Dental Articles 2

Santa Barbara Dental Articles – Santa Barbara Dental Care

August 28, 2012

When you contact Santa Barbara Dental Care for your first visit appointment you be greeted by one of our friendly and helpful front desk staff members. Cyndi and Paula are dedicated to assuring your visit is a pleasant one and all your questions are answered. All of our staff are professional licensed and trained to put you at ease and care for your beautiful smile!

When scheduling your dental visit with our Santa Barbara Dentist, we like to gather as much information as possible so be sure to have all your insurance information available. If you are not certain about insurance coverage we will be happy to gather the information for you!

When you arrive for your first visit at our Santa Barbara dental office there is the normal patient information to be filled out. If you prefer our staff will be happy to mail  or email forms to you prior to arrival. While you complete your paper work, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in our relaxing lobby. You can expect to be in the office for approximately  one to two hours depending on the services scheduled. Normally, New Patients can expect to receive a complete examination, necessary x-rays and dental cleaning. You are free to bring any current x-rays with you as long as they meet the frequency recommendations.

Any recommended treatment like Lumineers, sedation or oral surgery will be fully explained and a written treatment plan will be printed. For  patients desiring affordable payment plans, go no further! Santa Barbara Dental Care has a plan to fit your budget. Most plans require no down payment and can be arranged with no interest!

Most our patients are referred by our other wonderful patients so be sure to mention which provider you have been referred to when calling for the first time. If your were give one of our "Care to Share" cards, bring it with you to receive your special welcome gift! We will also be sure to send a thank you to your friend for having the confidence in us to recommend our office.

At Santa Barbara Dental Care, we do all of your insurance billing for you so you don't have to!

We look forward to meeting you!

 

 

September 5, 2012

Recently, we have seen a surge in the number of patients who have received dental treatment from abroad.  The countries we see the most treatment coming from are China, Thailand, Mexico, Costa Rica and Poland.

Most patients will travel abroad for dental services like Lumineers, sedation dentistry or oral surgery because their dental insurance plans are limited or they have no dental insurance coverage at all. Patients travel abroad  expecting to save money, only to return home to dental emergencies and failed dental treatment. 

 

 Some of the problems related to dental tourism:

•  Large dental treatment plans that include lumineers, sedation dentistry and oral surgery completed in short periods with little or no post- operative follow-up.
•  Foreign dentists do not need to comply with the standards or licensing that are found in the United States.
•  Foreign dentist may use products not approved in the United States.
•  When treatment fails with procedures such as dental implants, the replacement parts are not available.
•  Most important, the standard of care is far less and  there is no legal recourse for unsatisfied patients.

September 26, 2012

Many patients turn to insurance to assist in maintaining dental health and a beautiful smile. However, there are many limitations and exclusions with every dental insurance plan. Before agreeing to any monthly premium it is important that you understand the limits of the plan for treatments including Lumineers, sedation dentistry and oral surgery.

The monthly premium is directly related to the amount of benefits you can expect to receive. The lower the premium, the  fewer the benefits.  Limitations, waiting periods, and provider networks are also important factors that you should become familiar with.

Insurance is intended to be a benefit, not a pay all.  Treatment should never be directed around insurance coverage or plan year maximums. Many dental emergencies can be avoided by paying the out of pocket expense when the treatment is recommended.

Our goal is to help you maximize your benefits every year and limit you out of pocket cost. This sometimes means moving forward with treatment when benefits have been exhausted.

We are always happy to check on benefits, verify coverage or confirm levels of coverage. Please see Cyndi or Paula with questions about your coverage limits and they will be glad to assist!