FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)

Generally, you will be given a prescription for a pill to take before your appointment. Since this is a sedative medication, you will need a companion to drive you to the appointment. Once you arrive, Dr. Knuth and his staff will begin monitoring your vital signs, including heart rate and blood pressure, to make sure that you stay completely safe through the procedure. He will then assess your level of sedation, and ask how you feel.

In some circumstances, Dr. Knuth may use more medication, but often this is not necessary. The dentistry will all be performed while you are relaxed and comfortable. When it is safe for you to move about, your companion will take you home, and then you will rest comfortably for the rest of the day.

While all methods of sedation are very safe, oral sedation is especially safe as well as very effective. Dr. Knuth uses very common medications that are extremely safe and widely prescribed. Your vital signs will be constantly monitored from the moment you arrive at the office, throughout the entire appointment, and until Dr. Knuth is certain you are ready to leave.

Dr. Knuth has taken extensive training with DOCS (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation) to ensure that you are completely safe and comfortable. In fact, Dr. Knuth and his whole dental team are highly trained in safety and emergency procedures, making the dentist’s office one of the safest places you can be!

Yes, we have both small metal and clear braces. The clear braces blend into your teeth making them nearly invisible.

Usually every 4 weeks for a 15 to 30 minute appointment, and a little longer for the appointment when we put the braces on. Usually, treatment is completed in 10 visits or less. Also, patients of our Greencastle, IN office are seen on time, so you will not be waiting long to be seated for your appointment.

Yes. With any orthodontic procedure, a retainer is necessary. If you do not want to wear a retainer very long you can have your teeth splinted together.

The Powerprox Six Month Braces® Technique utilizes the latest technology combined with time-tested orthodontic techniques to move your teeth quickly and safely.

While BOTOX treatments are proving effective in treating some dental problems, you are probably more familiar with the use of BOTOX and fillers for aesthetic reasons, usually to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines. That is another popular use for the injections. Many people successfully use BOTOX injections to create a younger look and increase their confidence in their appearance.

BOTOX and filler injections relieve pain caused by TMJ disorders and bruxism by relaxing the muscles in your face, which prevents jaw tension, clenching, and teeth grinding. This muscle relaxation helps to relieve pain in your jaw, neck, and shoulders, in addition to reducing the occurrence of migraines and headaches. It can also help protect your teeth from damage due to pressure or grinding.

Are you familiar with the origin of penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered? It was originally derived from mold, and the story of BOTOX is a similar tale of using science to turn something harmful into something incredibly beneficial.

As we mentioned above, BOTOX is another word for botulinum toxin, a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum — the same bacterium that causes botulism. Thanks to modern science, we are able to take that compound and use it for a number of medical purposes, including treating TMJ disorders and bruxism.

In most cases, the answer is YES. We will coordinate with your family physician and get a copy of the sleep test results.

A certified dental appliance may be an alternative treatment for patients who are not able to tolerate or afford a CPAP.

The treatment options for sleep apnea vary depending on the severity of the problem. Someone with mild or moderate sleep apnea may benefit from wearing a dental appliance. The appliance looks similar to an athletic mouthguard or retainer, and repositions the jaw and tongue forward to improve airflow. It is often covered by insurance and Medicare but may require a little out-of-pocket expense.

Treatment for severe sleep apnea requires more aggressive management, which may include the use of a CPAP machine.

No. We offer a portable and easy way to have a sleep study done in the comfort of your own home and, most importantly, your own bed.

A portable monitoring device is mailed to you with all the equipment and instructions. You wear it one night and return the equipment the next day in a prepaid postage envelope. It’s just that simple and easy.

For most plans, the answer is YES. Medicare and many medical insurance carriers recognize a home sleep study as an accurate and efficient way to rule out obstructive sleep apnea. As a result most insurance plans are starting to cover this expense.

NO. Instead of using an electronic device and air pressure to keep an airway open, the oral appliance keeps the jaw in a forward position that prevents the airway from ever getting blocked in the first place. An oral appliance becomes comfortable quickly and is non-invasive.

No. Actually the Powerprox Six Month Braces® Technique is a low-force technique. Many people think we just “tighten” the braces like crazy to get the teeth moving. This would actually slow down tooth movement.

No, the causes for the above complications are individual biology and high forces over a long period of time.The Powerprox Six Month Braces® Technique uses low force with a short treatment duration to safely move the teeth.

No.

Actually, since there are fewer visits, the Powerprox Six Month Braces® Technique is less expensive than Dr. Knuth’s regular braces.

No, the Powerprox Six Month Braces® Technique uses low forces to move the teeth not high forces that can cause pain.

We very rarely extract teeth using the Powerprox Six Month Braces® Technique.