Your First Visit

Your first visit to the office typically includes a full series of x-rays (fmx) that allows the doctor and hygienist to view the structure of the jaw, the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, and tooth decay.


The initial visit also involves getting your medical history. When you share your medical history with the doctor, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on your health. Inform your dentist if you have experienced recent hospitalization or surgery, or if you have recently been ill. Also tell the doctor the names, doses, and frequency of any medications you are taking - whether prescription or over-the-counter products - and the name of your physician. Inform the doctor of any changes in your health or medications. It is also important to bring up any fears you may have about dental treatment. The information collected in your first visit will help the doctor select the safest and most effective method of treatment for you.

Consultation

After the doctor has evaluated your records, we discuss any follow-up treatment with you in detail, including the cost for your particular case.

Regular Checkups

Don’t brush off regular checkups to the dentist! Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaining good oral health. We encourage regular checkups at least every six months. Seeing the dentist twice a year is recommended because your dentist can:

• check for problems that you might not see or feel
• find early signs of decay
• treat oral health problems early, while they are still manageable

Regular checkups include x-rays, a thorough cleaning, polishing, and an oral exam by the doctor. During the oral exam, the doctor checks the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. At each visit, the doctor also checks old fillings and restorations because constant pressure from chewing, grinding, or clenching can cause them to wear away, chip, or crack.

Payment & Office Policies

Cost

The cost of treatment depends on the severity of the patient’s needed treatment. You will be able to discuss fees and payment options before treatment begins with our financial advisor. We accept assignment from most insurance plans, and we will file the necessary papers to the insurance company. We work hard to make dental care affordable and to help you understand your insurance benefits.

Fees

If full payment is made at the onset of major treatment, we will offer a fee discount of 5% to non-insurance holders.

• To fit your individual needs for extensive treatments, financial arrangements can be made to extend your payments over a period of time.
• For your convenience, we accept payment by CASH, CHECK, VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER, AMERICAN EXPRESS, CARE CREDIT.

Insurance

If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the benefits you have available. Thus, the insurance company is responsible to the patient and patients are responsible to the doctor. We will help in every way we can in filing your claim and handling insurance questions from our office on your behalf.