FAQ

We never want a lack of insurance to prevent you from getting the care you need. So we offer many payment options, including Lending Club Patient Solutions, which allows you to make small monthly payments with no upfront cost. You may also be interested in the Carmichael Advantage Dental Savings Plan. For a $360 annual fee, this in-house membership plan  includes two yearly preventive visits, examinations, and necessary X-rays. You’ll also receive 20 percent savings on other dental procedures. For even more savings, ask about our multi-member plans.

Yes, it really is. Since we use impressions of your teeth and other precise measurements for custom mouthguards, they fit better than mouthguards from a store. If you’ve ever tried the “boil and bite” method of adjusting fit for a store-bought mouthguard, you know it doesn’t really work that well. You’re more likely to consistently wear a mouthguard that fits you well. Call today to schedule your fitting for a custom mouthguard.

Yes, we’re committed to helping you relax when you visit us! Our care rooms have pillows, TVs, and headphones. We use patient-friendly technology like lasers to keep your treatments as comfortable as possible. If you’re still anxious, you can choose from two kinds of safe sedation: “laughing gas” to put you in a lightly relaxed state or an oral sedative you can take before your appointment.

We recommend visiting one of our Montgomery, AL dentists for a dental exam and dental cleaning every six months. Our professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar that can lead to cavities and gum disease. During your exam we’ll examine you for signs of trouble, including teeth grinding and oral cancer. Exams are also a great chance for us to get to know you better, so we can suggest personalized treatment options for you.

Wisdom teeth may be uncomfortable as they are coming in – but this may or may not be a sign they need to be removed. Our dentists will examine you with digital X-rays and an intraoral camera to get a good look at these teeth in the back of your mouth. If they do need to be removed, we’ll make the process as pain-free as possible with effective local anesthesia. You can also get dental sedation if you need it.

If you broke a tooth, there’s no need to panic. Call us ASAP at 334-600-1423 so we can see you right away. You’ll even be able to reach one of our dentists after hours, if needed. If you’re in pain, we’ll numb you with local anesthesia and offer sedation if you need it. Depending on the severity of the break and the condition of your tooth, we can usuallly save it with a dental crown. If the tooth is so badly damaged it needs to be removed, we can gently extract it.

We don’t use amalgam (metal) fillings. Instead we use fillings made of a sturdy material called composite. Unlike metal fillings, we can match the color to your other teeth so no one will see them in your smile. Composite fillings also don’t contain mercury. While the FDA says mercury in fillings is safe for most people, some research has raised questions about the long-term safety of mercury. We prefer to avoid the risk.

Of course! We offer several teeth whitening options, one of which will be right for you. Surface stains vanish with our Opalescence teeth whitening treatments. You can get a treatment in our office, or we can provide you with professional-strength gel and custom whitening trays to use at home. For more stubborn stains, you can choose tooth bonding or dental veneers, both of which conceal stains that don’t respond well to whitening. Bonding and veneers can hide other flaws too, like chips or rough edges.

We make every effort to see you ASAP after a dental emergency, usually on the same day. In fact, we reserve time on our schedule every day to accommodate emergencies. If you call our office after hours, we make it possible for you to directly contact one of our dentists. They can then advise you on what to do next. When you arrive, we’ll quickly treat you with patient-friendly technology. And you can get dental sedation if you need it.

Brushing and flossing your teeth every day is the key to preventing cavities. You also need to supplement your home oral hygiene with two trips to our office every year for professional dental cleanings and exams. No matter how diligently you brush at home, you’ll miss some plaque that over time becomes tartar that causes cavities. We remove it during cleanings. We may also suggest preventive treatments like applications of fluoride or dental sealants.

Yes, our dentists can help you get a better night’s rest and improve your overall health with a custom-made oral appliance. You’ll wear it while sleeping, and it moves your jaw into a position that keeps your airway open. This stops the frequent interruptions in breathing that characterize sleep apnea. Many people find sleep apnea appliances more comfortable and easier to use than a CPAP, another commonly prescribed treatment for apnea.

You’ve got lots of tooth replacement options at Carmichael Dental Care. Our Montgomery, AL dentists will help determine which one is right for your smile. For a replacement tooth that looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth, we often recommend a dental implant. We work with an oral surgeon to get the implant placed, then add a dental restoration of your choice. Implants can replace anywhere from a single tooth to an entire mouthful of teeth. If you’d rather not get implants or aren’t a good candidate for them, you can get a dental bridge or dentures.

Jaw pain that happens for no reason, clicking or popping when you open or close your mouth, unexplained headaches, and other “weird” symptoms may be due to problems with the joint that acts as a hinge for your mouth. We offer diagnosis and effective treatment for TMJ problems. Call our office to schedule an appointment.

Some areas in your mouth are just not visible to the human eye, such as between the teeth, below tooth enamel, and underneath the gums. We use digital X-rays to view these areas, which reduce your exposure to radiation by up to 90 percent when compared to film X-rays. When reviewing your dental X-rays, Dr. Swartzentruber looks for cavities, bone loss beneath the gum line, or any other area of concern. Digital X-rays are also used to detect wisdom teeth issues.

Healthy gums normally don’t bleed. When you see bleeding during brushing, this is a sign that your gums are inflamed due to bacteria that have found their way into the spaces between your teeth and gums (known as “pockets”). The first step you should take is to call us at 334-600-1423. We will:

• Ask questions about your last dental cleaning and any new medications you may be taking to determine any related issues
• Put you on a very consistent brushing and flossing regimen

Bleeding gums is also a sign of periodontal (gum) infection, or inflammation associated with gingivitis. If detected early, we can treat periodontal disease and gingivitis with nonsurgical root planing procedures to remove bacteria and toxins from the infected areas. This stimulates tissue growth and healing.

The short answer is “no.” With the help of a good Montgomery, AL dentist, it is possible to keep your teeth for a lifetime! Through regular visits and preventive care, we can keep your mouth healthy and help you develop a home care routine to give your teeth the foundation they need to stay clean and strong.