Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At Elgin Family Dental, we use state-of-the-art digital x-rays. The images captured with our highly-sensitive digital sensors allows us to obtain better image quality with about 80 percent less radiation exposure than traditional film.

Many patients are surprised to learn that they are constantly exposed to background radiation on a daily basis. It is in the sun, the food we eat, the materials used to construct homes and buildings; you are even exposed to radiation when flying! The radiation to which you are exposed during dental procedures represents a minor contribution to the total exposure from all sources.

At Elgin Family Dental, we take your safety very seriously. To protect your thyroid and other areas at risk for exposure, we use a double shield that consists of lead-lined protection. Please talk to us about your concerns.

Digital dental x-rays are an essential diagnostic tool that helps our doctors detect conditions inside your teeth that would not be found during a visual exam. X-rays are extremely important for new patients because we need to determine the status of your oral health, and they give us a baseline so we can identify changes in the future that threaten your oral health. If a previous dentist has current x-rays, we may ask that you request copies for us.

If we recommend a new set of x-rays, it is because we need them to identify current conditions, evaluate the health of your gums, and monitor the growth and development of your teeth. Finding conditions in their early stages often results in less invasive and costly procedures. 

Digital x-rays are an invaluable source of information. We want you to feel completely safe with us, so please call if you have questions or safety concerns.

Our goal at Elgin Family Dental is to make sure your experiences with us are comfortable, pleasant, and stress-free. When planning for your first visit, start by contacting your previous dentist and ask them to send your digital x-rays to info@elginfamilydental.com.

The next step is paperwork! Please complete new patient forms before you arrive so you can get the most out of your time with your doctor. You can fill out forms through our website, but please do not use the Google browser because the forms are not compatible. You can also fill out the forms electronically, print them and bring them with you.

Additionally, you will need:

• Your insurance card if one was issued.
• Your driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID

If you are a dependent on an insurance plan, please have:

• Insured’s name, address and phone number
• Insured’s date of birth
• Insured’s plan, Member ID# or SSN
• Insurance Group Number
• Insured’s employer

Please bring a list of all medications you are currently taking. Before your appointment, be sure to take any pre-medications as instructed by your physician.

If you have any questions about the information we need, please call us at (512) 285-3322. We look forward to welcoming you to your new dental home!

There are many factors beyond oral hygiene that impact the health of your smile. If you are brushing and flossing routinely, you’re on the right track. But if you are serious about avoiding cavities, your efforts must be combined with preventive cleanings and exams to be most effective.

During these routine appointments, we offer a comprehensive exam including an oral cancer screening. We will also discuss other factors that impact your oral health including dry mouth, the medications you take, whether or not you smoke, your diet, and even the part genetics play.

If your x-rays aren’t current, we may take new ones to identify and diagnose new problems that might be developing within your teeth or under your gums. We may also recommend fluoride varnish or dental sealants to provide further protection from cavities.

There are many ways we can help you avoid cavities, and the best place to start is with an appointment for a cleaning and exam at our Elgin, TX dental office. We’ll evaluate the current condition of your teeth so we can treat any problems before they become complicated and costly to treat.

Please call us at (512) 285-3322 to make an appointment or email us using our convenient online contact form.

You are right to be concerned about gum disease. It is such a prevalent problem that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates nearly half of all adults over the age of 30 have some level of gum disease present.

One of the most common symptoms of gum disease is bleeding or swollen gums when you brush and floss. Other signs to look for are:

• Your gums are tender when touched
• Your teeth feel loose
• You have persistent bad breath, even after you brush

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that attacks the gums and tissue that hold your teeth in place. Without proper oral hygiene and regular professional dental cleanings, bacteria have a chance to develop and linger in pockets that surround your teeth. The gums gradually become infected, destroying healthy gum tissue and leading to decay and even possible tooth loss.

At Elgin Family Dental, we have effective solutions for eliminating gum disease or minimizing its effects on your oral health. But the best way to avoid ever developing gum disease in the first place is diligent oral hygiene at home and regular visits to our office for preventive exams and cleanings.

If you suspect that you may have gum disease, please call us to arrange an appointment for a dental cleaning. Preventing gum disease is not difficult, and it can save you a lot of costly treatments in the future.

Your hygienist or one of our dentists may suggest that you undergo a deep cleaning, also referred to as scaling and root planing, to treat your periodontal disease. If you have not had a preventive cleaning in some time, the buildup of plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) can grow and cause issues deep in the gum and bone area leading to deep gum pockets, receding gums, and bone and tooth loss.

During a deep cleaning at Elgin Family Dental, your hygienist will expertly remove all the plaque and calculus (tartar) that forms on your teeth above and below the gum line, including cleaning to the bottom of the pocket that surrounds your tooth. She will then smooth the root surfaces to encourage the gums to reattach to your teeth.

Patients who smoke or chew tobacco or have diabetes or immune deficiencies may be at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease. Our office is dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy mouth which is linked to our overall health such as cardiac and inflammatory disease. If you notice that your gums look puffy and inflamed or bleed when you brush, please call Elgin Family Dental so that we can arrange your next professional cleaning.

Some tooth sensitivity is to be expected after a tooth has been treated and react to pressure, temperature, air, and even sweet foods. The sensitivity typically fades away on its own, so the most sensible thing to do is to avoid for the first few days the things that cause sensitivity.

If several days go by and you’re still dealing with tooth sensitivity, the problem may be that your filling or restoration is too high and is causing you to bite harder than you usually would. Please call our office right away because it is typically an easy problem to resolve.

It’s also common to experience sensitivity after filling a tooth that has a deep cavity since it is close to the nerve. If you don’t think you have a problem with your bite and you’re feeling okay otherwise, the tooth may just need a little more time to heal.

A sign that things are progressing normally is if the sensitivity begins to fade after the first few days. If you experience sensitivity that lasts longer than two weeks, please call Elgin Family Dental so we can check it for you.