Information for Patients
Below you will find information regarding some of the questions we often receive, including:
What to expect for your appointment:
We aim to provide same-day treatment to patients with a "true dental emergency". Due to the nature of this office, waiting and treatment times may vary. Priority will be given to the most emergent issue that is at the office that day. Thank you for your understanding and patience! This is also why we ask that you always call to make an appointment first, so that we can better manage the workflow based on the schedule and our staffing that day!
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If you have a regular dentist, then you should attempt to contact their office if you have a dental emergency. If they are unable to attend to your issue, then we would gladly see you and assess your need. We work closely with all dental offices in the Annapolis Valley and surrounding areas. We know how important continuing care is for both the patient and dental providers. If treatment is performed at Fundy Dental Centre, a report will be returned to your regular dentist with the clinical notes and x-ray from your visit with us.
Our Space
Our office is set up similar to an emergency room at a hospital. We triage patients, and try to treat the most urgent patients same-day if we are able to! If your situation is not a "dental emergency", then we may triage you but book you back on another day for your treatment. The office is busy but we try to get everyone through in a timely fashion. If you have to wait a bit, we do appreciate your patience and understanding!
Reception
Our receptionists will greet you as you arrive. They will register you in our computer system and provide you with a short intake form (including your medical history) to fill out. Please bring a current list of your medications and insurance details (Primary Insurance/Secondary Insurance, NIHB, ESA, MSI, etc.)
- At the end of your appointment, you will also stop back at the Reception Desk to settle your bill. (All payment is due at the end of your appointment.)
- At then end of your appointment, the Reception Desk is where you will receive your prescriptions, and book your next appointment. (If applicable)
Exam &
X-rays
Our dental assistants will bring you to one of the triage rooms for an x-ray specific to your problem. This could be a small one for a single tooth complaint, larger smile shot (panoramic) if there are multiple teeth or wisdom teeth that concern you, or a 3D scan for dental implant placement or other diagnostic challenges.
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A dentist will then come into the room to discuss your current dental issue with you, examine the issue, and to review the xray images. Then they will provide you with their professional diagnosis and propose next steps or a treatment plan.
Treatment
We aim to provide same-day treatment to patients with a "true dental emergency". Due to the nature of this office, waiting times may vary. Priority will be given to the most emergent issue that is at the office that day. Thank you for your understanding and patience!
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Dental work at Fundy Dental Centre is similar to most dental offices. All of our dentists on staff are competent and capable of diagnosing and treating dental emergencies. Some of the specialized procedures can only be completed by specific dentists with additional training (sedation, dental implant placement, advanced oral surgery) and patients needing these appointments will be scheduled accordingly.
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For an "emergency dental issue", they may advise you to have the tooth extracted, or (if the tooth is savable) they may recommend to start a root canal to get you out of the immediate discomfort, or they may determine that it is best to just get you sent home with a prescription that day and to book you back for treatment after the prescription is completed.
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For an "urgent dental issue" or other dental treatment, they may do treatment same-day if able to, but they may need to book you back on another day for the treatment. This might be the next day, or within a few weeks, or (for sedation) it may be a month-out depending on the available appointments. We always aim to get you treatment as quickly as possible!
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NOTE: All payments for Exam, Xrays, and Treatment are due at the end of your appointment. We do not do billing or payment plans.
What our office is not:
The commitment of Fundy Dental Centre is to provide a dental office where patients with an emergency can get treatment promptly. This office is not intended to perform regular check-ups and cleanings. We can, however, provide details about a dental office in your area that can help you with your regular dental care.
We do provide some other services as well. For a full list of the services provided at Fundy Dental Centre please click here.
Payment / Dental Fees / Insurance
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Dental Fees
Our office follows the current year of the Nova Scotia Dental Association (NSDA) suggested fee guide for pricing the cost of dental treatment and services. We can provide a printout of your suggested treatment plan so that you are aware of the costs involved, listed out by procedure and steps/appointments.
Payment
We do expect payment in full at each appointment. Unfortunately, we do not provide payment plans. If a patient has dental insurance, then they must cover the balance of their insurance claim (we submit these electronically and often know the balance immediately).
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Payment Methods: cash, cheque, e-transfers, debit, or credit card
Insurance
Patients with private dental insurance can assign their insurance benefit to our office, so only the balance after coverage is due at each appointment. We will submit dental insurance claims electronically at the end of your appointment. To facilitate this service, please bring the appropriate insurance information to your appointment.
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Not all insurance carriers provide an "explanation of benefits" stating how much they will cover of that day's appointment fees, and in these cases patients are expected to pay in full the day the procedures are completed. We will then reverse the claim, and print off a "standard dental form" that you can submit to your insurance company (along with your receipt as proof-of-payment) to get whatever money you are entitled to back from them.
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​Our office does not know the details of your private insurance plan. Our dentists recommend treatment based on an individual’s need, which may or may not be covered by the insurance policy. Patients are responsible for all charges for services provided, including those not covered by their insurance policy.
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At a patients request, we can submit a pre-determination before beginning treatment to discover which procedures are covered by each policy. Sometimes the results of a pre-determination do not come back immediately. So you may have to wait to receive their response, before you wish to proceed with the treatment. ​
OTHER INSURANCE TYPES: NIHB, Military, MSI, Disability, ESA (Social Assistance)
Please call our office for information on these specific types of insurance regarding coverage, co-pay amounts you may need to pay, requirements, etc.
Email Transfers
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Login to your online banking site, follow the links and instructions for this payment type
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Please use the following address to send payment: fundydental@bellaliant.com
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Use the question: Where is your office located? and then put the answer: Coldbrook
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In the notes section, include the full name of the patient the payment is for. (So we can apply the payment to the correct account.)
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Please contact the office to let us know that you sent the payment, to ensure we received it.
Office Policies & Forms
Consults & Referrals
If you have dental questions or concerns that are not classified as a true emergency as we define it, we are still happy to provide you with a consultation to best provide our opinion and diagnosis, including consults for things such as dentures or implants.
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Patients that have a regular dentist, but are interested in treatment at our office should consult with their own dentist first. We would prefer a referral letter from your own dentist with the specific treatment planned, and any radiographs already taken can be forwarded to our office.
Cell Use
Our office provides free Wi-Fi so that you can connect and use your devices while waiting for your appointment to start or when you are with another patient. In consideration, we ask that ringers on cellphones are turned off when in the dental operatories. During treatment, feel free to bring your own headphones to listen to your own music if that makes you feel more relaxed and comfortable. And in the reception area, we ask that you use headphones if you have your sound enabled as well.
Prescribing Medications
Our office has a strict policy to treat the source of the dental pain or infection. WE DO NOT PRESCRIBE NARCOTICS FOR PAIN RELIEF. Patients that are not looking for definitive care and are unable to take conventional pain medication should seek treatment at the local emergency room.
Privacy
Our patient’s privacy is of the utmost importance. We conform to all PIPIDA guidelines and would never share any personal information without prior consent.
Forms
For your convenience, these patient forms can be printed off and completed before you come into Fundy Dental Centre for treatment. However, it is not mandatory, as you can also receive and complete them upon your arrival.
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There are also files you can download regarding Post-Op Instructions for specific treatments.
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Pre-Operative Instructions: IV Sedation
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Post-Operative Instructions: IV Sedation