Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: What happens at my first visit?
  • That all depends on what has brought you into the office.  If you are looking to establish yourself with a new dentist and/or are due for a routine examination, then your first appointment will consist of a thorough exam where Dr. Cooney will make sure that any concerns about your teeth are addressed as well as addressing any concerns he has about your teeth. This initial appointment will take about an hour.
    If you are having pain in a tooth, then you will be scheduled for a shorter, problem focused examination where treatment will be discussed and performed if time and budget permit. Dr. Cooney will make every effort to get you out of pain at this appointment, even if treatment cannot be completed. His main goal is to remove the discomfort and get you back to functioning with a clear head and pain-free mouth.
• Q: Will I get my teeth cleaned the day of my first appointment?
  • If you have no areas of your mouth suffering from gum disease, then your teeth will get cleaned during your initial appointment.  However, it is important that our patients and our office are prepared for the appointment by having all insurance information, completed paperwork, and everything else listed on the new patient paperwork checklist.  It is also important that we are able to spend your entire appointment time chairside discussing or performing treatment which is why we ask that our patient’s arrive on time or early for their appointments

• Q: Can I bring my children with me to my appointment?
  • Children are not allowed in the treatment while their parents are undergoing treatment for safety reasons. You should make arrangements for the care of your child during your appointment time. If you cannot find care for your child then your appointment will need to be rescheduled,subject to office policies and procedures.
• Q: My work shedule is unpredictable but I need to come in, how can Dr. Cooney help?
  • We offer early morning appointments and late afternoon/early evening appointments for our patients with hectic schedules. Due to the popularity of these appointment slots, 48 hour notice is required if you need to reschedule. Any last minute appointment changes are subject to being rescheduled at non-peak appointment times only.
• Q: What happens if I cannot make my appointment time?
  • Please notify us at least 48 hours before your appointment time. If your schedule is not predictible and you have trouble keeping your appointments, you can call us first thing each morning to check for avaiable appointments for that same day instead of scheduling and missing an appointment. This ensures that all of our patients get the care they need at times convenient for them.

• Q: What happens at my first visit?
  • That all depends on what has brought you into the office. If you are looking to establish yourself with a new dentist and/or are due for a routine examination, then your first appointment will consist of a thorough exam where Dr. Cooney will make sure that any concerns about your teeth are addressed as well as addressing any concerns he has about your teeth. This initial appointment will take about an hour. If you are having pain in a tooth, then you will be scheduled for a shorter, problem focused examination where treatment will be discussed and performed if time and budget permit. Dr. Cooney will make every effort to get you out of pain at this appointment, even if treatment cannot be completed. His main goal is to remove the discomfort and get you back to functioning with a clear head and pain-free mouth.
• Q: Will I get my teeth cleaned the day of my first appointment?
  • If you have no areas of your mouth suffering from gum disease, then your teeth will get cleaned during your initial appointment. However, it is important that our patients and our office are prepared for the appointment by having all insurance information, completed paperwork, and everything else listed on the new patient paperwork checklist. It is also important that we are able to spend your entire appointment time chairside discussing or performing treatment which is why we ask that our patient’s arrive on time or early for their appointments
• Q: What if I am a new patient in pain?
  • Please call our office immediately. Most of the time, we can fit you in about as soon as it takes you to arrive. When you call, please inform the office staff if you have any of the following:
  • • Severity of pain
    • Location of pain
    • Length of time you’ve been in pain
    • Swelling, if present
    • Presence of artificial heart valves and/or replacement joints
• Q: What should I bring with me to my first appointment?
  • Please bring all items listed on the new patient paperwork checklist. In addition, please bring any dentures, partials, nightguards, splints, or anything else that you think Dr. Cooney may want to look at.

• Q: Does Dr. Cooney take my insurance?
  • Dr. Cooney is in network for most PPO dental insurance. Please see our semi-comprehensive list or give our office a call to make sure.
• Q: My dental insurance has changed, what do I do?
  • Call our office and speak with one of our staff. Switching insurance is a common thing, especially at the bend or beginning of a calendar year, and should not pose a problem or cause an interruption in your dental care. As always, however, some changes are possible. We can help you navigate your insurance policy and answer any questions you may have.
• Q: I’ve been told I need XYZ treatment, why does my insurance say it isn’t a covered expense?
  • The insurance doesn’t process claims based on medical or dental necessity. The insurance company processes claims based on the contract limitations that your employer negotiated with them when they set your premiums. They have sole discretion in these decisions and can deny or approve a claim for any reason. An insurance company is not allowed to make determinations about treatment, only whether or not they cover it. The treatment decision is ultimately between you and Dr. Cooney. For more information about your dental insurance, please visit our page on dental insurance policies and myths.
• Q: What if I lose my dental insurance? How can I afford to continue to seeing Dr. Cooney?
  • Dr. Cooney offers an in-house dental discount program that greatly eases the burden of your dental care without insurance. Depending on your dental treatment needs, this program can actually be less expensive than your dental insurance premiums.
• Q: Will Dr. Cooney allow me to make payments after services are completed?
  • Some procedures require payment at the time of treatment while others require a payment before the treatment is started. We do this to keep our collections costs down to enable better service.
• Q: What financing programs does Dr. Cooney offer?
  • Dr. Cooney offers third party financing through Care Credit. Care credit offers interest free financing as well as longer term low interest plans to help you afford your dental care.
• Q: I am on a fixed budget, how can I have all my dental work done?
  • Most people fall into the category of having to watch their spending and Dr. Cooney’s staff has become very good at scheduling treatment in a manner that satisfies most budgets. If you have concerns about the cost of treatment and how to work it into your budget, please schedule a consult with Dr. Cooney. He will sit down with you and devise a plan of attack that will enable you to have your cake and eat it too!
• Q: I have received a statement saying that I owe more for treatment than I thought. Why is this?
  • Your insurance company sets the fees that are charged to you. We do our best to anticipate the insurance company’s decision on your claims, but since we have no control over insurance processing, we never know exactly what your coverage is until the claim is paid. That sounds strange, right? That is a rule that the insurance company has and we cannot change (and we’ve tried). The best thing we can tell our patients is to educate themselves on their insurance policy so that they know what their coverage is. This will minimize surprises after treatment.