HOW ARE APPOINTMENTS SCHEDULED?

The office attempts to schedule appointments at your convenience and when time is available.  Preschool children should be seen in the morning because they are fresher and we can work more slowly with the child for their comfort.  School children with a lot of work to be done should be seen in the morning for the same reason.  Dental appointments are an excused absence.  Missing school can be kept to a minimum when regular dental care is continued.

DO I STAY WITH MY CHILD DURING THE VISIT?

For children under the 3 years old, we ask that parents accompany them for their visits. Your child will be sitting with you in your lap or you will sit in the chair with your child during the exam. As they get older and more comfortable, we ask that you allow them to be more independent. You can view your child through our one way mirror throughout the exam. However, if your child needs you, we also can provide you with a chair so that you can sit right next to them. Each child is different depending so we try our best to accommodate your family based on your needs.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND INSURANCE POLICY

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

It is our mission to provide you with affordable, high-quality treatment that fits your budget! We offer a variety of payment options to meet your needs. Our office accepts payments by cash, check, and Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards. We also offer low and no-interest financing options through the CareCredit system. If you have any questions about financing or payment, please don’t hesitate to ask us! We will thoroughly explain your choices and work hard to accommodate your needs. All deductible, coinsurance, non-covered services and other charges not covered by insurance are due at the time of service.

INSURANCE POLICY

Our office is committed to helping you maximize your insurance benefits. Because insurance policies vary, we can only estimate your coverage in good faith, but cannot guarantee coverage due to the complexities of insurance contracts. As a courtesy, we will file your insurance; however your estimated patient portion must be paid at the time of service.
We are a preferred provider for many insurance plans; however it is your responsibility to confirm with your insurance carrier that the dentist is currently under contract with your particular plan. Some plans require that you have a referral prior to seeing a specialist, if required, please contact your primary dentist so that you have the referral in hand at the time of your appointment to avoid having to reschedule. We also suggest that you know your benefit coverage for specialist visits.
To help us with your insurance filing, please provide us with all the required information to file a claim. We allow 45 days from the date the claim is filed for the insurance company to pay. If your carrier does not pay within this time, you will be responsible for the entire balance. Please remember that insurance is a benefit for you and your child.
Should your insurance change, we request 48-hours’ notice prior to your appointment, in order to contact them for updated information.

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DENTAL INSURANCE

In an effort to help you understand your insurance policy and maximize your insurance benefits, we would like to share some facts about dental insurance with you.

FACT #I – Dental insurance is a contract between you, your employer and the insurance company. We are not a party to that contract.

FACT #2 – Dental insurance is NOT meant to cover all fees. It is meant to be an aid to your investment in your child’s dental healthcare. Many routine dental services are not covered by dental insurance.

FACT #3 – Many carriers claim that they reimburse the insured promptly “up to 80% or up to 100% of the total fees.” In actuality, we have found that most plans cover about 40%-50% of average fees. Some plans pay more, some less. The less paid for the insurance by your employer, the less coverage you will receive.

FACT #4 – Usual, Customary or Reasonable Fees, UCR, a term used by your insurance carrier, is an arbitrary amount which the insurance company chooses to pay for each procedure. It is not based on the average charge of practicing specialist in the area; it is merely the “allowable” amount they will reimburse so they can make a net 20%-30% profit. Our fees are within range of other pediatric dental offices in the area.

FACT #5 – Insurance companies will not release the exact amount they will pay for a procedure until the treatment is completed and the claim is submitted. They will only state the percentage of their fee schedule that they will cover. We will make every effort to assure you receive maximum benefits. We will file your insurance at no charge. In order to provide this service, we will need your updated insurance information before each appointment. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about our financial policy. We want you to be comfortable in dealing with these matters. If you have any questions regarding your insurance, we ask that you contact your company regarding the specifics and details of your plan.