A:

We accept most PPO insurance plans, including Aetna, Assurant, Ameritas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, Dentemax, Eagles, Florida Combined, Humana, Guardian, Lincoln Financial, Metlife, UMR, United Concordia, and United Healthcare.

For your convenience, we also offer third-party financing options with CareCredit and the Lending Club (Springstone Financial).

A:

Yes. Both of our doctors speak Spanish, as well as some of the members of our staff. We believe good dental care is something that should be available to everyone, and we don’t want language to be a barrier.

A:

Here at Ricard Family Dentistry we do see children and the rest of the family. We generally recommend that children begin regular visits by the time they reach the age of five. We encourage parents to let their children accompany them on their own dental appointments even earlier. This helps to instill in children that visits to the dentist are nothing to fear.

A:

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a condition that is often marked by one or more of the following symptoms:

• Bleeding gums
• Loosening teeth
• Tenderness of the gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Gum line recession
• Pus between your teeth and gums

You should also be aware that gum disease may not present with any symptoms at all, which is why it is often referred to as a “silent” disease. Because symptoms are not always obvious and early treatment gives the best results, visiting your dentist twice a year for regular checkups is important.

A:

Treatment costs will vary, depending on the procedures needed. When we outline your treatment plan, we will go over costs with you beforehand so you know exactly what to expect. We can also discuss payment options with you at that time. If you have insurance, we will review your policy so we can help maximize your coverage.

A:

Yes, we do our best to accommodate dental emergencies on the same day even if you are a new patient to our office. If you have a dental emergency, give our office a call.

A:

With time, changes occur to the underlying bone and gums while your dentures remain the same. Dentures need to be relined to adapt to this change which is why regular doctor appointments are necessary. If you think your dentures needs to be realigned call today for a consultation.

A:

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is placed in your jawbone to hold a replacement tooth. If you have lost a tooth or multiple teeth, dental implants are the best option to replace that tooth because it looks just like a real tooth. The implants are anchored directly to the bone and an artificial tooth is placed on top of it. Call our office today if you think you could benefit from a dental implant.

A:

Porcelain crowns are commonly known as caps, they cover your natural tooth like a hat and are used when the patient has advanced tooth decay, a tooth crown fracture or teeth treated with root canals. New technologies in dental materials have made crowns and bridges look natural.

A:

If you don’t like the appearance of your teeth there are many things you can do to change the appearance. Six Month Smiles Orthodontics can change your front teeth, which is what people see when you speak and smile, in six months without the hassle of braces or an even longer time frame. Deep Bleaching can be used to whiten your smile by several shades at the dental office. For a smile change using Porcelain Veneers, we can cap your teeth and completely change your smile. Call us today to schedule your consultation to see which treatment is best for you.

A:

Dental extractions are priced based on the difficulty of the surgical procedure. Feel free to call us today to schedule an appointment to see what type of surgical procedure you’ll need.

A:

We do not currently accept Medicaid, however we offer a very convenient in-house discount plan that can help with the cost of your treatment. Call our dental office today to learn more about this discount plan.

A:

The 69 dollar special for new patients includes a dental exam and necessary x-rays. Don’t forget to print out the coupon and call us today to schedule your appointment.

A:

At Ricard Family Dentistry we work with third-party financing like CareCredit and the Lending Club that allows you to make monthly payments based on the total of your treatment. If you have any additional questions about these payment plans call our office today.

A:

We offer two different types of teeth bleaching here at Ricard Family Dental. We can do deep bleaching in the dental office which gives you instant results. We also offer a take home system that you can do yourself. Call us today with questions you may have.

A:

Accepting most PPO plans we accept: Aetna, Assurant, Ameritas, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, Dentemax, Eagles, Florida Combined, Humana, Guardian, Lincoln Financial, Metlife, UMR, United Concordia and United Healthcare. If you have any specific questions about insurance coverage please call our dental office today.

A:

It’s important to visit your dentist in Fort Pierce, FL, regularly for examinations and cleanings.

We agree with the American Dental Association, which recommends that everyone see their dentist twice each year for examinations and cleanings. The ADA also recommends seeing your dentist about every six months.

In addition, most patients should have x-rays taken at least once each year. For those patients who have gum disease, regular trips to the dentist might need to be more frequent, depending on your condition and your dentist’s recommendation.

Even if you are not having any dental problems, this is no reason to put off a regular trip to the dentist. When it comes to issues with your teeth and gums, finding them earlier—before they are even noticeable to you—is always better. If problems are detected early on, treatment is generally less invasive, less expensive, and less painful.

It’s also important to note that people who visit their dentist regularly tend to have fewer dental emergencies. This is also good to keep in mind when you are tempted to put off that regularly scheduled trip to your dentist in Fort Pierce, FL!

A:

If you are a person who has had an accident or who clenches and grinds their teeth, it has probably taken its toll on your smile. A worn or damaged smile can lead to feelings of self-consciousness, creates sensitivity, and may even make it difficult to eat. A prolonged damaged tooth is more susceptible to dental decay because of damaged enamel. Dental crowns can improve your appearance and the comfort of your smile. We use dental crowns in most cosmetic cases, especially when a tooth is short or dark beyond the point of whitening.

A dental crown completely covers your natural tooth and adds protection in addition to looking great.

At our Port St. Lucie dental office, we design crowns that are esthetic and can improve the appearance of one troubled tooth or every tooth, depending on your needs. Porcelain crowns look realistic in their color, shape, and shading, so no one will notice that anything is out of place or that you have had cosmetic dentistry.

Dental crowns provide a long-term solution and can prolong the life of your tooth. Contact Ricard Family Dentistry to schedule a consultation and discover how cosmetic dentistry can help you feel confident in your appearance.

A:

Dental crowns are a common solution for restoring damaged teeth. For instance, if you have a large filling that has caused fractures in the tooth surface, a dental crown is more than likely going to be the solution that will save your tooth and protect it from further damage. But dental crowns can also be used to fix cosmetic issues with your teeth.

If you have a misshapen tooth, a dental crown can be placed to cover that tooth and help it blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. In the same way, a tooth that is badly stained and resistant to tooth bleaching can also benefit from a dental crown. A dental crown can fix and strengthen a broken tooth. A crown is also placed on top of a dental implant, giving you a natural-looking tooth that functions very similarly to your own teeth.

Two visits to the dentist are usually required to place dental crown, whether we are addressing cosmetic issues or a structural problem. In the end, you will have a beautiful restoration that looks and functions like your natural teeth. Designed to last for many years, dental crowns from our Port St. Lucie dental office protect your tooth while giving you back its form and function.

A:

We offer the KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching System for smiles that are exceptionally white.

You can opt for in-office whitening, which takes about an hour. Using this system, you will see results the minute we finish treatment.

We can also provide you with a take-home kit that includes custom-made whitening trays. Results will be just as dramatic as our in-office system although it will take a few treatments before the whitening becomes obvious.

We use the KöR system because we have found it to be the most effective teeth whitening system available. Even the darkest stains are removed with this bleaching system. The procedure is quick and painless for our patients. We have also found that our patients experience little or no sensitivity after undergoing the whitening treatment, and it is safe for both your teeth and your gums.

Results with the KöR system last a long time, particularly if you are careful to avoid tooth-staining foods and beverages after undergoing the treatment. Bright, white teeth are often just what patients need for extra motivation to practice good home care. Staying on top of your oral health by brushing and flossing regularly will also help your whitening results last longer.

If you want to know more about teeth whitening at our St. Port Lucie dental office, we are happy to answer your questions!

A:

In a word: no!

Although many people have a deep-seated fear of the root canal process, the truth is that getting a root canal is no worse than getting a cavity filled. In fact, the toothache pain that generally brings people to their Fort Pierce dentist in the first place is almost always far worse than any pain associated with the root canal process.

During root canal treatment, you will be numbed with a local anesthetic so you won’t be able to feel anything while Dr. Ricard performs this common procedure.

After the area surrounding the infected tooth is numbed, Dr. Ricard will make a tiny hole in your tooth so he can clean out the infected tooth pulp. The area will be saturated with an antibiotic to ensure the infection is completely gone. Once the area is cleaned, Dr. Ricard will use a special material to fill in the space in the root.

We will likely recommend that a crown be fitted on top of the remaining tooth structure to strengthen and protect it. Once the pulp is removed from the tooth root, the tooth structure can become brittle and vulnerable to fracture. A crown will keep the tooth strong, giving you back full function of the tooth.

A:

When you get immediate dentures, you receive your complete or partial denture on the same day that your teeth are removed. One of the greatest benefits of immediate dentures is that you will not have to go without teeth while waiting for your gums to heal.

There are other advantages to immediate dentures. When the dentures are inserted right after tooth extraction, this will help protect the gum tissue and reduce bleeding. You will be able to start learning how to speak with your dentures immediately. You will be able to chew better with immediate dentures. Facial distortion will also be minimized.

There are also disadvantages to immediate dentures that you should be aware of. Six to eight weeks after your teeth are extracted, your gums will have healed and the immediate dentures will not fit as accurately as a conventional denture. You will have to have the dentures adjusted or have a new set of dentures made so they will fit properly. Because of this, there are extra costs associated with immediate dentures.

If you are looking at dentures to replace your teeth, be sure to ask your Port St. Lucie dentist about whether or not immediate dentures might be right for you.

A:

If you are missing a tooth, you more than likely will need a bridge. A bridge will literally “bridge” the gap of space that is left when a tooth is lost. A crown is often used to replace a tooth that is damaged but can still be saved.

A dental bridge, which will attach to your natural teeth or to two crowns on either side of the area where teeth are missing, will look and function very much like your natural teeth. It will also protect your remaining teeth from shifting.

A dental crown fits over a tooth that has been prepared to receive the “cap.” It will strengthen the remaining tooth structure and protect it from further damage. A dental crown is cemented into place permanently, looks very similar to your natural teeth, and is designed to last for many years.

Crowns can also be used to save a tooth that has become fractured from a very large filling. There are cosmetic uses for dental crowns as well, particularly when a tooth is discolored or oddly shaped.

Dental crowns can also be used to hold a dental bridge in place. Your best bet if you are not sure if you need a crown or bridge is to call your Port St. Lucie dentist Dr. Arturo Ricard.

A:

Dental crowns, also called tooth caps, are used to repair a damaged tooth and restore its function. Sometimes crowns are used to improve the look of a misshapen tooth or to provide stability to a dental appliance, such as a bridge. The number of years they last can vary, based on a variety of factors.

Dental crowns are commonly used to repair a tooth that has become fractured because of a very large filling, usually in the back molars. When there is not enough left of the tooth structure to replace the filling, a dental crown is used to give the tooth back its strength.

Crowns are generally made either out of metal or porcelain.

On average, patients can expect their porcelain crown to last for about a decade. This is just a guideline, however, because crowns can last much longer than that—or for a much shorter time. Much depends on the patient’s diet, maintenance of oral health, and other habits, such as tooth grinding or clenching. Another factor can be just how much was left of the original tooth structure before the crown was placed.

Talk to your Fort Pierce dentist Dr. Ricard about dental crowns and how long you might expect yours to last.