Office Policies Hours & Appointments
Our office is open for appointments from:
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
How are Appointments Scheduled?
Our office attempts to schedule appointments at your convenience. We wish that we could accommodate everyone, but unfortunately this is not always possible.
Here are some of the scheduling techniques that we have found to be successful:
We find that younger children do better in the morning because they are well rested.
More extensive procedures are scheduled in the morning or before noon.
Missing School
We understand that it is difficult for patients to miss school for any reason. However, dental appointments are EXCUSED ABSENCES with either a note from the parent or the dentist. Missing school can be kept to a minimum when regular dental care is maintained. We will be happy to provide you with a note if requested.
Running Late
Coming late for an appointment may require rescheduling. We will do everything we can to accommodate you; however we don’t like to inconvenience our other patients by making them wait. Please call if you are going to be late. Our office makes every attempt to be on time, but we do run on “kid time”. Some children require additional time, and understand that we will do the same for your child as needed
Missed Appointments
Because appointed times are reserved exclusively for each patient we ask that you please notify our office 48 hours in advance if you are unable to keep your appointment. Another patient who needs our care can be scheduled if we have sufficient time to notify them. We realize that unexpected things can happen, but we ask for your cooperation.
Financial and Insurance Guidelines
We are committed to providing your child/children with the best possible care and positive experience, while trying to control our fees and your cost. In order to achieve these goals and focus on caring for your child, we need your assistance and understanding of our payment guidelines.
Understanding your Dental Insurance
Dental Insurance is designed to help pay part of the cost of dental treatment. Dental insurance is not designed to pay all of the cost of treatment; it is more like a benefit towards the total costs.
We do our best to retrieve your child’s dental benefits prior to their scheduled appointments. The information that we receive is not a guarantee of payment from your insurance company. They will only consider payment when a claim is received. The benefit information that we receive from them is very basic, meaning that the information that we provide to you is only an estimate based on the information provided to us.
Since there is no guarantee that we will receive full payment from your insurance company, it is best to understand that ultimately you are responsible for your child’s bill.
We do our best to provide your insurance company with proper documentation so the claims will be processed accurately. If you do have a dispute regarding payment or non-payment from your insurance company, please call them, they can better help you understand their reasoning behind it.
Your insurance contract is between you and your insurance company. The type of benefits in your contract depend on what your employer has negotiated with that company and the amount of money you want to pay for the premium. Filing insurance claims is a service that we provide for you free of charge, but in no way relieves your responsibility for your bill.
Please refer to your benefit booklet for restrictions and exclusions on your policy.
What if your child needs treatment?
A treatment plan will be done for each child that needs additional dental attention. This is an outline which lists the recommended treatment and cost. We require that payment be paid at the appointment time, even if you have insurance.
Any account that is overpaid will receive a prompt refund. Our office reserves the right to stop filing your insurance if at any time there is a problem with your account because of your carrier or an unwillingness to cooperate. It is your responsibility to give accurate insurance information so that filing the claims can be done on a timely manner.
Routine Care
At Bittner & Flann Dentistry for Kids our mission is to care for your child as if they were our own. We will provide high quality dental care and strive to provide your child with a positive, fun experience.
The following outlines our office protocol for routine visits:
- We provide an exam, cleaning, and fluoride treatment every 6 months.
- During the exam, we will check the erupted teeth for cavities, the gums for infection, and other mouth tissues for abnormalities (“count the teeth”). We also check for sufficient room for the permanent teeth and evaluate occlusion (the way the teeth come together) and the jaw joint.
- We use a concentrated fluoride which is applied by brush rather than trays. Some insurance companies limit their coverage for fluoride treatments to once a year. We follow the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendation which states to “Provide topical fluoride every six months.” Fluoride is given every six months unless you consult with our office prior to the treatment.
- Decay detecting x-rays (bitewings) are taken as needed, usually once a year. We take every precaution to ensure the safety of your child during x-ray procedures. We do use a digital x-ray system in our office. All children wear a lead apron during x-rays.
- We will go over preventive measures such as proper tooth brushing, flossing, fluoride, and diet.
- Sealants: We are firm believers in sealant application to prevent decay in the grooves of teeth. More information will be provided if your child needs sealants.
- In most cases we will give you the option of silver or white fillings.