Welcome
We are the leading periodontal practice in the east valley having practiced in Mesa since 1975, we strive to offer you the very best in periodontal and implant care. We offer continuing education in the dental community in order to build a strong working relationship with your referring dentists. We want you as a patient to feel welcome and comfortable in our office. Our dental team is here to serve you. We are always looking for ways to improve our practice and greatly appreciate any comments, both positive and negative, in order to better serve you. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve you.
East Valley Periodontics promise to :
- Educate you and answer all of your questions regarding to your specific needs
- Schedule you in a reasonable and timely fashion
- Treat you in a kind and professional manner at all times
- Assist you in understanding and filing your insurance
- Always treat you honestly and fairly
- Listen and understand your concerns
- Schedule you quickly when you are experiencing pain
- Offer no interest payment plans
- Protect your privacy
First Visit
You can download the medical/dental history and HIPAA forms and complete in the comfort of your own home. These forms (click here for forms) will need to be completed before you are seen for your initial consultation. You can download and complete these forms at your leisure in the comfort of your own home or you can come to the office a few minutes prior to your appointment and complete them. Your first visit will include review of medical/dental history, x-rays and clinical evaluation. Upon completion we will discuss your diagnosis and review treatment options. We will send a letter to your general dentist regarding our findings and treatment recommendations or any treatment completed. You will have an opportunity to ask questions regarding our findings and treatment plan. We will give you a written treatment plan with your estimated out of pocket expense. At that time we can also schedule an appointment to start your treatment. In some cases, depending on the type of insurance you have, we will be required to file for a pre-authorization for treatment. This would cause a delay in scheduling.
- Please bring your referral slip and any x-rays that are pertinent to your case. We may need to take additional digital x-rays in order to get the best view of your particular problem. We use DEXIS, an advanced digital x-ray system which allows us to see magnified details of your particular problem.
- We will need a complete and thorough medical history and ask that you come prepared with a list of the medications you take and any medical alerts.
- An insurance card issued by your carrier.
- If you currently pre-medicate for dental appointments due to medical history such as mitral valve, joint replacement, etc. please do so before coming in for your initial consultation.
- Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the initial consultation.
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Scheduling
Regular office hours are Monday -Thursday from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm and Friday from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm. We will schedule your initial consultation as quickly as possible. In emergency situations we will be glad see you that day to get you out of pain and will ask you to return for full evaluation at a later date.
Your general dentist will send a referral slip with you indicating which periodontist you are to see. When scheduling that appointment please help us by letting us know which one he/she is requesting that you see, Morley J. Smith, DMD, PC, Specializing in Periodontics and Dental Implant Surgery, or Paul W. Haycock, DDS, PC. Specializing in Periodontics and which location you wish to be seen.
We make a conscious effort to stay on time in order to see you at your scheduled time. Please remember that we are a specialty office and that there are circumstances that will arise that are unexpected and may delay your scheduled appointment. We appreciate your patience in these matters.
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Financial Policy
We accept cash, checks (we will accept a check up to $250.00), Visa, Mastercard and Discover. We are also Care Credit providers. Care Credit is a financial institution that allow you to pay up to 12 months interest free to those who qualify. Care Credit is easy to apply for either by phone or by internet and takes only a few moments. You will receive a reply within moments. We will give you a treatment plan at your first visit and ask that any payment arrangements be made prior to starting any treatment.
We do call and verify your insurance coverage prior to your initial visit. We will be happy to assist in filing your insurance. Please remember that the information that we receive from your carrier is never a guarantee and nothing is final until payment is received. Please note that you are ultimately responsible for your balance and that your insurance is your benefit not the dentist’s providing the service. We will be happy to provide any and all information requested by your carrier in order help you receive the most from your insurance benefits.
If there are ever any questions regarding your account please call us at 480-218-7590.
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Insurance
Dental insurance is generally offered by an employer. There are many types of dental insurance coverage. The coverage type is generally determined by the employer. Your employer will negotiate a contract with the insurance company that will determine coverage and limitations. Dental insurance is designed to offset expenses in dental care. It may not cover all of the costs involved in your dental treatment. Any costs not covered by your carrier will be due by you.
We do ask that you pay an estimated co-pay while your insurance claim is being processed. Please remember that this is only an estimate and that there is never a guarantee of benefits. We recommend that a pre-authorization be done prior to treatment to get a better idea of what your carrier will pay. Again please remember that even with a pre-authorization there is still no guarantee of benefits. Circumstances can change regarding a pre-authorization, such as another claim being paid before the pre-authorization is dated and returned. We will wait 90 days for payment from your insurance carrier. If your carrier does not pay, denies benefits, or does not pay the total balance due, we will ask that the balance be paid by you.
Please allow us to be of assistance to you regarding your insurance by supplying us with accurate information, your identification number, date of birth, carrier name, carrier address, carrier phone number. If we do not have the right information we will ask you to pay in full at the time of service.
We accept all indemnity dental insurances.
We are contracted providers with:
- Delta Dental Premier
- Aetna DMO
- Cigna Dental Health - HMO
We are not PPO plan providers. Some PPO plans will allow out of network benefits and some will not. Ultimately it is up to you to know whether you have out of network benefits. We will be more than happy to assist you in determining whether you have out of network benefits.
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Privacy Policy
The Notice of Privacy Practices, outlines how we as private practice protect your privacy as required by federal law.
Other forms regarding privacy act:
- Acknowledgement of Receipt of Notice of Privacy Practices
We ask that you please read the notice of privacy and sign the form to acknowledge that you read and understand what we at East Valley Periodontics do to protect your private information.
- Request to Release Information
This form is an authorization signed by you allowing us to release information but only at your request.
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Frequently Asked Question’s
What is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is one who specialized in the treatment of infections that affect the tissues and the bone that support teeth. Healthy gums fit like a cuff around each tooth. Where the gums meet the tooth forms a V-shaped crevice called the sulcus. This space is generally 3mm or less. Infections can develop resulting in pocking in sulcus measuring greater then 3mm. The more severe the disease the greater the pocket. Periodontal disease left untreated may eventually lead to tooth loss.
What causes periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease starts when certain bacteria in plaque produces irritants that cause gums to become inflamed. This inflammation can be painless but can damage the attachment of the gums and bone to the teeth.
How do I know if I have periodontal disease?
During your dental checkup, your dentist will examine your gums. A periodontal probe is gently used to measure the depth of the sulcus surrounding each tooth. The depth of the healthy sulcus is usually 3mm or less. The periodontal probe will indicate whether you have developed any pockets and the depth of the pockets. Depending on the severity of the case your general dentist may provide treatment or refer you to a periodontist that specialized in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gum disease.
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What are the warning signs of periodontal disease?
- Gums that bleed easily
- Red, swollen, tender gums
- Gums pulling away from the teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Infection between gums and teeth
- Loose or separating teeth
- Change in bite
- Change in fit of partial dentures
What can I do to prevent gum disease?
- Brush twice daily
- Floss daily
- See your dentist for a regular cleaning at least once a year
Who is most at risk for periodontal disease?
- Those who smoke or chew tobacco
- Those with systemic diseases such as diabetes, HIV infections
- Medications such as steroids, some epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, blood pressure medications, oral contraceptives.
- Bridges that do not fit well
- Pregnancy
- Genetics
What is the treatment for periodontal disease?
Treatment will depend on how severe your case is. Very early stages of the disease where there has been no damage to tissue and bone can be stopped by just improving your daily oral hygiene. Even with these measures you can develop more severe periodontal disease.
Treatment will usually begin with a specialty treatment called perio scaling and root planing. This procedure will remove tarter and plaque from the tooth and root surface allowing the gum tissue to heal and pockets depths to shrink, making it difficult for plaque to accumulate on root surfaces. This procedure is generally done in two visits. Several weeks following this treatment we will have you in for a second examination to determine how you have responded to the treatment. Again the severity of your problem will determine whether additional treatment will be required. The more severe cases will generally require surgical therapy in order to remove the irritants that are causing destruction of the supporting tissues. Occasionally bone grafting (regenerative therapy) is utilized.
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