Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

One of the things that often keeps patients away from the dentist is the cost of treatment. A healthy smile is an investment, and we understand that most of our patients like to keep costs within their budgets.

We understand proper dental care can be costly, especially if you have been putting off treatment. We eliminate the cost barrier whenever possible so that nothing stands between you and a healthy smile. We can help you plan out treatment phases over time. We can also address the most serious conditions first to make your treatment more affordable.

We also offer:

Care Credit financing – Care Credit offers both interest-free and long-term payment options so you can have the treatment you need now in order to protect your teeth while paying it off over time.

Monthly payment plans – Our team can discuss a monthly payment plan that will work for you.

Cash/Pre-payment discounts -–If you can pay for all of your treatment up front, we offer discounts that reduce the overall cost of your dentistry. Our patients truly appreciate the savings.

We accept most major credit cards. By using credit cards, you can get miles or other rewards while paying for your dentistry.

If you ever have questions about the services we offer or the cost of your treatment, give us a call. We are always happy to help.

Yes!

Kids should have their first appointment at age one or when they have their first tooth. While this early appointment may seem unimportant, it is actually a time when we can accomplish a few goals so your child can enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile for a lifetime. Children's Dentistry

We spend some valuable time with parents to answer questions and share what to expect as your child develops. We can also discuss home hygiene care and dietary habits that may affect your child’s health. After all, they are changing so quickly at this age and you are introducing new foods all the time.

If you have concerns about thumb sucking or what to do when your child is teething, we will be happy to go over this valuable information with you.

We want to make your child’s dental visits fun and interactive. You are welcome to make it into a milestone celebration and take pictures. You play an important role in how your child feels about going to the dentist – let’s make it positive!

We make dentistry fun for kids. We have a kid’s area in our waiting room and TVs with Netflix over our chairs to keep them entertained during appointments! Our goal is for your child to enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Is Teeth Whitening Safe? | Baymeadows Dentist If you want a whiter, brighter smile, you are not alone! Your smile is one of the most expressive things about you! It helps convey your emotions and express friendship, warmth, and love.

Having a white smile can add confidence in all you do. A smile you feel proud of is important, and a whiter smile is an affordable way to achieve your goal!

Teeth whitening is safe for most healthy patients when done under the supervision of a qualified dentist. Dr. Rios can determine if your oral health is stable enough to whiten your teeth and will also recommend the type of whitening that will work best for you. We will take a before-and-after shade of your teeth so we can monitor your progress. Since the changes will happen over time, you may not notice how dramatically your smile improves.

Most people do not experience side effects when it comes to whitening their teeth. If you do experience sensitivity or sore gums, simply give us a call and we can discuss ways to whiten your teeth comfortably. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly. Using too much whitening gel may cause gum irritation or worsen sensitivity.

Depending on your level of staining, you can expect up to eight shades of improvement once your treatment is complete.

We know that dental insurance can be confusing; this is especially true because every plan is unique in its coverage. For this reason, our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always on hand to help you understand how to navigate and maximize your insurance benefits.

Most insurance plans will pay a percentage of your treatment cost, after a deductible and up to a maximum, and then you’re responsible for the remaining balance. We will always discuss treatment costs and insurance benefit coverage with you prior to starting any treatment procedure. This way, there are no surprises when you come in for treatment, and you can feel comfortable about fitting your care into your budget.

We never want finances to deter our patients from getting the dental care they need, and delaying your needed treatment often results in even bigger problems for your oral health. This is why we offer a number of convenient payment options to help you get your treatment done when you need it. This includes options for breaking treatment costs into affordable monthly payments. Contact our office to learn more about your options and get your treatment scheduled.

Preventative care is truly the foundation for achieving and maintaining optimum oral health. Regular Vs. Deep Cleaning

Your regular dental cleanings are an important part of your preventative routine. Cleanings should take place every six months in order to monitor your oral health and also remove the excess plaque buildup from your teeth that is responsible for causing issues such as tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.

For patients who are already struggling with gum disease, a deep cleaning may be required. Also known as scaling and root planning, a deep cleaning goes beneath the gum line to remove the plaque and tartar buildup causing the infection known as gum disease. This procedure is needed to help you control the infection and reclaim your oral health. Because there’s no cure for periodontal disease, you’ll also need additional cleaning visits throughout the year to help you maintain your oral health and keep your condition at bay.

At Baymeadows Park Dental , our highly skilled hygiene team is well equipped to help you with any type of cleaning you may need. It is our goal to help you achieve and maintain optimum oral health, and your preventative care appointments will help us do this.

At Baymeadows Park Dental , we’re committed to using the highest quality dental materials to ensure our patients will enjoy esthetically pleasing and durable restorations for years to come. We focus on using metal-free restorations to promote better health and esthetics.

For dental fillings, we use composite resin, which is pliable and easy for Dr. Rios to work with. Because it’s bonded directly to your tooth, composite also requires less tooth structure to be removed, which preserves more of your natural tooth structure and fits well with Dr. Rios’ conservative philosophy for treatment. He can also customize your composite filling to match your existing teeth so it’s not noticeable when you smile.

Our crowns are fabricated from high quality porcelain that is also very durable and easy to customize for esthetics. Porcelain is designed to last for many years with excellent home care and regular dental checkups, making crowns a great choice for restoring your tooth.

If you find yourself with a tooth in need of repair, we encourage you to contact our office and learn more about your options. With Dr. Rios’ skills and commitment to your oral health, you can rest assured that you’re in good hands for your tooth repair.

Dental X-Rays | Southside Dentist X-rays are an important diagnostic tool that Dr. Rios uses to detect dental concerns early on and see what’s going on internally in your mouth. This allows him to see issues such as tooth decay, breakdown, or fractures, which are most effectively treated in their earliest stage. Early detection gives you the opportunity to treat these issues with less invasive treatment procedures.

Many patients are concerned about the amount of radiation they receive from x-rays. At Baymeadows Park Dental, we are committed to utilizing advanced technology that is designed to make each patient’s experience more comfortable and safe. We use digital x-rays, which emit 80% less radiation than the standard x-rays of the past. So you can rest assured they are very safe and are a much-needed resource for maintaining optimum oral health.

Dr. Rios and his team are committed to using state-of-the-art technology to make treatment diagnosis and procedures more comfortable and efficient for you. Digital x-rays are one of the ways we do this because they offer a clearer picture of your teeth that is available immediately so that Dr. Rios is able to diagnose in a more timely and accurate manner.

Digital x-rays are a benefit to both our doctor and our patients.

Dental Crown Procedure | Deerwood Dentist Dr. Rios takes great care to customize dental restorations that not only complement your smile, but also mimic the shape and structure of your tooth so you will have excellent function as well as a beautiful smile. This is especially important with dental crowns, which can typically be completed in two appointments at Baymeadows Park Dental.

Dental crowns are needed when your tooth has sustained more damage or injury than a dental filling can repair. A crown will restore form, beauty, and function to your smile.

We’ll begin by preparing your tooth for the crown and creating a temporary crown that you’ll wear while your final restoration is being fabricated at a dental laboratory in the area. Dr. Rios works with only the best dental laboratories around Jacksonville to ensure that you’re receiving the highest quality restoration built to his specifications.

After 1 to 2 weeks, your final restoration will be complete and you’ll return to our office to have Dr. Rios permanently place it. During this appointment, he takes great care to ensure that your crown fits properly and is aligned with your bite correctly so you’ll be able to chew, brush, and floss like normal.

There isn’t really a right versus wrong answer here. Similar to selecting a toothpaste, this is a choice that is usually based on preference.

Patients who will be less compliant with putting something in their mouth every night before sleeping would likely benefit from having a fixed retainer. On the flip side, patients with poor compliance would also have a problem with having to use a floss threader every day to clean underneath the fixed retainer.However, a clear removable retainer would be a great option for a patient who is willing to use the retainer every night, because they will also be able to brush and floss much easier without having the retainer in the way.

Teeth can become sensitive after fillings are done for a variety of reasons:

Sometimes the filling may be slightly too high which can cause sensitivity because you are biting harder than normal on it. Call your dentist and they should easily be able to take care of this for you

Deep cavities that are close to the nerve may become sensitive after a filling is placed. If your bite feels fine and everything else feels ok, then the tooth may just need some time to heal. It is always a good sign if the sensitivity begins to decrease after the first several days. If your sensitivity has not gotten better after 2 weeks, then you should call your dentist to have them take a look at it for you.

Sometimes, the nerve of a tooth can react negatively to a cavity that reaches close to it. Teeth where the sensitivity does not decrease after several weeks may require additional treatment to help relieve the symptoms