How fees work
What a visit costs depends on your plan, your treatment and what your dentist finds at the exam. Here is how we handle each part, and what you can ask us to put in writing.
Insurance we work with
We bill most PPO dental plans and file the claim for you. Whether we are in network depends on your plan, and we tell you which before you book.
PPO and indemnity plans: we file the claim
DHMO plans: ask us first, they work differently
Medicare and Medicare Advantage: ask us, dental coverage varies
Medicaid and CHIP: ask us before you book and we will answer plainly
If you pay yourself
Without insurance you pay the fee for your visit, and we tell you the fee 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 reimburses you, we give you an itemized statement of your visit to send to your plan. 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 what it will 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 estimate 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, a photo ID and a list of your medicines.
Exam and the X-rays your dentist decides on
A written plan with your options
Time for your questions
An estimate is our written account of what will be billed. Your plan's final payment 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 lists the treatment, the visits it takes and what it will cost, and our front desk goes through your benefits with you.
What if my plan pays less than the estimate?
A plan's estimate is the plan's, not ours. If its final payment differs, we explain the difference before you pay and go over your options with you.
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 a written estimate
Tell us what you need and how you plan to pay. We'll tell you what to expect before you book.