic dentistry.
Not only do our dentists have years of experience, but they have completed extra training beyond the scope of dental school to ensure predictable and quality results for every patient. While the scope of our practice concentrates on preventive and general dentistry to underscore healthy teeth for life, our dentists can easily tackle needs that fall outside the normal cleaning and exam.
On rare occasions, if you present with a dental issue that does not allow us to predictably complete care, we use specific area specialists who align with our practice’s values and philosophies. We provide general exams and dental cleanings. We also do fillings and root canals.
If you’re looking for something beyond that, we also offer cosmetic dentistry, which includes:
- Porcelain veneers
- Dental implants
- Crowns and bridges
We cover a broad scope of dental treatments and procedures, but we do so with compassion and attention to detail.
Are all of your doctors general dentists?
Yes. The dentists at Southern Rivers Dental can take care of your general dentistry needs. Dr. Charles Smith offers IV sedation, complex root canals, complex extractions; including wisdom teeth extractions, implants, bone grafts and sinus lifts. Dr. Smith learned these skills by pursuing a residency, post-dental
school, to ensure he provides excellent care and proper management of all possible complications.
What does your general dentistry consist of?
General Dentistry consists of cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, simple root canals, tooth whitening, and simple extractions.
What services are offered at Southern Rivers Dental?
- Routine cleanings
- Perio maintenance cleanings
- Fillings (silver and tooth colored)
- Bridges
- Crowns
- Implants
- Implant crowns
- IV sedation
- Simple and complex extractions
- Root Canals
- Invisalign®
- Teeth Whitening
PREVENTATIVE DENTISTRY
Preventive dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth to keep them healthy. This helps to avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and more. You can help maintain your oral health by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and scheduling your routine cleanings two times a year.
Why are two cleanings recommended each year?
Having a cleaning and examination at least twice per year ensures that a dental professional can evaluate or rule-out any existing dental diseases (i.e. Oral cancer, cavities, gum disease)
Why do you use X-rays?
Radiographs (x-rays) are indicated at least once per year, or to evaluate an existing dental pathology. At a minimum dental x-rays allow for a dental professional to look for oral cancer, cavities, and bone loss from gum disease.
CHILDREN'S DENTISTRY
At what age should I start bringing my child to see the dentist?
We recommend bringing children in for a cleaning around age four (4). At the first appointment, the child will have a cleaning and exam by the dentist.
How can Southern Rivers Dental help make my child more comfortable?
Our highly trained staff understands the obstacles and nature of providing quality care to children. Our goal is to build a foundation of good oral healthcare, so we strive to make our cleaning and check-ups as fun and engaging as possible.
EMERGENCY DENTISTRY
Can I reach my dentist after hours?
Yes. All patients of record have access to their doctor’s personal number via our after hours phone system.
How does Southern Rivers Dental handle emergencies?
We will see patients of record at the earliest time possible. This includes after normal business hours for patients in pain.
INVISALIGN®
What is Invisalign® exactly?
Invisalign® is a specific clear aligner orthodontic company. These clear aligners (trays) are used in sequential order to facilitate the movement of teeth. We pride ourselves in diagnosing and treating patients with mal-aligned teeth. This type of treatment renders a beautiful smile with properly functioning teeth.
DENTAL IMPLANTS
Do dental implants hurt?
In most cases, dental implants do not hurt in bone. The placement of an implant is a surgical procedure and the manipulation of soft tissue
(gums) is what will cause any early discomfort.
Do you anchor dentures?
Yes. We offer quality dentures to all our patients. Dentures are generally removable, but we provide affixed dentures to allow ease of wear. Like the All-on-4® treatment concept, affixed or anchored dentures are attached to the jawbone with a few strategically placed dental implants. A dental implant is a thin, titanium post surgically implanted in your gum. These strong posts can support an entire arch of restoration teeth on a denture.
The benefits of anchored dentures include:
- Jawbone support to help prevent bone loss
- No denture slippage while speaking or chewing
- No adhesives
- No realigns
An affixed or anchored denture represents a more permanent feeling restoration, and patients often choose this option to provide peace of mind and a hassle-free denture experience based on no adhesives or realigns. One of our dentists will assess your oral health to determine whether you’re a good candidate.
What is a dental implant and what does it do?
Dental implant is a titanium screw that is surgically placed in bone. It is the platform for which a tooth can be screwed into. Dental implants are now the ideal way to replace missing teeth. It will function and look like a natural tooth.
What is the healing time and process of getting a dental implant?
The first step of any dental implant procedure is a consultation to review your medical history and dental health. This will define if you are a candidate for getting a dental implant. The healing process after surgery can range from 3 to 6 months. After the healing process, the prosthetic portion (getting the tooth) will take a minimum of 3 weeks. After the final process is complete it is recommended that regular check ups be performed to evaluate the stability of the implant under function
CROWNS & BRIDGES
What is a crown?
A crown is a “cap” that encapsulates a tooth for either structural stability or esthetics.
What is a bridge?
A bridge is a replacement for one or multiple missing teeth. The teeth on either side of the missing space are crowned. Those crowned teeth anchor a fake tooth within the missing space. Bridges are cemented in, and thus are not removable.
What is the life expectancy of a crown and a bridge?
Research shows the life expectancy of a bridge and/or a crown is seven years.
SEDATION DENTISTRY
What forms of sedation does Southern Rivers Dental offer?
We offer oral conscious sedation and intravenous (IV) moderate conscious sedation.
Why sedation?
Sedation, whether oral or IV, allows for patients with dental anxiety to be relaxed at the dentist. This allows for a safe and efficient experience. Also, sedation is used for more invasive procedures such as multiple dental implants, molar root canals, and complex extractions to ensure patient safety.
