Do I need to arrive early for my first appointment? +

Yes. Please plan to arrive about 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork or save time by filling it out beforehand! (Click here to access the paperwork yourself.)

What do I need to bring to my first appointment? +

Please bring the following items with you to your appointment:

• Identification such as Driver's License
• Dental Insurance Card (if applicable)
• List of Medications

How long will my first appointment last? +

It varies, but please plan on 1-1.5 hours for the first visit.

Is dental treatment painful? +

No. Dental treatment is very comfortable when administered by gentle professionals like Dr. D’Orazio and Dr. Pinnix. We also utilize a The Want ® STA instrument, so getting numb is easy.

How often should I have my teeth cleaned? +

The American Dental Association recommends twice a year for patients with healthy gums and 3-4 times a year for patients whose gums bleed during flossing or brushing.

Is it possible to keep my teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime? +

Absolutely! Excellent oral hygiene combined with routine dental and preventive care will promote healthy gums for life.

What does it mean when my gums bleed while I brush and floss? +

This is a clear sign that gum disease may be present and needs to be treated immediately. This condition can eventually lead to tooth loss when left untreated.

Does the office follow strict infection control protocols? +

Yes, our office follows all American Dental Association guidelines for infection control as well as being fully compliant with OSHA. We also take extra precaution and have implemented air purifiers and extra PPE for our team.

Can I ask questions during my visit? +

Of course! Our staff will always listen to your concerns and answer your questions in easy to understand terms. We encourage our patients to be involved with all decisions regarding their treatment.

Is it easy to schedule an appointment? +

Yes, our patients are always given appointments with a reasonable time period. Please contact us for all your dental needs today!

Is the office available in the event of a dental emergency? +

Yes. Our Raleigh office has a doctor on call 24 hours a day / 7 days a week and any emergency patients are seen and treated immediately.

Are dental x-rays harmful? +

This is a very common question. Our digital x-ray technology is state of the art and drastically minimizes patient exposure. Our office follows American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines for the frequency of administering radiographs and we only take x-rays when the benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Is it possible to make my teeth whiter? +

Yes, we provide professional teeth whitening & tooth bleaching for all our patients.

Do I have to be fitted with silver fillings? +

No, our office exclusively uses white fillings for restoring teeth.

Does my gum have to be blue and have metal show around my cap? +

No, Dr. D’Orazio will likely prescribe a crown constructed of zirconia, a natural-looking and extremely strong material.

Does my partial denture require these ugly metal clasps? +

No, we secure your partial denture to surrounding teeth that are healthy and strong, eliminating the need for unsightly metal clasps.

Do I have to wear something that I remove periodically to replace missing teeth? +

No! Implants look and function just like normal teeth.