:::: Bryan Cobb, DDS, MS :: Pediatric Dentistry :::: Procedures ::::

Your child’s first visit to the Pediatric Dentist should be by age 2, unless you have a concern or worry that needs to be addressed sooner. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions that they have. The less to do concerning the visit the better as trying to over explain to your child will only confuse your child or implant undue anxieties into your child.

It is best to refrain from using words around your child such as “needle”, “shot”, “drill”, “pull”, or “hurt”. We make a practice of using words that convey the same meaning but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.

Please do not be concerned if your child exhibits some fear or anxiety, or even negative behavior. This is not unusual and we make every effort to help your child work their way through their dental visit in a positive and educational manner. With good parental support, most children learn what to expect rapidly and become comfortable in the dental environment as soon as their personalities will allow.

We have found through our specialty dental training, education, studies in the dental literature, and 28 years of experience that children will do better with the parent staying in the waiting room. We are highly experienced in alleviating your child’s anxiety and helping your child gradually gain confidence and self empowerment. We have also found that your child will develop a strong relationship with Dr. Cobb and the staff as well as feel a strong sense of self accomplishment when they complete their dental visit with the parent staying in the waiting room. Some children do take some time to gain this strength of independence, but we have found that if the parent supports the Pediatric Dentist, the child will gain self confidence and feel a rewarding sense of accomplishment that cannot be duplicated elsewhere.

Office Policies
What About Finances?
Insurance Policy
Insurance Facts

POLICIES

Our office will always try to schedule your appointment at a convenient time for you. Restorative procedures (fillings etc) are scheduled in the morning, when children are fresher, and treatment is easier for your child. Always try to avoid nap times for young children. Dental appointments are excused absences from school and we will be happy to give you a school excuse form and fill it out for you.

WHAT ABOUT FINANCES?

Payment for professional services is due at the time the dental treatment is provided. It is the responsibility of the person who brings the child to their appointment to pay for the treatment, whether they are the parent or not, unless other arrangements have been made with the office. We always try to provide the most cost effective treatment for our patients. We will always provide you with a plan and cost of treatment BEFORE treatment is initiated.

We do see patients with NC Medicaid and North Carolina Health Choice. We accept most major insurances; we will also inform you of the expected payment your insurance does not cover. We accept cash, check and most major credit cards.

OFFICE POLICY REGARDING INSURANCE

If we have received all of your insurance information on the day of the appointment we will be glad to file your claim for you. We will expect payment of the estimated amount that your insurance does not pay. We will file the claim electronically to expedite payment. If there is ever an overpayment, we will refund this amount to you. We issue refunds once per month.

Please understand, we file your insurance claims as a courtesy to you, we do not have a contract with your insurance company, only you do. We are not responsible for how your insurance company handles your claim or for what benefits they cover or not. As stated, we will estimate what your policy will pay but we cannot guarantee what that amount will be.

INSURANCE FACTS

1- No insurance pays 100% of all dental procedures. Most plans pay 50%-80% of the fee. Some pay more, some less. The amount paid is determined by how much coverage your employer has or the type of contract your employer has set up with the insurance company.
Benefits are not determined by our office, insurance companies set their own fees and their own benefit list for each plan that is marketed to your employer. The level of coverage that you have is determined by the contract that your employer has with the insurance company. At no time have we been involved with either your employer or the insurance company regarding the coverage of benefits. Luckily, most plans offer reasonable benefits for children although the reimbursement levels vary dramatically between plans. Most importantly, please keep us informed of any changes to your dental insurance, such as policy name, insurance company address, or change of employment so that we can help you with your benefits.