How fees work
Paying for dental care isn't always simple. This page says how it works here and what we put in writing before you decide.
Insurance we work with
We file claims for PPO and indemnity dental plans. Whether a plan counts us as in network depends on the plan, so give us its name and we'll check before you book.
PPO and indemnity plans: we file the claim for you
DHMO plans: call us first, because they assign you to one dental office
Medicare and Medicare Advantage: dental coverage varies by plan, so ask
Medi-Cal and CHIP: tell us your plan and we'll answer for it
If you pay yourself
Without insurance you pay the fee for your visit, and we tell you what it will be before any treatment begins. Financing is offered by third-party lenders. Approval and terms are set by the lender.
Receipts for reimbursement
If your plan pays you back directly, we give you an itemized statement of your visit 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 lists the treatment, the visits it takes and what it's expected to cost.
Ask when you book or at your visit
In writing, before treatment starts
Checking your benefits
Before your first visit our front desk looks up your plan's benefits and tells you what the plan says it covers. The figures are the plan's. We show you what it covers and what is left for you.
What the first visit includes
A new-patient visit takes 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
Your options, and their cost, in writing
Time for your questions
An estimate is our written account of what we expect to bill, not a final fee. If your dentist finds something new once treatment is under way, we'll tell you before we go on.
More about paying
Can I get a written estimate even if I have insurance?
Yes. Ask when you book or at your visit, and we'll write down the treatment, the visits it takes and what it's expected to cost.
Will you tell me what my plan pays before I start?
We tell you what your plan says it covers, from the benefits we looked up. Your plan makes the final decision when it processes the claim.
What if I can't pay all at once?
Ask us. Financing is offered by third-party lenders, and approval and terms are set by the lender. We can also split a treatment plan into stages, so you decide one stage at a time.
Ask for an estimate in writing
Tell us what you need and how you plan to pay, and we'll say what to expect before you book.