THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW . . .
APPOINTMENTS . . .Your first appointment is to find out if root canal therapy is right for you.
After finishing a history, we take x-rays, and examine your teeth. Your problem and treatments are discussed with you. Fees and insurance are discussed with you. Then, you choose the treatment which suits you.
Pain relief can be provided at the first appointment. The second appointment will provide the treatment you choose.
We are serious about appointments. Thirty (30) to 90 minutes are reserved, just for you. Telephone calls are made to confirm your appointment. Unconfirmed appointments are cancelled. If you are late, reappoint or cancel without one business day notice, a deposit is required for the next appointment. Deposits are applied to office charges, including broken appointment charges.
GUESTS . . . If patients have sight, speech or hearing impairment, or require a translator, a helper may be invited to the examination, with a patient. Others can be comfortably seated in the reception room. Children are not allowed in treatment areas, and may not remain, unattended, in the reception area.
TREATMENT . . . Root canal therapy is 95% successful. That means, 1 out of every 20 root canal treatments fails. Success, depends on your ability to heal. Complications, such as root fractures, infection, bruising, perforations, obstructions, calcified canals, severe curves, instrument fracture and other things, occur. Treated teeth may also need surgery, retreated or removal. Surgery and retreats have a 40-60% success rate.
During root canal therapy, existing dental work may be destroyed. Fillings are routinely removed. The original dental work may need to be redone by your family dentist. Most teeth which have root canal therapy will require a crown, placed by your family dentist.
FEES . . . After examination, fees are discussed. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and Bank Debit Cards. Payment is due when at the time of service.
INSURANCE . . . As a favor to you, if your insurance is assigned to us, you may borrow 2/3 of the cost of your visit, . This means you must pay 1/3 of the cost of treatment at each visit. Your balance is due one billing cycle (about 30 days) after the treatment date. We will refund any overpayments. We can contact your insurance to predetermine what they will cover. This is done by mail and frequently takes 2-6 weeks.
If you have questions about insurance, please contact your insurance company. If you would like us to arbitrate conflicts between you and your insurance company, or resubmit insurance claims, we can do so for an additional hourly fee. ($18.00 minimum)
Outstanding balances are charged interest at the rate of 1.5% per month. Accounts over 60 old days are turned over to a collection agency, and the cost of collection services are added to your account.
Managed care and preferred provider plans are administered according to the plan. Managed care and preferred provider plans cannot be combined. Your primary plan will predominate.