Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Most likely, no. Our office is well-staffed with people that have extensive experience in most existing dental procedures including orthodontics, dental implants and most, if not all, forms of cosmetic dentistry.

Dr. Jason Annan, DDS, is an accomplished dental practitioner with expertise and hands-on experience in nearly all forms of dentistry and orthodontics. Our services range from preventative treatments, such as cleanings, cancer examinations, and x-rays, to cosmetic services like veneers, whitening, crowns, and fillings. Dr. Annan is also very skilled in orthodontics (i.e. braces, Invisalign, etc.) and dental rehabilitation services, such as root canals, dental implants, and oral surgery.

By providing all forms of dentistry to our patients we virtually eliminate the need for visits to specialists, creating a convenient, all-in-one environment that saves you both time and money!

Yes we do! We can and will work with you to determine a payment plan best suited to your budget. If you are without insurance yet need dental work, we will do our best to create a workable payment plan that will keep everyone satisfied. We offer in-house extended payment options, and we also participate with CareCredit to allow even longer, interest-free financing.

The amount owed depends on the cost of a particular procedure. You will owe whatever the percentage of cost is not covered by your insurance carrier, or the deductible, depending on the total cost of the performed procedure. If you are without coverage the total cost will be due at time of service.
 

There are dozens of different dental insurance companies, each with their own policies and procedures. You have a choice in which dentist you want to see, and you don't have orders from your insurance company. Dr. Annan invests considerable time in ensuring that his fee structure complies with most insurance companies, and he even has agreements with some of the bigger carriers. This means that you get every benefit you are entitled to--and by visiting Dr. Annan you get one of the best dentists in town!

Most of our procedures are covered under typical dental plans, and our staff goes through extraordinary efforts to maximize your benefits for you. In fact, Dr. Annan believes strongly that no other dental office in the area puts as much effort into researching your insurance benefits as we do. Dr. Annan employs a full-time staff member who is an insurance "guru" and serves to lobby on your behalf with the insurance companies.

Insurance is a fast-changing, dynamic industry. We will greatly help you work with your insurance company, but it is important to become well-acquainted with the extent of your policy's coverage before committing yourself to any particular treatment.

How Will This Process Work?

We will bill your insurance company at the time of service, though you will be responsible for any difference in cost or deductible. If a claim is denied for any reason then you will be expected to pay within 30 days of the service rendered.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you visit your dentist regularly "at intervals determined by a dentist." Once Dr. Annan has seen you and performed an oral examination, he will be able to determine the number of checkups you should schedule with him. Most patients can maintain oral health with two checkups a year. If you have gum disease in Mt. Pleasant, SC, you may need to schedule frequent checkups to make sure you are not at risk of dental problems. 

Dr. Annan is highly skilled in detecting tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems, even if you aren't showing any apparent symptoms. During your biannual visits with the dentist, Dr. Annan not only checks for early stages of oral issues—but he also checks over your general health. Oral cancer screenings are a standard part of dental examinations, and your dentist can address other issues like heart disease and diabetes.

It's essential to see your Mt. Pleasant, SC dentist as often as he recommends. Through your patient records, your dentist can keep track of any changes and have a detailed account of your oral health and what to watch for.

Is it time for you to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam? Give East Cooper Smiles a quick call to set up a time to visit with Dr. Annan.

A crown is a natural looking, tooth-shaped cap used to restore the appearance, strength, size and shape of a broken or worn tooth. Crowns are generally used to cover broken teeth, to protect weak teeth or to provide support to a deteriorated tooth.

We provide high quality and long lasting crown installations. In some cases when the original tooth is badly broken, has extensive cavities, or a very old filling, the crown must be supported with a build-up. A build-up is a solid foundation upon which a quality crown rests.
 

We recommend regular visits to the dentist because it allows us to work with you on the best steps to maintain a healthy smile for many years to come. Regular check-ups and teeth cleanings are necessary to your prolonged oral health and give us the opportunity to determine how best to serve your past, present, and future dental needs.

How Does Going Twice A Year Benefit Me?

Bi-annual visits are the best-proven way to monitor the health of your teeth and gums, as well as the potential for problems down the line. Each patient has a unique set of teeth that react differently to their surroundings, and regular visits allow us to develop a personal familiarity that gives us the chance to determine, recommend and administer the treatments best suited to your particular situation. It is also crucial to the maintenance of accurate, up-to-date dental records that allow us to provide you with the best comprehensive dental care possible.

X-rays provide our professionals the tools they need to gain a better picture of your teeth and how they interact in relation to one another and your gum line. An x-ray can help us determine and target the problem areas of your mouth and provide us with the information necessary to better comprehensive dental care.

What do X-rays see that we can't?

X-rays allow us to see angles and areas of your teeth not readily visible during the course of a normal check-up. They also provide a picture of the parts of your teeth hidden by your gums and the best course of action for treatment for the total span of each individual tooth.

Dr. Annan uses digital x-rays, rather than older film based x-rays. Digital x-rays require less radiation (in fact, minuscule amounts of radiation) and fewer "re-takes".

Did you know that a missing tooth can cause a domino effect that can change the architecture of your smile and create dental problems? When a tooth is missing, the teeth surrounding it begin to shift towards the gap, which alters your smile and changes how you eat and speak. Due to the shifting, tooth decay may happen, along with cavities. Even if all your existing teeth are perfectly aligned and shaped, that all can change when they shift.  

Without a tooth root to anchor the jawbone, your bone can actually retract and recede, creating a "sunken" hollow-cheeked appearance. The entire contours of your face can completely change due to missing teeth, not to mention how difficult eating and speaking can become. 

At East Cooper Smiles, we offer permanent tooth replacement options like dental crowns, bridges, dentures dental implants, and more. If you are in Mt. Pleasant, SC, and are missing a tooth—we recommend making an appointment to speak with Dr. Annan about your options. It's crucial to prevent future dental problems, and replacing a missing tooth can restore your confidence and appearance. 

East Cooper Smiles can help you decide which tooth replacement procedure is right for you. Call our dental team in Mt. Pleasant, SC, for more information about your dental options. 

Because we take exceptional care of our patients, Dr. Annan would prefer to avoid being an emergency dentist, and instead focus on being a prevention dentist. That way, our patients could avoid dental emergencies and pain associated with them.

That being said, we know that dental emergencies happen to even the most vigilant patients from time to time. We want you to know that we are here to support you and help restore your dental health and comfort.

What signs should I look for?

If you experience dental pain or a dental emergency, contact us right away. That way, we can do our very best to work you into our schedule as soon as possible. Dental emergencies rarely resolve on their own, so don’t wait until your pain is unbearable. The sooner you call, the sooner we can help restore your comfort and well-being. Putting off treatment can cause complications requiring a root canal or even an extraction. 

Dental emergencies might include tooth pain, lacerations on your gums, a lost restoration, jaw pain, swelling, persistent areas of bleeding that do not heal, and tooth loss. If you are ever in doubt, give us a call and we can help determine the next steps to restore your oral health.

Many adults come to us with questions about orthodontics. The type of orthodontics that works best for you depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your smile. We understand that as an adult, you probably want a solution that is as fast and discreet as possible.

At East Cooper Smiles, we offer two orthodontic options for our adult patients to improve the appearance of their smiles. 

Six Month Braces

Six Month Braces is an orthodontic system that allows for targeted treatment designed to improve the aesthetics of your smile. Six Month Braces is both fast and affordable, often taking only six months on average to complete and costing about half of what traditional metal braces cost. 

The main purpose of Six Month Braces is to improve the appearance of your front teeth so that you can smile confidently.

Invisalign

Invisalign provides an alternative to traditional braces that utilizes clear plastic aligner trays to gradually move your teeth to their ideal position. You will switch out your trays every two weeks or so and each tray gets you closer to your ideal smile. The length of your treatment depends on how far your teeth need to move and how compliant you are with wearing your trays.

Because you can remove your Invisalign aligners to eat and clean your teeth, you can avoid many of the hygienic issues that come with traditional braces. Their crystal clear appearance is practically invisible and completely smooth, providing exceptional comfort. 

Contact our office and schedule a consultation to determine the orthodontic treatment that will work best for you.

There are several methods you can use to straighten your teeth, and we specialize in two of the most-effective, least invasive ways available on the market today.

What Is My First Treatment Option?

Six-Month Smiles is a great, fast and cost-effective alternative to traditional metal braces that targets your teeth’s specific problem areas and gently shifts them into the desired place. This treatment usually ends in as little as six months, costs far less and provides you the ability to eat and maintain good dental hygiene with very little oral irritation. Six-Month Smiles also match the color of your teeth and are rarely noticeable.

Are There Other Ways To Straighten My Teeth?

The second treatment we offer is Invisalign, a popular teeth-straightening treatment that employs the use of clear plastic aligners instead of standard braces. Invisalign’s aligners are removable, nearly invisible and, much like Six-Month Smiles, target specific areas of your mouth for more accurate straightening results. Eating and brushing are also a breeze during the course of this treatment.

If you are considering cosmetic dentistry, you are probably wondering about the best way to improve your smile. Perhaps you are even considering adult orthodontics to improve your misaligned teeth. Most adults who come to us and want orthodontics feel hesitant about traditional ortho because of the brackets and wires involved. If you are a professional or if you have an active social life, you probably don’t feel like traditional orthodontics is a realistic option for you.

However, at East Cooper Smiles, Dr. Jason Annan offers two orthodontic solutions for our adult patients looking to improve the aesthetics of their smiles. 

Invisalign – Invisalign utilizes clear plastic trays to gradually move your teeth over time. How long your treatment will take depends upon the severity of your misalignment. Invisalign is a great option for people who want flexibility because the clear aligner trays are removable for eating and oral hygiene. 

Six Month Braces – Six Month Braces provides options for patients looking to improve the teeth that are visible when you smile. This innovative system moves teeth quickly and treatment time only averages about six months. Because of the reduced treatment time, Six Month Braces are also incredibly affordable.

With an evaluation, we can help you determine the treatment that can best help you to achieve your aesthetic goals. Dr. Annan will explain the pros and cons of each treatment so that you can feel confident in your decision to move forward with cosmetic orthodontics.

Many adults come to us with questions about orthodontics. The type of orthodontics that works best for you depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your smile. We understand that as an adult, you probably want a solution that is as fast and discreet as possible.

At East Cooper Smiles, we offer two orthodontic options for our adult patients to improve the appearance of their smiles. 

Six Month Braces

Six Month Braces is an orthodontic system that allows for targeted treatment designed to improve the aesthetics of your smile. Six Month Braces is both fast and affordable, often taking only six months on average to complete and costing about half of what traditional metal braces cost. 

The main purpose of Six Month Braces is to improve the appearance of your front teeth so that you can smile confidently.

Invisalign

Invisalign provides an alternative to traditional braces that utilizes clear plastic aligner trays to gradually move your teeth to their ideal position. You will switch out your trays every two weeks or so and each tray gets you closer to your ideal smile. The length of your treatment depends on how far your teeth need to move and how compliant you are with wearing your trays.

Because you can remove your Invisalign aligners to eat and clean your teeth, you can avoid many of the hygienic issues that come with traditional braces. Their crystal clear appearance is practically invisible and completely smooth, providing exceptional comfort. 

Contact our office and schedule a consultation to determine the orthodontic treatment that will work best for you.

There are several methods you can use to straighten your teeth, and we specialize in two of the most-effective, least invasive ways available on the market today.

What Is My First Treatment Option?

Six-Month Smiles is a great, fast and cost-effective alternative to traditional metal braces that targets your teeth’s specific problem areas and gently shifts them into the desired place. This treatment usually ends in as little as six months, costs far less and provides you the ability to eat and maintain good dental hygiene with very little oral irritation. Six-Month Smiles also match the color of your teeth and are rarely noticeable.

Are There Other Ways To Straighten My Teeth?

The second treatment we offer is Invisalign, a popular teeth-straightening treatment that employs the use of clear plastic aligners instead of standard braces. Invisalign’s aligners are removable, nearly invisible and, much like Six-Month Smiles, target specific areas of your mouth for more accurate straightening results. Eating and brushing are also a breeze during the course of this treatment.

Dr. Jason Annan is an expert at the art of cosmetic dentistry. He has followed the latest advancements in treatment and technology in order to bring his patients the latest and greatest that cosmetic dentistry can offer.

Have you ever thought about changing your smile? Does something about your teeth bother you or make you self-conscious? Many patients feel that quality cosmetic dentistry is out of reach, but you might be surprised to find that we have cosmetic treatments for almost any budget.

Do you want whiter teeth? One of our most affordable options is professional teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening can improve your appearance and make you look years younger by removing the stains from your teeth.

Do you have a few chips, flaws, or oddly shaped teeth you would like to address? We offer cosmetic dental bonding for small improvements and repairs. 

Are you interested in your dream smile? We can offer you porcelain veneers, crowns, and Six Month Smiles to address all of your concerns. Whether you have crooked, worn, or dark-colored teeth, we will make a treatment plan to help you achieve the beautiful, healthy smile you have always wanted. 

Are you considering cosmetic dentistry? Give us a call!

A crown is a natural looking, tooth-shaped cap used to restore the appearance, strength, size and shape of a broken or worn tooth. Crowns are generally used to cover broken teeth, to protect weak teeth or to provide support to a deteriorated tooth.

We provide high quality and long lasting crown installations. In some cases when the original tooth is badly broken, has extensive cavities, or a very old filling, the crown must be supported with a build-up. A build-up is a solid foundation upon which a quality crown rests.
 

A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain used to cover the fronth of a tooth--usually the front teeth. Veneers can instantly change the color and shape of a tooth and make mildly crowded teeth appear straight. Veneers can require some grinding down of the tooth enamel to ensure a proper fit and appearance.

A crown can also be made of porcelain, and also is used to change the color, shape and "straightness" of your smile. Unlike a veneer, the crown covers the entire tooth.

Dr. Jason Annan is an expert at the art of cosmetic dentistry. He has followed the latest advancements in treatment and technology in order to bring his patients the latest and greatest that cosmetic dentistry can offer.

Have you ever thought about changing your smile? Does something about your teeth bother you or make you self-conscious? Many patients feel that quality cosmetic dentistry is out of reach, but you might be surprised to find that we have cosmetic treatments for almost any budget.

Do you want whiter teeth? One of our most affordable options is professional teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening can improve your appearance and make you look years younger by removing the stains from your teeth.

Do you have a few chips, flaws, or oddly shaped teeth you would like to address? We offer cosmetic dental bonding for small improvements and repairs. 

Are you interested in your dream smile? We can offer you porcelain veneers, crowns, and Six Month Smiles to address all of your concerns. Whether you have crooked, worn, or dark-colored teeth, we will make a treatment plan to help you achieve the beautiful, healthy smile you have always wanted. 

Are you considering cosmetic dentistry? Give us a call!

Dr. Annan looked everywhere for a teeth whitening procedure that produced the kind of dramatic results our patients were looking for. He tried numerous brands and was never “wowed” by the results until he tried Kor Deep Bleaching.

Kor provides consistent and predictable results for our patients. The results are uniform and restore your teeth to a naturally white shade. Kor works for most patients, even those who have smoked or drank coffee for years. It even works on many stains caused by medication. In fact, you can leave after your in-office treatment with your teeth already several shades lighter.

Because you will have your take-home whitening trays for many years to come, you can save them to do touch ups, should they become necessary.

Over time, our teeth collect stains from the food and beverages we consume. Over time, those stains cause a dull, dark appearance that can make you appear older than you really are. With the Kor Deep Bleaching system, we combine in-office treatments with at-home whitening to maximize your results. 

Having a whiter smile can give you confidence to speak and laugh. Because whiter teeth always look healthier, you will be putting your best foot forward.

There are many options for whitening your teeth these days, whether you choose over-the-counter products or look to your dentist for options.

At East Cooper Smiles, Dr. Jason Annan is committed to offering his patients the best treatment procedures available, and the same is true with teeth whitening. Unfortunately, not all whitening systems are created equal, but lucky for you, Dr. Annan has tried most of these systems and chosen the one he feels delivers the best results to all patients. This is the Extreme Whitening-KöR Deep Bleaching technique, which is proven to remove even tough stains from medications like tetracycline that many patients have been living with for years.

Extreme Bleaching utilizes both in-office and at-home treatments that will vary depending on your needs. Patients not only achieve phenomenal results that last, KöR's system is also uniquely designed to reduce and even eliminate the sensitivity that many people experience with whitening. We're happy to discuss teeth whitening in Mount Pleasant and how the Extreme Whitening-KöR Deep Bleaching system can help you.

If you're ready to update your smile with whitening that will make a huge impact, contact East Cooper Smiles to learn more about KöR.

If you’re missing teeth or need an extraction, you have probably spent some time worrying about replacing your missing tooth. After all, a missing tooth is not only unattractive but also detrimental to your dental health.

Certain stereotypes come along with missing teeth, whether they are fair or not. Leaving a gap in your smile can cause people to draw certain conclusions about you even if they are not true! Even more important than your appearance is the fact that missing teeth cause problems with your bone, your bite, and put your other teeth at risk.

How long have dental implants been around and how do they work?

Dental implants have been around for decades, but in recent years, advancements have helped more people have dental implants than ever before. Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants is one of the most convenient ways to restore your smile and protect your health.

Dental implants work a lot like your natural teeth because they integrate with your bone. That integration helps to retain the bone that normally recedes after tooth loss, just like your natural teeth help to retain your jawbone.

 Dr. Annan is highly skilled at implant dentistry. Give us a call to schedule a consultation to find the best tooth replacement option for your health and lifestyle. 

We offer Sedation Dentistry to all of our patients, regardless of the procedure. While conscious sedation doesn’t put you “to sleep”, it does place you and your body in a relaxed state that allows you to remain awake and responsive but without the anxiety or fear often experienced by many upon their trips to the dentist.

What Should I Expect?

Sedation Dentistry is safe, easy to administer, and has proven to create a pleasant, worry-free atmosphere for many previously apprehensive dental patients! We are experts in sedation and believe it allows you to receive proper dental care without pain or anxiety.

Different procedures are often associated with different levels and different kinds of pain, with the more invasive procedures generally being more painful than others. However, with innovations in modern dentistry, improvements in anesthesia and the advent of sedation dentistry, treatments like tooth removal and root canals generally lead to less pain than in previous years.

How Will My Experience Differ From Others?

Pain is subjective and often depends on an individual’s specific tolerance. That is why we listen to each patient’s particular concerns and work to reduce or eliminate pain before, during and after each specific procedure. We are experts in cutting-edge dental procedures that minimize pain and previously unheard of results. We also offer Sedation Dentistry, general anesthesia and can prescribe drugs that mitigate pain long after a procedure has been completed.