You know you need to schedule a dental appointment, but what questions should you ask when choosing a dentist? Whether you’re visiting Belle Meade Smile Center for a routine dental exam or to receive a high-quality emergency procedure, you’ll have many reasons to smile– compassionate and personalized care, a warm, welcoming, and conveniently-located office, and a new lease on your smile.
A successful dental visit isn’t just about receiving professional care but a comfortable experience every time you walk through our doors. Our Nashville area patients repeatedly return because we genuinely care about their dental health. We know you deserve an experienced dentist that helps you feel empowered from your first appointment to your most recent. Our skilled cosmetic dentist, Dr. Philip Shipp IV, and his team will patiently listen as you discuss your smile goals and concerns about your oral health.
But what else should you be asking to ensure you’re making the right choice? To help you begin your dental journey, we’ve put together this list of questions to ask before choosing your dentist.
What are their qualifications?
Dr. Philip P Shipp IV has provided quality dental care to families in Nashville, Tennessee, for over 25 years. He loves helping patients of all ages discover their smiles and is passionate about keeping his skills sharp with continuing education programs and professional memberships.
After a dentist has completed their undergraduate medical education, they must attend a graduate school specifically for dentistry and pass a certification exam before beginning their general dentistry work. Dr. Shipp has taken this training even further than his formal academic training by completing numerous postgraduate courses in advanced dentistry, smile design, dental implants, and sleep apnea. He has even received acknowledgment of his commitment to continuing education from the Nashville and Tennessee Dental Associations.
Dr. Shipp and his equally talented team are dedicated to providing the most comfortable and enjoyable dental experience possible to patients of all ages. By combining the latest dental technology with years of high-level education and experience, we cultivate a strong, trusting relationship with you, so we can keep your teeth looking healthy and beautiful for a lifetime.
What services does the dentist offer?
Our compassionate and skilled team is dedicated to giving your family the best dental care possible, and you’ll enjoy the most comfortable and modern techniques available to keep your mouth as healthy as can be. From general and preventative dental care to cosmetic or restorative dentistry, even sedation and laser dentistry, we are proud to provide a full range of options to help you reach your perfect smile. We even specialize in treating sleep apnea and TMJ-related conditions, so not only do you look good, you’ll sleep well and feel well, too!
General and Preventative Dentistry
Your family’s dental health is in the very best hands. From examinations and cleanings to periodontal care and even dental emergencies, you can count on Belle Meade Smile Center to keep your smile healthy and happy from examinations and cleanings to periodontal care and even dental emergencies. Our team is highly experienced in working with all ages, making every effort to provide the most pleasant and comfortable visit possible. We offer the following general dentistry services:
- Oral Examinations
- Dental Cleanings
- Sealants
- Oral Cancer Screening
- Infection Control
- Periodontal Care
- Root Canal Therapy
Cosmetic Dentistry
How you feel about your smile can often determine how you care for your smile. It can also determine how you show up in your life. Your smile is your first impression and can be the reason you hide or shine! We want you to lead with a smile you love and have many treatment options to get you there!
Whether you are just looking to brighten your smile with Kör Whitening System, wanting to replace your old shiny fillings or crowns with a more aesthetic option, or have several cosmetic or functional issues with your teeth and could use a Smile Makeover treatment plan- we can help! Check out some of our other cosmetic treatment options:
- Porcelain Veneers, Onlays, and Crowns
- Gum Contouring
- Composite Bonding
- Teeth straightening with clear aligners
Restorative Dentistry
There are many reasons our patients find themselves needing to repair or replace a tooth. Genetics, poor long-term oral health, medications, accidents- whatever your reason for needing restorative dental care, you are in great hands with Belle Meade Smile Center. Restoring your smile will give your life back by strengthening your mouth’s functionality allowing you to eat, speak, and even breathe as you should. We offer removable and implant dentures, tooth replacement through implants, crowns, and bridges, and gum disease treatment for a smile with true longevity. No smile is too big of a job for our skilled team, either. We can combine various treatments to improve multiple concerns through a full mouth restoration using a customized procedure to enhance your teeth’ function and appearance.
Sedation Dentistry
Dental anxiety is the most common among medical care fears, and many patients put off even routine dental care due to this anxiety. To make the experience less daunting and more comfortable for you, we offer many different options and levels of sedation to help! As a non-invasive option, NuCalm is the first relaxation dentistry technique capable of producing a consistent relaxation effect without drugs, impairment, or intoxication. Of course, we also offer oral or IV sedation, as well, so no matter the amount of comfort you need, we have you covered. We will discuss your sedation options with you before your treatment to ensure we put your comfort and care about everything else.
Laser Dentistry
Another way Dr. Shipp chooses to take your care to the next level is by enlisting the help of our Solea dental laser system to replace the intimidating, old dental drills. Solea and our team can treat anything from simple cavities to complex dental surgeries. Not only is the laser virtually painless, but it is also vibrationless. This experience is blood-free and doesn’t require anesthesia, meaning you might forget you’ve had dental treatment before you get home for dinner that night.
Sleep Apnea, Snoring, TMJ care
Many patients are surprised to find out that their snoring, sleep apnea, or temporomandibular joint pain or disorder can be alleviated with dental treatment. Fortunately, our Belle Meade Smile Center offers advanced treatment options to reduce many of the debilitating symptoms associated with these conditions, helping patients improve their livelihood.
What about financing and payment options?
Here at Belle Meade Smile Center, we believe healthy teeth, gums, and a beautiful smile should be within reach for everyone. In keeping with this idea, we offer a range of payment options designed to be affordable, convenient, and stress-free. We also work with the biggest reputable lender, CareCredit, which has an established history of helping patients achieve budget-conscious dental treatment without hassle.
Belle Meade Smile Center wants the best for your smile and oral health!
Expert dentist Dr. Shipp and his knowledgeable team use modern techniques and advanced technology to make your dental journey painless, efficient, and affordable. From our preventive care to our painless Solea Laser and the peace of NuCalm, we take pride in delivering the high level of service we expect for ourselves and our loved ones. Our mission is to make exceptional dental care accessible to patients of all ages.
There’s never been a better time to reach for the smile you’ve always wanted, so get in touch today to schedule your appointment with our expert dental team in Nashville, TN! Whether you need a routine dental checkup, advanced oral surgery, or something in-between, we’ve got you covered at Belle Meade Smile Center!
