How fees work
What you pay depends on your plan, your treatment and what your dentist finds at your exam. Here is how we handle each part and what you can ask us to put in writing.
Insurance we work with
We work with many dental plans, and what each one pays depends on the plan. Call us with your plan details and we tell you where you stand before you book.
PPO plans: we file the claim for you
DHMO plans: ask us, they work differently
Medicare and Medicare Advantage: ask us, dental coverage varies
Medicaid and CHIP: call us and we will answer plainly
If you pay yourself
If you do not have insurance, you pay for the visit and we give you the fee in writing before treatment starts. Financing is offered by third-party lenders. Approval and terms are set by the lender.
Receipts for reimbursement
If you pay us and your plan repays you, we give you an itemized statement of your visit to send in. Your plan decides what it pays.
An estimate in advance
We give a written estimate in advance to anyone paying without insurance, and to anyone who asks. It lists the treatment, the visits it takes and the cost.
Ask when you book or at your visit
In writing, before treatment starts
Checking your benefits
Before your first visit our front desk checks your plan’s benefits and tells you what the plan says it covers. A plan’s figure is the plan’s, so we show you both.
What the first visit includes
A new-patient visit takes about an hour: an exam, X-rays when your dentist decides you need them and a talk about what they found. Bring your insurance card if you have one, a photo ID and a list of your medicines.
An exam, and X-rays your dentist decides on
A written plan with your options
Time for your questions
An estimate is our written account of what we will bill. What your plan finally pays can differ, and we explain any difference before you pay.
Questions about paying
How do I get a written estimate?
Ask when you book or at your visit. After your exam your dentist writes down the treatment, the visits and the cost, and our front desk goes through your benefits with you.
What if my plan pays less than the estimate?
A plan’s figure is the plan’s, not ours. If its final payment is lower, we explain the difference before you pay and talk through your options.
Do you offer financing?
Financing is offered by third-party lenders. Approval and terms are set by the lender. Ask our front desk for the lender’s own terms before you decide.
Ask for a written estimate
Tell us what you need and how you plan to pay, and we will tell you what to expect before you book.