WHO SAYS THE FIRST VISIT TO THE DENTIST HAS TO BE SCARY?WE STRIVE TO MAKE EACH AND EVERY VISIT TO OUR OFFICE A FUN ONE!
NEW PATIENT FORMS
For your convenience, prior to visiting our office, please complete the new patient forms and click submit.
FIRST VISIT
We are committed to making sure that your child’s first visit to our office will be a positive experience. Let your child know that the dentist and the staff are going to explain everything they do. Don’t talk about “needles,” “shots,” or any of those words that will sound “scary” to your child. We will explain everything using language that is non-frightening to your child.
Your first visit is an opportunity to meet you and your family. If your child has siblings, we hope you can bring them along as well. We want to welcome the whole family and communicate directly with you. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommend establishing a “dental home” for your child by the time he or she is one year old. Children who have a “dental home” are more likely to receive the regular, preventive care that is important to their dental health. We hope you will make Boca Delray Pediatric Dentistry your “dental home.”
OFFICE POLICIES
SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS
Appointments are scheduled when time is available and we try to schedule appointments at your convenience. We schedule preschool children in the morning when they are less tired and we can work more slowly with them. If your school age child has a lot of dental work to be done, we should see him or her in the morning for the same reasons. Although dental appointments are an excused school absence, missing school will be kept to a minimum.
STAYING WITH YOUR CHILD DURING A VISIT
You are invited to stay with your child during the first examination. At future appointments, we suggest that you allow your child stay with the staff member throughout the examination. We want to gain your child’s confidence and it is easier for the staff to build rapport when you are not present. However, you know your child best so if you choose, you may stay with your child in the treatment room. We allow one person, a parent or guardian, in the treatment room. In the interest of safety and privacy of all our patients, other children who are not being treated must stay in the reception area with a supervising adult.
PAYMENT FOR DENTAL CARE
Payment for services is due at the time treatment is rendered. We accept cash, personal checks, as well as debit and major credit cards. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan that respects your timetable and budget while providing your child with the best possible dental care.
DENTAL INSURANCE
We will file claims as a courtesy to you if you have all your insurance information. Insurance companies are required to pay claims within 30 days of receipt of the claim. We file claims electronically so your insurance company will receive the claim within days of treatment. Please review your insurance benefits as we will ask you to pay the estimated amount that your insurance is not expected to pay. You are responsible for any balance on your account after 30 days. If your balance is not paid within 60 days, a monthly, re-billing fee of 1.5% will be added to the account.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND that we file dental insurance as a courtesy to our patients. We do not have a contract with your insurance company, only you do. We are not responsible for how your insurance company handles its claims or for what benefits they pay on a claim. We can only assist you in estimating your portion of the cost of treatment. We at no time guarantee what your insurance will or will not do with each claim. We also can not be responsible for any errors in filing your insurance. Once again, we file claims as a courtesy to you.
There are a number of things about dental insurance that you should keep in mind:
The purpose of dental insurance is to help you and your family to receive dental care. No insurance pays 100% of all procedures. Most plans pay between 50% and 80% of the average total fee. The percentage your insurance will pay depends on the premium you pay or the contract your employer has with the insurance company.
Our office does not determine the benefits you will be paid. You may notice that your insurance company reimburses at a lower rate than the actual fee. Frequently, insurance companies claim that the dentist’s fee “exceeds the usual, customary or reasonable fee” (URC) used by the company. Insurance companies set their own URC fee schedules and they vary widely from one company to another. Unfortunately, this suggests that the dental office is “overcharging,” not that they are “underpaying” based on data that may be three to five years old.
When estimating dental benefits, deductible and co-pays must be considered. The following example illustrates how an estimate is calculated:
Fee for service – $150.00 (with the insurance UCR at $150.00)
Deductible paid by you – $50.00
Balance – $100.00
80% of balance paid by insurance – $80.00
Remainder paid by you – $20.00
Under these circumstances you would pay $70.00 out of the total $150.00 fee. If the UCR is less than the fee or your plan pay less the 80% of the balance after your deductible, your portion of the bill will be greater.
It is very important that you keep us informed of any changes in your insurance including the policy name, company address or a change in your employment.