Our office will be closed Friday, July 1st for the 4th of July. We will resume normal business hours on Wednesday, July 6th at 7:00am.

If you are experiencing a dental emergency and need to reach Dr. Philp, please call 952-442-4891 and follow the prompts to reach the emergency line.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand the importance of the morning rush.  That’s why we offer appointments as early as 7:00 AM in order to help you fit in your dental care appointment and get on with your day.

As a new patient at Philp Family Dentistry, your first visit will take about 1-1.5 hours.  This allows adequate time to get to know you, including a thorough review of your medical and dental history, addressing any smile or health concerns, and a discussion of your desires and goals of dental treatment.  We will update any dental x-rays necessary to complete a thorough examination and to assess for cavity risk.  We also evaluate your risk of gum disease, a painless disease that affects approximately 50% of adults in the United States.  You can expect a thorough professional cleaning as well as some tips to follow at home to keep your smile healthy for life.  We do have some paperwork for you to fill out.  You can access the forms here or you can arrive about 10 minutes earlier than your appointment to fill them out in our office.  Please be sure to fill out the Release of Records form if we need to request any previous dental records on your behalf.  At Philp Family Dentistry, our entire team is here to guide you through the process, from scheduling your appointment on a time and day that works for you to the comfort of our friendly office setting to the thorough evaluation of your muscles, bite, oral cancer screening, gum health and smile.   You can rest assured that Dr. Philp will evaluate all components of your oral health and will address your goals.

If you are already a patient at Philp Family Dentistry (including past patients of Dr. Oswall), you may call the office at any time – day or night.  At the end of the voice message, there are instructions to follow to get ahold of Dr. Philp.  She will call you back to address your concerns.

Dr. Mary follows the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and recommends that children start to get comfortable in their dental home by the age of one.  Yes, by age one!  A 1-year-old usually has a few teeth in by now, and it’s a great age to start to teach parents and children about cavity prevention, how to brush and floss for a toddler, and what foods and beverages to avoid in order to prevent “sugar bugs” and expensive dental visits.  It’s a great opportunity to also evaluate if the teeth are coming in as they should, and to evaluate growth or signs of any concerns that should be addressed at a young age, such as airway issues.  Just like well-checks with your pediatrician, early dental visits can result in a lifetime of healthy and cavity-free teeth.

If you would like to whiten your teeth quickly, we offer an in-office professional teeth whitening system that provides amazing results during your office visit.  For those patients who would like to whiten their teeth at home, we offer a professional-quality home bleaching system with custom bleaching trays that is superior and less irritating than bleaching systems you might find at the grocery store.

This is of primary importance to us. We adhere to the strictest standards of sterilization and infection control procedures. You’ll find our operating environment to be spotless and uncluttered.  We are eager to answer any questions or concerns and we would love to show you our facilities with a tour of the office on your initial visit.

Yes, bleeding is usually an early sign of gum disease. Make an appointment as soon as possible to have your gums and teeth examined.

Buy toothbrushes with soft bristles. Medium and firm ones can damage teeth and gums. Use soft pressure, for 2 minutes, two times a day.

Both powered and manual toothbrushes clean teeth well. Manual brushes with mixed bristle heights or angled bristles clean better than those with all flat, even bristles. Powered toothbrushes may be easier if you have trouble using your hands.

Set a reminder to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Toss it sooner if the bristles look bent or splayed out. Bent bristles don’t clean as well. (They’re also a sign you may be brushing too hard.)

Most toothpastes will clear away bacteria growth and acids from food and drinks. Toothpastes with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance always have fluoride, which strengthens and protects teeth. If you want a non-fluoride option, stores carry toothpastes and powders made with natural ingredients that don’t have ADA testing and approval.

If cold or hot food or drinks make you cringe, pick a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and let your dentist know.

Morning time – Saliva flow almost stops during sleep and its reduced cleansing action allows bacteria to grow, causing bad breath.

Certain foods – Garlic, onions, etc.  Foods containing odor-causing compounds enter the blood stream; they are transferred to the lungs, where they are exhaled.

Poor oral hygiene habits – Food particles remaining in the mouth promote bacterial growth.

Periodontal (gum) disease – Colonies of bacteria and food debris residing under inflamed gums.

Dental cavities and improperly fitted dental appliances – May also contribute to bad breath.

Dry mouth (Xerostomia) – May be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous mouth breathing.

Tobacco products – Dry the mouth, causing bad breath.

Dieting – Certain chemicals called ketones are released in the breath as the body burns fat.

Dehydration, hunger, and missed meals – Drinking water and chewing food increases saliva flow and washes bacteria away.

Certain medical conditions and illnesses – Diabetes, liver and kidney problems, chronic sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia are several conditions that may contribute to bad breath.

Practice good oral hygiene – Brush at least twice a day with an ADA approved fluoride toothpaste and toothbrush.  Floss daily to remove food debris and plaque from in between the teeth and under the gumline. Brush or use a tongue scraper to clean the tongue and reach the back areas.  Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months. If you wear dentures or removable bridges, clean them thoroughly and place them back in your mouth in the morning.

See your dentist regularly – Get a check-up and cleaning at least twice a year.  If you have or have had periodontal disease, your dentist will recommend more frequent visits.

Stop smoking/chewing tobacco – Ask your dentist what they recommend to help break the habit.

Drink water frequently – Water will help keep your mouth moist and wash away bacteria.

Use mouthwash/rinses – Some over-the-counter products only provide a temporary solution to mask unpleasant mouth odor.  Ask your dentist about antiseptic rinses that not only alleviate bad breath, but also kill the germs that cause the problem.

In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath.  If it is determined that your mouth is healthy, but bad breath is persistent, your dentist may refer you to your physician to determine the cause of the odor and an appropriate treatment plan.

We accept all insurance plans in which patients can choose their dentist (not HMOs). If you are not sure what kind of dental plan you have, please feel free to call our office, and we will be happy to verify your insurance for you.

We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards.  We offer convenient monthly payment plans through Care Credit.  Click on the image below or visit www.carecredit.com for further information.

Dr. Groff can do tooth extractions, however he will need to evaluate and take periapical x-ray to be able to see the whole tooth. Then he can tell if an Oral Surgeon will be in your best interest.

Scaling and root planning therapy is an effective treatment for periodontal disease or sometimes referred to as Gum disease. We use anesthetic to perform therapy comfortably.

Tooth colored composite fillings are made out of a composite resin and are cured with a high intensity curing light. They are the most commonly used for all fillings today. Dental amalgam fillings consist of a combination of metals: liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. They are mainly used to fill in baby teeth that have decayed, and are less expensive than a tooth colored composite filling.

If you have good oral hygiene habits and a healthy mouth, we suggest at least twice a year.

Payment options are available for individual services or treatment plans over $200. For services under $200, payment is due in full at the time of treatment, unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

The existence of outside financing that is simple to obtain and is a good value.
It allows us more time for servicing our clients by reducing the time spent on billing and collections.

OPTION 1

For our services we accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.

OPTION 2

For those procedures that require multiple appointments (crowns, partial dentures, appliances, etc.) you can make two equal payments. The first payment is due the day the procedure is begun and the second is due the day it is delivered.

OPTION 3

For patients who prefer a monthly payment plan, we offer:

Care Credit health card. This is a line of credit specially designed for the medical and dental fields. After you fill out the application form (no cost to apply or annual fees to be a member) and are approved, in some cases you have up to 12 months deferred interest to pay off your account. If the balance is not paid in full within the deferred interest time, the interest from those months will be added to your account balance. You may also choose to use their low monthly payment plan.  Visit carecredit.com online to apply. It is possible to do automatic withdraw from your checking account. We will divide the account balance into 3 monthly payments deducted from your account at your specified date each month. Please note that we do not offer long term in-office financing.