How fees work
What a visit costs depends on your plan, your treatment and what your dentist finds at the exam. This is how we handle each part, and what you can ask us to put in writing.
Insurance we work with
We file claims for dental PPO and indemnity plans, and we tell you before you book whether we are in network with yours. What a plan pays is the plan's decision.
PPO and indemnity plans: we file the claim for you
DHMO plans: call us before booking, since they work differently
Medicare and Medicare Advantage: dental coverage varies, so ask us first
Medi-Cal and CHIP: call us and we will tell you plainly where we stand
If you pay yourself
Without dental insurance you pay the fee for each visit, and your dentist writes down what a treatment will cost before it begins. 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 the visit to send to your plan. The plan decides what it pays.
An estimate in advance
We give a written estimate in advance to anyone paying without insurance, and to anyone else who asks. It lists the treatment, the visits it takes and the fee.
Ask when you book or at your visit
In writing, before any treatment begins
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 figures.
What the first visit includes
A first visit takes about an hour. You meet your dentist, talk through what you would like to change, and have an exam. Bring your insurance card if you have one, a photo ID and a list of the medicines you take.
An exam, and X-rays when your dentist decides you need them
A written plan and estimate before any treatment
An estimate is our written account of what will be billed. A 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 the fee, and the 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.
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, and we will tell you what to expect before you book.