Before sending an e-mail,
see if your answer is here among these
frequently asked questions:
How can I find low-cost dental care?
http://www.ada.org/public/manage/you/faq.asp
Where can I file a complaint?
http://www.ada.org/public/manage/you/faq.asp#howdoi
How can I get a copy of my dental records?
http://www.ada.org/public/manage/you/faq.asp#caniget
Where can I read about the Dental Admissions
Test (DAT)?
http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp
How can I get a dental license in the
U.S.A.?
http://www.ada.org/prof/prac/licensure/us.asp
What's the difference between
a DDS and DMD? http://www.ada.org/public/topics/dds_dmd.asp
How often should X-rays be taken?
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/xrays_faq.asp
What is a "reasonable and customary" fee?
http://www.ada.org/public/manage/insurance/index.asp
What can I do about bad breath?
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/bad_breath.asp
How safe is tooth whitening?
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/whitening_faq.asp
When do baby teeth appear?
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/tooth_eruption.asp
Should I brush or floss first?
The sequence makes no difference as long as you do a thorough job. Look for products that have the ADA's Seal of Acceptance. Choose a toothbrush that feels comfortable in your hand and in your mouth, and use it twice a day. While tooth brushing removes plaque from tooth surfaces, it can't do the entire job of removing plaque. Cleaning between the teeth daily with floss or other interdental cleaners removes debris from between the teeth, where your toothbrush cannot reach. An ADA-Accepted dental floss or interdental cleaner is recommended.
How do you know if you're doing a thorough job? Your dentist may recommend using plaque disclosing tablets available over-the-counter at pharmacies and other stores that sell oral hygiene products. Plaque disclosing tablets are chewed after you clean your mouth. Red dye will stain plaque that has not been removed showing you spots that need additional cleaning.
Can you advise me
about my dental treatment?
The ADA cannot
provide diagnosis or treatment advice.
If you don't have a dentist or need a second
opinion or need help resolving a dispute,
please see the following link for a referral:
http://www.ada.org/public/manage/you/faq.asp.
Visit the National Oral Health Information
Clearing House (NOHIC) web site. The NOHIC
Web site at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/ and
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/SpecialCareResources/default.htm contains
oral health information, news and events,
Web searches and links to other oral health
resources.
Another resource is Medline™,
the National Library of Medicine's searchable
database of more than 12 million citations
from more than 4,600 medical, dental, health
and scientific journals. Launched by the
NLM in 1971, MEDLINE contains citations
of dental articles dating back three decades
to 1964.
Try an internet search, using a search
engine such as www.google.com and entering
the word, term or phrase to locate information.
You also could check at your local public
library to see if a dental or medical reference
book contains the information that you
seek.
Where can I get individual dental insurance?
The ADA does
not have information about individual dental
insurance or dental plans. Please contact
your state's department of insurance. Please
see http://www.naic.org/state_contacts/sid_websites.htm for a link to your state.
I can't find what I'm looking
for? Where else can I search?
You may wish to visit the National
Oral Health Information Clearing House (NOHIC)
web site for information on this subject.
The NOHIC Web sites at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/ and http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/SpecialCareResources/default.htm contain
oral health information, news and events,
Web searches and links to other oral health
resources.
Medline™
is the National Library of Medicine's searchable
database of more than 12 million citations
from more than 4,600 medical, dental, health
and scientific journals. Launched by the
NLM in 1971, MEDLINE contains citations
of dental articles dating back three decades
to 1964. Go to: http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/library/faq_medl.asp and http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/toothdisorders.html
Try an Internet search, using a search
engine such as www.google.com and entering
the word, term or phrase to locate information.
You also could check at your local public
library to see if a dental or medical reference
book contains the information that you
seek
Do dentists accept major credit cards?
Yes, most dentists accept major credit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard. Many also offer monthly payment plans through an outside health care financing partner. Although similar to a department-store credit card, these payment plans can only be used for your health care needs. Typically, you can begin treatment immediately with little or no money down and then comfortably make low monthly payments over time.
The ADA exclusively endorses the CareCredit program. For more information, an online application or to find a dentist who offers CareCredit, go to www.carecredit.com  .
Will my dentist bill me?
While some dentists provide this courtesy to their long-term patients, others do not offer in-house financing. Instead, they rely on an outside patient financing program to make dentistry financially comfortable and convenient. Typically, you can begin treatment immediately with little or no money down and then make low monthly payments over time.
The ADA exclusively endorses the CareCredit program. For more information, an online application or to find a dentist who offers CareCredit, go to www.carecredit.com .
Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers
to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses,
treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about
dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may
be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently
Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
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