Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Do you take my dental insurance?
At Giunta Dentistry, we are currently in-network with a list of dental insurance plans.
Dental Insurance Plans We Participate With:
- Aetna
- Ameritas
- Assurant
- BlueCross BlueShield
- Cigna PPO+
- Delta Dental
- Freedom Life
- GEHA
- Guardian
- Humana
- Lincoln Financial
- MetLife PDP+
- Principal
- Sun Life Financial
- UnitedHealthcare
We also work with many other dental insurance companies on an out-of-network basis and are happy to help patients understand and maximize their available benefits whenever possible.
While we participate with several major insurance networks, we are intentionally selective about the plans we join. Some dental benefit companies do not provide reimbursement levels that allow our office to maintain the standard of care, time, materials, laboratory quality, and clinical judgment that our patients deserve. Rather than lower our standards to fit the limitations of a particular insurance plan, we choose to remain focused on providing dentistry that is thorough, ethical, and built to last.
It is important to understand that dental “insurance” is often better described as a dental benefit plan. Unlike medical insurance, which is designed to protect against catastrophic financial loss, most dental plans have low annual maximums, exclusions, waiting periods, frequency limitations, and reimbursement rules that are set by the insurance company rather than by your dentist. These plans can be helpful, but they rarely cover everything needed for ideal care.
Dental insurance companies are large, for-profit organizations. Their role is to administer benefits according to the plan purchased by an employer or individual subscriber. Our role is different: we diagnose, educate, and recommend treatment based on your health, your goals, and what we believe is clinically appropriate. We will always do our best to help you use your benefits wisely, but our treatment recommendations are based on what is best for your mouth, not what an insurance company chooses to cover.
Our priority is to provide high-quality dentistry with excellent materials, trusted laboratories, careful planning, and adequate time for each patient. We believe patients are best served when clinical decisions are made by the dentist and patient together, not dictated by the limitations of a dental benefit plan.
Is Giunta Dentistry accepting new patients?
Yes! We are currently accepting new patients.
Giunta Dentistry is centrally located near Raymond James Stadium making it a convenient location for patients who live in the surrounding areas: Carrollwood, Seminole Heights, South Tampa, West Tampa, Westchase, Town ‘n’ Country. While many of our patients live within a short-drive, it is a true honor to have patients who travel from as far as Orlando, Miami, Georgia, and even South Carolina for their dental visits.
Giunta Dentistry is conveniently located to serve the entire Tampa Bay community. We are located just south of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd on Habana Ave. We have been at the same location since 1983. Our office is located about 2.5-miles from International Plaza and the Westshore Business District. We are within a mile of One Buc Place, Raymond James Stadium, and St. Joseph’s Hospital. We are also within 5-miles of the Howard Frankland Bridge making us a short-drive from the communities of Feather Sound, Carillon Park, Pinellas Park, and downtown Saint Petersburg.
Finding a new-dentist can be a daunting task. We encourage you to choose carefully being sure to read reviews and maybe ask friends or relatives for recommendations. Our practice has grown primarily through word-of-mouth in the Tampa Community. Please look through our website at your convenience and be sure to read about a Dental Cleaning in our Services and Procedures area. We encourage you to call our office at (813) 875-9367 with any questions or to schedule an appointment, or feel free to request an appointment online. We look forward to seeing you!
My jaw is sore! I get migraine and tension type headaches, my teeth are getting shorter, and I have a broken tooth! What's going on?
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you are probably one of the millions of Americans who suffer from bruxism. Bruxism is the term used to describe clenching and grinding of teeth which can occur during the day and is even more common at night during deep sleep. There are only three times your upper and lower teeth should touch and that is when you chew, talk, and swallow. If you suffer from bruxism, your teeth are in contact with each other more frequently and with more force than nature intended, and furthermore the force generated is about three times the amount generated during normal chewing! This repeated and excessive force can result in headaches especially on the sides of the head near the temple and extend behind the forehead and the eyes. In addition, bruxism can lead to a gradual wearing and shortening of the front and back teeth, and even result in cracked and/or fractured teeth.
The forces that cause destruction of teeth and headaches are caused by powerful muscles which close the mouth. These muscles activate only when your back teeth touch. Headaches in particular are caused by an isometric contraction, which occurs when the powerful muscles which close your mouth activate and there is also a simultaneous protective reflexive activation of the less powerful muscles which open your mouth. This isometric metric contraction can result in TMJ musculuar spasm and lead to tension/migraine type headaches.
Clearly, if we prevent the back teeth from touching it would be possible to stop the activation of the powerful muscles which close the mouth and lead to reduction of symptoms! We can achieve this with a small appliance known as an NTI. The NTI is small appliance which sits on the lower four front teeth and it effectively prevents the back teeth from ever touching. The NTI is able to reduce muscle tension by as much as seventy-percent and effectively reduce the symptoms associated with TMJ pain and migraine/tension type headaches.
Dental Cleaning
What is flouride varnish? & Why is it recommended?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of fluoride in preventing tooth-decay in children and adults was one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century. Our philosophy at Giunta Dentistry is sometimes the best dentistry is none at all, and that’s we why recommend fluoride varnish to prevent tooth-decay and extensive dental restorative treatment.
Fluoride varnish is an easy, yet effective treatment following a dental cleaning helping to reduce the likelihood of cavities. Fluoride is a naturally occurring ion that over time helps to remineralize tooth enamel. Fluoride also reduces the bacterial production of acid which erodes enamel and decreases the ability of bacteria to adhere to the tooth surface.
Fluoride varnish is beneficial for patients of all ages and especially those that suffer from dry-mouth, tooth-sensitivity, and patients who have had a cavity in the last year. For patients that already have had extensive dental restorations, fluoride varnish is great way to help keep the tooth structure around your restorations strong and decay-resistant. Fluoride applied to children and teens helps them start out on a lifetime without ever having a cavity.
In most cases, fluoride varnish is applied two times a year for maximum effectiveness. Fluoride varnish is applied to the teeth with a small brush following the completion of your dental cleaning and it then dries on contact. After that, you can eat or drink like normal for the rest of the day, just do not brush your teeth for 6-hours to allow the varnish to act your tooth enamel. Following fluoride varnish, use a fluoride containing toothpaste at least two-times a day for your regular everyday oral hygiene.
What is Periodontal Disease?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half the United States population (65 million people) over the age of 30 has Periodontal Disease. Periodontal or Gum Disease causes bone loss and pocketing around teeth. Periodontal disease is gradual and many times painless so it can progress for years without being noticed. Unfortunately, if periodontal disease remains undiagnosed it can result in tooth loss and other systemic health complications. Teeth are stabilized in the jaws by a special type of bone, known as alveolar bone, and connective tissue. If enough alveolar bone is lost, teeth become loose.
Periodontal disease results from the body’s response to a build-up of plaque and tartar around the teeth at the gumline. When food remains in the mouth following a meal it forms plaque. Plaque, also known as biofilm, is a soft, white material harboring bacteria and serving as a source of infection. Plaque may become trapped in the area just below the gumline in the space between the tooth and gum. If not removed, this plaque will eventually turn into tartar, or calculus, which is white and brittle. Tartar is tenaciously attached to the teeth and cannot be removed by routine home-care; it must be removed by a dental hygienist.
The area between the tooth and gum is highly vascular and as tartar remains in this area it causes an inflammatory response from the body’s own immune system. This leads to factors produced in your liver by the immune system which then travel through your bloodstream into the area of gum attachment on the teeth. All of this an effort to fight bacteria present in plaque and tartar! These immunological factors attempt to fight the bacteria present in calculus, but in doing so they also cause inflammation, bone loss, and loss of special connective tissue which attaches your teeth to the gums. This results in periodontal pocketing and bone loss, and the formation of an even deeper reservoir for tartar retention.
Clearly, periodontal disease can become a life-altering disease if ignored that can negatively affect other metabolic medical conditions including diabetes, high blood-pressure, and high-cholesterol. The good news is many times periodontal disease can be treated non-surgically with a special type of dental cleaning called Periodontal Gum Therapy, systemic antibiotics, and excellent homecare. Our practice is committed to treating these diseases proactively which means frequent dental check-ups, dental cleanings, and educating you on how to take proper care if your teeth and gums are diagnosed with periodontal disease.
How do cavities form and how to prevent them?
A cavity or break in tooth structure is caused by an acid-erosive process driven by bacteria. The foods that remain in between and on teeth after a meal serve as food for thousands of bacteria reside in the mouth. Shortly after eating a build-up occurs of white, soft material on the teeth near the gumline. This substance is known as plaque. Plaque contains cavity causing bacteria which attempt to adhere to the tooth structure. The bacteria in plaque produce acid and if let undisturbed begin a demineralization or breakdown of the enamel to which it is attached.
As plaque remains on tooth structure, it begins to transform into another substance called tartar. Tartar is a hard, white material which also contains bacteria that produce acid and cause cavity formation. Tartar, is also known as calculus, can only be removed by a dental professional such as a dental hygienist due to its tenacious attachment to tooth structure. The acids produced by both plaque and tartar are by-products of metabolic or digestive processes which occur in the bacteria. These acids cause tooth decay by destroying enamel and gradually penetrating deeper into tooth structure.
Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of cavity formation. Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes or ideally brush your teeth following each meal. Also, floss at least once a day. The key to cavity prevention is frequent disruption of plaque formation before it has a chance to turn into tartar. Limiting acidic foods and beverages such as orange juice, soft-drinks, and lemons also helps to reduce the acidic challenge to your oral cavity. Finally, regular dental check-ups and cleanings can help to prevent cavity formation or catch cavities before they progress. If a cavity is caught early enough, many times it can be reversed using various remineralization techniques thus preventing the need for dental work!
Cosmetic Dentistry
What is a veneer?
A veneer is a a thin layer of a ceramic tooth colored material which is bonded to the front of a tooth. Veneers are usually placed for many reasons ranging from cosmetic enhancement to replacement of missing tooth structure lost due to chips and fractures. Veneers are bonded to a tooth’s existing enamel. Veneers are usually about 1 mm (.04 inches) thick and require a minimal amount of removal of existing enamel and as such much of the procedure can be accomplished without any local anesthesia!
Veneers can be used to correct a number of problems. Veneers can be used to correct misshapen, worn, and fractured teeth. They can also be used to correct teeth that are severely discolored due to staining which is deep within the tooth and cannot be eliminated through other bleaching techniques. Veneers can also be used to correct spacing or crowding of the front teeth. In effect, veneers can serve as an immediate form of braces for patients who do not want to go through orthodontic treatment.
While the situations where veneers are numerous, it is critical to have us perform a thorough evaluation of your existing teeth and bite to make sure veneers are a long-term and smart option for you. Like anything, veneers when used in the right situations create a significant cosmetic enhancement to a smile.
Digital X-Rays
How often do you take dental X-rays and why do I need them?
Digital dental X-rays, or dental radiographs, are a critical tool to accurately and completely diagnose the health of your teeth, gums, and surrounding jaw bones. They help to us to see the areas in your mouth where our eyes are unable to visualize. Without dental X-rays we are unable to confirm the health of a wide area of your teeth, gums, and jaw bones. Dental X-rays can detect oral pathologies that are below the teeth in bone such as oral cancer and cysts. For these reasons, they are considered are integral part of optimal, life-long dental health.
There are two series of dental x-rays, a full-mouth series of X-rays and Bite-Wing X-rays- both are very quick and easy for the patient. Diagnosis is immediate since we use digital x-rays and the images are processed for interpretation immediately. A Full-Mouth Series of X-rays is taken during your initial visit at our office and once every 5 years thereafter. Bite-Wing X-rays are taken once a year. These two X-ray exams allow us to visualize many areas of your oral cavity. In situations where a problem is confined to a single tooth and we have previously taken a full-mouth series of X-rays it is possible to take a single X-ray and compare it to previous X-rays. This is very useful in allowing us to determine if problems are getting worse or improving.
Dental X-rays allow us to see many areas where otherwise problems may go unnoticed. They allow us to check under existing fillings and crowns for cavities. Many times the problems can manifest for months to years in areas that are clinically undetectable and do not hurt, but X-ray detection allows easy diagnosis. Clearly, this can lead to early diagnosis of many dental problems resulting in simpler, more conservative treatment and less cost.
Dental x-rays also allow us to check the bone level around your teeth which is critical to teeth’s stability while you chew and speak. Furthermore, X-rays are essential to diagnose Periodontal Disease, a disease causing loss of bone around teeth and possibly tooth-loss. Along with being able to see the jaw bone around your teeth, x-rays can even see the presence of tartar below the gumline.
We hope this information helps you to understand the importance of dental X-rays. Our office is committed to providing the very best dental care. This means we want to catch problems early and locate any areas of concern. We also want to provide total mouth health and help to keep your teeth for a lifetime!