The information that follows is designed to answer many questions most patients have.

We want you to know about our policies and methods of practice.

The more you know, the more we can be of service.

If there are any questions, however, please ask since we do want to be of help.

Everyone in the practice operates as a team member. All have been trained as professionals and we take pride in our professional capability.

Initial visit

The initial visit to A Country Dentist routinely includes a thorough examination of the head, neck, mouth, and teeth, dental x-rays, and may also include dental prophylaxis (teeth cleaning), and possibly a fluoride treatment. Sometimes people return additional times for more extensive teeth cleaning visits. Occasionally, some additional examinations may be necessary such as a comprehensive periodontal (gum) exam, or a temporomandibular (jaw joint) exam. We will then explain existing conditions and recommend ideal treatment. We will also discuss treatment alternatives.
You may print and bring the required New Patient Forms so you can fill them out at your convenience and in the comfort of your own home.

A Country Dentist Medical-Dental History Form
A Country Dentist Consent Form

We try to see all patients on an appointment basis and request that you call in advance so that we can reserve time for you. The office telephone number is 970-867-2502.  We make every effort to honor all time commitments and request that you extend the same courtesy to us. Please give a 24-48 hour notice if you will not be able to make your appointment.

Office hours, appointments, and cancellations of appointments

The office is generally open on the following schedule by appointment:

The office is closed on alternating Mondays and Fridays. We take a lunch from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm except on Fridays.
Please see Our Calendar for the days we are closed.

The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays. It is also closed at times when we are away attending continuing education programs to increase our skills and maintain knowledge of the latest developments to serve you better.

Health Maintenance

We hope you share in our belief that regular preventive dental health care is a sound investment. While the responsibility for returning for this treatment rests primarily with you, we will provide the service of sending you reminders by mail, e-mail and/or text when it is time to return. Please telephone for an appointment when you receive this notice.

At the time of your recall visit, please advise the office manager of any change in the following areas:

(1) address
(2) telephone number
(3) health status
(4) medication being taken
(5) marital status
(6) employment
(7) insurance coverage

Consents to treatment

In order to protect the welfare of patients, and to allow them to make informed choices, we may ask that a consent form is signed to include the following: anesthesia (injection and inhalation), surgery, root canals, implants, and any other complicated procedure. We also ask that the parent or legal guardian accompany children to the office for each appointment, or that arrangements are made with the staff ahead of time. The responsible party must sign a consent form and provide the doctor with a current medical history. In the event that the parent cannot always be present, other means of obtaining consent and/or medical information must be arranged with the doctor.

Fees and payments

We make every effort to keep down the cost of your dental care. Our fees are average for the Morgan County area, and our high quality is unmatched. You can help us keep our fees reasonable by paying at the time of your visit. If your treatment program requires several visits, you will be given an estimate, and asked to discuss definite financial arrangements with our office manager. Please remember that insurance is considered a method of reimbursing the patient for treatment expenses. Although, some insurance companies pay the doctor directly, dental insurance should not be considered a substitute for payment of your estimated share at the time of your visit.

Our office is unique in offering a wide selection of payment options to help make dentistry more affordable for you. These options include acceptance of Visa, Mastercard and Discover; pre-treatment cash discounts; and several methods of “no interest” and “interest bearing” financing plans, such as CareCredit. Our office manager is our resource for helping you with financial arrangements.

Emergency Care

We recognize that you can have an emergency situation arise and we will do our best to respond to your problem promptly. If you do have such a problem, please call us as early in the day as possible. If the problem arises when the office is closed, your call will be forwarded to the doctor or to whomever is on call for the doctor if he is unavailable. We have a policy of seeing emergencies on a “same day” basis, or at the earliest possible convenience for our patient.  After hours, you will be instructed to call the doctor’s emergency phone line. Your emergencies are considered to be of primary importance!

Insurance

Upon arrival to the office, please inform the office manager whether or not you have dental insurance. If so, please be prepared to provide all necessary information at that time. Our staff will help you receive the maximum benefits available under your policy. We spend a tremendous amount of time as your advocate in dealing with your insurance company. This enables us to help you maximize your benefits. Please remember that no insurance company attempts to cover all dental costs. Some companies pay fixed allowances for certain procedures and others pay a percentage of the fees. It is your responsibility to pay any deductible amount, co-insurance, or any other balance not paid by your insurance company.

Our office will also be happy to file your insurance for direct payment to the dentist as a convenience for you. We do ask that you pay your share at the time of visit.

We know questions can arise on insurance matters. We encourage you to discuss such questions with our office staff. We will be enthusiastic to help you receive maximum benefits; however, the agreement of the insurance company to pay for your dental care is a contract between you and the insurance company.