Patient InfoRMATION

Periodontal disease (commonly called "gum disease") is a chronic infection of the gums and other supporting tissues, including the bone that holds your teeth in place. If it is not addressed, the result can be permanent damage to the jawbone and tooth loss.

Recent studies have demonstrated a connection between periodontal disease and serious conditions that include stroke, heart disease, respiratory disease, and some types of cancer. Women with periodontal disease are more likely to deliver babies pre-term with low birth weights. 

In the advanced stages of periodontal disease, symptoms are likely to include red, tender, inflamed gums that pull back from your teeth and periodontal bone. Other signs of the disease can include:

• Bad breath
• Teeth that feel mobile
• Sensitive teeth
• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Pain when chewing

Treating periodontal disease early on is key to keeping it under control. These treatments often include a more thorough cleaning and improved home care. In later stages, however, a deeper cleaning, known as scaling and root planing, is required. Sometimes antibiotic therapy or surgery can be needed to treat the condition.

Regular visits to the dentist and cleanings with your dental hygienist help prevent periodontal disease. We recommend that you come see us every six months and follow the care plans that we suggest. Give us a call today to schedule your next preventive check-up and cleaning!

As we get older, our teeth lose the luster they once had. A number of different factors can contribute to this discoloration, including tobacco and certain foods and drinks. 

Hot drinks, such as coffee and tea, are particularly problematic because they cause the temperature of your teeth to change. This cycling from hot to cold allows the enamel on the teeth to expand and contract, making it easier for staining particles to become lodged in the structure of the tooth itself.

Acidic foods can also pose a threat to your pearly whites. Like hot foods, acidic foods cause the pores of your enamel to open up, providing easy access to the inner layers of the tooth. Common culprits include:

• Tomatoes or marinara sauce
• Soy sauce
• Curries
• Citrus fruits or dark berries such as blackberries and blueberries

Don't lose hope! At RGC Dentistry, we offer effective teeth whitening options, including both in-office solutions and take-home kits. In just a few hours, you can enjoy all the benefits that come from a whiter, brighter smile.

Whitening your teeth is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your smile. Call our Surprise, AZ dental office today to learn more about your options and request a cleaning and consultation!

Dental x-rays are an important tool that we use to determine what is happening inside your mouth. With x-rays, Dr. Call can see things like gum disease, infections in the bone, tumors, cysts, abscesses, tooth decay, and cavities, often before these issues may be causing you discomfort. Detecting many of these concerns early will allow you to choose more effective treatment options that are less invasive – and could even save your life in the case of tumors or cysts.

We use digital x-rays at RGC Dentistry, which have the lowest possible dose of radiation. One x-ray has less than half the radiation exposure you would get from a sunny day in Arizona! These x-rays are readily available for Dr. Call to see and discuss with you, so it allows you to access treatment faster when necessary. They are also safer for the environment as they require no chemicals for development.

We typically recommend that x-rays be taken one time each year, unless you are having specific issues. X-rays also provide Dr. Call with an excellent baseline for your oral health that she can use if future concerns should arise.

Please feel free to contact RGC Dentistry and talk with a team member if you have concerns or questions about dental x-rays.

At RGC Dentistry, we are pleased to work with a number of insurance companies, and we are always happy to file your claims on your behalf. However, it is important to understand that dental insurance typically only covers a small portion of dental procedures.

We are happy to help you determine the coverage and benefits of your unique plan, so you will always have an idea of your out-of-pocket cost for the dentistry you need.

Patients without dental insurance or with complex treatment plans will be happy to know that we offer a number of payment options to help you fit dentistry comfortably into your budget. CareCredit can help patients who would like to break the cost of their treatment into convenient and affordable monthly payments, and they even have interest-free plans for patients who qualify.

We will always discuss your financial options with you before starting any treatment procedure so you have a clear understanding of cost, benefit coverage, and options for financing. Please feel free to call our office at any time with any questions or concerns you have about your payment options. We are here to help!

Many people have the philosophy that they don't need to see the dentist unless they are in pain. Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth.

In the same way that it's good to check in with your regular medical provider for a yearly physical and screenings, you need to see your dentist consistently in order to prevent many dental issues. When you wait until you are feeling pain, it is likely that the damage has been done and treatment will be needed. Consistent visits allow Dr. Call to detect many concerns early on so you can easily treat them with less invasive procedures.

During your six-month examinations, Dr. Call will screen you for issues like oral cancer, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, and cavities. She can detect these concerns early on with x-rays and thorough examinations so you can be proactive about your treatment needs. For example, if Dr. Call sees tooth decay, we can restore your tooth with a dental filling. But if you have waited until that tooth decay causes pain, it's likely that it has reached your nerve and will require a root canal to preserve your tooth. 

If it’s time for your next cleaning and checkup, don't delay! Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.

It is our mission to make your visits with us a comfortable experience, we will go the extra mile to make sure you have a pain-free procedure!

With today's advanced treatments, state-of-the-art technology, and the ability to deliver anesthesia in the most comfortable manner, you should have minimal to no discomfort during your dental procedures.

Dr. Call is highly skilled and very gentle. She also uses the best anesthetics to ensure that you don’t feel anything during treatment, and advanced technology such as rotary endodontic tools to ensure that your procedures are effective and more efficient than in the past.

For patients who experience anxiety about their dental visits, Dr. Call offers nitrous oxide. Also called "laughing gas," nitrous helps takes the edge off by helping you relax and even producing feelings of euphoria. It can be used during most procedures, so talk with Dr. Call if you feel like nitrous may make you more comfortable during your dental appointments.

Patients will also find that our kind and friendly team and welcoming environment make visits to RGC Dentistry more pleasant and stress-free. Just let us know how we can make dentistry more comfortable for you.