Forms of Payment

We accept cash, checks, Visa, Master Card, and Discover.

CareCredit: Interest free financing for up to 12 months is available through the Care Credit Plan. You may apply confidentially with our office manager, or online by visiting their website at www.carecredit.com.

Dental Insurance: If you have dental insurance, please present your insurance identification card to the office manager. Once eligibility, deductibles, coverage rates, and yearly benefits have been confirmed, we will accept assignment of benefits. You are expected to pay your estimated portion at each treatment visit. As a courtesy we will assist you in filing electronic claims to receive the maximum benefits you are eligible to receive. We have no guarantee of payment from your insurance company, and you are responsible for the full fee quoted.

Dental Insurance: May Help Take the Bite Out of Bills

Dental insurance can be helpful to patients in defraying the costs when paying for dental treatment. Insurance, however, can sometimes be a double-edged sword and it is important for consumers to investigate what plans will keep them and their families smiling in the future, advises the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Oral health care is extremely important and coverage is typically available to individuals and families through their employers, who will pay a premium to have them covered, according to the August/September 2006 issue of AGD Impact, the monthly newsmagazine of the AGD. Individuals may also choose to seek out alternative dental insurance plans and pay a monthly premium that would provide basic coverage for exams, hygiene cleanings, root canals, orthodontics, etc.

The down side of dental insurance is that it may limit which dentists a patient can visit and the coverage may not cover costs of all the treatment that needs to be completed.

"Also, it is important that the insurance company not interfere in the doctor-patient relationship by dictating treatment to the dentist or the patient," explains W. Mark Donald, DMD, FAGD and AGD spokesperson. "The patient should understand that the dentist, not the insurance company, is trained in diagnosing and treating dental disease. When insurance companies interfere in the diagnosis and treatment planning by dictating treatment, optimal oral health care can be reduced."

While a great dental insurance plan might allow a patient to see any dentist, not all dentists will accept the insurance claim forms as payment. These dentists, also known as "non-participating" or "insurance-free"dentists, may have their patients pay up front and have the patient directly collect payment from the insurance company.

Alternatives to insurance may be a discounted dental plan which allows the patient to pay a yearly flat fee that gives access to the provider dentists. The plan negotiates a discounted rate for typical dental services and the dentists agree to provide these services to you at the rates which are discussed prior to purchasing the plan.

Two systems of dental plan coverage

Fee-for service or indemnity: This direct reimbursement system pays the dentist for each service mostly according to fees set by the dentist.

Managed care: This is a system that controls the fees set for covered services. Managed care can be divided into two categories (capitation/dental health management organizations and preferred provider organization plans).

What is the best dental insurance plan for me?

Although there is no perfect dental insurance plan, some plans will be better than others for you and your family. Dental insurance plans primarily differ in how much you have to pay. Although no plan will pay for all of the costs associated with your dental care, some plans will cover more than others. With any dental insurance plan, you will pay a basic premium, usually monthly, to buy the dental insurance coverage. In addition, there are often other payments you must make. These payments will vary by plan, but they are essentially deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

What questions should I ask?

Consider these questions when selecting a dental plan:

• How much will it cost me on a monthly basis?

• Are there deductibles I must pay before the insurance begins to help cover my costs?

• After I have met the deductible, what parts of my costs are paid by the plan?

• Which dentists are part of the plan?

• Where will I go for care? Are the offices near where I work or live?

• If I use dentists outside of a plan's network, how much more will I need to pay to receive care?

• If you have access to dental insurance, it's a good idea to elect coverage. But if you can't get dental coverage through work, you might be able to buy an individual dental insurance policy.

What types of dental plans are available?

Dental insurance plans usually are described as either indemnity (fee-for-service) or managed care. Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach. The major differences concern choice of providers, out-of-pocket costs for covered services, and how bills are paid. Usually,indemnity plans offer a greater choice of dentists than managed care plans. Indemnity plans pay their share of the costs of a service only after they receive a bill. Managed care plans have agreements with certain dentists to give a range of services to plan members at reduced cost. In general, you will have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs if you select a managed care-type plan and a broader choice of dentists if you select an indemnity-type plan. Managed care plans are dental PPOs, POSs, and dental HMOs. Some dentists, called non-participating or insurance-free dentists, do not accept any insurance in their practice.

What is a dental discount plan?

A number of companies offer dental discount plans. For a monthly or annual fee, you get access to a network of dentists who will work for discounted rates. However, there are no guarantees that your dentist will provide services for the discounted rate for the entire term of your plan membership. Be sure to check with your dentist to make sure he or she is a member. You also may want to talk with your dentist about other financing arrangements. Many dentists are willing to work with your financial constraints.

As a member of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), it is my trusted source for continuing dental education as well as my patients too! Visit KnowYourTeeth.com today to brush-up on all things dental.