FAQs

Dental:

• Aetna
• Assurant
• BC Dental
• Connection
• Delta
• Metlife
• UCCI

Medical:

• Capital Blue
• Highmark
• Cigna
• Health America
• Aetna
• Geisinger Health Plan

Since each insurance policy is different and complex, we collect and verify coverage information for each patient prior to treatment.  We will contact you prior to your appointment to inform you of any expected out-of-pocket cost to you.  Please keep in mind that we are reporting information as accurately as we are able and based on information provided by your insurance company.  Any claims processed after our contact with the insurance company may affect this estimate.

Not all procedures will be covered by medical insurance, there will be certain procedures that will be covered only by your dental insurance or not covered by either.   

Some routine procedures are able to be safely performed without a consultation, while cases requiring advanced planning typically require a separate consultation.  Since patient safety is at the cornerstone of every decision we make, it is also the deciding factor determining the need for consultation.  During the scheduling process we will ask questions about your intended treatment, as well as your medical history, to determine if a consultation is necessary.

We do not perform root canals, general dentistry, denture fabrication or dental hygiene.  We are a specialty of the dental field that focuses on the surgical care of the mouth, jaws, and face.

Our practice performs office-based anesthesia provided by our Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).  Most of our patients are candidates for anesthesia in this setting, although in some cases patients cannot safely have anesthesia in our office due to medical problems.  The procedure will need to be performed awake with local anesthesia (numbing medicine) or in the hospital with anesthesia.  This can be discussed with the doctors to determine best option for your care.

In general, the final tooth can be placed after 3 months and the surgeon has verified the implant is stable.  You will return to the office for this verification and your dentist will be contacted to let them know when to move forward with placing the restoration.

Our doctors recommend that if you are considering a dental implant, you have a bone graft placed at the time of the extraction.  This will improve the chances that an implant can be placed at the site 3-6 months after the tooth is removed.  Over time, if the site remains empty, the bone has a tendency to atrophy (recede) and placement of an implant may not be possible without additional bone grafting procedures.  The sooner the implant procedure is performed in most cases, the more likely it is that you will have adequate bone for the procedure.

During the procedure, in order to ensure a safe environment for all, only the patient can be in the surgical suite for the surgery. We do not allow additional persons in the surgical room during treatment, both to eliminate contamination risk as well as to afford us the opportunity to keep full attention on your child or loved one during the procedure.  You will be permitted to accompany your loved one into the surgical room, and speak with the doctor and (if applicable) anesthetist prior to treatment. This is a common practice in the hospital setting, and we have adopted this policy to ensure the same level of safe practice.  We understand this is a stressful situation for both you and your loved one.  Rest assured – they are in great hands!

It is common to have discomfort after an surgical procedure.  Managing this discomfort is very important to us.  Most of the time, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Motrin)™ or acetaminophen (Tylenol)™ can manage the pain.  In some cases, a prescription pain medicine is indicated and will be prescribed by the doctor.   Applying ice to the surgery site for the first 2 days is beneficial to reduce swelling and may improve discomfort overall.  Maintaining a soft diet will also help to manage your postoperative discomfort.

Most of the time, you may return to work 2-3 days after the procedure, however may be up to one week. Returning to work depends on several factors.  The extent of the procedure, type of job you perform and your medical history play a role in when you can go back to work.  Please be sure to discuss this with your doctor.  If needed, a work note will be provided to indicate when you can return.

For questions about care after surgery, please visit the Post-Operative Instructions section on this website.  A printed copy of the instructions will be given to you or your escort after your procedure.