FAQ

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.

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.

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.

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.