Your scheduled appointment is reserved specifically for your child. Any change in this appointment affects all of our patients. If a cancellation is unavoidable, please call the office at least 24 hours in advance so that we may give that time to another patient. If two (2) broken/missed appointments occur or two (2) cancellations without 24-hour notice, our office reserves the right to NOT schedule any subsequent appointments. Also, if you arrive 10-15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to reschedule for the next available appointment time. Again, please call at least 24 hours in advance if a cancellation is unavoidable so that we may give the appointment to another patient.
All restorative (fillings, extractions, etc.) procedures are scheduled in the morning hours. Children tend to do better in the morning for these types of procedures.
Re-care appointments are made six months in advance for your convenience.
We strive to see all patients on time for their scheduled appointment. We make every effort to stay on schedule. Please remember, we run on children's time, not adult time. Additionally, there are times when our schedule is delayed in order to accommodate an injured child or an emergency. Please accept our apology in advance should this occur during your appointment. We will provide you the same courtesy if your child is in need of emergency treatment. If you have to wait more than 15 minutes, please ask our business staff the reason for the delay.
Please plan to arrive 5 minutes or more before your scheduled appointment. This will allow time to complete any additional paperwork and see your child on time.
A parent or legal guardian (with official documentation) must be present in the office during the initial examination and/or any filling appointments.
Payment
Fees are determined by the amount of time spent with the doctor, in preparation or evaluating diagnostic data, and the cost of materials and laboratory fees.
Please understand that payment of your bill is considered a part of your child's treatment. While we will accept assignment of benefits from your insurance company, you will be responsible for the full balance including any amount that is not paid by your insurance company. Payment is expected in full for each appointment as services are rendered. We accept cash, personal checks, MasterCard, or Visa.
In certain unusual circumstances an account balance may occur. Berkshire Pediatric Dentistry requires all outstanding balances to be paid in full by thirty (30) days unless other arrangements have been made. Also note, if we have not received payment or you have not contacted us within thirty (30) days, further action may be taken with a collection agency or with Small Claims Court. We reserve the right to apply an interest rate of eighteen percent (18%) from the date of service. Thank you in advance for your understanding of our financial policy! We are happy to answer any questions.
Insurance There is no direct relationship between our office and your insurance company. The type of plan chosen by you, and/or your employer determines your insurance benefits. As such, we have no say in the selection of your insurance company, no control over the terms of your contract, the methods of reimbursement or the determination of your insurance benefits. We will accept assignment of benefits from your insurance company, however you are responsible for the full balance including any amount that is not paid by your insurance company.
Pre-treatment Authorization: Some insurance companies recommend an estimate of the work to be done and the fees to be charged before determining their benefits to you. If so, we will provide you with the pre-treatment fee estimate. In this case, it will be up to you to determine if you wish to proceed with treatment before the insurance benefit is determined.
Phone Calls
Telephone calls about billing or scheduling are taken by our appointment/account coordinator during regular business hours. If your child has a dental problem, please call early in the morning and leave a detailed message. A Berkshire Pediatric Dental team member will return your call as soon as possible.
