New Patient Information
To help our new patients become accustomed to our Clinic, we offer information on the following important topics:
- The First Appointment
- Subsequent Appointments
- Appointment Rescheduling and Cancellation
- Fees
- Payment Options and Insurance Claims
- Emergencies
When you arrive for your first visit at our Clinic, we will take some routine steps that will help us meet your expectation for high-quality service.
First, we will ask you to complete a Medical History form. This form tells us about your health and about any special points we will need to consider when we treat you. It is very important that you fill in this form accurately and completely. If you wonder about any of the questions on the form, please ask about them. We hold all information you provide to us as strictly private.
Next, your Dentist will examine your teeth and gums and discuss their condition with you. The Dentist may describe problems and suggest treatments. If there are signs of problems, the Dentist may have digital radiographs taken. Digital radiographs are a modern technology that is increasingly being used in place of the taking of x-rays. This newer technology exposes you to less radiation and is more environmentally than the traditional x-ray technology with its x-ray film development.
Once the Dentist has discussed a program of care with you, appointments that fit your specific needs will be scheduled.
While you are in the care of your Dentist and Dental Hygienist, we hope you will ask us questions. By learning about your teeth and gums, you become a more active, informed partner in the health of your smile. Active and informed patients often make better choices.
At the end of your visit, our bilingual front office staff will help you set up future appointments and process the billing for the services you have had.
During your first visit to our Clinic we normally schedule a second, teeth-cleaning appointment with the Dental Hygienist. We will also schedule appointments if you and your Dentist have agreed on a treatment plan to correct a problem.
When you arrive for a subsequent appointment, you will be asked to review and update your Medical History form. Now is the right time to discuss with your Dentist or Dental Hygienist any changes in your health or any new medications you are taking.
When you schedule an appointment with a Dentist or Dental Hygienist, this busy professional sets aside time just for you. By arriving at our Clinic on time for your appointment you make good use of the time that has been set aside for you and you respect the time of our other patients, who will follow you with your Dentist.
Still, we understand that occasionally you will need to change an appointment time or even cancel an appointment. To help us keep providing high-quality service to you and to our other patients, we ask you to contact us about an appointment change at least 48 hours in advance.
At Associated Dental Care, we follow the Ontario Dental Association’s ODA Suggested Fee Guide for General Practitioners.
At the end of each appointment, we will present a statement of the services we have provided and the amount you owe for these services. Payment is due when services are rendered.
For your convenience we offer the following payment options: cash, Interac, VISA and MasterCard. We will help you electronically file your insurance claim or provide you with a generic dental insurance claim form that you can submit to your private insurer or employer.
Please note that we have no agreements on fees with insurance companies. Our agreements to do with fees are with you. If you have questions about what an insurance company covers, please ask us when we are planning your treatment. We will be pleased to help you answer your questions.
Concerning fees, please note that we recommend only the treatment you need. In the long run, we believe this is the most cost-effective approach to the care of your smile.
Please note also that dental insurance often sets an annual upper limit on the amount of treatment it will pay for. In many cases, there is a deductible, an amount you pay toward treatment, and in most cases dental insurance will pay a high percentage but not all of the cost of a treatment. Dental insurance may not cover all treatments, even those that are needed.
If you have questions about the cost of your dental treatment or any concerns about how affordable it is, we urge you to bring them forward when we discuss your treatment plan.
If you have an emergency after normal office hours, please telephone our office The number is 737-4944. Our after-hours messaging service will ask you for your name and telephone number, and page one of our on-call Dentists. The on-call Dentist will telephone you to learn more about the dental emergency and to discuss next steps.
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