At Valley Ridge Dental, we believe that financial concerns should not dictate the decisions you make as far as the dental treatment you might need. As a professional, Dr. Katie Daniels’s job is to provide you with knowledge of the condition of your mouth and options to achieve optimal dental health.
We try to keep our environment relaxed and personal. Treatment is tailored to each individual’s needs, and we take the time to get to know our patients so that they feel comfortable and confident in their provider. If someone needs a little extra TLC, we make sure we have the time set aside to do that. Our in-office amenities are also designed to keep our patients happy and calm. These include aromatherapy and paraffin hand wax treatments to help you relax. To keep you distracted and entertained while you are in the treatment room, we offer Netflix and music. We can talk to you about anesthesia options before treatment to ensure you are completely comfortable. For those patients who are particularly anxious, we are able to provide nitrous oxide — also called laughing gas — to help you relax. Nitrous oxide is breathed in through a mask similar to the way oxygen is administered. Its effects are mild, and you will still be fully conscious and able to speak to Dr. Daniels and the rest of our team during treatment. Because nitrous oxide exits the body almost immediately once we remove the mask, you will be able to drive yourself back to work or home after treatment.
We accept the following third-party payment options: CareCredit and Wells Fargo Finance. Both offer low- and no-cost financing so you can get the treatment you need while still staying within your budget with monthly payments. For your convenience, we also accept most major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. If you pay upfront for treatment or you are a senior citizen with no dental insurance, we are pleased to offer a cash discount off of services. We don’t want financial worries to get in the way of you getting the dental treatment you need to enjoy optimal oral health. If you would like to talk about payment options, please take a moment with one of our team members so they can review your options. They are very knowledgeable and can walk you through a variety of scenarios. It’s also important to remember that coming to the dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings can save you money in the long run. When we see you regularly, we can detect dental problems while they are still small and easier—and less expensive—to treat. We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!
Cavities occur when the bacteria in our mouths eat the food and sugars that have been left on our teeth. When they do this, they create acid, which dissolves the enamel on our teeth. Our saliva buffers this acid and remineralizes the enamel. When this process is out of balance, a cavity forms. Individuals with dry mouth, which can be caused by medication side effects or medical conditions, are therefore more prone to cavities. To prevent cavities, we can minimize the amount of sugary and starchy food we consume, remove the bacteria from our teeth with good brushing and flossing habits, and strengthen our teeth with fluoride, which makes the enamel more resistant to the acid created by the bacteria. It’s also true that some people are simply more prone to developing cavities than others. By coming to our office twice each year for examinations and cleanings, we are better able to spot tooth decay while it is still small. A filling will keep the decay from growing—and it will protect the health of your tooth. Skipping dental appointments means risking that an untreated cavity will grow, eventually creating a need for more invasive treatment, such as a root canal.
