Frequently Asked Questions

Please see this page.

Depends on service and insurance – We are a Delta Dental Premier Provider and a Superior Dental Care Preferred Network Provider.

Cost of care is very patient-specific. We offer a free consultation to assess the care needed and can offer more cost information upon completion of the consultation.

Please bring your insurance card and your completed new patient forms. If you did not receive new patient forms ahead of your appointment, please arrive 15 minutes early to complete the forms.

Depends on the services you are receiving.

First appointment - 2hrs for first appointment which includes a full set of x-rays (free of charge), a comprehensive exam with photo documentation, and a thorough discussion of your health history, goals, and treatment options – may also include a cleaning and consultation about financing options and/or maximizing benefits.

Cleaning – Depending on your oral health, a typical cleaning appointment takes one hour. It can be part of your first appointment or scheduled separately.

Filling – A filling typically takes one hour or less to complete.

We’re happy to accept walk-in patients for dental emergencies, but we ask that you call ahead for routine visits and other non-emergency treatment.

Our office is well-equipped to provide treatment for emergencies during our normal business hours. We recommend calling ahead or in-transit to give us ample time to prepare for your arrival. If your tooth has been knocked out, keep it moist; doing so will give us a better chance at saving your tooth. If possible, keep the tooth in your mouth between your cheek and gums until you arrive. If you suffer from a cracked tooth, severe toothache, or broken crown, immediately rinse your mouth with water and put a cold compress on your face to reduce swelling. In any emergency scenario, it’s critical to come in as soon as possible.

Your treatment at Sylvania Smile Design will be as gentle as possible. We typically numb the treatment area for all procedures. For severe anxiety and complex procedures, we offer local anesthesia and conscious sedation. Please refer to the next question (#8) for a detailed explanation of our pain management options.

Sylvania Smile Design is committed to your comfort. We provide multiple options for pain-free dentistry to ease discomfort, and anxiety.

For gentle numbing, we employ a 3-step process that our patients review as “the most comfortable numbing experience I’ve ever had.” We first apply a topical numbing gel to minimize discomfort followed by a preliminary shot to prevent burning before injecting a powerful numbing agent that penetrates deep into the teeth, gums, and surrounding tissue.

For complex procedures and severe anxiety, we offer local anesthesia and Halcion, also known as “The Happy Pill.” Dr. Schmakel prescribes “The Happy Pill” as an alternative to IV sedation. Please contact us in advance to allow yourself time to fill the prescription at your pharmacy before your appointment.

Yes – and our patients love it! We’ve made it easier and more affordable than ever to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, inside and out! Dr. Schmakel is qualified to administer Botox, as well as derma fillers like Juvederm and Voluma. There’s no downtime, so schedule your appointment for your lunch hour and return to work with a beautiful smile!

Teeth Whitening $99.00 for life! When you become a patient of Sylvania Smile by Design, we will custom make whitening trays for you to use along with free a tube of whitening gel for as long as Dr. Schmakel is practicing. You must maintain your regular hygiene appointments in order to continue receiving the whitening gel refills.

We’ve made it incredibly comfortable and affordable to brighten your smile with three professional treatment options to suite your whitening goals, sensitivity level, and lifestyle:

• Take-home gradual whitening: professional-grade whitening gel with custom-fitted trays.
• In-Office immediate whitening: Zoom™ treatment for up to eight shades of whitening in under two hours.

Although you have many options for cavity repair, we recommend choosing the treatment that will save as much of the natural tooth as possible.

• Fillings - for small cavities, choose a composite resin that matches the natural color of the tooth.
• Veneers - if the cavity is on the front of a tooth, you may want to consider a thin, natural-looking shell that covers the front of the tooth called a veneer.
• Onlays and Inlays - for larger cavities, we may suggest an inlay (fits into the tooth) or an onlay (fills the tooth and covers part of the surface).
• Crown - for severe decay that has compromised the strength of the tooth, we recommend a crown – a cap that covers the entirety of the tooth.

Depending on the severity of the damage, it’s always best to restore the natural tooth with a one-visit crown or a veneer. A crown is used to cap the entire tooth, while a veneer is just a thin shell that covers the front of the tooth. If the tooth is beyond repair, extraction is necessary. Dr. Schmakel can replace the extracted tooth with a bridge or an implant. These options are the last resort, each with its own set of pros and cons. The choice requires careful consideration of your past dental work and current health with your dentist. For more information on implants, read our article, “5 Things to consider with Dental Implants.”

CEREC crowns, or one-visit crowns, usually take 1-3 hours to complete. First, we use the latest in digital imaging technology to capture the topography of your teeth. The image is then sent to a design unit that creates a 3D blueprint for the restoration. Using our on-site milling machine, Dr. Schmakel creates a high-quality ceramic crown, then colors it to match the rest of your teeth. Finally, we secure it in place and you’re off to enjoy the rest of your day!

One-visit CEREC crowns are far superior to traditional crowns in terms of safety and accuracy. Since the crown is cemented in the same day the tooth is prepared, there’s virtually no risk for bacteria affecting the prepared tooth. CEREC technology is much more accurate than the traditional mold-and-pour method and allows for a closer match to the natural color of your teeth.

We typically recommend alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash for enamel strength (like ACT) or alcohol-free oxidizing mouthwash for fresh breath (like Oxyfresh). For patients with dry mouth or gum disease, we prescribe a combination of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash for its powerful antibacterial properties and a Prevident Flouride rinse to strengthen enamel. Regardless of what mouthwash you choose, we recommend switching it up every three months to keep the bad bacteria guessing.

• For most patients, we recommend a fluoride toothpaste with low-abrasivity levels to protect your enamel. Our favorite is Oxyfresh, an alcohol-free toothpaste that uses the power of oxygen and zinc to dissolve odor-causing compounds for fresh breath that lasts.
• For more information, read out article, “What Are the Differences Between the Major Brands of Toothpaste?”