Friday, September 27, 2013

Dental Insurance: A Quick Look!

Unless you work for a dental insurance company, understanding the terms and conditions of your plan can be quite confusing.  To help you navigate the complex world of insurance, here are some commonly used dental insurance terms and their meanings.

A Basic Glossary

  • Annual Maximum:  The maximum amount your policy will pay per year for dental care at Thomas Family Dentistry.  It is usually divided into costs per individual or per family if you are on a family plan.
  • Co-payment:  An amount the patient pays at the time of service before receiving care. This amount is a required payment by the patient prior to the insurance paying for any portion of care.
  • Covered Services:  A list of all treatments, services, and procedures that the insurance policy will cover under your contract.
  • Deductible:  The dollar amount that you must pay out of pocket each year before the insurance company will pay for any treatments or procedures.
  • Diagnostic/Preventive Services:  A category of treatments or procedures that most insurances will cover before the deductible payment is required.  These services may include regular checkups, cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments and evaluations at our office.
  • In-Network & Out-Of-Network:  The "network" is a list of providers that are a part of your insurance company's group of doctors that have agreed to accept your insurance company's set fees for treatment and therefore usually requires you to have lower out of pocket cost.  Any provider that is not in the network will require you to usually pay a higher co-payment.
  • Lifetime Maximum:  The maximum amount that your plan will allow to paid for a lifetime.  An example may be a lifetime amount that will be paid for braces. 
  • Limitations/Exclusions:  A list of procedures that your insurance will NOT cover.
  • Member/Insured/Covered Person/Beneficiary/Enrollee:  Someone who is eligible to receive benefits under the dental insurance plan.
  • Provider:  Dr. Thomas or other oral health specialist who provides treatment.
  • Waiting Period:  A specified amount of time that the patient must be enrolled with your plan before it will pay for certain procedures.


There are many different insurance options and it is very important for you to find out exactly what your insurance policy covers.  If you have any questions, you are encouraged to review your plan with your company's qualified insurance specialist, which can be provided to you by the employee's HR department. Don't be afraid to ask your employer or your insurance company's representative questions about your policy so that you can understand your coverage and be confident that you know everything  that your policy covers the next time that you come in for treatment at our office.

God Bless,

Friday, September 20, 2013

Our Office: A Caring Place For You!

From your very first visit to our office, we strive to provide excellent dental care in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We are always updating our office with the most advanced and up-to-date dental technologies in order to provide a caring place for each one of our valued patients to receive their dental treatment!

Because you are important to us, we also strive to develop a personal relationship with each one of our patient family! In order to improve our dental relationship with you, your feedback is very important to us!  Whether you've just come in for one appointment or your family has been visiting our office for years, your comments matter! Feel free to leave a few words here or on our Facebook page about your dental experience!

If you are in need of an appointment, call us at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT



Monday, September 16, 2013

Watch Your Mouth!

The phrase "Watch Your Mouth!" has many connotations, but did you know that taking a seat in the dentist's chair goes far beyond maintaining a healthy smile?   Our mouths are the gateways to our bodies and can tell us more about our health than we may think.  Not caring for our teeth can lead to periodontal (gum) disease, which has become all too common in our country, with one in every two Americans suffering from some form of gum disease.  The inflammation caused by gum disease can be linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pancreatic cancer and preterm birth.  Research also suggests that oral bacteria may be linked to heart disease, arterial blockages and stroke!

To learn more, or if you are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Friday, September 13, 2013

Over 25 Years Of Creating Smiles!

Did you know that our office has been creating smiles for over 25 years! Whether you are new to our office or have been our valued patient for your entire life, your thoughts about your dental experience is very importance to us! We strive to provide excellent dental care with your health and comfort as our highest priority! Please take the time to leave a few words about your visit with us. We also encourage you to leave any thoughts that you might have that could improve your dental visits!

We look forward to reading your feedback!

God Bless,
DRT

Monday, September 9, 2013

Summer: Your Favorite Part?

With Summer fading and Fall just around the corner, the temperatures will start to cool down, the leaves will start to change, and everyone will start to focus on the Tulsa State Fair, Fall Festivals and Thanksgiving plans! But before we all shift gears into our Fall routines, our team here at Thomas Family Dentistry want to know about your favorite parts of this past Summer!  Did you go on a wonderful family trip?  Did you pick up a new hobby? Or, did you try to spend as much time outside and in the sun as possible?

Share your favorite memories, stories, or photos with us by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page!

God Bless,

Friday, September 6, 2013

No Gold Grills Here: Just A Beautiful Smile!

These days, many Hollywood celebrities like Katy Perry are "enhancing" their smiles with gold grills.  Although they can make a very bold statement, here at Thomas Family Dentistry, we are not interested in the business of making grills, but we are focused on cleaning teeth, restoring broken and worn teeth, and removing cavities with painless techniques!  Teeth whitening and cosmetic Lumineers instead of grills...That will do!

If you are in need of a dental appointment to improve your "grill," call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT