FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really do everything inside our community?
Yes. The process is simple. We don’t even need access to water. We work out of nursing offices, activity rooms, empty apartments, and even bedside. We have state-of-the-art dental equipment with digital x-rays and photos. It’s amazing to think you can have a dental office set up in your home in 10 minutes!
How often do you visit communities?
We are available for emergency calls 24 hours a day for established patients. For most of our partnered communities, we are on a regular visitation schedule for dental cleanings every 30 or 60 days, however, we can be there sooner for dental treatment or emergency care.
What about residents with dentures or partials?
We do that too! We have an in-house denture and partial lab that gives us quick turnaround times. Most people think that because someone has dentures, they don’t need to see a dentist. Not true! Dentures should be evaluated at least once a year and twice a year if there are implants supporting the denture. Poor fitting dentures and partials can cause multiple problems including: eating/speaking problems, fungal infections, bacterial pneumonia, oral ulcerations and oral cancer, and much more! Call our office to have your dentures and partials evaluated.
How can it cost so much less than traditional dentistry when you come right into our community?
That is the beauty of technology. We have developed an innovative approach to dentistry that streamlines the process and cuts down on our overhead expenses. We pass the savings along to our patients.
What insurances do you take?
We can submit to most dental PPO plans. Our office would be happy to contact your resident’s dental PPO insurance carrier and review your insurance benefits in detail with your residents prior to an appointment. If your insurance plan does not have a dental component, no worries! We have a dental saving plan that has no deductibles or limits!
Do you help communities stay in compliance with state health regulations?
Yes. This is a huge benefit to communities. We help our partners understand exactly where their residents stand in terms of oral health. This protects both the community and the resident.
Can we list in-house dentistry as an amenity to prospects?
Sure. A partnership with SBD is a huge benefit to residents … both because of convenience and because of the amount of money they will save on treatments.
Do you do in-services?
Yes! We like to combine them with a free screening program for residents. This way we can discuss real situations with caregivers.
What is involved in a community partnership?
We love to partner with progressive communities who are serious about making sure their residents are as happy and healthy as possible. There are different ways to partner, but we need participation from residents and feedback from staff to make sure we are doing the best job possible for the most people.
What is needed for a second opinion?
We offer complimentary dental second opinions. If a resident has seen a dentist within the last 6 months and wants another option for dental treatment, a more convenient house-call appointment or just wants better customer service…contact our office with your current dental office’s information and we would be happy to offer a complementary second opinion.
When does a resident need a doctor’s medical clearance?
We need a written physician’s clearance in a patient’s chart to clear the patient for dental care for certain situations. Examples of these situations would include:
If the patient had a heart attack/heart surgery/stroke within the last 6 months.
If the patient is on a prescription blood thinner and needs extractions.
If the patient is on a prescription bisphosphonate medication and needs extractions.
If the patient had a heart attack/heart surgery/stroke within the last 6 months.
If the patient is on a prescription blood thinner and needs extractions.
If the patient is on a prescription bisphosphonate medication and needs extractions.
Is it sanitary to have a house call dental visit?
Yes! In fact we abide by the same protocol as hospitals by using tuberculocidal disinfection solutions for surface cleaning, so we actually leave the area cleaner than when we arrived! We use medical autoclaves to sterilize our instruments and our autoclaves follow the CDC requirement of weekly spore testing to ensure that the sterilizers are working at 100%.
Some dental offices do in-house testing, but Smiles by Delivery takes it one step further to protect our patients. We choose to have our autoclaves checked weekly by a third party infection control company. If you are worried about saliva a splatter, again, we have our unit in a controlled setting and use our hospital grade cleaners….so now think about all the times residents and neighbors are coughing and sneezing….and not cleaning up after they disperse germs!
Is this mobile dental service a bus that parks outside?
Smiles by Delivery makes our services very convenient for you by offering true housecall dental services. No need to worry about climbing up into a bus or being exposed to the elements of the AZ weather! We come directly to the patient and set up in the comforts of their home. All of our equipment is portable, including our cutting edge handheld x ray cameras and digital dental scanners. This process also allows more accessibility to even offer bedside care to patients who may be wheelchair-bound or bed-bound.
Are all the appointments mobile?
Yes, we have multiple teams that are dispatched daily to provide on-site appointments at our patients’ residence and each team is specialized in dental hygiene, dental treatment and even denture care.
Does your office take Medicare?
Medicare alone does not cover routine dental services. Medicare will cover dental in hospital settings associated with physical trauma/injuries. Members are given the option to enroll in a separate Medicare Advantage plan that may include comprehensive dental benefits through a third-party dental insurance company. Smiles by Delivery does accept some of the third-party dental plans, so please contact our office and have your plan information available.
If you do not have dental insurance, please ask us about our optional Think Prevention Discount Plans that can reduce the overall cost of routine dental hygiene appointments.
Besides routine exams/cleanings, what types of dental services can you provide?
Smiles by Delivery is a general dental office. Aside from routine dental exams and cleanings, we also provide periodontal therapy,fillings, crowns, bridges,
What is digital dentistry and do you offer it?
Digital dentistry involves using the latest technology of digital scanners to create a 3D model of the teeth and mouth to fabricate crowns, bridges and dentures. This process gives our dentists and labs the amazing details needed to fabricate even more precise crowns, bridges and even dentures. Digital dentistry also allows our office to store the digital files, which adds the ability of quickly reproducing dentures that become lost or broken.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes, we are accepting new patients. Please contact Smiles by Delivery to discuss scheduling and the required registration forms our office will need to coordinate the new patient appointment.
My parents do not have insurance, are there other options or discounts available?
Yes, Smiles by Delivery also accepts Care Credit. We also have our optional Think Prevention Discount Plans that can reduce the overall cost of routine dental hygiene appointments.
If I am enrolled in one of the Think Prevention plans, do I have to remember to call Smiles by Delivery to schedule each of the dental cleanings for the program year? How does scheduling work?
Since we do book out months in advance, our Hygiene Coordinator will reserve your next hygiene appointments at the completion of each cleaning. As we approach your upcoming hygiene appointment, our office will contact the responsible parties in the patient’s care to confirm the appointment.
Do I need a referral to be seen?
A referral is not required to utilize our mobile dental services. Please contact Smiles by Delivery to discuss scheduling a new patient appointment.
How does scheduling work? Do I have to contact the nursing facility to coordinate the visit for my family member?
If there is a nursing facility or group home involved, our office takes care of contacting all the parties involved (including but not limited to: legal guardians, power of attorneys, social workers, group home managers, nursing facility health care coordinators, facility nurses, etc.) to coordinate the dental appointment so that everyone is aware of the upcoming dental appointment
I am a power of attorney for my father, but I live out of state. How do we work around completing the registration forms/consent forms?
Our registration forms and consent forms are available online. No need for any printing, scanning, or uploading of our dental forms. Our dental forms can be completed on tablets, smartphones, and computers.
Smiles by Delivery is a House-Call Dental Practice that is providing Complementary Dental Screenings! Call Today for Details on How to Register! 623-584-GRIN (4746)
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serve you and answer any questions
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serve you and answer any questions
you may have!