Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a check up every six months?
Dr. Lalonde recommends that patients with healthy teeth and gums schedule a routine appointment every six months. We will clean your teeth and assess for dental disease, oral cancer, tooth decay, and other potentially serious problems. By finding trouble in the early stages, we can often correct problems with conservative treatment. Patients with periodontal problems (gum disease) may need to visit us more frequently, but we will advise you how often depending upon your condition. Call our Los Fresnos office today to book your next checkup.
My gums bleed when I brush. Should I worry?
Swollen and bleeding gums may indicate early signs of periodontal, or gum disease. Because these symptoms are generally mild, many people ignore them and the disease progresses. In fact, gum disease is the number-one cause of adult tooth decay. If you notice that your gums bleed after you brush, or if they are red, swollen, or tender, contact our Los Fresnos office to make an appointment.
Do you offer children’s dentistry?
As a family and children's dental practice, we treat patients of all ages. Dr. Lalonde encourages moms and dads to bring in their little ones starting at six months of age. This first visit helps build a solid foundation for a lifetime of healthy oral habits and regular dental visits. Short and easy appointments as toddlers also helps make children far less apprehensive as they get older. Call our Los Fresnos dental office for more information.
What is your emergency care policy?
If you have an emergency after hours, call the main line where you will be given an emergency number. Dr. Lalonde is more than happy to take phone calls after hours- he knows how painful a sore tooth can be! Also, we always welcome walk-ins during regular office hours.
Do you accept my dental insurance?
Dental care can get expensive, that’s why we help patients maximize their insurance benefits. Our practice files in-network claims with Delta Dental, MetLife, Aetna, CHIPS, Medicaid, and many other insurance carriers. As an out-of-network provider, we will file your insurance claims and accept assignment of benefits. Please call our Los Fresnos dental office with your questions.
What payment methods do you accept?
To cover your portion of treatment, we accept cash, check, and most major credit cards. Payment plans are also available through CareCredit for qualified applicants.
Are all dental labs equal?
NO, all dental labs are NOT equal. Dentists partner with dental labs to provide services and products to patients that are not commonly made in a dental office. Dental labs are responsible for fabricating crowns, bridges, implant crowns, and various denture types. Just as the quality of dental providers can vary, so too can the quality of dental laboratories. A dentist can choose to use a local lab, utilize high end labs in other states, or even ship to a foreign lab in another country.
At Los Fresnos Dental Center, Dr. Lalonde has made the choice to partner with only the best dental labs available in the United States. Our team knows that you expect the highest quality care and continuing our partnership with the country’s best labs ensures you’ll receive only the best. We routinely utilize labs in California, Arizona, and Utah, where cutting edge advances in dental technology are allowing for amazingly beautiful and strong results. The attention to detail delivered by the best labs result in more compelling and life-like restorations that will last longer and perform better.
What does my insurance pay for?
Many insurance companies have limited the types of procedures for which they will cover. Oftentimes, this means the patient is forced to receive the most economical type of filling or crown. For example, you may want to place a white filling, but your insurance will only pay for a metal filling. Or, you might prefer the natural beauty of a porcelain crown, but your insurance will only pay for an all metal crown. At Los Fresnos Dental Center, Dr. Lalonde has developed a practice that does not compromise beauty and quality in order to place the cheapest restoration. Our practice is focused on providing true excellence in dental care, which means we have made a commitment to use the best materials regardless of what insurance dictates. In order to provide you with the highest quality and longest lasting dental restorations, Dr. Lalonde has adopted the following policies:
1. We will only place white, composite fillings and do not place metal or mercury fillings.
2. Whenever possible, we will place porcelain crowns/bridges with the minimal amount of metal, including restorations of all porcelain. In special circumstances or at the patient’s request and in accordance with the provider, we may place an all metal crown.
3. If an insurance provider “down-codes” a white, composite filling to a metal filling, or a porcelain crown to a metal crown, the patient will assume the difference in fees between what is billed and what is reimbursed by the insurance provider. Oftentimes, the difference will only be 10-15%, but may be more depending on the insurance provider.
4. If an insurance provider “down-codes” other procedures not listed here, the patient will assume the difference in fees between what is billed and what is reimbursed by the insurance provider.
5. All patients will be presented with a treatment plan prior to beginning treatment that will explain the full investment in treatment and the patient responsibility based on what we expect the insurance provider to reimburse. However, this treatment plan is only an estimate and the final patient responsibility may vary depending on final insurance reimbursement. The patient is ultimately responsible for the balance of any treatment completed.
6. Insurance “Explanation of Benefits” (EOB) is a guide to reimbursement, but does not serve as a fully accurate and final determination. For example, if an insurance provider has “down-coded” procedures, the EOB will not accurately reflect the final patient responsibility.
