2011 Insurance Benefits
Time flies…we are almost through 2011.
The end of the year will be upon us before we know it; and with the end of the year comes the end of your yearly dental insurance benefits. Did you know that each year insurance companies make millions of dollars off patients who forgo necessary and preventive dental care?
Many individuals who are paying for dental insurance do not realize that their plans provide coverage up to a certain dollar amount annually.
Consequently, some patients are not scheduling the dental treatment they need, deserve, and have insurance to cover. Thus, the insurance revenues allocated to pay dental claims on many patients are never used, and, unfortunately, those dollars cannot be carried over year-to-year.
The bottom line: What the patient does not use they lose.
Clearly, it pays in many ways to schedule the preventive care or other dental treatment that you need.
We want to make sure that you take full advantage of any remaining benefits your family might have. Many times you may be able to save money by completing your treatment before year’s end and avoid having to pay a new deductible next year. We are here to help you secure the insurance coverage available to you on every dental procedure you schedule.
Give us a call today, and together let’s make sure you are in excellent dental health.
We look forward to seeing you again and sharing some of the many innovative means we now have available to provide you with superior dental health care.
If you have any questions about how much actual coverage remains on your insurance benefits, please call our office so that we can check on that for you. At that time, we can schedule you at the earliest available appointment to ensure you take full advantage of all the insurance benefits you pay for. Please call or email us to make an appointment before the end of the year.
We are scheduling November and December appointments at this time. Please don’t wait until the last minute! Our schedule usually fills very quickly in the last quarter of the year.
A Beautiful Smile Is Precious And Priceless
Did you know that the shape, shade, length and spacing of your teeth could significantly affect your smile? And our smiles 
can greatly affect our self-esteem and confidence. Common conditions that impact negatively on your smile include broken, cracked or worn teeth, discolored teeth, missing teeth, crooked teeth, decayed teeth, gaps between your teeth and/or “gummy smiles.” The good news is that with modern technology and improved materials, these situations can be dramatically changed to create natural looking and long-lasting beautiful smiles. Each patient and each specific circumstance must be evaluated on its own merits. Factors such as occlusion [bite], oral habits, available space, health of the gum tissue, severity of the problem and patient expectation must be taken into consideration while planning your cosmetic makeover. Depending on the situation, there are a variety of choices that all result in excellent esthetic outcomes. For whiter natural teeth, in-office or at-home bleaching [whitening] techniques are available. Repairing teeth or closing spaces may be accomplished with tooth-colored composite resin bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. These procedures vary in time and cost and have differences in longevity and appearance. If you’re not satisfied with your smile or want to learn if you’re a good candidate for any of these remarkable techniques, call our office for a cosmetic consultation.
Does My Dental Insurance Pay?
If you have dental insurance coverage, like most people, you want to know how much of the treatment will be covered and how 
much out-of-pocket expense will I have?
Most dental benefit plans arise from an agreement between an insurance company and a plan sponsor [employer or union]. There are literally hundreds of plans with endless variables concerning limitations, exclusions, deductibles, annual of lifetime maximum benefits, co-payments and fee schedules. If you have changed jobs, your new plan may not have any resemblance to your old one.
If you are being offered a plan, ask if there are several plans from which to choose. Beside yourself, who in the family will be covered? See if the plan you choose covers pre-existing conditions. If the plan is provided by your union or employer, is there any direct cost to you? If so, how much? Compare this with what you understand the benefits of the program to be.
If you already have dental insurance, we need you to bring in specific information for us to give you the best advice as to your coverage. We must have your insurance policy and ID number. Most important, bring your benefits booklet. If you don’t have one, call your employer or insurance company and request it.
Once we read the benefits book, we can project a general idea for what services and treatment are covered and the percentage of reimbursement. Many third party payers request a “predetermination of benefits” on treatment plans. We can submit the proper form and appropriate records to the insurance company. They will return it with the accepted, allowable treatment and the exact amount of coverage.
Once we have reviewed your plan, we should be able to answer most of your questions. Some plans will only allow the least expensive way to treat a problem, regardless of your choice or our recommendation. We would hope that you don’t base your dental needs and oral health solely on what benefits your plan allows. Our office will be happy to discuss a variety of financial arrangements that will make it possible to receive the treatment you need, while maximizing your insurance benefits.
Lumineers – Your Solution For An Easy, Beautiful Smile
Lumineers allows you to experience the smile you’ve always wanted in a quick, easy and comfortable procedure.
Lumineers is a contact lens-thin porcelain technology that corrects imperfections in the teeth while preserving your natural tooth structure.
If you have…
- Tooth discoloration
- Noticable gaps
- Permanent stains
- Broken or misshapen teeth
- Pre-existing crowns or bridgework
then Lumineers may be the answer to the beautiful smile that you have always wanted.
Call Dr. Riley, a certified Lumineers provider, today at 297-9069 and begin the transformation of your smile.
Invisalign – The Clear Choice To Transform Your Smile
Invisalign or “clear aligner therapy” provides the best way to transform your smile without interfering with your day to day life.
Invisalign gradually moves your teeth through a series of custom-made, removable, nearly invisible Aligners.
It has been shown that straighter teeth will provide you with…
Healthier Gums – Properly positioned teeth are easier to brush and floss than teeth that are crowded, crooked or even spaced too far apart.
Improved Chewing and Speech – In many cases, speech problems result from poorly positioned teeth and jaws. Invisalign therapy can correct your bit and help improve chewing and speech.
Decreased Risk of Dental Trauma and Abnormal Wear – Properly aligned teeth are less stressful on the supporting bone and jaw joints.
Invisalign is your “clear choice” to straighten your teeth because:
1. It’s removable for good hygiene. You can brush and floss normally, which can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Some other orthodontic appliances, like braces, can cause gingivitis.
2. You can still eat what ever you want. You Invisalign Aligners are removable so you can eat what you want and enjoy your meals.
3. They are comfortable. The edges of Invisalign are smooth so they won’t irritate your teeth or gums.
Begin the transformation of your smile today with Arizona Dental Medicine. Dr. Rochelle Riley is a certified Invisalign provider with Align Technology for invisible braces. Call today…520-297-9069.