What do I need to bring to my appointment?
Please bring the following:
- driver’s license or picture ID
- dental insurance card
- medical insurance card
- medication list
- referral information from your dentist
- your completed new patient paperwork
- your method of payment
Will I need to have x-rays taken?
In many cases, your dentist will send us the most recent x-rays they have on file to our office prior to your scheduled appointment in our office. Dr. Cherry will review these x-rays and determine if a more current x-ray or another type of x-ray is needed to discuss your future treatment. Keep in mind that adolescent children or young adults that are still growing may need more current x-rays prior to surgery because their continuous growth often shifts the position of their teeth. Additionally, if your dentist recommended that Dr. Cherry discuss implant treatment with you, it is likely that a more complex 3D x-ray will need to be exposed here in our office.
How much will my first visit cost?
Most of the exams we offer in our office cost $80.00, and if an x-ray is needed for the appointment, that is usually an additional cost of $110.00. In some cases, your insurance may cover the cost of these fees. Most insurance companies do limit the number of exams and x-rays they will cover per a specific period of time. We ask that you come to your appointment prepared for the initial $190.00 in the event that your insurance does not provide coverage for these services.
Will my tooth be extracted on my first visit?
At each new patient appointment, Dr. Cherry will evaluate important aspects of your health history and your current medications. He will also discuss his recommendations with you regarding anesthesia options in relation to the difficulty of your proposed treatment. We will do our best to accommodate same-day treatment when it is feasible. However, due to the above-mentioned considerations, Dr. Cherry may not always recommend treatment during your first visit in our office. Dr. Cherry’s main objective is that we proceed with your treatment with your utmost safety and comfort in mind.
How does the insurance filing process work?
In most cases, our administrative team will file your insurance claims on your behalf. For many procedures, you will be provided with an estimate of your insurance coverage prior to the completion of your consultation appointment. There are some instances when more time may be needed to provide you with an appropriate estimate.
You will be asked to pay your estimated co-payment on the date of service. Most insurance claims take about 30-45 days to process. After all claims have finished processing, you will be notified if your insurance paid differently than originally estimated and of any remaining balance on the account.
What insurance carriers are we in-network with?
We are in-network providers with the following dental carriers:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Guardian
- Cigna DPPO
- Delta Dental Premier
We file to many other dental insurance carriers as well for out-of-network benefits.
How long will my appointment be?
Typically, most new patient appointments are approximately 1 hour. More time may be needed if treatment is performed on the same day or if the treatment discussed during the consultation is particularly comprehensive in nature.
If the patient is under the age of 18, will a parent or guardian need to be present at each appointment?
Since individuals under the age of 18 are considered minors, they are not legally allowed to consent to treatment. A parent will be asked to attend ALL appointments with any patients under the age of 18. This applies to all types of appointments, including consultations, surgeries, and post-operative appointments.
Will all of my information be sent to your office from my general dentist?
Upon your request, your general dentist will typically email current x-rays and specific referral information to our office. You may want to check with your general dentist’s office prior to your appointment time to make sure these items were sent to our office. It is your responsibility to provide our office with information concerning your insurance and your health history via your new patient paperwork.
What precautions are being taken for COVID-19?
We take all necessary precautions as recommended by the CDC and our professional organizations. All patients are asked to notify our office of any potentially infectious symptoms they might be experiencing prior to their appointment. We ask that our patients observe appropriate social distancing whenever possible. All surfaces within the practice are sanitized frequently.
What instructions are there for my upcoming appointment?
If you are an established patient scheduled for an upcoming surgery, please refer to our patient resource section for both preoperative and post-operative instructions (by clicking the link here). These can be downloaded or printed for your convenience and will be reiterated at your surgical appointment by a team member. You may also review a sample of our consent form in this section as well.