Office Policies

How are Appointments Scheduled?

Our office attempts to schedule appointments at your convenience. Preschool children should be seen in the morning because they are more awake, and we can work more slowly with them for their comfort. School children with a lot of homework should be seen in the morning for the same reason. Dental appointments are an excused absence, and missing school can be minimal when regular dental care is scheduled.

Since appointed times are reserved for each patient, we ask that you please notify our office at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment time if you must cancel. Another patient could be scheduled if we have sufficient time to notify them. We realize that unexpected things happen, but we ask for your assistance in this regard.

Do I stay with my child during the visit?

You Can Trust Us with Your Children

If your child is over the age of 3, we ask that you allow them to accompany our staff through the dental experience while you wait in the reception area. Separation anxiety is not uncommon in children, so please try not to be concerned if your child exhibits some negative behavior. This is normal and will soon diminish. We are all specifically trained in helping young children overcome anxiety. Our experience has shown that most children over the age of 3 react more positively when permitted to experience the dental visit on their own and in an environment designed for children.

We Invite You to Join Us for Their First Examination

We invite you to accompany your child to the initial examination. During future appointments, we suggest you allow your child to accompany our staff through the dental experience while you wait in the reception area. Our purpose is to gain your child's confidence and overcome apprehension, and we can usually establish a closer relationship with your child when you are not present. However, you are more than welcome to accompany your child to the treatment room. For the safety and privacy of all patients, other children who are not being treated should remain in the reception area with a supervising adult.

What about Finances?

Payment for dental services is due at the time that treatment is provided. Every effort will be made to provide a treatment plan that gives your child the best possible care, and fits into your timetable and budget. We accept cash, personal checks, debit cards and most major credit cards.

Guidelines Regarding Dental Insurance

Our fees for services are the same for all patients whether or not they have a dental insurance program. As a courtesy to our patients, we will be happy to complete and submit your primary insurance carrier forms for dental treatment.

There is a great variety in the types of dental insurance offered. Various programs cover as little as 30% to as much as 80%. Almost every dental plan has a provision for limiting dollar disbursement by the insurance company for covered services. Rarely is coverage 100%.

Your particular insurance program may base its allowances on a fee schedule, which may or may not coincide with our office fee schedule. In some instances, it may be possible for you to determine, prior to treatment, what your benefits will be by merely reading your policy or by checking with your employer.

Please understand that this office does not determine the benefits to be derived under your policy.

We cannot be responsible for the structuring of your plan. This is a pre-determined situation agreed upon between your employer and the insurance carrier.

Insurance is designed to reimburse the policyholder and is a contract between the policyholder and the company. We do not have an insurance department but will do all we can to help you collect legitimate claims. Since our services are rendered for you at your request, in the event your insurance carrier is slow to pay or for some reason disallows the claim, payment of the account is your responsibility. Financial arrangements are to be made with our office prior to commencement of treatment.

Our payment is due from the insured at the time of the visit. We accept cash, check, Visa, MC and Discover.

In order for our office to apply for insurance benefits on your behalf, we ask that you provide us with the following:

1. A signed “Financial Agreement” form which we will provide for you (available on website).
2. A completed “New Patient” form (available on website) and your current dental insurance benefit card.