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Office Hours
Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Appointments
Our office attempts to schedule appointments that are mutually
convenient. To deliver the best possible care to children, we must
follow certain guidelines. Preschool children, age five years and
under, should be scheduled in the morning because they are fresher
and we can work gently for the child’s comfort. School age children,
age six years and older, with extensive dental needs, should be seen
in the morning for the same reason. Although dental appointments are
an excused absence from school, this can be kept to a minimum by
keeping all scheduled appointments and maintaining regular dental
care.
Scheduled appointments are reserved specifically for your child and
any change in this appointment affects all of our patients. If a
cancellation is unavoidable, please call the office at least 24
hours in advance so that we may give that time to another patient.
If two broken/missed appointments occur or two cancellations without
24-hour notice, our office reserves the right to NOT schedule any
subsequent appointments. Also, if you arrive 15 minutes late for
your appointment, you may be asked to reschedule for the next
available appointment time. Again, please call at least 24 hours in
advance if a cancellation is unavoidable so that we may give your
appointment to another child.
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Minor Patients
The parent or guardian accompanying the minor is responsible for
full payment. In the case of divorces or separated parents, the
parent accompanying the child is responsible for payment at that
visit.
About Finances
Payment for professional services is due at the time dental
treatment is provided. Every effort will be made to provide a
treatment plan that fits your timetable and budget, and gives your
child the best possible care. We accept cash, personal checks, debit
cards, Visa and MasterCard. There is a $50.00 charge for checks
returned by your bank due to insufficient funds.
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Payment Methods
We accept cash, check, Debit Card, and Visa or MasterCard.
Overdue Balance
The parent is financially responsible for the payment of all charges
for services rendered, regardless of insurance coverage. Any amount
remaining unpaid more than 60 days after the services were rendered
will accrue interest at the rate of 21% per annum. Should the
account be turned over to an attorney/collection agency, the parent
is liable for 33.3% attorney’s fees and all court costs.
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Policy Regarding Dental Insurance
If you have provided all of your insurance information on the day of
appointment, we will file your dental claim for you. You must be
familiar with your insurance benefits, since we will collect your
estimated portion. This is the estimated amount your dental
insurance is not expected to pay. By law, your insurance company is
required to process each claim within 30 days of receipt. All claims
are filed electronically, and your insurance company will receive
each claim within days of treatment.
Please understand that we file dental insurance claims as a courtesy
to our patients. We do not have a contract with your insurance
company, only you do. We cannot be responsible for how your
insurance company processes your claims or for what benefits they
pay on a claim. We can only assist you in estimating your portion of
the cost of treatment.
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MOST IMPORTANTLY, please keep us informed of any insurance
changes such as policy name, insurance company address, or a change
of employment. When a dental claim is unpaid due to policy
termination, the member is responsible for the unpaid balance.
Fact 1 – No Insurance Pays 100% of all Procedures
Dental insurance is meant to be an aid in receiving dental care.
Many of us think that insurance pays 90%-100% of all dental fees.
This is not true! Most plans only pay between 50%-80% of the average
total fee. The percentage paid is determined by how much you or your
employer has paid for coverage or the type of contract your employer
has set up with the insurance company.
Fact 2 – Benefits are not Determined by our Office
Your dental benefits are based on the policy purchased by you or
your employer. Insurance companies set their own schedules and each
company uses a different set of fees they consider allowable. These
allowable fees vary widely because each company collects fee
information from claims it processes.
Fact 3 – Deductibles and Co Payments Must be Considered
When estimating dental benefits, deductibles, percentages and co
payments must be taken in to account. All these add to the total
cost of dental treatment fees that must be paid by the patient.
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