Frequently Asked Questions
How do you handle
emergencies?
I'm quite nervous about dental
treatment. What can be done?
How will my insurance be handled?
What is your initial payment policy?
Do you allow payment plans?
Is whitening (bleaching) of my teeth safe?
What is the difference between over the counter products
and the dentist's whitening products?
How white will my teeth get?
What age patients do you treat?
Q: How do you handle emergencies?
A: During regular office hours we do our best to see you that day.
We must honor our scheduled patients time, but we also don't want you to
be in pain any longer than absolutely necessary. We have an
answering service that handles all phone calls when we are out of the
office. If a patient of record is in pain the service will contact
Dr. Prybyl immediately and he will get in touch with you.
Sometimes a phone call with advice is good enough and sometimes he will
arrange to see you, at the office ASAP. If you are not a patient
of record, he will still contact you to discuss your concern and to help
you through your current crisis.
Q: I'm quite nervous about dental treatment.
What can be done?
A: We see several levels of anxiety when people come to our office.
Some mildly anxious people will relax enough when they experience the
level of care and compassion that is our standard of service. We
have a special delivery system for the anesthetic that minimizes the
"pinch" of the injection. People are constantly amazed at how easy
it is to get Novacain.
For people with stronger anxieties, we do have options that include Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas); pre-medicating with an anti-anxiety medicine (you must have another driver with you); or we will have an Anesthesiologist come in and sedate you. That allows you to "sleep" through the visit. This also allows Dr. Prybyl to work quickly and efficiently completing your treatment at a faster pace.
Q: How will my insurance be handled?
A: We are happy to work with your insurance company in any way to
maximize your benefits. We have the current procedure and payment
codes needed to provide the greatest benefit for you. If needed,
we can request a pre-treatment estimate to help you budget your dental
treatment. some insurance companies will not send payment directly
to the dental office. For those plans we ask you to pay on the day
of service. Then we take care of all the paperwork by submitting
the claim to your insurance company to reimburse you directly.
Q: What is your initial payment policy?
A: On a first visit to our office we ask for payment in full at the end
of treatment. This allows us time to verify your insurance and
establish a relationship with you prior to extending a line of credit to
you. We always allow a courtesy to our patients who pay with check
or cash, however, we do accept all major credit cards. After the
initial visit, if your insurance is one that will pay us directly, we
will submit the claim for you and only ask you to pay the amount that is
not covered.
Q: Do you allow payment plans?
A: Yes. After your initial visit, we offer a variety of interest
and no interest payment plans, depending on the treatment needed and
your financial situation.
Q: Is whitening (bleaching) of my teeth
safe?
A: Yes. For almost everyone over the age of 18 the procedure is
safe. Our studies are now about 20 years old and we have not seen
any long term harmful effects. When using the product your gum
tissue may get sensitive. This will usually pass quickly, however,
if it doesn't, let your dentist know. Also, your teeth may become
sensitive to cold temperatures during or shortly after treatment.
This too will pass.
Q: What is the difference between over the
counter products and the dentist's whitening products?
A: The products that a dentist uses are certified safe and useful.
They are generally a stronger concentration of the whitening substance.
If you do try a whitening product from a store be sure to check the
label for an ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval.
At least you will know that the product is safe.
Q: How white will my teeth get?
A: That is a good question. Unfortunately there is not a good
answer to this question which makes whitening frustrating at times.
We know that adults have sufficient stain build-up that they
will see result and
are almost always happy.
We can't easily predict how white you will get. For teenagers and
young adults, the results can be iffy. We assess each person when
they express an interest in whitening to see what results may be
possible.
Q: What age patients do you treat?
A: As a "General" family practice, we see
all ages. Dr. Prybyl has provided treatment on an
11 month old and a 100+ year old! If treatment needs are out of
the ordinary, Dr. Prybyl does work with a team of specialists and may
discuss having your treatment at one of their offices.