Patient Education
Learn about the dental procedures we offer at Town Centre Dental Clinic.
About DentistryEveryone should see a general dentist for routine oral health examinations, twice-yearly cleanings, and treatment of routine oral health complications, such as minor tooth decay. |
Oral HealthPatients who visit a general dentist in can expect professional oral health care, as well as education and advisement about self-care between office visits. |
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Your Dental Insurance
Your dental insurance is based on a contract between, you, your employer and your insurance company. Dental insurance is a great benefit to our patients and we will do everything in our power to insure that you get every benefit dollar that you are entitled to.
However, it is important to remember that the treatment we recommend will always be based on your individual need, not your insurance coverage.
Due to the Privacy Act, dental insurance companies are now reluctant to give information to dental offices, therefore should you have any questions regarding your dental insurance benefits it is best for you to contact your employer or the insurance company directly as we have limited access to your coverage and can never guarantee your eligibilities.
Important Things You Should Know About Dental Insurance
- Most insurance companies have an annual maximum amount of coverage for each patient listed under the policy and most policies do not cover 100%.
- Fee Guides are established annually by the BC Dental Association. Town Centre Dental Clinic generally follows the current fee guide.
- Many insurance policies have a deductible. This is the dollar amount the patient pays toward their treatment before insurance coverage begins.
- Some dental services and treatments that are clinically necessary are not covered by dental insurance. These exclusions are usually described in the patient’s insurance booklet.
- We do not have access to previous office or specialist billings to your dental insurance, which can affect the dollar limit eligibility.
- Dual coverage is when each spouse is covered by different insurance plans. The insurance companies usually coordinate the benefits so the patient doesn’t receive more than 100% of the treatment cost. Only the first claim can be processed by the dental office electronically. The secondary insurance form is given to the patient/guardian to sign and will be sent to the secondary company for the co pay.
- Some insurance companies will pay the patient directly, if this is the case you will be required to pay in full at every visit.
- Some insurance companies send pre-authorization approval letters for major dental work such as crowns and bridges directly to the patient, this approval has an expiration date so it is important to bring this letter to our office promptly in order for us to assist you efficiently.
There are hundreds of dental insurance plans, each unique with different maximums, percentages, covered procedures and restrictions. Individual insurance plans often change details every year. We encourage our patients to familiarize themselves with the details of their particular plans, closely monitor their benefits, and keep us informed of their current status and any changes including home address and email information.
We hope this information has helped shed some light on our role and the obstacles we face in accessing to your dental insurance information.
As a courtesy, if your carrier allows, we will continue to file claims and estimates on your behalf with your insurance company. We are also happy to assist you in understanding your insurance coverage; however, we hope you understand that any residual unpaid balance will be your responsibility.
Our goal is to continue to provide excellence in oral care for you and your entire family. We value your continued loyalty and hope to see you soon for your routine oral care. If you have any questions regarding this information please do not hesitate to contact us.