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Frequently Asked Questions
 | How much will my procedure cost?
 | Fees can vary widely from procedure to procedure. It is impossible
for our office to give you an accurate estimate over the phone without first
examining you and seeing an appropriate x-ray. Most extractions
(not including impacted wisdom teeth) will range anywhere from $105 to
$280. If nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is to be used or if you require
an x-ray, additional charges will also apply. If you have insurance, a portion of this fee will be due the day
of surgery which we will inform you of prior to your procedure. If you
do not have insurance, payment for the services in full will be due at the
time services are rendered. |
| If you are to have your third molars (wisdom teeth) removed, a
consultation is strongly suggested. At this consultation appointment,
an estimated total fee will be given to you and once we contact your
insurance company your estimated
out-of-pocket expense will also be given to you. This out-of-pocket expense
depends on a few factors such as deductible remaining, co pay, amount of
insurance already used (yearly maximum allowed), and the percentage allowed
by your insurance company. |
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| Do you have payment plans?
| We accept payment in the form of cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and have
payment plans through Care Credit.
At the time of your procedure, you will have an estimated out-of-pocket
amount due which is a percentage of the total fee that your insurance
company has estimated you will owe. After you pay your estimated
portion and after your insurance company pays its share there may be a
remaining balance on which we can set up payment arrangements with you. |
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| Do you accept my insurance?
| Dr. Hornaday accepts all insurances. However, he is only
contracted with a few insurance companies. Please see the
insurance page for a list of the insurance
companies with which he is contracted. |
| Also note that insurance is not intended, and has never been intended, to cover the entire cost of
your procedure. Insurance is there to assist you with the total
fee. You can expect to have an out-of-pocket expense on the day of
your procedure which our office will assist you with
prior to your procedure. |
| Please bring both your dental and medical insurance
information with you to your appointment. |
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| Will my insurance cover my procedure?
| Insurance coverage varies from policy to policy. We have some
insurance companies which cover our entire fee and others that cover only a
small percentage. The percentage covered depends largely on the policy
you or your employer have selected. Most dental insurance policies
have a yearly maximum of $1000 to $1500. Some of this maximum may have
already been used up by your general dentist or other dental provider and
will affect how much your insurance will cover. |
| There are some medical insurance companies which may cover your
procedure as well. If submitting your claim to your medical insurance,
please be aware that you may have a deductible with your plan that
will need to be met prior to your insurance company paying your claim. |
| Some insurance companies also have a waiting period. We have seen
waiting periods from six months up to a year. If you have recently
received a new policy, it is highly recommended that you check with your
insurance company to see if there is a waiting period. If you are
within the waiting period when your procedure is rendered, your services will
not be covered and you will be responsible for the entire fee. |
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| Do I need to have a consultation appointment?
| Maybe. You will undoubtedly have questions prior to your procedure that simply
cannot be answered appropriately and accurately over the phone without first
examining you and seeing an appropriate x-ray. Everyone is unique and therefore
must be evaluated as such. At the consultation appointment, you will
meet Dr. Hornaday, discuss your procedure, and review any questions you may
have. Our office will also be able to collect your insurance
information so that we may contact your insurance company in order to give
you an estimate of your out-of-pocket expense. If you do not have
insurance, then you will know up front what the total fee will be prior to
returning for your procedure. We do not like there to be any surprises or unanswered
questions on the day of your procedure. We have found that the more
informed you are upfront of your procedure and financial responsibility, the
happier you will be. |
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| Do I need a referral?
| No. Patients may schedule an appointment with Dr. Hornaday without
a referral from anyone. |
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| Can I be put to sleep?
| Yes you can. We have varying levels of sedation
available. Most procedures are accomplished very, very comfortably and
safely with a little oral sedation, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and local
anesthetic; however, we do offer general anesthetic if needed. |
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| What is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
| An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon is a specialist in the field of
dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, diseases
and defects of the head and neck region. They have completed four
years of college, four years of dental school, and four to six years of a
surgical residency. |
| The scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery is very broad and ranges
from simple tooth extractions to very complex head and neck cancer
reconstructions. Each surgeon limits his practice according to his
ability based on the training received. The more common procedures
performed by an oral surgeon on a day to day basis include the removal of
teeth, dental implants, facial fractures, and biopsy of hard (bone) and soft
tissue due to pathology. |
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| Why can't my dentist remove my tooth/teeth?
| Many general dentists do remove teeth and are very good at it.
However, your dentist has chosen to send you to an oral surgeon for one
reason or another. Your dentist may feel that your extraction(s) will
be too complex or difficult or he/she may simply not be comfortable removing
teeth and feels that you are better served in the hands of a specialist.
Oral Surgeons remove thousands of teeth a year and are therefore very good
at what they do - just as your dentist is extremely good at restoring your
mouth and smile using very complex crown, bridge, and cosmetic procedures. |
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| Can Dr. Hornaday clean my teeth, whiten my teeth, place restorations
(fillings), perform a root canal, make my denture, or put braces on my teeth?
| No. Dr. Hornaday is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and as such
does not clean, fill or whiten teeth, perform root canals, make dentures,
or place braces. For these procedures you will need to see your
general dentist or other dental specialist. |
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| What are the other specialties of dentistry and what do they do?
- There are nine recognized dental specialties and they include:
| Dental Public Health: Dental public health is
the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and
promoting dental health through organized community efforts. It is that form
of dental practice which serves the community as a patient rather than the
individual. It is concerned with the dental health education of the public,
with applied dental research, and with the administration of group dental
care programs as well as the prevention and control of dental diseases on a
community basis. (Adopted May 1976) |
| Endodontics (Root Canal Specialist): Endodontics is the branch of
dentistry which is concerned with the morphology, physiology and pathology
of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues. Its study and practice
encompass the basic and clinical sciences including biology of the normal
pulp, the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and
injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions. (Adopted
December 1983) |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: Oral
pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that
deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting
the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is a science that investigates the
causes, processes, and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral
pathology includes research and diagnosis of diseases using clinical,
radiographic, microscopic, biochemical, or other examinations. (Adopted
May 1991) |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: Oral and
maxillofacial radiology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of
radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and
data produced by all modalities of radiant energy that are used for the
diagnosis and management of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral
and maxillofacial region. (Adopted April 2001) |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Oral and
maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry which includes the
diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and
defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and
soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. (Adopted October
1990) |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics:
Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is the dental specialty that
includes the diagnosis, prevention, interception, and correction of
malocclusion, as well as neuromuscular and skeletal abnormalities of the
developing or mature orofacial structures. (Adopted April 2003)
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| Pediatric Dentistry (Children's Dentistry): Pediatric Dentistry is an
age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive
preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through
adolescence, including those with special health care needs. (Adopted
1995) |
| Periodontics (Gum Disease Specialist): Periodontics is that specialty
of dentistry which encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their
substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of
these structures and tissues. (Adopted December 1992) |
| Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics is the dental
specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation
and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of
patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth
and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes. (Adopted
April 2003) |
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If you have a question not listed here, please
email us so that we
may answer your question!
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