Benefits of a Pediatric Dentist

Parents choose a pediatric dental specialist for their child’s oral health care just as they would see a pediatrician for medical needs. A pediatric dentist trains to recognize and treat oral diseases in children. This focused study includes child psychology, behavior management, preventive techniques, and the treatment of the chronically ill or special needs child. Study in the development of the craniofacial complex allows a pediatric dentist to diagnosis and intercept potential orthodontic problems.

Prevention

At Amherst Pediatric Dental Associates, we believe that prevention is the foundation for optimum oral health. Beginning with parental education regarding infant health, we introduce dietary and hygiene counseling. Our office’s Prevention Center affords a comfortable environment where children receive instructions in oral hygiene including tooth brushing, flossing, and rinsing. At each of the recommended re-care visits, your child will visit the Prevention Center to reinforce these lessons. These visits allow us an opportunity to detect problems when they are minor, therefore, it is in your child’s best interest for you to faithfully schedule these appointments.

Fluoride, an essential element of a preventive dental program, strengthens both the developing and existing dentition. We believe that topical fluoride in the office is an excellent means to help prevent decay. Only twice yearly, these fluoride treatments have been proven to decrease the incidence of decay and resultant cost of fillings.

We highly advise the application of sealants as a decay-preventive measure. A sealant is a non-toxic resin (plastic) applied to the occlusal (biting) surface of the molar (back) teeth. This procedure is easy and non-invasive.

Appointments

We recognize that your time is valuable; therefore we make a concerted effort to begin appointments promptly; please arrive on time. Do understand that the nature of a pediatric office involves emergencies that can alter our schedule. We ask that you extend a courtesy to these families, just as you would expect, if it were your child being seen emergently. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please notify our office at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance so that we can offer the time to another child in need of treatment. Missed appointment fees are imposed only if you give us insufficient notice.
 

Ensuring the Privacy of our Patients

In our experience, children focus better without a parent present, thus fostering a more positive experience for your child; however, we will welcome a parent into the operatory. If you choose to accompany your child we ask you to respect the privacy of our other patients; we can only allow one parent with a child. If you plan to be with your child, please make arrangements for your other children; please do not leave any children unattended in the reception area.

We ask that you silence your cellular phone and other mobile devices as a courtesy to our doctors, staff, and other patients. Any interruption would impact patient care and impinge on the privacy of others.

Financial Provisions and Insurance

To reduce billing costs and maintain reasonable fees, we request that you pay for treatment at the time of the visit. Please understand that under New Hampshire law, the parent who accompanies the child to the visit is responsible for payment of all charges. Legally, we cannot send statements to other persons. For your convenience we accept payment rendered by cash, check, Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover®, CareCredit®, or PayPal®.

For more information on payment options please view our Payment Options Page.

Insurance

As a courtesy, we will be happy to accept assignment of benefits from your insurance carrier. When patients are scheduled for operative appointments (i.e. sealants, fillings, etc.) we request a minimum payment of 20% at the time of the visit, notwithstanding assignment of benefits.

If we have received all of your insurance information on the day of the appointment, we will be happy to file your claim for you. You must be familiar with your insurance benefits, as we will collect from you the estimated amount insurance is not expected to pay. By law your insurance company is required to pay each claim within 30 days of receipt. We file all insurance electronically so your insurance company will receive each claim within days of the treatment. You are responsible for any balance on your account after 30 days, whether insurance has paid or not. If you have not paid your balance within 60 days a finance charge of 1.5% will be added to your account each month until paid. We will be glad to send a refund to you once insurance has paid us.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND that we file dental insurance as a courtesy to our patients. We do not have a contract with your insurance company, only you do. We are not responsible for how your insurance company handles its claims or for what benefits they pay on a claim. We can only assist you in estimating your portion of the cost of treatment, we at no time guarantee what your insurance will or will not do with each claim. We also can not be responsible for any errors in filing your insurance, once again we file claims as a courtesy to you.  Our staff will be happy to assist you with your insurance questions.

Fact 1 - NO INSURANCE PAYS 100% OF ALL PROCEDURES
Dental insurance is meant to be an aid in receiving dental care. Many patients think that their insurance pays 90%-100% of all dental fees. This is not true! Most plans only pay between 50%-80% of the average total fee. Some pay more, some pay less. The percentage paid is usually determined by how much you or your employer has paid for coverage or the type of contract your employer has set up with the insurance company.

Fact 2 - BENEFITS ARE NOT DETERMINED BY OUR OFFICE
You may have noticed that sometimes your dental insurer reimburses you or the dentist at a lower rate than the dentist's actual fee. Frequently, insurance companies state that the reimbursement was reduced because your dentist's fee has exceeded the usual, customary, or reasonable fee ("UCR") used by the company.

A statement such as this gives the impression that any fee greater than the amount paid by the insurance company is unreasonable or well above what most dentists in the area charge for a certain service. This can be very misleading and simply is not accurate.

Insurance companies set their own schedules and each company uses a different set of fees they consider allowable. These allowable fees may vary widely because each company collects fee information from claims it processes. The insurance company then takes this data and arbitrarily chooses a level they call the "allowable" UCR Fee. Frequently this data can be three to five years old and these "allowable" fees are set by the insurance company so they can make a net 20%-30% profit.

Unfortunately, insurance companies imply that your dentist is "overcharging" rather than say that they are "underpaying" or that their benefits are low. In general, the less expensive insurance policy will use a lower usual, customary, or reasonable (UCR) figure.

Fact 3 - DEDUCTIBLES & CO-PAYMENTS MUST BE CONSIDERED
When estimating dental benefits, deductibles and percentages must be considered. To illustrate, assume the fee for service is $150.00. Assuming that the insurance company allows $150.00 as its usual and customary (UCR) fee, we can figure out what benefits will be paid. First a deductible (paid by you), on average $50, is subtracted, leaving $100.00. The plan then pays 80% for this particular procedure. The insurance company will then pay 80% of $100.00, or $80.00. Out of a $150.00 fee they will pay an estimated $80.00 leaving a remaining portion of $70.00 (to be paid by the patient). Of course, if the UCR is less than $150.00 or your plan pays only at 50% then the insurance benefits will also be significantly less.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, please keep us informed of any insurance changes such as policy name, insurance company address, or a change of employment.
 

We look forward to meeting you and your child.  Please ask questions or offer suggestions and we welcome and appreciate referrals to our office.  At Amherst Pediatric Dental Associates we provide outstanding dental care in a caring, comfortable, and fun atmosphere.  Your cooperation will help us educate, motivate, and excite your child about oral health.  With our consistent preventive maintenance program and commitment to excellence, we can help maintain your child’s beautiful smile.