Scheduling Appointments

Our office understands your need to have appointment times that minimize time lost from school and work. Although we make the effort to accommodate our patients and have times available to help, it is not possible to schedule all appointments after school or work.

We have devoted considerable time and effort into designing our scheduling system. Our goals are to see our patients on time, have adequate time to perform the scheduled procedures, and answer any questions and update any treatment. In addition we want to work with your schedule to minimize time away from school and work. As you can imagine, a well-organized schedule requires considerable structure tempered with flexibility. We believe our scheduling system allows us to be efficient, quality oriented, and respectful to all parties involved.

We schedule appointments for children under six years old in the morning for two important reasons; Young children respond more favorably and have the best experience when well rested. We encourage parents to accompany their child into the operatory during morning visits. Patients seen in the afternoon are usually older, allowing us to accommodate school schedules. For your younger child’s benefit, please keep this in mind.

We make it a priority in our office to see you at your appointment time. We reserve time for each pt in our practice and rarely to we ever keep our patients waiting. An appointment written in our schedule with your name on it is a bond of trust that we will be here to serve you and you will be present for that appointment. When you make an appointment, please be certain that you schedule allows you to be on time. We know how long each scheduled procedure will take and this is determined at your previous appointment. To be fair to those patients who arrive on time, arriving late for your appointment may result in a shortened appointment or a rescheduling of the appointment and a resultant delay in treatment progress. Last minute cancellations of scheduled appointments make it difficult to reschedule immediately. We do request you give us 24 hour notice. We do however understand there are emergencies that do come up. For appointments over 2hours we request a 48hr notice. Please help us help you by making your appointment a priority in your schedule.

We appreciate your understanding of our scheduling procedures. Although at times our office may seem inflexible in scheduling appointments, please remember we are trying to accommodate everyone.

We believe we have a responsibility to use our best professional care, skill and judgement in planning for your dental treatment. The benefits and liabilities of neglect are always explained in your typewritten Financial Aggrement. No business or practice can fulfill its mission to its patients when a bond of trust is violated by failure to pay for services. Not living up to trust violates this important business principle.

In an effort to maintain competitive dentistry fees while delivering the highest level of professional care possible, we have established the following as our financial policy:

1.  Payment in Full - A bookkeeping courtesy of 5% is given for direct payment in full (if you have insurance direct reimbursement will come directly to you) by cash or check at start of treatment resulting in a one time payment.
2.  Payment Plan Option – Dental Fee Plan.
3.  Pay estimated patient responsibility for each procedure at each appointment.

We are happy to accept assignment of your insurance benefits; however, it is important to remember that our agreement is with you and not your insurance company. If for some reason your insurance does not pay the amount that was expected, or if you lose your insurance coverage during treatment, the unpaid balance of your estimated insurance benefit will be transferred to your balance and a new contract can be created.

It is very important to notify our office immediately if there are any changes in your insurance coverage. This would include a new insurance carrier, a new job, any loss of coverage, or if additional coverage has been obtained.

If our office is not able to obtain insurance payment within 45 days after treatment, we will contact you in the effort to close the insurance claim. If we do not hear back from you within a week, the balance becomes you portion and your responsibility to contact your insurance carrier. The insurance companies are more willing to work with their member than to work with a health care provider.

Important Disclaimers:

1.  If for any reason the estimated amount is not paid by your insurance company, it becomes your obligation.
2.  Treatment plans may change due to unforeseen circumstances, with additional treatment being necessary.