Common Questions

Of course we invite you to call our office (518-758-9291) with any questions or issues that you would like to discuss. Following are topics that most frequently arise.

My teeth feel fine. Why do I have to see my dentist?

Your dental health is our main concern. We understand that there is a critical link between dental and medical health. We’re pleased when a patient presents with healthy teeth and gums. In order to maintain the health of your mouth, we recommend regular oral hygiene visits and timely follow-up care. Tooth decay and gum health require the critical and comprehensive hygiene care provided by trained dental professionals, as well as conscientious oral attention at home.

Do you see children and when should they begin dental care?

The American Dental Society recommends that children as young as 1 year be seen by the family dentist and that oral hygiene care should begin at home. This is when the first teeth begin to appear. The first visit, however, should not be later than year three, which is when we encourage initial scheduling. The child’s first visit serves two purposes. We introduce the child to the dental setting, talk about what they see in the office and establish a friendly relationship which will help to alleviate concern for future visits. We strive to make the child’s first visit a pleasant and stress free experience. During this visit and, with the approval of the parent and cooperation of the child, the child will see the dental hygienist, followed by a modified examination by the doctor. If follow-up care is required, the doctor may refer the child to a trusted, local pediodontist.

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Do you apply braces?

Although we do not apply braces in our office, we do refer to and work closely with local orthodontists to maintain the health of the patient’s teeth and gums during the orthodontic treatment period.

 

How do you handle emergencies?

Our patient’s comfort and care are our top concern. With two doctors on board, we make every effort to see a patient in an emergency situation as quickly as possible, often adjusting our schedule to see the patient on the same or next day. After office hours, emergency calls are referred by our service directly to the doctor on call.

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Do you accept my insurance?

We made a choice to diagnose your dental health based on raising your quality of life and not on raising the insurance company’s bottom line. We are a “fee for service” practice. As a service to our patients we process all dental insurance forms and immediately submit them for you so you receive the reimbursement check as quickly as possible. You also receive a copy for your records before leaving the office. We can help you estimate the level of coverage your insurance company will provide for all procedures to reduce your out of pocket expense. As a courtesy to our patients, we will accept your assignment of the predetermined benefits for most procedures and will bill you for the balance not covered by your insurance.

 

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What are my payment options?

PAYMENT OPTIONS

We are pleased to offer payment options that allow us to make the smile you’ve always wanted affordable.

We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and CareCredit.

 

Our Office Policy

Payment is due when service is rendered.

We do not participate with insurance companies however we are happy to accept your insurance as partial payment and submit claims for you. In that case we will collect the estimated difference at time of service. For those patients who have insurance that will not pay our office directly we request a partial payment at time of service.

If you need alternate payment options or have a special circumstance please feel free to discuss it with our office staff prior to treatment and they will do their best to accommodate you.

10% Discount – Senior citizen (62 and older) with cash or check for payment in full

          5% Discount- All patients (61 and under) with cash or check for payment in full

CareCredit

Convenient monthly payment plans to cover dental and other medically related care

Apply for credit approval on-line

Start treatment immediately

http://www.carecredit.com or call 1-800-365-8295

 

CANCELLATION POLICY

 

We understand that there are times when illness and unavoidable personal issues arise that make it impossible for a patient to keep an appointment.  Under those circumstances, we request that you call as soon as possible to let us know.  We will reschedule the appointment for the next available time frame, which may be delayed due to scheduling constraints.

The following policy applies to missed (no show) appointments, which negatively influence scheduling opportunities for other patients and which may have financial impact for the practice .

  • FIRST MISSED APPOINTMENT: Letter to patient describing our policy
  • SECOND MISSED APPOINTMENT: Letter informing patient that a $50 missed appointment charge will be applied to their account
  • THIRD MISSED APPOINTMENT: Possible dismissal from the practice

Please help us and fellow patients by honoring your appointment.

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Describe how pain management is handled in your practice?

Our patient’s comfort is very important to us. We are happy to supply blankets and pillows to make the dental experience as pleasant as possible. Operatories are also equipped with TVs for the benefit of our patients. Most importantly, to minimize pain and discomfort during routine dental care we apply a solution similar to Orajel to the numb the gum area around the troubled tooth, followed by the application of a local anesthetic. If we anticipate that it may be necessary to administer sedation in order to perform more complex procedures or to alleviate patient anxiety, we will consult with the patient’s doctor. Always feel free to discuss any dental concerns with our doctors. We want your dental experience to be as pleasant as possible.

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Can I have dental treatment while I’m pregnant?

It is our practice to consult with the patient’s OBGYN to determine if dental care of any kind during the pregnancy is advised. With the approval of the OBGYN, restorative care, fillings, etc., could be performed during the second trimester. During the course of a pregnancy and after, hormonal shifts may create an unhealthy condition in the mouth leading to gingivitis. It is important to maintain oral health with regular hygiene visits during the pregnancy. To address a dental emergency, we will consult with the patient’s OBGYN to develop a course of action that is safe.

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I’m leaving my current dentist for moving/personal reasons. What do I have to do to become part of your practice?

We are pleased to welcome new patients into our practice. Call our office (518-758-9291) and speak with our Scheduling Coordinator who will be able to assist you through the process. You may also request an appointment via the Make an Appointment button located on the home page of this website.  Please look for the tab that will allow you to download our New Patient Forms.

 

When you call, you will be asked to answer preliminary questions such as name, address, basic medical data, former dentist name and phone number and insurance information, if applicable.

A 60 min appointment will be scheduled, which may include a hygiene visit or a comprehensive exam and possible x-rays depending on the nature of the patient’s needs and scheduling availability.

Our new patient package will be mailed to you with a request to return completed forms prior to your first appointment. We will also ask you to forward a Release Form to your former dentist so we can review your prior dental care.

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What happens if I have to cancel my appointment?

We understand that there are times when illness and unavoidable personal issues arise that make it impossible for a patient to keep an appointment. We make every effort to remind patients about upcoming appointments, however, when a patient experiences extenuating circumstances, we request that you call as soon as possible to let us know. We will reschedule the appointment for the next available timeframe, which may be delayed due to scheduling constraints.

The following policy applies to missed (no show) appointments, which have financial impact for the practice and which negatively influences scheduling opportunities for other patients.

First missed appointment: Letter to patient describing our policy

Second missed appointment: Letter informing patient that a $50 missed appointment charge may be applied to their account

Third missed appointment: Possible dismissal from the practice

We urge everyone to help fellow patients and our practice by honoring all appointments.

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How do you handle the privacy of my dental and health records?

Dental offices are subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. In order to comply with HIPAA, our practice has established policies and procedures to protect our patients’ health information. Prior to treatment, we ask our patients to read and sign a document which states how patient information may be used.

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Why do I have to pre-medicate before a dental visit?

Because of your health history, your physician may advise you to take a prescription medication before dental visits to prevent infectious endocarditis, a rare but potentially life-threatening infection of the heart valves or tissues lining the heart. In some cases, orthopedic surgeons may also require their patients to pre-medicate prior to dental work.

People with heart conditions, from a murmur to a valve implant, are at special risk during dental work. Even a routine cleaning may cause slight bleeding. This exposes the bloodstream to Streptococcus bacteria that commonly lurk in the mouth. There is a chance that these bacteria can invade the linings of the heart and erupt into bacterial endocarditis. This is a very dangerous condition.

The American Heart Association and the American Dental Association recommend the use of antibiotics as a preventive measure.

Prior to your appointment, we may call to remind you to take your medication one hour before your visit. We may reach out to your physician to determine the protocol for your pre-medication requirement. If you need a new prescription, we can also call in the script.

Always keep your health history with us up to date.

If you forget to take your medication before you come into the office, we’ll have to reschedule you for another time to be on the safe side.  We take your health very seriously.

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