Smiling Dental FAQ

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY

FAQ that we want each staff member to be able to confidently answer.

BEST CASE SCENARIO IF WE ARE 100% CONFIDENT

Any team member can respond with confidence creating a lasting impression.

WORST CASE SCENARIO IF SOME OF US ARE NOT

We fumble, showing our cards of uncertainly. The patient sees our weakness and takes advantage or looses their confidence in us completely, going somewhere else for their care.

WHAT DOES 100% CONFIDENT MEAN?

We feel comfortable and confident responding to any of the below questions.

Smiling Dental Frequently Asked Phone Questions

***Keep in mind that we want to keep control of the conversation, so whenever possible end with a question until the patient is committed/content.

Do you accept new patients?

Yes! Are you looking for yourself, or another member of your family?

What types of payment do you accept?

We accept Debit, Mastercard and Visa for your convenience. We also offer financial arrangements if needed. Which method do you prefer?

Do you take assignment?

We help to send off your claim to your insurance company, but the insurance reimbursement will be sent back to yourself, not the office. Most of our patients pay us day of service.

We are able to offer a 2 week grace period to allow time for your to get your insurance reimbursement. In that case we ask for a credit card to be left on file and will processed 2 weeks from the time of your visit. Which option works better for you?

Do you take OW/ODSP?

We can certainly see you as a patient, however we are a fee for service office and would not be able to accept your insurance. The initial cost for an emerg/np exam would be $130/$240. Would you like me to look for some time?

Will my tooth be fixed today?

Our hope it to get the area repaired for you, however some solutions take longer than others. We’ll make sure you leave comfortably if we are not able to move forward with treatment today.

Will I always see the same doctor/hygienist?

We have quite a few patients that choose to stick with a certain Doctor or Hygenist. If you have a preference, let us know and we will do our best to ensure you see them when you are in. On occasion you may see someone else if they are covering a shift due to holidays or sickness. Is there someone specific you were hoping to see?

Do you see children?

Yes! Our practice is family friendly. We really try to create a positive experience for children to help lessen anxieties associated will coming in to see the dentist. How old is your little one? Have they been in to see a dentist before?

Should I start brining ‘my little one’?

We see children as young as 6 months! Generally, around 2-3 years old is a good age to start bringing your little one in for an exam. The initial visit, we call a friendly visit. We do as much as they allow. Sometimes that’s sitting in the dental chair, counting their teeth, or doing a polish. It’s really an introduction to get them ready for regular visits, we don’t want to push too fast. It also give an opportunity to get any concerns addressed. How old is your little one?

Do you offer _____?

Sedation, children dentistry, implants, veneers, whitening, etc)

Yes!

We offer different levels of conscious sedation to help put our patients at ease during treatment when needed. Have you had sedation with your previous dental appointments?

We are a family friendly practice love seeing kids! While we are not a specialist office we have a lot of success with children’s appointments with patience, understanding and kid friendly verbiage. How old is your little one?

Have you been considering Implants/Veneers/whitening for a while?

*What if they ask and you’re not sure?

If you’re not sure, just say YES – we can treat 95% of situations in our office. And then book consult. Don’t let the patient know that you don’t know.

Do you extract wisdom teeth?

Yes! The first step is having you in for an x-ray and assessment with the Doctor. We’ll review options to help determine the best way to move forward keeping your wants and needs at the fore front. Have they been bothering you recently?

Can you find out if my visit will be covered?

I can send an estimate off to your insurance electronically. Sometimes we get a response back straight away, however, the response may be available to you online in a few day or mailed to you in a few weeks if not. I can also provide you the details if you would like to call the insurance for immediate details, which do you prefer?

Do you have a seniors discount?

We don’t offer a seniors discount but an extend the courtesy of making financial arrangements and splitting payment up on a monthly basis. Would that help?

Do you offer a discount - we don’t have insurance?

Our fees are the same regardless of insurance on file. We do however offer financial arrangements. We want to help our patients get the treatment they need and want. Would splitting up your payments monthly help?

What is your cancellation policy?

We ask as a courtesy for 48 hours notice to change a scheduled appointment.

How much does a ___ cost?

NPE/Cleaning/Extraction/Implant/Crown

You can expect a new patient exam to cost about $290.

You can expect a cleaning to cost about $230.

You can expect an extraction to cost about $280.

You can expect an implant to cost about $5000.

You can expect a crown to cost about $1300.

What time of day work best to have you in to meet the doctor and discuss your options?

Smiling Dental Frequently Asked Chair Side Questions

Can I pay when I get my insurance reimbursement?

As a courtesy we are certainly able to make arrangements. Most patients received their reimbursement in just a few days if direct deposit is set up. We ask for a credit card to be left on file to be processed, how does 2 weeks sounds?

My insurance said they accept assignment, so can you bill to my insurance?

The way we do it here is that you take care of your payment here, we submit your claim to your insurance company on your behalf, and then you get reimbursed directly by your insurance company, usually within a few days. We take payment by Visa, MC, or debit – which works better for you?

If the patient isn’t happy with that….

As a courtesy we can postpone your payment for 2 weeks to allow time for you to get your insurance reimbursement. In that case we ask for a credit card to be left on file and will processed 2 weeks from the time of your visit. Does that work better than paying day of service for you?

Will my insurance cover it?

In my experience the quickest and easiest way to see if your insurance will cover it is by giving them a call. This way you can also verify annual maximums and what you have left for the year. We can provide you the details to reach out if you would like?

Am I covered every 6 or 9 months for my cleanings?

The best way to find out your frequency is by calling your insurance directly. Unfortunately there is no easy was for us to know. All insurance policies are different and can change without us knowing. What I would suggest is calling your insurance as asking them:

1. Recall frequency

2. Scale units

3. Annual max

With this information we can help guide you in setting up a cleaning schedule that not only provides you the dental care you need but utilizes your insurance coverage. Let’s set you up on a 6 month schedule for now. When your in next, bring this info with you so we can design a program that will fit best for you. How does that sound?

Can you just do whatever is covered, I don’t want to exceed my insurance?

Unfortunately we don’t have the details of your policy but can appreciate you want to limit your out of pocket expenses. We can try to send an estimate electronically however we don’t always get a response right away. Going ahead with your _____(cleaning, NPE, fillings, etc) today would be $_. As a courtesy we do offer financial arrangements. Would you like to look at some numbers to split this up monthly?

Do you guarantee your work?

Yes we do have a guarantee. The details of the guarantee depend on your current situation and what kind of work you’re getting done. Let’s have to doctor talk to you more about your specific situation.

Can I pay when I get my insurance reimbursement?

Yes! As a courtesy we can extend a 2 week grace period to allow time for your to get your insurance reimbursement. We ask for a credit card to be left on file and will processed 2 weeks from the time of your visit. Would that work for you?

Will it hurt?

We will make sure you’re comfortable before and during the appointment. With communication going both ways I expect a pain free appointment. Can you make sure to let us know if you are uncomfortable at all during the appointment?