How Do I Choose a Good Dentist?

Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Does your dentist do a complete examination including a check for oral cancer?
2. Do new patients have a complete X-ray series, comprehensive examination and complete periodontal health evaluation?
3. Does your dentist stress proper home care and preventive dentistry?
4. Does your dentist have a clean, modern office and follow thorough sterilization procedures?
5. Are you encouraged to schedule preventive hygiene appointments to maintain your dental health?
6. Does the office value your time by seeing you at your appointed time?
7. Does your dentist accept assignment of insurance benefits and file your claims for you?

These are some things to consider in choosing a new dentist or evaluating your current dentist.

How Often Should I See My Dentist?

This depends upon the health of your mouth and the amount of dentistry you have had. We recommend most people see their dentist every six months for professional cleaning and examination.

However, some people with periodontal disease and extensive dentistry need to visit their dentist more often. Your dentist and hygienist will evaluate your dental health and recommend a schedule to meet your individual needs.

Why Doesn’t Dental Insurance Pay All My Dental Costs?

Dental insurance is meant to be an aid to help restore your mouth to sound dental health. It must be considered only as a subsidy for preventive and reconstructive dentistry. The percentage you receive and the services which are paid for are determined by benefit levels set by your employer.

Most insurance plans require the insured to pay a certain deductible before they will pay any benefits. In addition, insurance companies usually establish a maximum dollar amount they will pay each year or for any one treatment. When this limit is reached, the company will not pay any more. This limit has not changed much in the past 20 years, despite the fact that treatment costs like everything have risen during that time.

Finally, benefits vary widely depending on the contract between the employer and the insurance company which may be somewhat lower than current acceptable fees. The care, skill and judgement that produce optimum dentistry often cost more than benefits allowed by insurance companies.

For specific information about your dental coverage and coordination of benefits if you are covered under two different insurance plans, contact the employee benefits office at your company.

What are Network Providers and Out-of-Network Providers?

Dentists who agree to be providers for a certain insurance plan are in-network providers. Dentists who do not agree to be providers for a certain insurance plan are out-of-network providers.

Many insurance companies cover visits to dentists who are out-of-network providers. Your insurance company will tell you if the dentist you wish to see is in or out of your network and if your treatment by an out-of-network dentist will be covered.

Our office can also tell you if our practice is in or out of your network.

In many cases the fees we charge are competetive with the fees charged by in network dentists. In addition, when treatment is necessary, we prescribe only that treatment which you need and which we would prescribe for a member of our own family. It has been our experience that dentists in a network which may charge lower fees may also prescribe unnecessary treatment to compensate for these reduced fees.