Financial & Insurance Information
Click the links to find out more:
The cost of your treatment may vary depending on your individual needs, treatment plan and your dental insurance. Our staff will discuss the cost of treatment recommended by the doctor and available payment options so that you are able to make the best choice for you, your smile, and your family.
Payment Options
Your smile is yours forever, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to receive the best care whenever you need it.
​
Our practice accepts most major credit cards and PPO dental insurance plans.
​
We know dental treatment can be expensive;therfore, we offer financing options with CareCredit®. CareCredit®, a Synchrony Financial Company, gives you convenient payment options so you can get the procedure you want, when you want it.
These are the benefits of financing with CareCredit®:
-
You can start treatment immediately.
-
Enjoy low monthly payments.
-
Finance up to 100% of the treatment cost
-
Pay no annual fees.
-
Can be used in any medical setting that accepts CareCredit.
​
Insurance Information
If you have dental insurance, our office staff is able to help you with sending insurance claims and some insurance questions you may have. We are able to send claims and bill most PPO dental plans on your behalf. While we do our best to work with your insurance provider, we function as a third party when it comes to your contracted policy. This means we are not privy to all dental insurance fee schedules and unique policy rules. However, by request and with consent, we are able to pre-authorize any treatment the doctor recommends with your insurance per your request for the most accurate estimate before you schedule.
Please find out more information on how insurance works below.
​
Please let us know if you have any questions about your insurance coverage; and let us know how we can help to make your entire dental experience a pleasant one.
​
Feel free to call us at (707) 963-4611 should you have any questions regarding our financial policy.
How
Dental Insurance
Works*
*(and doesn't)
DENTAL INSURANCE IS NOT LIKE MEDICAL INSURANCE
Medical insurance typically affords you small co-pays and full coverage against larger expenses; however, dental insurance is more comparable to a discount, coupon or a supplement. Dental insurance will ultimately save you a few bucks, as it should cover a percentage of most services we administer for your oral health needs.
DENTAL INSURANCE HAS SEVERAL LIMITATIONS:
Annual Maximum:
Most insurance policies limit the amount they will pay for you each year to an annual maximum; which typically only ranges between $500 and $2500.
The way your insurance pays out this maximum depends on your coverage percentages.
Coverage Percentages:
Each policy has its own set of coverage percentages (typically ranging from 40%-100%) for different categories of service:
​
- Preventive (cleanings/exams)
- Basic Restorative (fillings/deep cleanings)
- Major Restorative (crowns/extractions)
​
The dollar amount these coverage percentages become is dictated by the insurance company’s maximum price allowed for each dental service, this is called their fee schedule. The insurance company's fee schedule always differs from the office's prices and charges; which is typically why a patient is left with a balance, even after they've paid their estimated out-of-pocket.
​​
Fee Schedule:
A fee schedule is a price list made by insurance companies of the maximum prices they will allow for each dental service.
We are never privy to an insurance company’s fee schedule which is why we can only ever provide you with treatment estimates, not exact quotes. This means, you should always expect to receive an invoice after insurance has paid their portion, even if you’ve already paid your estimated out-of-pocket amount at the time of treatment. You can always request a pre-authorization be submitted to your insurance for a better idea of what your insurance might actually pay. Pre-authorizations are still only estimates, but are typically more precise.
YOUR DENTAL OFFICE WORKS WITH YOU, NOT YOUR INSURANCE
The dental staff are not insurance specialists. The staff are trained to simply bill your dental insurance as a courtesy to you in order to alleviate the stress of sending and keeping track of your own claims. We use your signature on file to show your insurance we have permission to send claims and receive payments on your behalf. By signing your treatment plan and/or completing your scheduled treatment, you are agreeing to be 100% responsible for our rates for the services, regardless of the outcome of the insurance claim.
Every service being diagnosed or recommended by the doctor and dental providers is for the benefit of your oral health and based on your specific dental needs and the current condition of your teeth and gums. Dental providers will not limit diagnoses to what insurance covers or for any other financial reason; rather, alternatives can be discussed to find the route of treatment that works best for you and your finances. The dental office is aware of how costly the procedures can get and because dental insurance only covers so much, we do offer interest-free financing through Care Credit. See the information above regarding Care Credit.
