Pricing
We are transparent with our pricing because we believe that patients should not be surprised about what to expect from their dental appointment. Some states require the posting of the prices for the top 10 procedures whether online or on a printout in their office, and although California does not require such transparency, we think that patients can benefit from such information.
Our new patient appointment always starts out with an exam in order to correctly treatment plan. Usually the most cost-effective way to start is with a complete exam, so that the entire mouth is evaluated. Alternatively, a limited problem-focused exam can be done which only evaluates a limited area, and a complete exam would still be needed in the future in order to have a full picture of any treatment needs.
We accept all PPO insurances out of network. Different insurances cover different amounts, and different plans within a single insurance can also cover different amounts. Some plans cover most or all of our pricing, while others cover less. The only way for us to know exactly how much any particular insurance will cover is to preauthorize a treatment plan with the insurance.
Exams
X-Rays
Cleanings
Sealants, Fillings & Cavity-Reversal
Extractions / Surgery
Crowns & Bridges
Dentures
Implants
Root Canal Treatment (Ultrasonic)
Other Services
* We do our best to limit the amount of radiation exposure from dental x-rays, so unless it is absolutely necessary, we do not routinely do full mouth series of x-rays. We do need to see x-rays in order to evaluate the bone level and determine the risk of cavities between teeth. We can postpone x-rays, especially if a patient is pregnant and has no pain or visible cavities, or when a child is very young, as long as the patient is aware of the fact that we cannot diagnose what we cannot see, which can include cavities between teeth, cavities under fillings, areas of bone loss, calculus, or pathology. If a patient is low risk for cavities and has healthy gum tissues, we are able to take bitewing x-rays once every 2 years. Patients who are high risk for cavities are recommended to take x-rays every 6-12 months until their risk level stabilizes.
** For quality of care and liability purposes, a new patient exam is necessary before a cleaning. Most of the time an exam and cleaning is on the same day, unless more extensive treatment is necessary (like a large filling if time allows, or periodontal treatment like scaling & root planing which may need to be preauthorized with insurance).
*** For deep cavities, we currently do not charge for cleaning the tooth with ozonated water, and yes, numbness is of course included in all of our procedures, because patient comfort is of utmost importance.