Your dental care is our #1 priority. We base our treatment recommendations on that of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentists. When we visually examine your mouth, we can only see half of the picture. We cannot see what lies beneath the gums. That is the reason x-rays are so important. Because we are concerned about your oral care AND radiation, we have invested in digital x-ray machines for all of our images. The radiation needed for the image is reduced by 90%. If you have been a patient of record for a long time, you know that we were one of the first offices to purchase this new technology.
When you get a denial of treatment from your insurance, does that mean that we did the procedure unnecessarily? That might be the implication from the insurance carrier, but that most certainly is not the case. We take cavity detecting images yearly to be able to see between your teeth as well as periapical images of your front teeth. We have found that since we are no longer taking panoramic x-rays as frequently, we must take images of the anterior teeth. Without these images, there is no way for us to see the health beneath the soft tissue of the front teeth . Without taking adequate images we are blindfolded in that area and a gum problem or even a root crack can occur without us knowing it until you come in with a concern, and by then it can be catastrophic.
Dentistry is a partnership. Insurance companies are NOT partners with anyone but themselves. Unlike our office, their bottom line is not your well-being. Instead, it is the money they make by denying claims as they collect the premiums. I welcome YOU, my patients, as my partner is this journey. It is my promise to you that I will not over-treat you with unnecessary procedures, including x-rays.
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