We are dedicated to providing you with a pleasant visit and results that you’re proud to show off.
First Visit
Your initial visit here may be different than your experiences at other offices. You are seen by Dr. Berry exclusively for a detailed 90 minute examination. This allows Dr. Berry to evaluate all aspects of your oral and overall health to provide the most comprehensive care possible. New patients always comment on how thorough our examination process is and how they feel like they are receiving gold star treatment.
Dr. Berry will assess the following at your initial examination:
complete muscle and jaw joint examination
airway assessment - What is an airway assessment?
oral cancer screening
periodontal examination
bite assessment and caries examination
esthetic assessment
complete series of radiographs
complete series of photographs
The first visit is an “information gathering” appointment. Dr. Berry will take time to review all your records and have you back for a consultation to review your treatment options. Your dental hygiene appointment will be scheduled after the initial visit to accommodate your specific needs.
A deposit for your first visit is required at the time of scheduling. After your time is reserved, you will be sent (via email or mail) our new patient paperwork. Please help Dr. Berry ensure she addresses all your concerns by returning your completed paperwork at least 1 day prior to your initial visit.
Financial Policy
For your convenience we accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. We deliver the finest care at the most reasonable cost to our patients, therefore payment is due in full at the time service.
Dental benefit plans can be a great health benefit to you; however, the amount your benefits does not cover is solely a reflection of the quantity of coverage your employer provides you and not a reflection of our office fees and policies. Payment is due in full at the time services are rendered. Our office will file the claim for you as a courtesy for you so that your insurance provider will send the payment for any benefits directly to you.
What this means:
You will not have to submit the claim forms yourself. We will submit them on your behalf.
You will receive the benefit check from the dental benefit company directly at your home address.
There will be no change to the dollar amount of benefit you will get from your dental benefit company. You will still get all the same benefits.
Please call if you have any questions or concerns regarding your initial visit.
Dental Insurance or Dental Assistance?
Dental Insurance is NOT Really Insurance in the classic sense.
If you have dental needs beyond healthy cleanings, your care will require an investment beyond what your insurance covers. Your insurance will assist you very well in maintenance of your dental health, but it was never designed to restore health when significant disease or breakdown is present in your mouth.
It’s not news that employers have reacted to the rising costs of health care benefits by shopping carefully for benefits that they are able to offer their employees. Benefits are down, restrictions and exclusions are up. Our patients share their frustration with us everyday. Adding to the frustration is the fact that dental benefits are often seen as comparable to other types of insurance. “Insurance,” by definition, is protection against unpredictable or catastrophic loss.
Most dental insurance policies specifically exclude extraordinary and significant needs. The procedures best covered by most dental policies are not only predictable, but expected, such as routine exams, x rays, health cleaning, etc. Further policies that cover some less common services such as crowns and treatment for gum disease, cover them at a much lower percentage, and with a low dollar limit per year.
It’s great that you have the benefit of a dental policy. Your dental benefit plan is an excellent maintenance assistance program that will help you protect the investment you choose to make in your dental health.
Another common misrepresentation or misunderstanding is that dental insurance covers what you need. We believe this can be a danger to your health, because it implies that if it isn’t covered, you don't need it. Insurance companies are in business to make a profit. This is no secret, and it’s not bad or wrong. Their responsibility to their shareholders is to provide the benefits to the customers while still creating a profit within the investment your employer has chosen to make in a dental policy. You cannot count on an insurance policy to determine what you need; that is your responsibility. It’s our responsibility to advise you regarding your health. The fact is, unless you have excellent dental health, your needs will require that you make an investment.
We invest in what we value. Home improvement, education, vacations are all examples of things we pay for, by choice, because we value them. We don’t presume to know where dental health fits in your value system. That’s for you to decide. It’s important for us that you know we think you’re worth the investment, and we’ll work with your dental benefit plan to see that you receive the maximum benefits in assisting with the maintenance of your dental health.