Office Policies

Hours
The office is open for appointments from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Appointments
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. Treatment appointments are much easier when your child, the doctor, and staff are fresh.

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.

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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. Additionally, we offer easy interest-free payment plans through CareCredit. Please let us know if you would like more information.

In certain unusual circumstances an account balance may occur. Raleigh 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.

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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.

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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 Raleigh Pediatric Dental team member will return your call as soon as possible. 

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Parents Participation and Safety
One parent is invited back to observe during the initial exam and checkups. We have a designated parent seating area from which you can observe treatment. During restorative treatment of cavities, parents are invited to observe through the clear glass door of the treatment room. This arrangement allows the doctor and staff to communicate with your child directly without distractions or safety concerns. Over time, we hope to bring your child back by themselves to better establish your child's trust and independence. During sedation and treatment at the hospital, no parents are allowed to observe due to safety concerns.

For safety and privacy of the other patients, all others (including children that are not scheduled at this appointment) are asked to remain in the reception room. Young children in the reception room will need a supervising adult.

The use of cellular phones is prohibited in the treatment areas. Conversations carried on by others in the clinical area can be very distracting to children, thus preventing us from close, careful communication with each young patient.

Finally, if you expect your child to do well and enjoy their visit to our office, chances are they will do just that! Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in these matters.

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