How fees work
What you pay depends on your plan and on what your dentist finds. Here is how each part works, and what you can ask us to put on paper.
Insurance we work with
We bill dental plans and file the claim for you. Whether we are in network depends on the plan, so ask before you book and we will tell you.
PPO and indemnity plans: we send the claim for you
DHMO plans: your plan names the office, so check with us before you book
Medicare and Medicare Advantage: dental benefits differ plan to plan, so ask us
Medicaid and CHIP: give us your plan and we will say whether we see patients on it
If you pay yourself
Without dental insurance you pay our fee for each visit, and we tell you the figure before treatment begins. Financing is offered by third-party lenders. Approval and terms are set by the lender.
Receipts for reimbursement
If your plan pays you back instead of paying us, we give you an itemized statement of the visit to send in. What it reimburses is up to your plan.
An estimate in advance
We give a written estimate in advance to anyone paying without insurance, and to anyone else who asks. It names the treatment, the number of visits and what it will cost.
Ask when you schedule or at your visit
On paper, before work starts
Checking your benefits
Before your first visit our front desk looks up your dental plan and tells you what it says it covers. Those figures are your plan’s, and we show you what they mean for the treatment you need.
What the first visit includes
An exam, X-rays or a scan if your dentist decides they will help, and time to go over the pictures on the screen. Bring your insurance card if you have one, a photo ID and a list of your medicines.
An exam and any images your dentist orders
A written plan with your options
Time for your questions
An estimate is what we expect to bill. Your plan decides what it pays, and we explain any gap before you pay.
Questions about paying
How do I get a written estimate?
Ask when you schedule or at your visit. After your exam your dentist lists the treatment, the visits it takes and what it will cost, and the front desk goes through your benefits with you.
What if my plan pays less than the estimate?
We explain the gap before you pay and talk through your options, including doing the treatment in stages.
Do you offer financing?
Financing is offered by third-party lenders. Approval and terms are set by the lender. Ask the front desk for the lender’s own terms before you decide.
Ask for an estimate in writing
Tell us what you need and how you plan to pay, and we will say what to expect before you book.