How fees work
What you pay depends on your plan and on what your dentist finds. Here is how each part works, and what you can ask us to put on paper.
Insurance we work with
We bill PPO and indemnity dental plans and file your claim for you. Whether your plan counts us as in network depends on the plan, so ask before you book and we will tell you.
PPO and indemnity plans: we file your claim
DHMO plans: call us first, because they assign you to a dental office
Medicare and Medicare Advantage: dental coverage varies, so ask us
Medi-Cal and CHIP: give us your plan and we will answer by plan
If you pay yourself
Without insurance you pay the fee for your visit, and we tell you the fee before treatment begins. Financing is offered by third-party lenders. Approval and terms are set by the lender.
Receipts for reimbursement
If your plan reimburses you, we give you an itemized statement to send in. 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 names the treatment, the visits it takes and what we expect it to cost.
Ask when you schedule or at your visit
On paper, before any treatment starts
Checking your benefits
Before your first visit, our front desk looks up your plan and tells you what the plan says it covers. The figures are the plan's, and we show you both.
What the first visit includes
A new-patient visit runs about an hour: an exam, X-rays if your dentist decides you need them, and a talk about what was found. Bring your insurance card, a photo ID and a list of your medicines.
An exam and any X-rays your dentist orders
A written plan with your options
Time for your questions
An estimate is our written account of what we expect to bill. Your plan decides what it pays, and we explain any difference before you do.
Questions about paying
How do I get a written estimate?
Ask when you schedule or at your visit. After your exam, your dentist lists the treatment, the visits it takes and what we expect it to cost, and the front desk goes through your benefits with you.
What if my plan pays less than the estimate?
We explain the difference before you pay and talk through your options, including doing the treatment in stages.
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 us for an estimate
Tell us what you need and how you plan to pay, and we will say what to expect before you book.