Your First Visit
New patients receive a comprehensive examination which includes a screening for oral cancer, gum and bone disease, blood pressure, and systemic disorders. A routine oral exam is performed on established patients to determine any changes in dental and health status since the previous visit.
Your gum tissue is measured with a fine instrument ruler to calibrate in millimeters pocket depth between the tooth and the connective gum tissue around the tooth. Pocket depths more than 4 millimeters could indicate disease and infection. The deeper the pocket, the greater the extent plaque bacteria collects and infection in gum disease develops.
X-rays are taken as needed.
Tooth scaling and root planing occur as needed.
Routine cleanings also include a professional polishing (Prophy) that removes only the soft sticky plaque that is above the gum line.
Payment Policy
Payment is expected when services are performed, unless prior plans are made. You can benefit from a one-time new patient special offer of reduced fees, due at the first initial examination date. Please note, if you miss the cleaning appt. of this special offer, it is forfeited, and you will be charged for the next cleaning appointment.
Payment options:
(for non-insured only & not to be combined with any other special discounted offers!)
Payment in full: A bookkeeping courtesy of 5% or $______ is given for direct payment in full by cash, check or credit card at start of treatment, resulting in a one-time payment. (Balances over $500 only) Financing through creditors: Many health-care creditors are offering flexible payment plans for individuals with good credit standing status. Their services are fast, confidential, and can be done over the phone or the internet. Upon your approval, they usually require no initial payment, and can offer long-term low monthly payments with minimal or no finance charge. Also, pre-payments can be made anytime without penalty. Please note, even though a processing fee may apply to this type of financing, it sometimes can be interest-free for the patients, because the office will be charged instead. Therefore, special discounted offers may not also be financed. Please, inquire about our special promotional offers!
Service charge: If I do not pay the new balance within 30 days of the billing date, a service charge will be added to the account for the current billing period. The service charge will be a periodic rate of 3% per month (or a minimum charge of $5 for a balance under $100) which is an annual percentage rate of 3% applied to the last month's balance. In the case of default of, I promise to pay any legal interest on the balance due, together with any collection costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred to effect collection of this account or future outstanding accounts.
Full payment is due and expected at the time of service, unless prior arrangements with the office have been already made. We accept cash, checks, and major credit cards.
Click here for more information regarding dental insurance at our office.
Payment Options:
Our office accepts the following payment options:
- Cash
- Check
- Debit
- All Major Credit Cards
Please remember you are fully responsible for all fees charged by this office regardless of your insurance coverage. All treatment is to be paid in full on the date of service unless you have made other arrangements with our office prior to treatment being started.
Value Smile Dental Plan
For our patients we also provide a savings plan for most of our services. Everyone is accepted, No limits on use, Can include whole family.
Learn About Our Value Smile Dental Plan
Insurance Policy
We have gone to great lengths to bring high-quality and affordable dental care to you.
List of dental insurances we accept:
Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, Humana, Liberty Mutual, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, Mutual of Omaha, Principal Mutual, Tricare, United Concordia, United Health Care
We advise that our patients inquire with their insurance company regarding the dental benefit and coverage, co-payment, and deductible information outlined in their policies. Patients are required to pay all deductibles and co-payment percentages, as specified in their policy, at the time services are rendered. Literally, there are thousands of insurance companies, and their payment policies can change , therefore it is impossible to give you a guaranteed quote at the time of service. We accept most dental insurances and will do our best to verify and estimate insurance coverage and your payment portion, however it is only an estimate. Therefore, any balance left unpaid by the insurance company is the patient's responsibility.
As a courtesy, we will calculate the estimated payment for services rendered and submit it to your insurance carrier. However, we cannot be responsible for the actual payments made by your insurance carrier. You are required to make payment of full estimated responsibility upon services rendered. After payments are received from your insurance carrier, you may be required to make additional payments or have a credit issued to you. Also, a pre-estimate is sometimes needed to be submitted to your insurance company for review and approval before treatment begins. That is because benefits are not guaranteed and are based on claimants eligibility at the time of the service. Insurance benefits will be coordinated to get your maximum allowable benefit.
We will file and bill your insurance as a courtesy. We can not be responsible for actual payments made by your insurance carrier. After payments are received, you may owe more money, or have a credit which would be reimbursed to you. After 60 days, we reserve the right to request payment in full for our services from you, and let you collect the insurance funds that are due to you. This is rare, but it is important that you recognize that the insurance you have is a legal contract between you/your employer and your insurance company. Our office is not, and can not be a part of that contract. Ultimately, you are responsible for all charges incurred in our office!
Also, it is your responsibility to investigate whether or not your insurance is on our network list held by your insurance company. If not, you will be financially responsible for the service fee rendered. Our office charges what is usual and customary to our area. You are responsible for payments, regardless of any insurance company's arbitrary determination of usual and customary rates. We also will assume a $50 deductible unless otherwise indicated. In some occasions, an insurance coverage/benefit may not be the best treatment option. After the doctor has explained all your possible treatment alternatives, nature of procedures, advantages and disadvantages, required appointment time and cost, you may choose a treatment which may not be covered by your insurance carrier.
Note: please inform the office, if there are any changes in your insurance coverage.
At all times, you can be confident that we will always provide you with our best services and recommend any treatment you may need without regard to the limitations imposed by your insurance coverage. To do otherwise would violate our moral obligation to provide you with the best dental care and help you achieve your best dental health.
Click here for more information regarding payments and dental financing at our office.
Cancellation Policy
As a courtesy to our patients, we make every effort to confirm all appointments in advance. However, it should be noted that it is the patient's responsibility to keep all appointments. A specific amount of time is reserved especially for you and we strongly encourage all patients to keep their appointment. We request at least a 24 hours advance notice prior to your visit, if you must change or cancel your appointment. We will assess a $78/hour for otherwise broken appointments or no-shows. This fee will increase in accordance with the amount of time you have scheduled and will have to be paid before another appointment is made.
Note: A patient may be discharged for multiple attendance issues.
Please Note: Due to the nature of our practice, emergencies and acute walk-in patients may cause the dentists to alter their schedule. We will do our best to see each patient as close to their appointment time as possible. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding regarding these unforeseen circumstances. You receive the same careful attention. However, if time becomes a problem, please let the staff know so we can accommodate your schedule as best as possible
