Zahnaerzte_am_Augustaplatz_Service

FAQ

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I’ve got toothache, can I just drop in?

We will of course treat you promptly if you are experiencing acute problems. But please do call us beforehand – don’t just come to the practice. We are an appointment-based practice and, because we give priority to patients with fixed appointments, you will have to be prepared for some waiting time. Exceptions to this are very acute emergencies or accidents, such as if a child has a tooth or teeth knocked out.

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How often do I need to go to the dentist for a check-up?

For those covered by statutory health insurance, the insurance company will pay for two check-ups a year – once every 6 months with at least 4 months between each check-up. Statutory health insurance also covers simple tartar removal once a year. However, this does not include tooth polishing. This is carried out as part of a professional tooth cleaning procedure. We’ll be happy to advise you about this during your check-up.

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What are the benefits of the dental treatment record (or Bonusheft in German)?

If you need a dental prosthesis, the statutory health insurance companies will pay a slightly higher subsidy if you can show that you have been for regular dental check-ups, which is evidenced by the dental treatment record.

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I have dark patches/spots on my teeth: could it be tooth decay?

Not all dark tooth discolouration is active tooth decay. Dark spots can also be caused by external sources, such as coffee, tea or red wine. This discolouration often occurs in hard-to-clean areas, such as in fissures or at the edges of old fillings. Book a check-up to make sure.

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Which fillings do you use in your practice?

We use dentin-bonding composite fillings and a multilayering technique as standard, meaning that the high-quality, ceramic-reinforced plastic fillings matching your tooth shade are firmly bonded to the tooth. Those covered by statutory health insurance must pay this additional cost themselves, unlike with simple amalgam fillings. We also offer filling materials that are fully covered by statutory health insurance. In such cases, we use glass ionomer-based cements. These are long-term temporary solutions and last approx. 2–3 years.

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How soon can I eat after having a filling?

If you have had a local anaesthetic as part of your filling treatment, we recommend that you do not eat until it has worn off to avoid inadvertent injury to the anaesthetised soft tissues such as the tongue or cheek.

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Why aren’t all of the costs covered by statutory health insurance?

The health insurance companies are only legally obliged to cover “necessary” services. What is deemed “necessary” is listed in Paragraph 12, Book V of the Social Security Statute: “The services must be sufficient, appropriate and economical; they must not exceed what is necessary. Insured persons cannot claim benefits that are not necessary or uneconomical, service providers are not allowed to provide them and the health insurance companies are not allowed to approve them.” This also means, for example, that according to the legislators, composite restorations of high aesthetic quality or ceramic-veneered crowns for lateral teeth exceed “what is necessary” and, therefore, are only partially subsidised by health insurance companies.

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What is professional dental cleaning (PDC)?

During professional dental cleaning, a specially trained dental hygienist will intensively clean your teeth so that the biofilm – made up of bacteria that constantly adhere to the tooth surface and are responsible for tooth decay and periodontitis – does not have a chance to form at all. In addition, you’ll also receive personalised tips for your dental hygiene routine at home. The PDC can be carried out every 6 months for those with a normal risk of tooth decay, or more frequently for those at higher risk. For periodontitis patients, a PDC recall is scheduled at intervals of 3–6 months following the actual periodontitis treatment. Here, the periodontal pockets are regularly checked and retreated as required. The reason for a PDC is to maintain optimal oral hygiene in order to prevent caries and periodontitis.

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Which toothbrush is “the best”?

Every patient has different requirements for their dental care. Therefore there is also a wide range of different toothbrushes, different bristle types and the choice between manual and electric toothbrushes. Depending upon your specific situation, we advise the use of dental floss and interdental brushes. Our dental hygienists will give you unbiased, personalised advice.

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I wear a prosthesis, do I still need to brush my teeth?

If you wear prostheses anchored to your teeth, then caring for you own teeth is very important to ensure they stay healthy for as long as possible.

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Do I still need to come for regular check-ups, even though I wear prostheses?

Even if you wear prostheses, please book a check-up every 6 months.

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What do I do if the temporary prosthesis falls out at a bad time?

If the temporary prosthesis falls out (one that you’re wearing until the completion appointment of your crown or bridge), you should have it put back in again by a dentist. If you cannot make it to a dentist due to your location or schedule, you can also fix the temporary prosthesis back into place yourself using a small amount of toothpaste. However, do not leave the tooth untreated for a long time to prevent fractures or sensitivities.

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From what age should children come for regular dental check-ups?

A child’s first visit to the dentist should be when all of their milk teeth have come through.

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When and how should I start brushing my child’s teeth?

When the first milk tooth has come though. Children only fully develop their motor skills from around the age of 10; until then we recommend that parents do a follow-up brush of their children’s teeth.

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Do wisdom teeth always need to be removed?

Wisdom teeth do not have to be removed if they are not causing a problem; they are completely regular teeth. They should only be removed if they cannot be kept hygienically clean, are crooked, are very tilted or if it looks as if there will not be enough space for them.

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Can I go to work after having a surgical procedure?

What you need to do after the procedure will be explained to you in our practice prior to every surgical treatment. To ensure a wound heals well, you must abstain from consuming caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for the 2 days following the procedure. Physical rest is also advised.

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Can you recommend additional dental insurance?

For legal reasons, we cannot recommend any additional insurance to you. However, the market for such insurance policies is very extensive, so we do recommend that you critically review and ask about the policies offered. But we do emphasise that no major benefits can be expected from so-called “bargains” or cheap policies that sometimes cost less than €10. Higher-quality insurance policies do offer reasonable subsidies for prostheses, aesthetic fillings and professional dental cleaning.