Delta Dental Of North Carolina - Subscribers

Current Location: Delta Dental Of North Carolina > Subscribers > Selecting A Dentist

Having a dentist whom you visit regularly and feel comfortable with is important to your overall oral health. Everyone's communication skills differ. The dentist you select should be someone you can talk to, who will listen to your questions and concerns, and who will answer your questions fully.

Finding a Dentist
To identify a participating dentist in your local area, please visit the Dentist Search at www.deltadental.com or refer to our convenient, downloadable Dentist Directories.

Questions to ask when selecting a dentist:

Is the dentist accepting new patients?
Do you feel comfortable asking the dentist questions?
What are the office hours of the dental office?
How are after-hour emergencies handled?
Does the office have Saturday or evening appointments?
Is the dentist available by telephone for questions?
Is the dental office conveniently located near your home, work or your children's school?
Does the dentist have multi-office locations?
How long will you have to wait to get an appointment for routine exams and cleanings? Urgent or same-day care? Specialty services?
Is the office staff friendly and helpful? Do they enjoy working with children?
Talk to friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family about their dentist or experience with the dentist you are thinking of selecting.

Your Rights and Responsibilities
Delta Dental believes you play an active role in managing your dental care. You and your dentist are partners in your dental care. There are certain rights and responsibilities that are a vital part of this partnership. Subscribers who are active in making health care decisions achieve better results. It is important that you understand your health plan and your dentist's advice. It is your right to ask questions about anything you do not understand.

As a dental patient, you have the right:

To available and accessible services, including emergency services, as defined
in your contract, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
To be informed of health problems, and to receive sufficient information
regarding treatment alternatives and risk to ensure an informed choice.
To refuse treatment.
To file a grievance with the dental plan and the commissioner of health and the
right to initiate a legal proceeding when experiencing a problem with the dental
plan or its health care providers.
To have your dental records kept private.
To receive help from your dental plan or clinic about concerns with services and
to receive a prompt and fair review of any complaint you may have.

As a dental patient, you have the responsibility:

To keep appointments for dental care or to give as much notice as possible of
the need to cancel an appointment and to reschedule, if necessary.
To know what services are covered given the specific Delta Dental plan design
that your employer has selected.
To follow the treatment plan or discuss with your dentist why you are not able
to follow the recommendations of the care plan.
To provide a complete health history to help in diagnosis, care and treatment.
To present your ID card each time you visit your dental office and update any
personal changes.
To make sure your dentist is participating in your particular Delta Dental plan's
network.

You and Your Dentist
Dentists who have chosen to participate with the Delta Dental of North Carolina (Delta Dental) network are independent contractors. The relationship between you and the participating dentist you select is strictly between you and the dentist. Delta Dental cannot and does not make any representations as to the competency of any individual dentists, quality of treatment, or outcomes, nor does Delta Dental recommend that a particular dentist be consulted for professional care. Your dentist's job is to coordinate the dental services you receive, from preventive dental care such as exams and cleanings, to dental treatment such as repairing a broken tooth or removing decay from a tooth and restoring the tooth with a filling. An ongoing relationship with your dentist increases your chances of receiving the best care possible, taking into consideration all aspects of your health, life and environment.

Scheduling an appointment
Call your dentist's office to make all appointments. You can find the phone numbers for Delta Dental participating dentists in the online dentist directory on this web site.

When you call your dental office, have your Delta Dental ID card ready. Identify yourself as a Delta Dental subscriber, and be ready to provide the group number, subscriber name and identification number on the card.

After-hours care
Call your dental office, even if it is after regular office hours. Your dental office will have an emergency number for assistance if an emergency occurs after hours. For routine and non-emergency care, it is best to call during regular business hours.

Getting advice on dental care
Your dentist and other dental professionals are available to answer questions about care of your teeth and mouth. Call your dental office when you have a question. Your dental office staff may be able to provide the information over the phone.

Making the Most of Your Dental Visit

Show your Delta Dental identification (ID) card at the time of each dental visit.
To assure that you receive full plan benefits, verify that your dentist participates in the Delta Dental network.
Discuss treatment options and costs with your dentist to help you select the best course of treatment.
Ask in advance if all recommended services are necessary and if there are alternatives available.
Check your explanation of benefits statement to make sure you received the services on this statement. Although rare, mistakes in billing do occur.
Finally, make sure you understand your particular benefit plan and are familiar with the specific benefits that it covers. Please note that not all of the Delta Dental plans are the same. Your plan's specific coverage has been determined by your employer - not Delta Dental of North Carolina.

Remember to verify your dentist's participation status at the time you make an appointment. Receiving care from a non-network dentist will result in reimbursement for services being paid directly to you. You will need to pay your dentist directly. Please note that the allowances for services may be significantly less than what Delta Dental would pay a Delta Dental participating dentist.

Making Informed Decisions
Start by asking questions. Having more information puts you in a better position to make informed decisions. Depending on your situation, you might consider asking questions like...

How much discomfort should I expect?
Can I expect all my symptoms to go away? When?
Will I need to make any changes in my lifestyle?
What is the cost of the treatment? What will the cost be to me?
What alternatives are available?
How many times have you done this procedure? How do your results compare with other dentists?
Will you send a treatment plan to Delta Dental for an estimate of benefits? How long will it take to get the pre-estimate back?
What kind of follow-up care do I need?
How will I look when the procedure has been completed?
What could happen if I delay this treatment?
How can I best care for my mouth after the treatment?
How can I prevent the following dental conditions or treatments:
- cavities
- bleeding gums
- root canals
Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?