We understand that many necessary procedures to protect or restore your teeth can sometimes seem costly. Our office accepts most PPO insurance plans, but we will work with you on a payment plan or help you apply for CareCredit since breaking expenses into smaller monthly payments is often more affordable. We want you to receive the treatment you need without feeling anxious over the expense.
Cash Payment Plans
Dental insurance covers services on a scale, and some services may not be covered fully, or – if cosmetic in nature – not at all. We accept cash, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), and checks as payment for dental services not covered by insurance.
If you would like to spread your payments out in order to avoid what could be a burdensome financial obligation, we also offer an in-house 90-day credit card payment arrangement. We also offer CareCredit if 90 days is too short a period for your financial situation.
CareCredit
CareCredit is a healthcare credit card that allows you to pay for necessary or cosmetic dental work. It has been offered by dental offices for 30 years, and Dr. Yaftaly recommends it as an option when other resources are unavailable. Some of the services that are covered by CareCredit include such elective services as veneers, dental alignment (Invisalign), braces and retainers, and dentures. However, it will also cover necessary services such as regular check-ups, endodontic procedures, periodontal disease prevention, ceramic fillings and crowns, and dental cleanings.
You can apply for CareCredit online by clicking here. A decision on your application is provided instantly, and you can use CareCredit the same day you apply. As it is a credit card, CareCredit can be used repeatedly, and it will keep your dental care costs separate from any other credit card purchases you make. Special financing offers may also apply to your situation.
CareCredit can also be used to pay your dental insurance deductibles and co-payments and in combination with other credit card or cash payment arrangements. Please contact our office and speak to us about applying for CareCredit to take care of your dental financial needs.
Insurance
We work with most PPO insurances, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Guardian, Connection Dental, GEHA, and others that are under the bigger umbrellas such as DHA (Dental Health Alliance) or DBP (Dental Benefit Providers). This list is constantly being updated, so if you don't see your insurance on this list, give us a call or email us. We'll happy check your coverage and see how we can help you!
If you currently do not have insurance, or your employer does not offer dental benefits, you can still find coverage for yourself and your family. The state of California is now offering dental insurance on its Covered California site. Because dental coverage for adults is not considered an “essential health benefit” under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), dental insurance is offered separately from health insurance plans. However, dental coverage for children is considered an essential health benefit, so the plans on Covered California cover children’s dental care as well as their parents.
At this time, we do not work with any HMO insurances.
Many of our patients appreciate the level of care our office provides so they choose to see us on an out-of-network basis. We will still process your insurance claims on your behalf to help maximize your benefits for you.
Absolutely!
The highest compliment our existing patients can give us is referring their friends, coworkers, and loved ones to us for dental care.
Scheduling your first appointment at our practice is easy. You can either call us at (805) 522-9242 or send us an appointment request using the online form found on the Contact page of this website. We can't wait to meet you!
We recognize that our patients lead busy lives and occasionally it's simpler to see a dentist on a Saturday so as not to interfere with work or school. Emergencies can also happen, and they don't always happen during regular office hours! At this time, Dr. Yaftaly is not in the office on Saturdays, but either herself or another provider is available on an emergency bases.
Yes. We offer an in-house credit card payment arrangement, which would allow you to spread your payments over 90 days.
Our office also works with CareCredit, which offers a no-interest payment option of 6 to 12 months on approved credit. CareCredit is a healthcare credit card that can be used to pay for dental services – elective treatments such as veneers or dental alignment, or necessary services like dental cleanings, regular check-ups, endodontic procedures, and periodontal disease prevention.
The longer payment term allows you to lessen what could be an onerous financial responsibility. As CareCredit is a credit card, it not only keeps your dental care costs separate from your other credit card purchases (the better to track your dental expenses), it also can be reused once the balance is paid. It can be used to pay for your insurance deductibles and co-payments as well. You may also find special financing offers once you apply, which can be done at our office or online at http://www.carecredit.com/apply.
You can use CareCredit by itself, or in combination with a credit card or cash arrangement with our office. We can help you to apply in office or over the phone, so if you’re interested in applying for CareCredit, please call our office.
Contact our office at our phone number. Dr. Yaftaly has an emergency phone number listed on our voice messaging system where she can be reached in case of a dental emergency occurring after hours. If she leaves town or is otherwise unavailable, she ensures that she has a local dentist covering for her; in that case, the contact information will be left on the voice messaging system as well.
If you are calling after hours, we will make an appointment for you to come in as soon as possible as a tooth injury should be taken care of quickly to avoid causing further harm to the mouth. There are some steps you can take if the injury happens after our office is closed or late at night:
- Soothe a toothache with a warm-water rinse, an over-the-counter painkiller, and a cold compress applied to your mouth or cheek to reduce swelling. If there’s food or matter lodged between your teeth, remove it with dental floss. Never apply aspirin against your gums or near the aching tooth; it may burn the gum tissue.
- If you chip or break a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water; make sure to rinse and save any tooth pieces. Put gauze on any bleeding area in your mouth and apply light pressure until the bleeding stops. If there’s swelling, place a cold compress against your lip, cheek, or mouth.
- If a tooth has been knocked out, retrieve it, hold it by the crown, and rinse off the root with warm water (take care not to remove any attached tissue). Try to put the tooth back in its socket, but do not force it. If you can’t re-seat the tooth, then place it in a small cup of milk, or water with a pinch of salt, and try to see a dentist as soon as possible. It is possible to save a tooth if you see a dentist and have it placed back in its socket within one hour of being knocked out.
- For a partially dislodged (extruded) tooth, put a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek for the pain, and take an over-the-counter pain relief medication (such as Advil or Tylenol).
- Objects caught between the teeth should be removed with dental floss only. If the object will not move, do not use a pin or knife-tip (or any other sharp object) to try to get it out. You can cut your gums or scratch the surface of your teeth.
- Lost fillings can be temporarily filled with a piece of sugarless gum placed in the cavity, or over-the-counter dental cement. Lost crowns can be slipped back over the tooth, and held in place with over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive. If the area is painful, apply a little clove oil on the tip of a cotton swab before putting the crown back in place.
- If a wire breaks on your braces, try to push it back into place with the eraser end of a pencil. If you can’t move it back or put it in a more comfortable place, cover the end of the wire with dental wax, or a piece of cotton or gauze. Never cut the wire, as you could swallow or accidentally aspirate the metal bit.
- Loose braces can temporarily be re-attached with a bit of dental wax. You can also place the wax over the braces to cushion them. Loose bands must be brought back to the orthodontist to be re-cemented or replaced, so save it and make an appointment.
- Abscesses, infections that set up at the root of a tooth or between the teeth and gums, can spread quickly if not treated right away. To ease the pain and draw the pus to the surface, rinse your mouth with a salt-water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 1 cup of water) at least once an hour. Take an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (Advil).
We work with most PPO insurances, including Dental Health Alliance, Dental Benefit Providers, Cigna, Metlife, Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Guardian, Connection Dental, GEHA, and others that are under the bigger umbrellas such as DHA (Dental Health Alliance). This list is constantly being updated, so if you don't see your insurance on this list, give us a call or email us. We'll happy check your coverage and see how we can help you!
If you currently do not have insurance, or your employer does not offer dental benefits, you can still find coverage for yourself and your family. The state of California is now offering dental insurance on its Covered California site (http://www.coveredca.com/individuals-and-families/getting-covered/dental-coverage/). Because dental coverage for adults is not considered an “essential health benefit” under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), dental insurance is offered separately from health insurance plans. However, dental coverage for children is considered an essential health benefit, so the plans on Covered California cover children’s dental care as well as their parents.
At this time, we do not work with any HMO insurances.
Many of our patients appreciate the level of care our office provides so they choose to see us on an out-of-network basis. We will still process your insurance claims on your behalf to help maximize your benefits for you.