Frequently Asked Questions

To reach us by phone, please call 916-966-4341. To request an appointment through our website, visit our Appointment Request Form. We will contact you to confirm the date and time of your appointment.

Certainly! Dr. Shore actually prefers to meet with you before you have treatments performed so she has a full understanding of your health and needs. If you have an emergency, though, you do not need to meet with Dr. Shore prior to receiving treatment.

Yes. Most of our first-time appointment forms are available online through this website. To open these forms to print, visit our Forms for New Patients page.

Yes. Our Practice can respond to existing patients only for a number of urgent situations involving your teeth and overall oral health. Call 916-966-4341 if you need to schedule an emergency appointment. Please note: If your situation is life threatening, you need to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.t.

We are happy to explain each of our cosmetic treatment options in detail with you. We can provide you with information by phone, but we would enjoy meeting with you to discuss options and answer any questions you have. Call us at 916-966-4341 to learn more.

The porcelain veneers used by our Practice are the highest quality in the industry and are as strong as a tooth. Veneers created by Dr. Shore are customized for your individual mouth and bite to ensure they last as long as real teeth.

The American Dental Association and a number of other professional dental organizations recommend that you receive a dental cleaning every 6 months, at a minimum. For some, more frequent cleanings is beneficial. If you are prone to cavities, have gum recession, or have a higher than normal concentration of bacteria in your mouth, you may need cleanings every 3-4 months.

If you feel like you would benefit from more frequent dental cleanings, please let us know.

Dental deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planning, is the process of removing plaque and tartar from below the gum line, which usually occurs deep within the pockets that surround the teeth. This is necessary to remove the toxins that can irritate the gums and lead to gum infections, gingivitis and periodontitis.

If you feel like you would benefit from deep cleaning, please talk with Dr. Shore. It will be recommended if it is determined that you need it during your consultation or a regular cleaning.

A cavity is caused by a breakdown of the chemical structure of a tooth. This breakdown is caused by bacteria and acid imbalances in the mouth. Major risk factors for getting cavities include high sugar/carbohydrate diets, poor oral hygiene, high bacteria levels in the mouth and genetics.

If you get a lot of cavities our office has a number of ways to help you. We can start by measuring the pH and bacteria levels in your mouth in order to come up with a customized action plan to avoid future cavities. There are many different products and techniques to help you stay cavity-free for life.

If you believe you have a bacteria or acid imbalance in your mouth, we can perform tests that will confirm or deny these suspicions. Once an imbalance has been detected, Dr. Shore will meet with you to provide solid solutions to control these imbalances.

Whitening toothpastes can slightly whiten teeth by removing stains on the surface of teeth. These are stains caused by drinking coffee or wine, smoking and eating certain foods. Most whitening toothpaste works by using abrasive qualities to polish off stains and chemical qualities to break down or dissolve stains.

Whitening toothpaste can sometimes cause sensitivity in the teeth and soft tissue of the mouth.

Easy monthly payments are available with approval through CareCredit. If you would like to apply for financing, please ask either on the phone when scheduling your appointment or at the time of your appointment or visit one of the websites below.

Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express for all or part of your treatment cost.

Modern dental x-ray equipment, like the digital x-rays used by Dr. Shore, are very safe. Advances in technology and safety over the years have made x-ray exposure as safe as using a cell phone. The amount of radiation produced by x-rays is so small and for such a short period of time, that spending an afternoon in the sun will expose you to more radiation than a set of dental x-rays.

There are various at-home methods for whitening teeth, including toothpastes, strips, and special gels and solutions. See our page on Best Teeth Whitening Methods to find out what each does and which one will work best for you.

Visiting the dentist is a fear for many people. This fear may be associated with a painful dental experience from one’s past; often childhood. The anxiety caused by this fear can last for years, or even a lifetime. However, the pain caused by avoiding proper oral hygiene far exceeds the temporary sensations experienced by visiting the dentist. Maintaining a good cleaning schedule and receiving recommended treatments will ensure a healthier mouth, better looking smile, and will help you avoid pain.

For some, the fear may be too much to bear and impossible to bypass. If this is the case, sedation dentistry is an option for you. Sedation is the process of administering controlled sedatives to a patient to help relax and relieve pain and sensitivity. With sedation, one does not have to go through the sensitive anxiety experienced by those with dentist fears.