Your oral health is important.
Having healthy teeth can make a big difference in your quality of life. The health of your mouth also can affect your overall health.
These are just a few of the reasons we are proud to provide general dentistry for families and individuals in Fort Myers and North Naples, FL. Getting professional cleanings and exams can remove plaque and tartar before tooth decay and gum disease develop.
And if you do have a cavity or a periodontal problem, regular checkups give our dental professionals a chance to catch it early. This makes your treatment simpler, more effective, and less invasive.
To schedule your next appointment at either office of George A. Hoop, DDS, call (239) 594-8817 now.

Don’t Lose Your Benefits!

We can only help you if you come to see us. Knowing this, we want to give you a gentle reminder to take advantage of the dental insurance if you have it.
Most plans cover most or all the cost of basic cleaning and exams. Preventive care helps you avoid more serious issues that require most expensive care — which may not be covered by your insurance at all.
If dental insurance is coming out of your paycheck every week, then you are already paying for this basic care. If you don’t actually get see a dentist, then it’s like buying a car and leaving it in your garage or paying for a gym membership but never exercising.
You’ve still got plenty of time before the end of the year to make an appointment. We hope to see you soon.

Other Ways to Pay

We also understand that many people do not have dental plans through their employers. It’s why we have a variety of payment options.
If you are in a position to pay with cash, check, or a credit card, we accept that. We also can help you finance your treatment with CareCredit or Lending Club.
But we also want to encourage you to get regular cleanings and exams. This will help you maintain your healthy teeth and gums healthy.
Please ask about our Direct Dental Savings Plan. This program covers routine care for you, and it gives you the opportunity to get restorative and cosmetic care at discounted rates.
This plan an excellent option for people who are self-employed, who own or work for small businesses, or who are retired.
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have so you can make an informed decision about which payment option works best with your budget.

Keep Smiling!

If it was up to us, no one in Fort Myers or North Naples, FL would ever have cavities or periodontal problems. Everyone would keep all their teeth their entire lives, and no one would break or crack teeth due to accidents or injuries.
In reality, we know all of these things are going to happen. We want to help you reduce your risk of it happening to you. Contact us online now or call (239) 594-8817 to request an appointment or to learn more about the services we offer at Dr. Hoop’s office.

If you are missing teeth, you want a replacement that looks and feels like the real thing.
Dental bridges are a wonderful solution for this problem.
If you want to fill the gap in your smile, talk to us to find out how you could get a bridge. Call (239) 594-8817 or contact us online to request an appointment. We have offices in North Naples and Fort Myers, FL.

You want a straight smile … but the thought of wearing braces for years is discouraging you from starting orthodontic care.
If you live in or near Fort Myers or North Naples, FL, there are other options to give you the nice smile you’ve been dreaming about. We offer short-term orthodontics to help you create a better, straighter smile.
George A. Hoop, DDS, offers solutions that could give you a new smile in as little as four months! And please don’t think you are too old to make a change. Our treatments are great for adults, too.
We’ll tell you more about our options below. If you want to find out which one could work for you, please call (239) 594-8817 to schedule a consultation.

Six Month Smiles^®

Traditional braces use both brackets and wires. These parts work together to gradually push and pull your teeth where they should be to change the alignment of your teeth.
While braces are certainly effective, they can take two years or longer in some cases. For some people, that’s enough of a reason not to start.
As the name indicates, Six Month Smiles do not take as long to change your smile as traditional braces. Like traditional braces, Six Month Smiles also use brackets and wires.
The way they work isn’t magic. The difference is the focus of this system.
Six Month Smiles moves only the most visible teeth in your mouth. These are the teeth in the front of your smile, which also happen to be lighter than the teeth in the back of your mouth.
Using the same tools as traditional braces, they can move a limited number of teeth to make your smile appear straighter in about six months. This can vary by a few months depending on the particular issues you want to correct and how severe your alignment issues are.
With that in mind, Six Month Smiles can help you fix all of these issues:

• Gaps between teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Overbites

The brackets for Six Month Smiles are ceramic, making them less noticeable than metal braces. Knowing you would be wearing these for a fraction of the time of traditional braces and that they are more discreet could make this a great solution for your smile situation.
You also should know that Dr. Hoop is one of the first doctors in the area to achieve level-2 training in the Six Month Smiles system.

Fastbraces^®

If your primary concern is finishing your orthodontic care as soon as possible, then Fastbraces are for you. This system can change your smile in as little as 120 days! Again, your treatment time may vary depending on your particular situation.
Fastbraces also use brackets and wires like traditional braces. With this option, the difference is the brackets themselves.
Standard braces have square or rectangular brackets. This allows them to move your teeth in stages. During the first phase of treatment, the crowns of your teeth are moved. This phase can take about a year. In the second phase, your roots are repositioned to help maintain your new smile. This stage also can take about a year to complete.
Fastbraces uses a unique triangular bracket. This combined with high-tech wires changes how your teeth move. This combination allows Fastbraces to move your crowns and your roots simultaneously.
Fastbraces can fix all the same issues as Six Month Smiles along with a few other issues.

Invisalign^®

Many people can change their smiles in about 12 months with Invisalign. However, this options works quite differently than the other two that we have mentioned so far.
If you want your treatment to be as discreet as it can be, then this is the option you may want to consider.
Where braces use brackets and wires, Invisalign uses something else. Instead, you would receive a custom-designed set of plastic aligners made to fit your teeth and keep them moving.
Since the aligners are clear, they blend in when placed over your teeth. Most people won’t realize you are wearing them unless you tell them about it or take off your aligners in front of them.
The aligners are created using computer software so each aligner will gently push your teeth a little bit at a time. You will need to change aligners every few weeks to keep your teeth moving in the right direction.
Unlike braces, you can remove your aligners for a total of a few hours each day. This means you can remove them during meals and to brush and floss your teeth daily. Many people find this is one of the biggest advantages of this system. It allows them to keep eating their favorite foods throughout their treatment.
Many people also appreciate that the aligners are made of smooth plastic. Some people find brackets irritating against the soft tissues on the inside of their mouths. For them, Invisalign is a more comfortable way to straighten their smile.

Get Started to Change Your Smile

No matter which option you choose, the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get to see your new smile.
Finding the right solution for you can depend on a number of issues. The severity of your alignment issues is something we need to consider. We also need to discuss what’s most important to you during your treatment.
Do you want your treatment done as soon as it can be? Do you want to focus purely on the cosmetic benefits of changing your smile? Do you want your treatment to be something you feel comfortable wearing at work and in social situations?
Dr. Hoop has helped several patients in and around Fort Myers and North Naples, FL transform their smiles and boost their self-confidence. He will be happy to examine your mouth, answer your questions, and discuss which solutions could work best for you.
You can contact us online or call (239) 594-8817 to request an appointment at either of our locations. Let us help you create the smile that you want to see when you look in the mirror.

Temporomandibular joint disorders, better known as TMJ disorders, affect millions of people.
One of the most common causes of this condition is involuntary teeth grinding. You could be doing this in your sleep or as a reaction to stress in your life.
And George A. Hoop, DDS, can help if this a problem for you.
Clenching or grinding your teeth isn’t the only factor that can lead to problems with your jaw. The alignment of your teeth, arthritis, and injuries can contribute to TMJ issues as well.
Below, we are sharing an infographic listing some of the common symptoms of TMJ problems. If you are regularly having one or more of these issues, come talk to us by calling (239) 594-8817 or contacting us online. We have dental offices in North Naples and Fort Myers, FL.

Janet does a great job explaining why she and so many other patients in and around Fort Myers and North Naples, FL keep coming back to us for their dental care.
She appreciates that we see her on time when she makes an appointment. She also appreciates the care, concern, and the skill of our dental professionals.
And she is glad that we offer an in-house savings plan that helps her save money on basic preventive care.
To learn more about George A. Hoop, DDS, and our many services, call (239) 594-8817 or contact us online. We hope you will visit us soon.