Standards Of Care
Northstar Family Dental Standards of Care
Welcome to our practice! We are glad you have chosen us for your oral health needs and hope that every encounter with our office and staff exceeds your expectations. We know our patients have a choice in several different area dentists, so we go out of our way to deliver the level of dental care and compassion we would want for our own families.
Insurance/Financial:
We ask that you realize we do not work for an insurance company, but we do work 100% for our patients. Most insurance companies provide great benefits for our patients and we are going to do everything we can to maximize your benefits. So please understand that the fees that we charge and the treatment that we recommend are specifically designed for your individual needs and are never based on your insurance coverage.
Being a patient at Northstar Family Dental, you are agreeing to authorize the Insurance Coordinator of Northstar Family Dental as the Undersigned’s attorney-in-fact, to apply for, collect, and apply for the undersigned’s account with Northstar Family Dental. Any amount payable to or for the undersigned’s family under any contract of insurance covering such person for services performed at the office of Northstar Family Dental. This authorization will remain in force and effect until the office of Northstar Family Dental received written notice of its revocation.
Please remember that you are responsible for understanding your Insurance coverage and for the portion of your treatment that is not covered by your plan. Because we, too, must balance our finances, we do ask that you pay your portion of the bill at the time of treatment. If you qualify, we will work with you to devise a method of payment that works for both of us.
There is a twenty-five-dollar ($25.00) additional charge for any returned checks that are written to this office.
Radiographs:
Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining your dental health. A dental radiograph is the primary tool used to detect cavities, gum disease, and infections. Northstar Family Dental’s standard of care regarding the taking of radiographs is in alignment with the American Dental Association https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/x-rays. Insurance eligibility is not a determining factor in our decision. Our standard of care guides our providers in diagnosing radiographs for our patients.
A complete series of dental radiographs will be taken for new patients. This series will be repeated every 3 to 5 years. For most patients, bitewing radiographs will be taken every 12 months.
Northstar Family Dental uses digital dental radiographs, significantly reducing radiation exposure to our patients. All patients are protected with a thyroid collar and apron during the process. Your safety and comfort are important to us, and we want you to know that dental radiographs are safe and necessary.
Should your dentist need a 3D CT scan, they will interpret your 3D scan solely for the purpose of evaluating your upper and/or lower jaw for treatment planning and placement of your dental implant or for root canal therapy. If the dentist chooses to have the 3D scan interpreted by a radiologist for an additional reason (pathology, fracture, anatomy, etc.) then she may do so with your verbal consent.
Patients who desire treatment without the use of any radiographs should consider an office other than Northstar Family Dental
Missed or Cancelled Appointments:
We reserve time especially for you when an appointment is made at our office. Therefore, there is a fifty-dollar ($50.00) broken appointment fee when an appointment is not kept or is canceled by a patient within twenty-four (24) hours of the reserved time. WE DO UNDERSTAND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AND WILL GIVE A GRACE. Two consecutive broken appointments may result in dismissal as a patient of Northstar Family Dental.