What makes you different
than any other dental practice I can visit?
From the moment you walk through the door, you
will see how different we are. First, Dr.
Wirtz and his team are exceptionally skilled
professionals with a focus on restorative
dentistry, dentures and dental
implants. Our office has an on-site laboratory
where Dr. Wirtz can repair prostheses or replace
denture teeth within a few minutes while you wait
in privacy. We can produce emergency therapy replacement
dentures within a few hours and deliver the definitive
treatment prosthesis within a few days.
Your comfort is very important to us, so we have
a variety of amenities,
from drinks and food (homemade bread and cookies)
to warm moist towels after treatment, to ensure
your visit is relaxing. If you have an emergency
during office hours, we can usually fit you into
our schedule right away.
We have an antique Midwestern decor with antique
photos of family members. We have an antique Belgian
dining room set in the reception area. Midwestern
values; family values.
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How does Dr. Wirtz keep up to date on all of the
current techniques and materials?
Dr. Wirtz has attended over 500 hours of continuing
education courses in the last three years. His seminar
list includes a variety of classes, from removable
prosthodontics and implant prosthetics to digital
photography. Dr. Wirtz also belongs to a variety
of dental organizations which promote learning and
excellence in dentistry. He also participates in
the Study Club for Removable Prosthodontics (SCRP)
and the Comprehensive Care Continuum (CCC) study
club, an affiliate of Seattle Study Club. Both clubs
help Dr. Wirtz increase his knowledge and clinical
skills in dentistry.
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How do I know
when it's time to come in for a checkup?
Depending on the needs of each individual, Dr.
Wirtz and his team will discuss and personalize
a checkup schedule for each patient; usually every
3 to 6 months. We may adjust this time period depending
on the state of your dental health. For your convenience,
we can schedule the future checkup appointment in
advance during your current visit.
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Do you accept
referrals?
Yes. We always welcome new patients to our office.
Our team of dedicated professionals will do our
very best to make you feel comfortable in referring
your family and friends for dental care.
If you are a doctor who would like to refer a patient
to Dr. Wirtz for removable prosthodontic treatment,
click here to download a referral slip.
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Do you accept
my insurance plan?
We believe that insurance shouldn't restrict your
access to quality dental care. At our practice,
we assist our patients in filing their own claims.
If insurance is a concern, please talk to us. In
most cases, we can do predeterminations for you
on request.
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What do I
do if I have an emergency when the office is closed?
If you have an emergency, please call our office
number at 623-544-0700 and follow the voice mail
instructions to contact Dr. Wirtz by way of his
cell phone or our on-call doctor.
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I have a temporary
crown in my mouth. What happens if it comes off or breaks?
Temporary crowns are just that - "Temporary."
Since they are usually made of acrylic, they are
sometimes fragile and can break or fall off during
chewing. When a temporary crown falls off or breaks,
reattach the crown using denture adhesive or tooth
paste. Then, call us immediately so we can schedule
an appointment to evaluate the damage. During weekly
office hours, we can make arrangements to see you
that day.
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What different
payment options do you provide?
Our office accepts cash, check, and credit cards such as Master Card,
Visa, Discover, or American Express. As a service
to our patients, we also offer financing options
to pay for extensive treatments. If you have any
questions, call us at 623-544-0700.
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How can I
ask Dr. Wirtz questions directly?
Dr. Wirtz welcomes any of your questions during your visit. If you
have concerns before your visit, you can also call
our office at 623-544-0700 or use our online form
to Ask Dr. Wirtz questions
directly.
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How can I
safely whiten my teeth?
Many of our patients ask about whitening their teeth. Since each mouth is unique, we need to evaluate your
teeth to recommend a specific method. If your teeth are cracked,
chipped or discolored, Dr. Wirtz may recommend restorative
services,
such as veneers or bonding.
If you want to whiten
your teeth, we offer Discus Nite
White. We would be happy to discuss the benefits
of these whitening systems with you.
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What precautions
do you take to ensure patient safety?
We take several precautions to ensure
your safety as our patient. First, we have been a mercury free office
since 1992. If you have mercury fillings, we will gladly discuss
the health benefits of replacing these.
Everyone on our team maintains current CPR certification
and our office will soon be furnished with an AED
defibrillation device for medical emergencies. As
for our instruments, our sterilization routine is
very thorough. We exceed CDC standards for sterilizing
and disposing of our instruments. We also monitor
our sterilizer with every load of instruments. Each
week, we send a weekly test sample off site to assure
that all infection control and CDC standards are
maintained. If you have any questions, we would
be happy to discuss our sterilization procedures
and give you a tour describing our sterilization
protocol.
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My gums bleed
after I brush. Is this something to be concerned about?
Yes, you should be very concerned
about bleeding gums, especially if you haven't had a check-up in
a while. Bleeding gums can be caused by a variety of things, from
a leaky filling to gum
disease. While it may seem harmless, bleeding
gums can cause a variety of serious health problems. If your gums
are bleeding, call us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment
so we can analyze the cause.
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Crowns, veneers,
on-lays, inlays and partials.where can I learn more about these
procedures?
Dr. Wirtz usually recommends these restorative
procedures as part of a definitive, long term
restoration. They are more durable, easy on your
mouth, and aesthetic looking. You can learn more
about these procedures in our
Patient Education section or Ask
Dr. Wirtz your question via our online form.
We also welcome your questions during your visit.
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I brush everyday,
but my breath just is not fresh. Is there anything I can do?
In our office, we have available the BreathRx,
PerioRx, and CloSYSII products which can improve
and eliminate your mouth odor. If you have questions
about ways to improve your breath, ask any of us
during your appointment, or call us at 623-544-0700.
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Do I have
to floss every day? Is it really that important?
Brushing cleans about 80% of your teeth while flossing
covers the remaining 20%. Although that seems like
a small percentage, this area is where all of the
big problems originate. That's why Dr. Wirtz believes
cleaning this area is very important. In addition
to using traditional dental floss, our practice
recommends using Rota-point interdental cleaners.
This flexible toothpick-like device cleans the hard
to reach areas between the teeth.
We also offer Rota-dent
Mechanical Toothbrush,
which is an integral part of our non-surgical
conservative
periodontal therapy. We also suggest Hydro
FlossŪ
a magnetic system that reverses the polarity of
the ions that hold plaque and tarter to your teeth.
When you come to our office, Dr. Wirtz can discuss
the benefits of these products and show you how
to use them.
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I want my
front teeth to look better, but I do not want to wear braces. What
would you recommend?
There are a variety of ways to improve
the appearance of your teeth without braces. We offer many cosmetic
services to straighten your teeth. If you would like to enhance the
appearance of your smile, call us so we can schedule
an appointment with Dr. Wirtz. After listening to your goals and concerns, he can
suggest ways to help you straighten your smile.
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What is Smile
Analysis?
In a smile analysis, we look at all
the factors that compose a smile; these are the shape of a smile,
the size, the smile line, and the position of your teeth, lips, and
gums when you smile. We listen to what you want to accomplish and
any concerns you may have. Once we have this information, we can
provide a custom smile design.
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What is Smile
Design?
Using digital photographs, and
diagnostic cosmetic wax-ups, Dr. Wirtz can generate
an image of your new smile, review the smile design
results with you, and discuss the next steps to
make it happen.
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