Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We know that part of the anxiety around dental care comes from how to fit the cost into your budget. Dental insurance may cover a portion of your overall treatment, but is often not a catch-all for dental treatment, especially if you opt to have cosmetic or elective procedures. There is no set benefit schedule for all of our patients since it depends largely upon your coverage and the contract you have with your carrier. 

Our knowledgeable team can help navigate the confusing and often frustrating process of insurance coverage. We file your claims for you and will follow-up with requested documentation and any narratives required by your insurance plan. We currently work with the following PPO insurance companies for your convenience:

• Principal
• Aetna
• United Concordia 
• Horizon
• MetLife
• Assurant 
• DenteMax 
• Humana
• Dentegra
• Delta Dental
• Cigna
• Ameritas
• United Healthcare 
• GEHA
• Connection Dental 
• Guardian 
• Maverest

We currently do not accept DMO or HMO dental plans. If your insurance company does not appear on this list, contact us! We may still be able to help.

If you do incur out-of-pocket expenses while receiving treatment in our office, we accept cash, checks and credit cards. We also offer patient financing options through CareCredit so that you can pay for your treatment over time.

Missing teeth affect your appearance and your health. At Shoreland Dental, we offer all major tooth replacement options to restore your smile.

At your dental exam, we will outline the tooth replacement treatment that will work best for you and help you make a decision that supports your health and your goals for your smile.

Fixed dental bridge – A dental bridge is a dental restoration that anchors an artificial tooth between two healthy teeth to complete your smile. Dental bridges require additional care to keep the area healthy.

Partial dentures – If you have multiple missing teeth, a partial denture can replace all of them on your upper or lower arch. Since partial dentures anchor to your remaining natural teeth, they provide some stability so that you can eat a wider range of foods.

Dentures – Complete or full dentures are meant to replace all of your teeth on your upper or lower arch. We can also anchor your denture with a few strategically placed dental implants for extra security.

Dental implants – The most convenient and long-term solution to missing teeth. We can place a single dental implant or multiple dental implants. We can also use dental implants to provide stability to dental bridges and dentures.

At Shoreland Dental, we welcome your entire family to join our dental office. We are especially fond of treating families and developing long-term relationships with the members of our community. We take your health seriously and treat our patients with the same care and attention we would want for our own families.

We welcome you to bring your children to our office. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child should have their first dental visit by their first birthday. This early childhood dental appointment gives us a chance to develop a good foundation with your child, discuss your child’s home care and habits, and discuss what to expect as your child grows.

At this first appointment, we will do an exam and take your little one for a ride in the chair. We make their dental appointments fun and easygoing so they do not feel apprehensive about their dental visits. By making their experience interactive and fun, we involve them in their own oral health as they age so they have the tools, knowledge, and ability to maintain a healthy smile for a lifetime.

As your little one grows, we will include diagnostic and preventive treatments to keep their precious smiles happy and healthy.

Any time your body expresses pain, it is a signal that something is not right and needs your attention. Your teeth are no different!

Tooth pain indicates that something is unhealthy and should be examined by a dentist. At Shoreland Dental, we invite new and existing patients to call us in the event of a painful dental emergency. By contacting us at the first sign of symptoms, we can provide you with faster treatment. In the case of dental emergencies, time is important! It can be the difference between saving and losing your tooth.

When you contact our office with a dental emergency, our knowledgeable team will ask you a few questions about your emergency so we can plan for your arrival. When you come in for your appointment, we will take an x-ray of the painful area to assist Dr. Azenheimer with an accurate diagnosis. 

We do our best to treat dental emergencies on the same day. Our main goal will be to protect your tooth and eliminate pain. In some cases, we may schedule additional appointments in order to properly complete your treatment.

If you are not yet a patient in our office, we welcome you! You will receive the same great dental care our patients have come to expect from Shoreland Dental.

One of our favorite services is our professional whitening system. Dr. Azenheimer researched many of the major brands and found that most of them did not work well for difficult stains or for people who suffer from sensitive teeth. One professional whitening system stood out among the rest, however, and we decided to offer it to our Shoreland Dental patients.

KöR Whitening is a leading professional teeth whitening system that provides outstanding results on even the most difficult teeth stains without the sensitivity common to other major systems and over-the-counter products. 

Because KöR offers versatile teeth whitening options, depending on your needs, there is a system for everyone.

We offer a custom take-home teeth whitening system that you can use during the day or at night to achieve outstanding results.

Our most popular teeth whitening option includes one in-office whitening treatment combined with our custom take-home kit where you will continue to whiten your teeth.

Finally, we offer a super-strength whitening option that addresses tetracycline stains along with fluorosis stains. Most products do not achieve great results for these conditions, but KöR provides great results. 

Whether you have a special occasion such as a wedding, class reunion, or vacation on the horizon or you just feel that it is time to spruce up your smile, we can help!

People have different needs, and dentistry is no different! If you brush your teeth twice daily and feel frustrated by constant diagnoses of cavities, you may want to come in for a consultation to determine how you can fend off decay and keep your smile healthy.

It could be your diet. While most people are aware of the connection between sugary snacks and dental decay, they don’t always know that starchy foods can cause the same issues. Starch converts to sugar during the digestion process, which begins in your mouth. Bagels, corn flakes, potato chips, and popcorn can all have a similar effect on teeth. Avoiding these foods or brushing your teeth after consuming them can keep your enamel healthy.

It could be your family’s health. Just as bacteria that cause illnesses like strep throat are contagious, the bacteria that cause decay and gum disease are also transferrable through kissing and sharing utensils. Taking care of the oral health of your entire family will help you stay healthier.

Your teeth may be extra groovy. Having deep grooves in your teeth can provide a home for food particles and bacteria. Dental sealants create a barrier between food particles and the bacteria that feed off of them. They are much more affordable and less invasive than having regular fillings.