FAQs

FAQs

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We get asked many questions – all of them are good. The team at Intentional Smiles chose a career in dentistry and loves taking your questions. Here are a few common ones we receive, if you have others, please call us at (405) 348-2266.

At Intentional Smiles, we use the word “comprehensive” for a reason. You will receive the best care available for your individual needs. Your first visit with Dr. Barton is typically a comprehensive oral evaluation – a look at the big picture.

So after we see big the picture, we will recommend needed dental treatment. It will, of course, include regular hygiene visits, more commonly called cleanings. Did you know there are at least four different types of dental cleanings, and our hygienists can deliver any of them? But we prefer to know what you need before they get started.

Another reason to see the dentist first is that she will ultimately be responsible for your overall treatment – the team leader. To meet that challenge, he will want to know what is important to you for your long-term dental health.

The team at Intentional Smiles sees patients from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday and Friday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please call our office – at (405) 348-2266 – at the first sign of dental discomfort, sensitivity or trauma.

If you have a problem when the office is closed, follow the directions provided on the answering machine. Dr. Barton will make every attempt to help you during your time of dental distress.

That depends on your mouth and oral health. For example, patients with periodontal (gum) disease need to have hygiene cleanings more often than someone with healthy gums.

Dr. Barton will recommend the frequency of your visit based on risk factors and disease. The goal is to meet your goals for a healthy smile, teeth and gums.

We will not let insurance or schedules dictate the level of care recommended to you. It is all based on your individual level of need.

Your first visit at Intentional Smiles is a comprehensive oral evaluation where you will be given specific information and answers and estimates on how often you will get to visit us.

We will gladly file insurance claims to maximize your benefits. Insurance helps offset the cost of dental care, so know insurance estimates and pre-authorizations are not a guarantee from the insurance company.

An insurance policy is a contract between you or your employer and the insurance company. We won’t know all the details of your agreements or contracts.

Regardless of insurance coverage, we are prepared to set up a financial arrangement between you and our practice. Any balance unpaid by insurance in 30 days is the patient’s responsibility and payable by cash, check or credit card.

We do see children and are happy to serve your entire family. We want you and your child to have a positive experience and want to make your child right at home.

We do know early childhood experiences can have a long-term impact. We will work hard to educate kids and motivate them into a bright, happy, healthy future with a great smile.

In some cases, Dr. Barton may believe the best course of dental treatment could be delivered by a pediatric specialist. If this happens, the team at Intentional Smiles will work closely with you to make a referral.

Invisalign is a versatile option to help correct a broad range of dental or orthodontic issues.

Most of the time, the primary candidates for Invisalign are patients who need (or want) to straighten their teeth. Below is a list of dental conditions which may prompt Dr. Barton to recommend and custom design Invisalign into your treatment plan.

  • Overly crowded teeth – There just isn’t enough room in the jaw for all teeth to fit normally. Left untreated, an increased chance of dental decay and gum disease can prevent the teeth from working normally.
  • Widely spaced teeth – Missing teeth or continued growth of the jaw bone can cause shifting of teeth due to extra space. The result can be periodontal (gum) disease.
  • Crossbite – A simple misalignment of the upper and lower jaws causing one or more upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth. It also can happen on the front and/or sides of the mouth. Patients can experience excessive wearing of teeth, gum disease and bone loss.
  • Overbite – This is known to dental professionals as “overjet,” and it is when the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth. Typically caused by genetics or the development of the bone that supports the teeth, this condition can case gum problems and irritation, wear on the lower teeth causing painful jaw and joint problems.
  • Underbite – This is witnessed when lower teeth stick out past the front teeth. It’s generally caused by missing upper teeth, and can prevent normal function of the front teeth or molars and extraordinary tooth wear. Patients with an underbite are susceptible to painful jaw and joint problems.

Call the office at (405) 348-2266 as soon as possible. If the office closed, please follow the directions on the answering machine. Dr. Barton will make every attempt to see you as soon as possible.

A traditional crown would take up to four weeks from start to finish. Intentional Smiles is one of less than 150 (of the approximately 1,300) dentists in Oklahoma to invest in a CEREC – the machine that can build your crown in office in two hours.

Recognizing the advanced benefits of technology, Dr. Barton use CEREC to provide sophisticated computer modeling to improve precision and an in-office milling machine to produce a crown while you wait.

As a patient you will benefit by fewer visits, reduced procedure time and state of the art materials.

Whitening systems sold at grocery or drug stores are simply less effective. They are often weaker, diluted and offer untested solutions.

For the best results, Dr. Barton recommend clinically tested and FDA approved products used in our office. And by using the best products available, you will save money with one visit to Intentional Smiles.

Tooth-colored fillings – we call them composite fillings – are a mixture of glass and plastic that bonds much better to the tooth. And in the long run can strengthen the existing tooth.

Silver (or amalgam) fillings have been banned in many other countries for decades. For example, they were prohibited in Europe. The primary reason for the ban was the mercury commonly used in the alloy.

Yes, Intentional Smiles is a cosmetic dental practice. Yes, composite fillings are more attractive. Yes, amalgam fillings are available in the United States. But Dr. Barton use composite fillings because they believe it is the best dental solution for their patients.


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