Common Questions
Questions about Services Provided
Questions about Treatment
- What happens at my first appointment?
- I am very apprehensive about having treatment. What do you do to address this?
- Will treatment be painful?
- Will I be in pain after treatment?
Financial Questions
- Why don't you participate with dental insurances?
- May I come to your office even though you do not participate with my insurance company?
What kinds of procedures do you do? (back to top)
Dr. Lefkoff provides non-surgical and surgical treatment. For detailed descriptions of the procedures, please see the American Academy of Periodontology website.
Some of the procedures Dr. Lefkoff performs are:
- Soft tissue grafts:
- Sub epithelial connective tissue grafts.
- Allografts.
- Free gingival grafts.
- Minimally Invasive Soft Tissue Grafting using an acellular dermal matrix (AlloDerm®).
- Diode Laser procedures.
- Osseous surgery with and without regenerative procedures.
- Cosmetic gingival recontouring (gingivaplasty/gingivectomy).
- Ridge augmentation.
- Scaling and root planning.
- Occlusal adjustment.
- Periodontal maintenance procedures.
- Oral hygiene instructions.
- Extractions with ridge preservation techniques.
- Biopsy.
- Bacterial culture and antibiotic specificity testing.
What happens at my first appointment? (back to top)
Dr. Lefkoff will review your medical and dental history and perform a thorough examination that includes an oral cancer screening, periodontal exam, and evaluation for other signs of dental disease. Digital radiographs, if indicated, will also be taken. She will explain her findings, tell you your diagnosis, and make treatment recommendations. She will discuss all fees for the recommended treatments with you, and she will provide you with a written treatment plan.
If your case is extensive, you may be asked to return for a second appointment and Dr. Lefkoff will present the detailed plan to you at that time.
If you are experiencing an emergency, any indicated emergency treatment will be provide at the first appointment.
I am very apprehensive about having treatment. What do you do to address this? (back to top)
There are many ways to address your apprehension. The first way Dr. Lefkoff addresses it is by taking the time to listen to your concerns, and by adequately explaining and discussing what will take place during treatment. She has found that just knowing what to expect helps to decrease anxiety.
Dr. Lefkoff can use nitrous oxide sedation (also known as laughing gas) to help relax you and make it easier for you to have treatment. She also can prescribe medications for you to take prior to your appointments. Some patients have the best experience by using both nitrous oxide sedation and oral medications.
Will treatment be painful? (back to top)
The use of dental anesthesia generally makes your treatment painless. Dr. Lefkoff uses topical anesthetic before all dental injections to provide maximum comfort during the brief time the anesthetic is given.
Will I be in pain after treatment? (back to top)
Most nonsurgical procedures do not cause post-operative pain. If some discomfort occurs, over the counter medications such as ibuprofen are usually sufficient.
There may be pain after periodontal surgery. Everyone has different pain thresholds and experiences. Dr Lekfoff will provide you with appropriate pain medication to address your unique situation.
Why don't you participate with dental insurances? (back to top)
Dr. Lefkoff has chosen not to participate with any dental insurance companies, because her goal is to provide you with the highest quality of care possible. Unfortunately dental insurance does not cover many of the procedures she provides. In addition, when the insurance company does provide benefits for a procedure, the insurance reimbursement is often not sufficient to adequately cover the cost of materials and current technological advances.
When the procedure you need is not covered by your insurance, you are responsible for payment for the services whether you are seen by a participating or non participating provider.
By not participating with any dental insurance plans, Dr. Lefkoff can make her decisions and treatment recommendations based on what will provide you the best dental health, rather than on what treatments your insurance company may cover.
May I come to your office even though you do not participate with my insurance company? (back to top)
Yes, everyone is welcome. We will tell you all fees ahead of time and provide you with a written treatment plan that clearly shows your financial responsibility/obligation. Please see our financial policy for more details