Frequently Asked Questions
Upper West Side Dental is a privately owned practice that has hours by appointment only. Appointments are available between 10 am and 10 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Dr. Shirley respects your time so he does not double book his patients; he reserves the room for your appointment. We kindly ask that you arrive 10 minutes before your appointment so that other patients are seen on time. If you need to cancel or reschedule and appointment, we require 48 hour notification via email or voicemail.
If you would like to see Dr. Shirley’s availability, please book an appointment online.
Yes. Although our hours are by appointment only, we are able accommodate emergency patients 24/7. If you have a dental emergency which you feel cannot wait until office hours, please call our office and leave a voicemail. You can also text our emergency line at (917)667-6015. The Office Manager will contact you within 30 minutes of the voicemail or text message. It should not take more than 30 minutes for the Office Manager to return your call. If you do not receive a return call within 30 minutes, please feel free to call again. If you have a serious emergency which cannot wait for a return call, call 911, or go directly to the hospital emergency room.
Yes, please visit Carecredit.com for more information about monthly payments.
We recommend you visit the dentist for a check-up every 6 months. Once you have a check-up, Dr. Shirley will give you a treatment plan and will set a schedule that works for a quick and efficient process.
We recommend 2- 3 times a day; in the morning, after lunch and before going to bed. In the morning you clean your teeth of the bacteria accumulated overnight. At night you clean your teeth of food and snacks you had during the day. Flossing regularly removes plaque and leftover food that may be hard to see and hard to reach by simply brushing your teeth. Flossing is just as important as brushing; the hardest cavities to treat are those that develop in between the teeth.
Most people stay away from the dentist for a number of reasons. Some of those reasons may include having a bad past experience with dental work and hearing or seeing dental tools. To help you get over nervousness we find having an open and honest conversation about your fears helpful. We also offer nitrous oxide to make procedures as comfortable as possible. Nitrous Oxide is known to many as “laughing gas” and is a safe and effective sedative agent suitable for patients of all ages that are in good health. It instantly helps you feel relaxed and less anxious during your appointment.
Yes! We see all ages at our office, and cater to large families. We are known to reserve appointments for families of 5 and larger so that everyone is seen on the same day.
Our Upper West Side Dentist, Dr. Shirley recommends toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride prevents tooth decay in adults and children by strengthening the tooth enamel. After you have your consultation/preventive visit Dr. Shirley will recommend at tooth paste according to your treatment plan. Some patients benefit from using toothpastes for sensitivity such as Sensodyne.