Dr. Amato Always Welcomes New Patients!
Dentistry today has so much to offer. Even a subtle change in your smile helps you to project an image of self-confidence and high personal esteem. Today's advanced techniques and materials can make a real difference in improving your smile. And the skill, experience and commitment of our practice -- using a unique combination of science and artistry -- can literally redesign your smile. But Dr. Amato strongly believes that in order to have a beautiful smile, you must first have a healthy smile. Dr. Amato wants to know, what is best for you?

We Assess Your Total Health
Dr. Amato does a new patient orientation and an extremely thorough comprehensive exam with each new patient. Before we can determine what is possible for the long-term stability of your mouth, your current oral health and total health condition will need to be assessed. This comprehensive examination is the baseline for future comparisons and is the basis for a lifetime plan for your oral health. We will evaluate your oral health in regard to comfort, function, health and esthetics. It is important to Dr. Amato that we build trust and rapport early in the relationship so that barriers may be overcome, and fears may be identified so we can provide you with the kind of dental care that we would expect for ourselves -- the best possible.

Uncompromising Safety
Infection control in our office is also very important to us. To protect our patients and ourselves, we strictly maintain sterilization and cross contamination processes using standards recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Your First Visit
When you arrive for your first visit, please bring your dental health insurance card with you, along with your driver's license and all current medications you are taking. As a convenience to you, we have included new patient forms to download and fill out at home before your first visit -- or please arrive about 15 minutes early so that you can complete them in our office prior to your appointment time.

Your initial exam will last approximately one hour. Oral hygiene instructions will be provided, along with suggestions to help you care for your teeth, based on your personal oral health. In most cases, we will perform our initial comprehensive exam to clean your teeth and provide an evaluation that will outline your existing dental problems and proposed treatment.

Initial Comprehensive Exam
The following will be done at your initial comprehensive exam:

- Complete review of your medical and dental history.
- Listen and clarify your concerns, wants, expectations, and/or problems.
- Tooth examination to check for decay, cracks, wear, drifting, etc.
- Intra-oral photographs to evaluate the esthetics and condition of your teeth and gums.
- Periodontal (gum) examination that will include measuring all gum crevices and receded areas to check for hidden gum infection and disease.
- Measurement of looseness or mobility of teeth that could signal bite or gum problems.
- Oral cancer examination.
- Full mouth digital computerized "x-rays" to check for decay, infection, and the condition of the supporting bone.
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) examination to check your jaw joint for clicking, popping, limited opening or pain.

After your examination, Dr. Amato will:

- Review all findings with you.
- Discuss your treatment recommendations, options and sequence based on priorities.
- Have his staff discuss all fees and financial options available to you.
- Answer all questions to your satisfaction and understanding.

Insurance
Our office is committed to helping you maximize your insurance benefits. Because insurance policies vary, we can only estimate your coverage in good faith, and cannot guarantee coverage due to the complexities of insurance contracts. Your estimated patient portion must be paid at the time of service. As a service to our patients, we will bill insurance companies for services and allow them 45 days to render payment. After 60 days, you are responsible for the entire balance, paid in full. It is your responsibility to inform us of any changes in your insurance. If you have any questions or concerns, our courteous staff is always available to answer them.

Accepted Insurance Carriers
-All Insurance Accepted and Filed as a Courtesy

Financial Info
Your treatment plan will include a breakdown of all applicable fees and we will inform you of all costs before treatment is administered. Charges are payable at the time of treatment. We do not accept monthly payments and request your balance be paid at your visit, or by completion of treatment, if your treatment plan requires more than one visit.

To accommodate you with this, we accept the following methods of payment:

-Cash
-Check
-Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit and debit cards

Additional finance options are available through:
-Care Credit® Healthcare Finance
-Capital One® Healthcare Finance

Care Credit® and Capital One® Healthcare Finance are health insurance charge cards offering several delayed payment options, depending on the amount charged. Please ask us for more information if you are interested.

If special arrangements are needed, please contact our Financial Coordinator, prior to receiving service. Depending on the case, we may be able to customize financing for you.

Additionally, we will accept and submit all insurance claims for you. We will fully attempt to help you receive full insurance benefits you are entitled to under your plan; however, you are personally responsible for your account. Ultimately, your insurance is a contract between you and your employer and the insurance company. The balance is due after insurance has paid or 60 days from filing.

Appointments & Cancellations
Your scheduled appointment has been reserved specifically for you. Please notify us of any appointment changes 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. We are aware that unforeseen events sometimes require appointment changes, but please understand that if you fail to give us notice, your account may be charged a fee.

In the case of minor children or other dependents, a parent or guardian must be present at the time of all appointments. The person presenting the patient to our office will be the person responsible for payment of services rendered.

We will call you 24 to 48 hours in advance to remind you of your and/or your family member's appointment. Please call us today at 336-246-7473 if you have any questions or concerns.