Scheduling
Escondido Endodontics is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 5 pm. and Friday from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. We will make every attempt to schedule your appointment as promptly and conveniently as possible. If you have a dental emergency, we will make every attempt possible to see you the same day you call.
We respect your time and strive to stay on schedule to minimize your wait time. Due to the fact that we provide emergency services scheduling delays may sometimes occur. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Please contact us at (760) 739-1400 or office@escoendo.com if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
Financial Policy
Fees for endodontic therapy are based upon the complexity of the tooth being treated. Prior to our starting treatment, we will provide you with an estimate of the cost of the procedure to be performed. In order for us to deliver the finest endodontic specialty care at the most reasonable cost, payment is due at the time services are rendered. We require payment in full if there is not secondary insurance involved insurance involved. We accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover. We also offer financing through Care Credit.
For more information about CareCredit please click here.
For specific questions on billing or financing, please contact us at (760) 739-1400 or office@escoendo.com
Dental Insurance
At Escondido Endodontics we will provide you with the finest endodontic specialty care. For those patients with insurance, our professional staff will work closely with you to maximize your insurance reimbursement for covered procedures. We are pleased to assist you by filing your insurance claim for you provided you provide us with complete and accurate insurance information on the subscriber of the insurance policy. Should you choose to file a claim on your own, we will supply you with all the information necessary to do so. To cover deductible expenses and differences in benefits, approximately 30% of the total charge is due at the time of your visit. After your insurance company has paid the benefit for our service, we will bill you for any remaining balance or refund to you any overpayment. We will track your insurance for a period of 45 days, after which time if no payment is received, your assigned claim will be released and you will be responsible for the entire amount.
Our office is not responsible for what an insurance policy does or does not cover.
We encourage you to contact your insurance company to determine your co-pay requirements prior to your first visit.
Usual and Customary
If you have dental insurance, you may be familiar with the term "usual and customary" or "allowed amounts" when referring to fees. Dental insurance is a limited defined benefit plan and not really “insurance”. Fee structures are often set by insurance companies that are not related in any way to the fees set in our office. They are a part of the policy provided to you by your employer and are to maximize the profits of your insurance company. There is a great deal of variance of these fees between insurance companies even within the same geographic area. Our fees are competitive for this region and represent the quality of care we offer. If you have questions regarding this matter please feel free to ask. We will do our best to clarify this issue.
Sterilization
Escondido Endodontics takes pride in exceeding all government agency standards for patient protection. Our treatment rooms include the most advanced current technologies including self-contained water systems for eliminating any risk of cross-patient contamination. We utilize only safe FDA approved materials in conjunction with your endodontic treatment. All instruments are sterilized prior to treating each patient and all sterilization procedures are carefully monitored by an outside agency for 100% effectiveness. Disposables are utilized where indicated. We are proud to provide you with a tour of our modern sterilization facility on your request.
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which was passed into law in 1996 has several provisions that account for the privacy and security of a patient’s protected health information. Escondido Endodontics takes then responsibility of protecting your personal health information very seriously. Your health information is never transmitted or discussed with anyone without your written permission. Please feel free to discuss the matter with us if you have any concerns about the protection or confidentiality of your protected health information.
Download Escondido Endodntics Notice of Privacy Practices
Download Escondido Endodntics Notice of Privacy Practices Spanish
Oral Sedation
Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedation during dental treatment. Sedation is most commonly used for patients with dental phobia, low pain tolerance, patients who find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time, or patients with a severe gag reflex. Sedation is endorsed by the American Dental Association and is an effective way to make many patients comfortable during their dental visit. Before using a sedative, it is important to discuss your medical history and any medications you take with us. A consultation appointment will be necessary before administering any sedative in order for the doctor to talk to you about the process of sedation and pre- and post-sedation instructions. Consent cannot be discussed if the patient is influenced by medication.
In our office, we primarily use Triazolam as an oral sedative for preoperative dental anxiety. The pill is taken an hour before the procedure and additional medication can be given throughout the procedure as needed to obtain a level of sedation that will allow complex dental procedures to be performed in perfect comfort. You'll be sedated just enough to be unaware of the treatment, as if you were sleeping. All patients are carefully monitored during the procedure. Because of the amnesiac properties of the medication, there is little or no memory of the visit. It will be necessary for you to have an escort accompany you to the appointment as you will not be able to drive.
In certain situations, depending on the level of sedation required we will bring an anesthesiologist in to our office to provide IV sedation or general anesthesia.
If you are interested in sedation during your procedure, please discuss this with us prior to your scheduled appointment.