New Patients

What should I bring to my first visit?

In order to make your visit to our office as productive, and informative as possible, your dentist will most often send a referral letter and your most recent x-rays in advance of your initial appointment. However, if there is insufficient time for the x-rays to arrive by mail, please obtain the x-rays from your referring dentist and bring them with you.

Please bring a list of medications you are currently taking. Please note that you can fill out your patient registration and medical history form on our website.

If you have dental insurance, please bring any forms or insurance cards with you to the appointment. We will assist you in filing your insurance claims.

Please notify the office if you have a medical condition or concern prior to any of your appointments (e.g. artificial heart valves or joints, heart conditions requiring pre-medication, severe diabetes, or uncontrolled hypertension).

What will happen on my first visit

A complete medical and dental health history, as well as thorough oral examination, evaluating for clinical signs of gum disease, bone loss, loose teeth, missing teeth, bite irregularities, temporomandibular joint disease, and other signs of oral disease. An oral cancer screening will also be completed.

A second consultation visit may be needed at no additional fee. Depending upon the complexity of treatment, a second visit is often needed to discuss the diagnosis and treatment alternatives. In order to determine the best course of treatment and any alternative treatment plans, it is often necessary for the doctors to contact or meet with your general dentist. This will be completed fear your second visit.

Will the periodontal examination Hurt?

Dr Ronny Taschner, Dr Jennifer Taschner, and their team understand that most patients are concerned about having pain. He and his team strive to make every experience in the office as comfortable as possible. The periodontal exam can generally be completed with little or no discomfort.

Do I Need X-Rays or a CT scan

In order to make an accurate diagnosis of the type and severity of periodontal disease, a current set of periodontal x-rays will be needed. If your referring dentist has taken a complete series of x-rays, you may request that they be forwarded to us. If the information provided by your dentist’s X-rays aren’t diagnostic for periodontal disease, additional X-rays may need to be obtained.

A CT scan is often needed to determine if a patient is a candidate for dental implants.

What does Periodontal or Implant treatment Cost?

Since all patients are different, a thorough evaluation must be completed before establishing your treatment plan and the fee for your care. The fee for periodontal and/or implant treatment can vary considerably depending on the type of problems and the complexity and length of treatment. An approximate fee can sometimes be determined at your initial appointment, but more commonly, fees will be thoroughly discussed during the second visit after the diagnosis and recommended treatment have been discussed. Our philosophy of practice is to treat you as conservatively as possible in order to achieve optimum oral health and function.

Will My Insurance Cover The Cost?

Dental insurance policies often cover some percentage of periodontal treatment. Plan benefits vary greatly and most plans have yearly limits on how much they will cover. Please bring all medical and dental benefit information and cards to your examination appointment. We will try to help you determine how much your insurance may pay. Upon request, we will submit a claim to predetermine your insurance benefits. However, this is not required by most plans and often delays necessary treatment by 4-6 weeks.

Does Periodontal Treatment require Surgery?

Not everyone needs periodontal surgery. If treated early, gum disease can be controlled without surgery. Laser treatment of periodontal disease is non-surgical and is an appropriate treatment for certain types of periodontal disease. We will make recommendations based on your individual situation. Our philosophy of practice is to treat our patients as conservatively as possible to attain treatment goals.

Does Implant placement require Surgery?

Having implants placed does require surgery. Using leading-edge CT-guided implant placement, minimally invasive surgical techniques can be used.  This greatly reduces any swelling or discomfort.

Can My Teeth Be Saved?

Advances in periodontal treatment allow us to successfully treat most forms of periodontal disease. Dr. Ronny Taschner and Dr. Jennifer Taschner have treated thousands of patient’s and they are happy to report that they have seen very few patients lose their teeth, especially those patients who have followed treatment recommendations and have been compliant with oral hygiene procedures and routine periodontal maintenance.

When Will I Go Back To My General Dentist?

Dr. Ronny Taschner and Dr. Jennifer Taschner will work closely to ensure that your treatment is well coordinated. If crowns and fillings are needed, your dentist will provide them. Regular visits to your dentist are an important part of periodontal maintenance.

What If I Don’t Have Gum Treatment?

Periodontal disease is a progressive, painless, infection and is the main cause of tooth loss in our country. Tooth loss usually limits your ability to chew comfortably and smile confidently. Losing teeth can also affect one’s ability to speak clearly. Replacing lost teeth is often time-consuming and costly. It is always more economical to keep your own teeth.

Periodontal disease can also affect your general health. Many research studies have concluded that periodontal disease may be a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s disease and premature low birth weight babies.