APPOINTMENTS
How do I
schedule an appointment?
How long does it take to get an appointment?
What if
I have an emergency?
What
if I need to reschedule an appointment?
OFFICE VISITS
Do office
visit charges apply each time I have an appointment with a dentist or
specialist?
What
can I expect at my first visit?
Will I
automatically receive two cleanings per year?
What
happens if I change offices?
Can I
get major work done right away?
SPECIALTY TREATMENT
Why do
I have to go to another location for specialty treatment?
FILLINGS
Can I
have a composite filling placed in a posterior tooth?
Can I
have my amalgam fillings replaced with composite?
CLEANINGS
My
insurance covers two cleanings per year; doesn't that mean I should have
two cleanings?
EMERGENCIES/URGENT
CARE
What if I have an emergency?
I went in
for an emergency appointment, paid my co-pay, and they didn't even do
anything!
Why was
a temporary filling/temporary crown used at my emergency appointment?
Why do
I have to wait one/two weeks for an emergency appointment?
What
if I have an emergency while I'm out of town?
PRIMARY CARE DENTISTS
Can I
sign up for the Willamette Dental plan and still go to my own dentist?
Can I choose one Willamette Dental primary care dentist
to coordinate my care?
PATIENT ACCOUNTS
This is
my first statement following my appointment. Why am I being charged a
late fee?
Have you billed my insurance?
Why didn't my insurance company pay in full for my
services?
Why did I get a bill from you? My insurance will pay for
my services.
Who do I talk to about this missed appointment charge on
my statement?
I paid my managed care co-payments for orthodontics in
full and now my insurance coverage has terminated and I am still in
braces, what is going to happen?
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Who do I call if I need more information?
How do I schedule an
appointment?
To schedule an appointment, please call our Appointment Center:
OREGON:
Portland Metro Area: .....................(503) 952-2100
Outside the Portland Metro Area: .....(800) 461-8994
WASHINGTON:
Toll-Free: (800) 359-6019
IDAHO:
Toll-Free: (800) 603-1738
NEVADA:
Toll-Free: (866) 397-5212
Appointment Center Hours:
Monday - Thursday: ....................7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: .......................................7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: ...................................7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How long does it take to get
an appointment?
- Emergencies: 24 Hours (pain, bleeding,
or swelling)
- First Appointment: 30 days
- Regular Hygiene (Cleanings): 45 days
- Non-Emergency Operative Appointment: 60 days
With the exception of emergencies, the number of days shown above are averages. The length of time to schedule an appointment may vary based on your choice of provider, dental office location, and your requested day and time of appointment.
What if I have an emergency?
Willamette Dental provides emergency services 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. If you experience an emergency situation (pain, bleeding or
swelling), call the Appointment Center at:
OREGON:
Portland Metro Area: .....................(503) 952-2100
Outside the Portland Metro Area: .....(800) 461-8994
WASHINGTON:
Toll-Free: (800) 359-6019
IDAHO:
Toll-Free: (800) 603-1738
NEVADA:
Toll-Free: (866) 397-5212
Appointment Center Hours:
Monday - Thursday: ....................7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: .......................................7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: ...................................7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If necessary, you will be able to see a
dentist within 24 hours. For emergencies during regular office hours,
you will pay the usual office-visit charge. After hours, the visit
charge is usually higher, as stated in your Summary of Benefits.
What if I need to
reschedule an appointment?
If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please call our
Appointment Center as soon as possible. A missed appointment fee is
applied to your account for any missed appointment without a 24-hour
notice.
Do office visit charges apply
each time I have an appointment with a dentist or specialist?
Yes. The office visit charge, found in your Summary of Benefits, applies
to all visits including orthodontia. The office visit co-payment is in
addition to other co-pays that you may accrue.
Payments may be made in cash, personal check, or credit card. If you are
not yet a Willamette Dental patient, cash or credit card is the
preferred form of payment until a relationship with your dentist is
established. All payments are to be made at the time of service.
What can I expect at my
first visit?
During your first visit to our Willamette Dental office, you will
receive a thorough examination that includes x-rays. At this time, your
dentist will develop a Personal Dental Care Plan based upon your overall
dental health. Your dentist will then make recommendations for
cleanings, restorations, and other preventive treatments needed to
obtain optimal oral health goals. Children will receive a cleaning at
their first appointment and adults will receive their first cleaning
after the initial appointment.
Will I automatically receive two cleanings per year?
Teeth cleaning frequency is determined at your first visit and is based
upon the diagnosis made by your Willamette Dental dentist. Your Personal
Dental Care Plan will outline the frequency and duration of your
prescribed teeth cleanings throughout the year. For example, a patient
with gum disease may be scheduled for cleanings every three months,
whereas a patient with healthy teeth and gums may only be required to
have a cleaning once every 12 months.
What happens if I change
offices?
Willamette Dental members have the freedom to receive dental care at any
Willamette Dental location. To change offices and/or dentists, call our
Appointment Center at:
OREGON:
Portland Metro Area: .....................(503) 952-2100
Outside the Portland Metro Area: .....(800) 461-8994
WASHINGTON:
Toll-Free: (800) 359-6019
IDAHO:
Toll-Free: (800) 603-1738
NEVADA:
Toll-Free: (866) 397-5212
Appointment Center Hours:
Monday - Thursday: ....................7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: .......................................7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: ...................................7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*Please be aware that changing
your dentist may result in a treatment delay.
Can I get
major work done right away?
The first priority is to diagnose and treat urgent conditions that pose
an immediate threat to your oral health. The next priority is prevention
- which means controlling the disease process, promoting wellness, and
helping you maintain good oral health. This is essential to prevent
future deterioration of oral and dental tissues due to recurrent decay
or progressive periodontal disease. Major restorative work is normally
performed once you have achieved a satisfactory state of oral health and
your teeth and supporting structures are stabilized. This is the best
way to ensure the success of whatever major restorative work you may
need.
Why do I have to go to another location for specialty treatment?
It is not our intention to inconvenience our patients by asking them to
travel from one location to another. That is why we have strategically
placed our specialty providers a short distance between several of our
locations.
Can I have a composite
filling placed in a posterior tooth?
You may elect to have a composite posterior for existing diagnosed decay
or fractured amalgam, unless your dentist deems this service is not
appropriate due to tooth structure or other health concerns. You would
be subject to fees according to your insurance coverage.
Can I have my amalgam
fillings replaced with composite?
Please discuss this directly with your primary dentist. Unless you have
been tested by a medical physician resulting in an allergy to an alloy
in amalgam, there are many ethical considerations to be made.
My insurance covers two
cleanings per year; doesn't that mean I should have two cleanings?
Your dentist will determine your treatment plan according to your
individual needs. Some patients require one cleaning per year and others
four cleanings per year.
I went in for an emergency
appointment, paid my co-pay, and they didn't even do anything!
At your emergency appointment, your dentist addresses persistent pain,
bleeding and/or swelling that you may be experiencing. This is done by
evaluation, diagnosis, palliative treatment, and if needed, setting a
definitive treatment plan and then scheduling you for that treatment.
There are times you may be experiencing symptoms that require only
medication or other palliative treatment.
Why was a temporary
filling/temporary crown used at my emergency appointment?
Until the dentist can evaluate you, he/she is unaware of the treatment
you may need or amount of time needed to provide that treatment. Due to
time limitations, definitive treatment is scheduled once the area has
been diagnosed and a treatment plan has been determined.
Why do I have to wait
one/two weeks for an emergency appointment?
Daily, emergency time is secured for patients that require treatment
immediately. If your symptoms are not urgent you will be scheduled
with your dentist of record to address your dental concerns.
What if I have an emergency
while I'm out of town?
Emergency dental treatment is reimbursed up to the stated amount listed
in your plan's Summary of Benefits.
In Oregon, Washington or Idaho - If you're traveling in our tri-state
service area, first call the Appointment Center at (800) 461-8994 to
schedule an appointment at the nearest Willamette Dental office.
Outside our service area - If you cannot get to a Willamette Dental
office, or if you are traveling outside our service area, you may go to
any licensed dentist to obtain emergency treatment (relief from pain,
bleeding, or swelling). Upon arriving home, contact our Patient
Relations Department for reimbursement. The maximum amount you will
receive is listed in your Summary of Benefits. Also, you will need to
schedule your follow-up care with your Willamette Dental primary care
dentist.
Can I sign up for the Willamette Dental plan and still go to my own
dentist?
Your dental care will ONLY be covered when provided by a dentist or
specialist at a Willamette Dental office. Your coverage also extends if
it is referred to an outside dentist or specialist by your Willamette
Dental dentist. If referred to an outside dentist or specialist, your
co-payments remain the same as shown in your Summary of Benefits.
Can I choose one Willamette
Dental primary care dentist to coordinate my care?
Yes, we encourage you to establish a long-term relationship with a
primary Willamette Dental dentist. Once you select your dentist, you may
schedule all future appointments with him/her.
This is my first statement
following my appointment. Why am I being charged a late fee?
Your Managed Care (capitated) insurance plan specifies that all
co-payments are due at the time of service. Willamette Dental charges a
monthly fee of $5.00 for all balances not paid at the time of service.
Have you billed my insurance?
Traditional, fee-for-service, insurance
claims are sent the next business day following your services.
Managed care (capitated) insurance benefits are applied to the account at the time of service so that no
insurance billing is necessary.
Why
didn't my insurance company pay in full for my services?
Traditional, fee-for-service, insurance
benefits are determined by a "usual and customary" formulation created
by your insurance carrier. You will need to contact your insurance
carrier directly to answer that question.
Why did I get a bill from you? My insurance will pay for my
services.
All accounts with a balance owing are
billed monthly. We bill insurance carriers as a courtesy to our
patients, however, the patient is financially responsible for all
balances due.
Who
do I talk to about this missed appointment charge on my statement?
You will need to talk to the location manager where this occurred by
calling your appointment scheduling phone number and ask to speak to
that location.
I
paid my managed care co-payment for orthodontics in full and now my
insurance coverage has terminated and I am still in braces, what is
going to happen?
The co-payment is a contracted dollar that becomes void when the
contract is terminated. A pro rate will be done to determine the amount
of the contracted co-pay not used and that will be credited to the
account. The remaining months of treatment will be charged to the
account based on Willamette Dental's filed fees.
Who do I call if I need more
information?
For questions regarding treatment, you may
contact the office in which you receive your care and speak to your
dentist.
The Willamette Dental Patient Relations
Department can answer your general questions, including information
pertaining to locations, dentists, or plan benefits.
PATIENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: ...........8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone:
Oregon Toll-Free: ...........(800) 460-7644
Washington Toll-Free: .....(800) 360-1909
Idaho Toll-Free: .............(877) 329-7965
Nevada Toll-Free: .............(866) 397-5212
Email: .........................
relations@willamettedental.com
Website: .....................
www.willamettedental.com
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