Frequently Asked Question

What will my Insurance cover?

We can access your coverage information within minutes. You will know up-front what your insurance covers, and any co-pay you may have. Call us, send us an e-mail, or set up a free consultation here.

Do you have financing available?

We offer both Care Credit and City Health. In addition we accept credit and debit cards.

Will this hurt?

We use state of the art local anesthesia. We pre-numb the patient and then use the gentlest techniques and anesthetics. On a regular basis, our patients say that they didn’t feel a thing.

“If I they knew that it was going to be so easy and painless, I wouldn’t have waited so long.”

– Nancy S.

Can you replace my ugly silver filling?

In addition to mercury content and unwanted metals, a dark filling can reduce tooth strength by as much as 80%. A bonded filling maintains 90% of the tooth’s original strength and beauty.

I am terrified of the dentist what can you do?

We understand the level of vulnerability you may experience at the dentist. The most important thing we do is encourage you to raise your hand anytime, so that we can immediately attend to any possible discomfort, and the process is never outside of your control.  We offer other alternatives to assist you in overcoming your fears.

Do you do Invisible Braces?

 We offer Clear Correct invisible braces. In addition we give a complimentary whitening at the completion of the case.

Do you do implants?

 We place and restore the Bicon system of implants. We like this system due to it’s elegance, minimal length, strength, and lack of micro-leakage.

Do you do root canals?

We do single visit root canals utilizing BC (Bio-Compatible) sealer which can both seal and sterilize the root canal.

Do you do oral surgery?

We both extract failed teeth as well as wisdom teeth.

Do you do cosmetic dentistry?

 All our techniques are aimed at producing the most aesthetic result coupled with function. With today’s technology, all dentistry should be done considering both use and beauty.

What is your office’s general philosophy?

Although we take great pride in our dental work, we are also very focused on our patients as individuals. We do not only want to treat their teeth but take care of them as people. Patients often comment on the happy and comfortable “feel” in our office. Our staff strives to treat each patient, with gentleness, kindness, professionalism and with a willingness to truly listen to your concerns.

What is your dental philosophy?

We treat our patients no differently than we treat our own family members. Dr. Vegter and Dr. Kuwamoto have an ongoing commitment to stay current with the latest technology. They take great pride in the results of their work as well as a non-invasive, mostly painless and holistic process.

We strive to provide good value through the use of high quality materials and laboratories, state of the art equipment, while keeping our fees as reasonable as possible.

Do you have payment plans?

Often your insurance will cover many of our procedures with a minimum cost to you.

In addition, many of our patients with moderate or no insurance coverage take advantage of financial plans we have available, including some with no interest.

What is plaque?

Plaque is a thin film that is usually found on the surfaces of teeth and gums. It serves as a shelter for bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. The purpose of daily brushing is to disturb and eliminate this film so that harmful bacterial colonies can not prosper.

What is the best way to brush my teeth?

The goal is to remove all plaque from your teeth and gums without causing any damage.  We often advise patients to use a soft toothbrush without any toothpaste to access the plaque around and inside the gum pockets. The brush is placed at 45 degrees into the space between the teeth and the gums. After attending to your gums, we then suggest you continue by brushing your teeth with toothpaste. Our staff is always happy to demonstrate this technique.

In addition to brushing, flossing daily is recommended. A water pick which can access difficult to clean areas can be very useful. In our practice we have developed an extremely efficient, natural protocol for the reduction of damaging bacteria in the gums (using an ozonizer).

How do I floss and why do I need to?

-Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss

– Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and either your middle or index fingers, slide it gently up and down between your teeth

– Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line.  Never snap or force the floss,   as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue

– Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth

– To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth

We all need to floss because flossing daily reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth and destroys the biofilm that the bacteria need to harm teeth.

What causes discoloration of my teeth and how can I prevent it?

There are a number of reasons for tooth staining and discoloration. Coffee, tea and tobacco are frequent culprits. As we get older, teeth naturally begin to get darker. Depending on the source, staining can be addressed in office dental cleanings, whitening procedures, bonding and veneers.

What are porcelain veneers?

Dental veneers (sometimes referred to as porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are white colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve the appearance of the front of the tooth.  Color, shape, size and length can all be altered.

What can be done for missing teeth?

There are a number of solutions that include implants, fixed bridges or flexible partial dentures depending on your condition and your budget.

What are onlays and why would I want them instead of a regular filing?

Tooth colored fillings can still be used for replacing other small fillings or limited decay. However, for patients who want greater biocompatibility and for larger restorations, an onlay is often the restoration of choice.

Onlays are biocompatible and are now usually made with no metal. They are very conservative and functional.