FAQ

Which insurance plans do you accept?

We accept most insurance plans. In some cases, the insurance company will pay us directly. In other cases, you will be asked to pay at the time of treatment and the insurance company will reimburse you. We will be happy to file your insurance claims to expedite your reimbursement. Each insurance company has many different dental plans. The more information you can provide to our office, the more accurately we can determine your benefit. If you don’t have insurance, please consider the Smile Benefit Plan, which is our in house insurance plan.

How do you maintain cleanliness between patients?

We take sterilization very seriously. Each and every dental instrument used on a patient is either sterilized or thrown away after each patient. We use disposable infection control barriers on anything that cannot be heat sterilized. Also, many of our attachments and supplies are disposable. To ensure that sterilization is adequate, the equipment is periodically tested by an independent monitoring service. Between patients, all surfaces are wiped with anti-bacterial/viral cleaning agents.

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

If possible please download and complete the welcome form before presenting for your appointment. If you have had dental x-rays in the last year, please bring a copy with you, as most dental insurance companies will not pay for another set. Dental records (other than x-rays) will probably not be necessary.

What Do you do to help me relax during dental treatment?

Every treatment room in our office has live cable TV. You may choose to watch TV or a DVD with headphones during treatment to minimize procedure noises. You may also bring your own CD or DVD if you wish. We also have pillows and blankets in winter for your additional comfort. For extremely anxious patients we can premedicate you with a sedative prior to your appointment if necessary. Because we can screen for cavities with a laser, many fillings are not deep enough to even require anesthesia therefore, needles aren’t even necessary in many cases.

How does your office handle dental emergencies?

If you are having a problem when we have office hours we do our best to get you in the day you call. However, if you call us late in the day, you may need to wait until the following day for an appointment time but you will be able to consult with the doctor by phone and receive some treatment advice or medication. If you call after hours, you will reach a voice mailthat will give you a number where Dr. Mackey can be reached. We never leave our patients without an emergency number to call for help.