About Our Office

We gladly accept:

Our Approach to Dentistry
Welcome to our practice. Preventive dentistry is our goal for every patient. It involves the daily care, good nutrition, periodic check-ups and cleanings that maintain good dental health. Preventative dentistry may not be where we start with every patient, but it is where we like to finish. Restorative dentistry is basic repair of the mouth. We replace broke or leaky fillings, build crowns and bridges, and fit partials. We aggressively treat gum disease and can perform most root canal therapy. Our belief is simple, you can keep all you teeth all you life! Cosmetic dentistry is coming of age with new materials and procedures that can make a smile beautiful. For those considering cosmetic treatment we can fill in the gaps, chips, and restore the less than a perfect smile.

Our Approach to Insurance
We work very hard to control the cost of dental care. It is part of our philosophy that quality care should be available to everyone. Insurance is a great benefit in maintaining dental health; however, it should not be the limiting factor for optimal care. It is very rare that a dental plan will cover 100% of our fees. The fees we charge are the same for every patient, insured or not. Insurance companies reimburse the amount they figure is commensurate with average quality dentistry. Our belief is that the style and quality of our dentistry had better be the best. Dentistry has changed very quickly; insurance fee schedules have not. After all, insurance companies are profitable businesses, not dental benefactors. As a courtesy, our office will file to most insurance companies and submit any necessary x-rays or additional information they may require. Any amount not covered by the insurance company will be the full responsibility of the patient. Any deductibles and co-pays will be required at the time of service. Each policy is different, but in general, insurance usually covers about 70% of minor restorative care and 50% of major work. Pre-authorizations will determine the amount of your co-pay ahead of time. All treatment plans and charges will be discussed together so each patient is completely comfortable with the financial aspect of their dental care.

Infection Control
In these times of heightened awareness, when the Covid virus is front page news, no one -especially dentists and their patients - can pretend ignorance of this worldwide threat. Our office is keenly aware that hepatitis B, influenza. Tuberculosis, and many other pathogenic (disease producing) bacteria are communicable. With the invasion of the Covid virus, we double out efforts to achieve the most sterile dental environment possible. Our aim is to find the best that technology has to offer to keep the practice safe for our patients and our staff. We meet and exceed the infection control standards of the American Dental Association and Centers for Disease Control. Our rigid protocols are familiar: masks, gloves and eye protection. But other safeguards are more subtle. We use the best methods to sterilize our instruments and use as many disposable items as possible to diminish the chance of cross-contamination. Staff members are meticulous in the disinfection of furniture, trays, and counters between every patient. Our patients deserve the highest standards possible and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Emergency Care
Dental emergencies can happen and we are always on call. Our after hours voice mail has instructions on contacting the doctor. Until he can respond, here's what to do: -Broken Fillings: Rinse your mouth gently with lukewarm water to remove debris (dissolved table salt or baking soda is soothing). If the tooth is sensitive, protect it with dental wax (found in your drug store) or in a pinch, sugarless gum. - Lost Crown: Save the crown if possible. Try to affix the crown with denture adhesive or if it won't stick, use wax to protect the tooth from air. - Knocked Out Tooth: If we can treat you within an hour, chances are we can reseat the tooth for good. Don't touch the root - this could damage delicate nerves. Gently replace the tooth where it belongs, or keep it moist in milk. - Toothache: Rinse your mouth with warm salt water; try to floss away any food particles. Ice packs and numbing agent may make you comfortable. See our office ASAP!

Cancellation Policy
We make every effort to be on time for our patients, and ask that you extend the same courtesy to us. If you cannot keep an appointment, please give us at least 48 hours notice. This courtesy on your part will make it possible for us to give the appointment to another patient who needs to be seen. We understand that situations may arise that would make it impossible for you to give 48 hour notice and each incident will be given consideration based upon your appointment history. Missed or broken appointments without notice may be charged to the patient account.

Composite Resin Fillings
We had to wait some time for tooth-colored fillings to be perfected, especially for posterior teeth-molars. The materials only a few years ago weren't strong enough to hold up to normal bite pressure; now they are. Composite resins are our restoration material of choice for several reasons. Their cosmetic properties are unsurpassed and their marginal adaptation where enamel and resin meet is excellent. This type of filling fits extremely well. By building up the material in layers, and curing as we go, the filling actually strengthens the tooth structure, whereas, amalgam (silver) fillings can weaken the tooth over time. Placement of composite fillings require removal of less tooth structure than silver fillings. In many cases, they can be placed without anesthesia. Recognition of composite fillings by insurance is our only obstacle. Unfortunately, most insurance companies downcode and pay less for composite resin fillings; especially in posterior teeth. We regret that insurance philosophy does not correspond to our dental health philosophy when it comes to this treatment.