Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If your Lake Charles dentist recommends root canal treatment, you may likely be experiencing some discomfort resulting from an abscessed or infected tooth. Root canals in Lake Charles, LA, are often an emergency treatment our dentists will use to eliminate a tooth infection and preserve your tooth's natural structure, which prevents you from losing your tooth. Our goal is always to protect your natural teeth for as long as possible.

Do you have a tooth that's feeling sensitive to hot or cold foods or beverages? Do you have a constant toothache that keeps you from sleeping or doing your everyday activities? Have you noticed tenderness or pain when you're eating or chewing? These are all indicators that you may have a tooth infection. 

An infected tooth won't resolve on its own, so you must contact your emergency dentist in Lake Charles for prompt attention. Root canal treatment immediately eliminates your pain and discomfort when your dentist numbs your tooth with anesthetics. Next, they'll remove the diseased tissues, so your tooth is infection-free and sealed with a temporary filling.

After your healing time is completed, you'll return to our dental office to have your tooth strengthened with a permanent crown to ensure that you can eat and chew with confidence and ease. Contact us at (337) 474-4892 if you have questions about root canal treatment or if you're experiencing dental pain.

Yes, we are always accepting new dental patients. Our goal is to provide quality dental care to the Lake Charles, LA community, and we would be happy to schedule new dental appointments for you and your family. 

Comprehensive Dental Care for All Ages

When you are ready to schedule a dental cleaning and exam, we can provide you with all of the necessary paperwork and information you will need. Currently, you can download all our new patient forms right here on our website. You can also contact our front desk directly if you need instructions or have additional questions. 

Here at our Lake Charles LA dental office, we offer a variety of services to meet the needs of every patient we see! In addition to general dentistry services, we offer cosmetic dental treatments, restorative dental treatments, gum disease prevention, smile makeovers, and much more! 

Call Our Dentist Office in Lake Charles, LA Today!

We consider our patients to be the heart of our dental practice, which means we work hard to continuously showcase our commitment to you every time you visit us. Call us today at (337) 474-4892 to speak with a member of our treatment team and to schedule your first dental appointment with Dr. Hannaman or Dr. Hebert, our Lake Charles, LA dentists. We are excited to meet you!

At Scott M. Hannaman, D.D.S., we do accept dental insurance. At this time, we are not a PPO provider. 

When you visit our Lake Charles, LA dental office for the first time, we ask that you bring your dental insurance card with you. We will verify the benefit coverage information for you and your family members. Every insurance policy is different, so we will review the details of yours and then discuss the specifics with you. 

Dental Insurance Made Easy In Lake Charles, LA

We can explain concepts such as your deductible, co-payment, and maximum allowable benefits for the year. Depending on your insurance policy, you may owe a portion of your treatment cost at the time of your visit. With other plans, you may not owe any money until after we bill your insurance company. 

Even though we are not a PPO dental provider, we would still be happy to explain how PPO coverage works and how our dental office handles insurance billing. 

Contact Scott M. Hannaman, DDS 

If you need your teeth cleaned in Lake Charles, LA, we can schedule a dental appointment for you with Dr. Hannaman or Dr. Hebert. Give us a call or submit an online contact form, and one of our front office administrators will reach out to you!

Two visits. Typically, you come in for root canal treatment but return a few weeks later for a dental filling or tooth crown. The second visit is considered the final step.

Root canals in Lake Charles, LA, relieve tooth pain and swelling, prevent infection spread, and save your tooth from loss or extraction.

Root Canal Steps and Schedule

Typically, if you have a tooth canal infection, you’ll notice pain and swelling—sometimes severe enough to come in for an emergency dental appointment.

If your dentist finds a tooth canal infection, we numb the site, extract the infection from inside your tooth, and fill it with a temporary filling. After a week or two, you come in for a dental filling or crown when the tooth fully heals. We use a crown if the tooth is at risk for fracture.

If you have gum swelling and a toothache, it’s essential to contact our dental team for guidance.

Your Dentist in Lake Charles, LA, Provides Gentle Root Canal Treatment

You can lower your tooth infection and cavity risks through regular checkups, teeth cleanings, and at-home brushing and flossing.

If you have a toothache, tooth sensitivity, or swelling, we encourage you to contact our dental team to arrange an emergency dental visit as soon as possible.

Are you worried about an upcoming root canal? It’s very common to feel a twinge of dread about the procedure, but we want to assure you that root canal treatment at our Lake Charles, LA dental office is nothing to fear.

Procedure for Root Canals in Lake Charles, LA 

If our dentist in 70605 recommends a root canal, it’s because you’ve developed an infection or abscess in the innermost part of your tooth called the pulp chamber. The goal of root canals in Lake Charles, LA is to get inside the tooth and eliminate the infection, which also relieves your pain. 

Your comfort is our priority, so Dr. Hannaman will gently administer a topical anesthetic to numb the tooth, and he won’t proceed until he’s sure that you don’t feel anything.

Our dentist then opens up a tiny hole in your tooth to access its' interior and uses specialized instruments to thoroughly remove the infected pulp and tissue. 

The cleaned-out area is then disinfected, filled with a material called gutta-percha, and sealed with a temporary filling. We give the tooth about two weeks to heal and then have you return to our office to place either a permanent filling or a dental crown on the tooth. 

Root canals in Lake Charles, LA are more comfortable than ever before, thanks to technology like digital 3-D CBCT imaging that allows us to carefully pre-plan your procedure. We also offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation to help take the edge off of your anxiety and allow you to receive comfortable pain-free treatment.

Do you have a toothache and think you might need a root canal? Call our dentist in 70605, so we can get you on our schedule as soon as possible.​

The dental office of Scott M. Hannaman, DDS & Edward J. Hebert, DDS is located at 1540 Country Club Rd. in Lake Charles, LA.

We are conveniently located between the major cross streets of Nelson Rd. and Lake St. Our dentist office is just across the way from Lake Charles Seventh-Day Adventist Church and between Trinity Center and St. Luke-Simpson Methodist. In front of our office, you’ll notice the distinct and well-known fountain. You can’t miss it!  

Our dental team loves the Lake Charles area, and we are only a 15-minute drive from Millennium Park and a short 10 minutes from Prien Lake Park. If you’re looking for an indoor activity after you’ve seen the dentist, we are also only 20 minutes from the USS Orleck Naval Museum.

Contact Our Dentist Office in Lake Charles, LA Today!

If you want to establish dentistry in the area, we are happy to welcome new patients. We offer everything from general dentistry to full smile makeovers in our dentist office, from digital nightguards to same-day tooth crowns and quality dental implants. Tell a member of our friendly team how we can help you today.

We serve all locations, including our friends and neighbors in Sulphur, West Lake, and Moss Bluff.

If you are ready to schedule an appointment at our dentist office, call (337) 474-4892 today!

Whether you are new to our dental office or a long-time patient, we want to make sure you understand your payment options. If you choose to pay for your treatment with dental insurance, we will do everything we can to submit the proper paperwork to your insurance company first. 

Dental Insurance At Scott M. Hannaman, DDS

Once we determine the extent of your insurance benefits, we can then figure out what your leftover payment portion will be. We always collect your co-insurance or co-payment amount at the time of your visit. Payment is due at the time of service, and our friendly dental office staff will assist you with your transaction. If there is any anticipated balance due after your co-insurance or co-payment, we can accept your full payment or discuss a timeframe for you to make payments. We resolve most insurance co-payments within 30 to 60 days of dental service.

Call Our Lake Charles, LA Dental Office

Our front office team has years of experience handling insurance claims and can help explain your benefits and your payments to you. If you have additional questions about your dental insurance payments in Lake Charles, LA, you can always call us at (337) 474-4892 to speak with a member of our clinical staff. We are here to support you, and we will help you navigate the complicated dental insurance world.

We understand that you may be concerned about how you will pay for your family’s dental treatment. While finances are a significant factor in your life, we also never want them to be the reason you avoid getting the treatment you need. If you don’t have dental insurance or cannot afford to pay for your dental services upfront, we will work with you to design a payment arrangement or monthly payment plan so that you still have access to quality dental care. 

How Do Payments Work at Scott M. Hannaman, DDS?

Your payment arrangement will depend on which dental treatments we perform, the amount of treatment charged, and how long the treatment will last. We have a variety of payment options available to meet your specific needs based on your circumstances. No situation is too tricky—we can always figure something out. 

Contact Us

If you are concerned about finances and need to discuss a dental payment plan in Lake Charles, LA, call and speak with a member of our front office dental team. We can usually discuss your situation over the phone and provide you with an estimate for the cost of your treatment and the amount of your monthly payment. Contact us at (337) 474-4892 or send us an email today!

Getting the perfect smile that compliments your contours and personality is easier than you think thanks to cosmetic dentistry in Lake Charles, LA.

Patients trying to decide between dental bonding and porcelain veneers may be interested in reading below. Learning more about your preferences can help you choose which option suits you best at  Scott M. Hannaman, DDS.

Dental Bonding in Lake Charles, LA

Dental bonding is a tooth-colored composite resin that we use to fill in cavities through tooth-colored fillings and sculpt mildly to moderately flawed teeth to design a perfect smile. 

Our Lake Charles dentists often use dental bonding to correct chipped or cracked teeth, misaligned teeth, or even stubborn yellow or brown stains. We can also close gaps between teeth and cover roots that might be exposed. 

We match the resin shade to blend in with the rest of your smile. 

The dental procedure is simple, minimally invasive, and cost-effective. Patients can redesign their smiles in one dental visit. 

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers have always been a popular cosmetic treatment, with many enthusiastic fans stemming from the Hollywood industry to the girl next door. 

Dental veneers are translucent like natural teeth, and they can are shaded to perfectly blend in with your smile. Dr. Hannaman adheres the veneer to the front surface of your tooth to mask smile flaws like crooked teeth, chipped teeth, misaligned smiles, and more. 

Veneers are more permanent than dental bonding, and as such, require a little prepping to ensure a tight fit. With proper care and maintenance, they can last for many years. 

Should I Get Dental Veneers or Dental Bonding?

While both cosmetic treatments serve to correct an imperfect smile, dental veneers last longer and do not chip or stain easily. 

However, dental bonding is more cost-effective and can be done much quicker. 

Both look natural, but patients should determine if longevity, reliability, cost, and other factors are important.

Call Our 70605 Dental Office to Schedule

We are always happy to help patients make informed and educated decisions. Contact our cosmetic dentist in Lake Charles, LA today!

Dental Implants in Lake Charles

Dr. Hannaman and Dr. Hebert perform implants in our office or in conjunction with a periodontist or oral surgeon.  Our in-office implant placement involves up-to-date technology to allow CBCT (3-D) guided placement. This allows the doctors to know the exact depth, width, and angle of placement prior to the patient sitting in the chair. The doctors place the implant into the jaw bone and after a three to four month integration period, the doctor will then add an attachment (abutment) to the implant to build the crown, bridge or support for a denture or partial denture. In some cases, you can have a crown placed the same day.

Root Canals Treatment

Dr. Hebert and Dr. Hannaman refer out most root canal treatment to an endodontist. An endodontist is a dental specialist who completes two or more years of additional training following dental school. We provide emergency services to make you comfortable and refer to the endodontist if necessary.

Contact Our 70605 Dentist Office Today 

Don't hesitate to contact our Lake Charles LA dentist office. We are more than happy to answer any other questions you might have about root canals or dental implants!

Having one or more missing teeth can not only significantly impact how you look, but it can also affect how you eat, chew, or even speak. It can also affect your self-esteem. We offer two popular tooth replacement procedures in Lake Charles, LA to address these issues: dental implants and dental bridges.

While these two dental treatments address many of the same challenges, they are both very different. At Scott M. Hannaman, DDS, we want our patients to consider all points and factors and understand what each procedure entails. Together, we can determine which option is perfect for you and your needs. 

What Is a Dental Implant?

When a tooth is lost, it takes the root with it. Your tooth root is instrumental in stimulating jawbone health, preventing neighboring teeth from shifting and further tooth loss.

Dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement option that replaces the root with a biocompatible titanium screw. Your restorative dentist in Lake Charles, Dr. Hannaman, will secure the dental implant to your jawbone and allow it to heal over several months. 

Once it has healed, we attach a natural-looking dental crown.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

Dental bridges use existing teeth to help fill a gap in your smile by supporting a bridge. We use the two neighboring teeth on opposite sides of the missing tooth to anchor the artificial tooth in the space by crowning these neighboring teeth with dental crowns. 

Dental bridges in Lake Charles, LA look natural and are more cost-effective. 

Our Lake Charles Dentist Will Help Inform You

While the end decision is up to our patients, we are always happy to educate and inform. The right option takes into account your lifestyle, budget, and specific needs. Contact our dentist office in Lake Charles to get started with dental implants or bridges!

Absolutely! 

Losing teeth can be a challenge both physically and emotionally. Luckily, thanks to dental advancements over recent decades, you have several tooth replacement options available. Full and partial dentures are a popular treatment choice due to their affordability and versatility. If you lost teeth recently and are considering your different tooth replacement options, dentures may be a smart way to go. 

Dentures and Partials in Lake Charles, LA

Our dentists offer dentures and partials in Lake Charles, LA. We can construct a beautiful pair of dentures that fit your mouth well, and that will allow you to eat and speak more successfully. We also provide repairs, relines, and re-bases for existing dentures or partial dentures that you may already have. 

No matter what type of service you need for your dentures in Lake Charles, we can help you. If you need a denture consultation, a simple denture fitting, or need to schedule a repair for a damaged set of dentures, our dental office will take care of it.

Contact Scott M. Hannaman, DDS Today!

We promise that you will leave here feeling satisfied with your treatment and that your dentures will be fixed up and feel new again. When you are ready to meet with our Lake Charles dentists about your dentures, please call us at (337) 474-4892!

With family dentistry, you can receive dental care for your entire family in one location. Family dentists are skilled and experienced in working with people of all ages, so a family dentist can serve the dental needs of both yourself and your loved ones.

One important benefit of family dentistry is the ability to coordinate your family’s dental appointments. Rather than having multiple appointments at offices in different parts of town, you can schedule all your appointments with us. You may even be able to schedule appointments for more than one family member in a day, meaning fewer trips back and forth to the dentist.

Another benefit is the ability to develop long-term relationships with your dentist and the dental staff at the office. When your entire family visits the same dental office, you spend more time in that office and get to know your dentist and the staff better over time. With a pediatric dentist, your child will eventually have to move on to a different dentist, but we can continue caring for a patient as long as needed!

Additionally, going to your dental appointments as a family is a great way to ease dental fears or anxieties in children and set a good example for maintaining oral health. 

Contact Our Family Dentist in Lake Charles, LA!

If you are looking for family or children’s dentistry in Lake Charles, LA, reach out to Scott M. Hannaman, DDS & Edward J. Hebert, DDS at (337) 474-4892 to schedule your family's next dental exams.

We are here to help your family with all their dental needs!

Dr. Hannaman and Dr. Hebert offer amalgam (silver) restorations as well as white, tooth-colored fillings. Today, tooth-colored dental fillings are more common than their amalgam counterparts. Our Lake Charles dentists still offer both types of fillings for several reasons. We always want to provide you with the very best dental restoration for your smile. The location of your filling and the structure of your tooth will determine which type of material we should use. 

Patients sometimes ask us if one dental filling is better than the other. Both dental filling materials have advantages and disadvantages depending on where we place them and the amount of tooth structure involved. No filling option is better than the other 100 percent of the time, which is why we always use our best judgment when deciding which material to use.

We will also take into account your personal preferences and the goals for your smile.  You are the one in charge of your dental treatment—so please let us know the type of dental filling you prefer. 

Schedule Your Dental Exam in Lake Charles!

Are you ready to schedule a dental appointment so you can receive your filling? Our Lake Charles dentists have availability immediately. Give us a call at (337) 474-4892 today!

Gum disease is a significant threat to the health of American adults. Tens of millions of Americans are living with gum disease, and many don’t even realize it. 

If you have even the slightest suspicion that you might have gum disease, you need to see your dentist in 70605 right away for evaluation and treatment. But if you’re unfamiliar with gum disease, how can you tell if you have it? 

The symptoms of gum disease start subtle, so it’s important to report even minor changes in your oral health to your dentist so you can receive proper periodontal treatment in Lake Charles, LA. 

Common Signs Of Gum Disease

The most common signs of gum disease to watch out for include:

• Bad breath
• Gaps between your teeth
• Blood on your floss or in your toothpaste when you spit into the sink
• Your teeth looking longer as a side effect of receding gums 
• Puffy, swollen, and painful gums 
• Loose teeth
• Oral sores

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek out gum disease treatment in Lake Charles, LA right away. When you catch gum disease early on, it means your dental team has a better chance of treating and reversing the condition. 

Contact Scott M. Hannaman, DDS

Gum disease has the potential to destroy your smile and cause health problems elsewhere in your body, so don’t delay your treatment. Contact our Lake Charles dentists today! 

Dental anxiety is a widespread problem that prevents millions of people from seeking the dental treatments they need to maintain a healthy, problem-free smile. The result is poorer oral health and a succession of issues like cavities, gum disease, and worn or broken teeth.

Sedation Dentistry in Lake Charles, LA

For many of our patients, nitrous oxide at our Lake Charles, LA dental office is the solution they need to move past their anxiety and finally get the care they need. Nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" is a calming gas that we mix with oxygen and have you inhale through a comfortable nasal mask. As you breathe it in, you will start to feel very relaxed, calm, and happy, but you will remain fully conscious throughout your procedure.

Our dentists and clinical team members are trained and licensed to administer nitrous oxide safely, and someone will monitor you throughout your appointment. If you require a little more relaxation, just let us know, and we can increase the nitrous mix to ensure your complete comfort.

When our dentist in Lake Charles completes your procedure, we will stop the flow of nitrous and have you inhale pure oxygen for several moments. The advantage of using nitrous oxide is that it does not produce any drowsy after-effects, so you can safely drive yourself home from your appointment and go on with your day feeling alert and refreshed.

We're also pleased to offer oral conscious sedation dentistry for our Lake Charles, LA patients who require a little more profound relaxation so they can get the care they need.

It depends on the type of treatment you receive.

For some dental procedures, sedation is necessary. For many others, however, we can complete your treatment without sedation. Usually, the more involved your dental procedure is, the more likely you will need sedation. Quick, simple treatments like professional teeth whitening and dental bonding do not require sedation, whereas procedures such as root canals or placing dental implants will. 

Sedation Dentistry At Our 70605 Dentist Office

Dr. Hannaman and Dr. Hebert provide nitrous and pharmacological anxiolysis if needed. We do not offer intravenous (IV) sedation.

When you visit our Lake Charles dentists, they work hard to keep you comfortable, relaxed, and at ease. We created our dental practice with the comfort of our patients in mind and will always do anything we can to make your dental visit more comfortable. Our goal is to eliminate dental sedation whenever possible. However, if you have a very low pain tolerance or are anxious about your dental treatment, you can always request sedation to help you relax.

Call Scott M. Hannaman, DDS To Learn More

We understand if you still have questions or concerns about your dental treatment. Our dental staff can provide answers to your questions about sedation dentistry in Lake Charles whenever you contact our dental office. Give us a call at (337) 474-4892 during our regular business hours Monday through Friday.

We look forward to speaking with you and helping put your mind at ease! 

Your smile makeover in Lake Charles, LA, is any combination of cosmetic treatments used to enhance your smile or bring you to your smile goals. It considers both the health and beauty of your teeth and gums.

For example, you may have missing and discolored teeth. In this case, your smile makeover could include professional teeth whitening and dental implants. On the other hand, you may have a gummy smile and a few misshapen teeth. You might choose dental veneers and CEREC same-day dental crowns in this situation.

But it all starts with your smile makeover consultation. Here we learn about your goals and determine the most suitable treatments to help you achieve them. But, of course, your dentist also wants to ensure that cosmetic dentistry is right for you.

Smile Makeover in Lake Charles, LA

Your smile makeover may include any combination of the following:

• Dental implants
• Dental bridge
• Dental crowns
• Dental veneers
• Same-day crowns
• Tooth-colored fillings
• Dental bonding
• Teeth whitening

Some cosmetic options call for pretreatments to help ensure your candidacy. This can include treating old cavities.

Contact Your Cosmetic Dentist in Lake Charles, LA

For more information about cosmetic dentistry or smile makeovers, call us today. And always reach out if you have any questions for our dental team.

We are happy to work with third-party financing options like CareCredit.

Yes, Dr. Hannaman and Dr. Hebert do offer professional teeth whitening, also known as dental bleaching. If you have yellow teeth in Lake Charles, LA and want to brighten your smile for an upcoming special event, our professional teeth bleaching is the solution you need. 

Professional Teeth Whitening in Lake Charles, LA

Our teeth whitening process involves first taking an impression of your smile and then fabricating customized bleaching tray that fits over your teeth. You will take this teeth whitening tray home, fill it with a specially formulated teeth bleaching gel, and then wear the tray at night while you sleep. 

We prefer to use the at-home teeth whitening method. Other in-office teeth whitening treatments that involve a light tend to cause unnecessary discomfort and short-term teeth bleaching effects for patients. Additionally, our at-home teeth whitening trays allow you to bleach your teeth at your own pace and when it is convenient for you rather than having to travel to our dental office for your treatment. 

Contact Our Lake Charles, LA Dental Office

If you are interested in professional teeth whitening in Lake Charles, LA, we encourage you to consider our affordable and convenient take-home teeth bleaching system. Contact our dental office (337) 474-4892 when you are ready to discover your new, bright smile! 

When it comes to getting a brighter smile, KöR teeth whitening is a convenient choice. 

The KöR Home Whitening System can help you bleach your teeth in your own home, on your own schedule. There’s no need to make multiple trips to the dental office to get the results you want! 

How Does the KöR Home Whitening System Work?

With KöR teeth whitening, you can choose between two options: KöR-Night™ or KöR-Day™.

KöR-Night™ bleaches your teeth using a whitening tray you wear overnight. If you cannot (or prefer not to) wear a whitening tray overnight, you can choose the KöR-Day™ option instead. Either way, you will wear a whitening tray in your mouth to bleach your teeth for a set amount of time each day.

If you are interested in KöR Home Whitening, the first step will be to have a whitening tray made specifically for your smile. A team member in our office will create a mold of your teeth and send it to a lab where your custom KöR-Seal Whitening Trays will be created. 

Once you receive your custom trays, you will fill them with whitening gel and place them in your mouth for the amount of time per day determined for your teeth whitening situation. 

Contact Our Lake Charles Dentist Office Today!

If you believe KöR Home Whitening is the right teeth whitening option for you, reach out to Scott M. Hannaman, DDS & Edward J. Hebert, DDS today at (337) 474-4892 to schedule teeth whitening treatment.

As a cosmetic dentist in Lakes Charles, LA, we can help you achieve a beautiful, bright smile! 

Everyone wants straight, white teeth, but sometimes our smile isn’t as beautiful as we’d like. Fortunately, many dental options are available, and porcelain veneers are a popular choice for many patients.

What Are Dental Veneers?

A dental veneer is a thin layer of porcelain bonded to your natural tooth; it can cover certain dental flaws, such as cracked, broken, or discolored teeth. Veneers can also fix gaps between teeth or slight crowding.

What Can I Do to Keep My Veneers in Top Condition?

Once you have your porcelain veneers and enjoy a beautiful white smile, you will want to keep it that way. Here’s what you can do to maintain and protect your veneers:

• Avoid hard and crunchy items like ice – this can put unwanted pressure on your veneers.
• Don’t bite your fingernails – this can crack or weaken your veneers.
• Wear a night guard – this can protect your veneers if you grind your teeth.
• Brush and floss daily – this will protect your natural teeth and help you maintain your oral health.
• Make regular dental visits – this will help prevent cavities under your veneers.

Are You Considering Dental Veneers in Lake Charles, LA?

If you want to talk to one of our dental professionals about creating a treatment plan for dental veneers, please call us at (337) 474-4892.