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Brian C McDowell D.D.S. LVIF
558 Electric Avenue, Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-704-8329
www.brianmcdowelldds.com

5/31/2020,

To Our Practice Family,

We hope this letter finds you and your family healthy!  Our community has been through a lot these past few months, and we are all looking forward to getting back to “normal”.  While many things have changed, one thing that has remained the same is our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our office, as you have seen during your visits.  Our infection control protocols have been designed so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable.  We want to remind of the infection control protocols we follow and inform you of additional changes that we have made.

Our office has always followed infection control protocols endorsed by the American Dental Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any and all new rulings or guidance that is issued.

You will see some changes when it is time for your next appointment.  We made these changes to protect our guests as well as our team.  For example:

  1. Our office will contact you before your appointment to ask screening questions.  You will be asked the same when you arrive for your appointment
  2. We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use as you enter the office.  You will find this sanitizer throughout our office.
  3. You will be asked to come alone for your appointment or only one parent if a minor.  This will enable us to have fewer people in the office for social distancing.
  4. Appointments will be scheduled to allow social distancing.  The appointments will be staggered which means there may be fewer options available for scheduling your appointment
  5. We will do our best to allow greater time between guests to minimize your wait.
  6. We will be using enhanced protocols between each guest to ensure your safety

We look forward to seeing you all again- it has been way too long since we have been with our practice family!  We are happy to answer any and all of your questions or concerns about the new, enhanced protocols we are using to keep you and us safe.  To make an appointment, give us a call at 978-704-8329

, and for more information, visit our website: www.brianmcdowelldds.com.

Thank you for being part of our practice family.  We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming you back to our practice!

Sincerely,

Brian C McDowell D.D.S. LVIF, Christine Hache R.D.H., Marylisa Allen R.D.H., Gabriella Perez

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Call Today978-401-9081 Request an Appointment
558 Electric Avenue, Fitchburg, MA, 01420
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Doctor
      • Dr. Brian McDowell
    • Meet the Team
    • Why Choose Us
    • Tour the Office
    • FAQ
  • Our Dental Services
    • General Dentistry
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Teeth Contouring
    • Restorative Dentistry
    • Dental Implants
    • Dental Emergencies
    • TMJ Treatment / Teeth Grinding
    • Sleep Apnea
  • Patient Testimonials
    • Smile Gallery
  • Patient Resources
    • Patient Forms
    • Payment Options
    • I Need a New Dentist
    • I Can’t Stop Snoring!
    • I’m Having Trouble Chewing
  • Virtual Smile Assessment
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  • Search
Home > Blog > Revisiting Dental Insurance

Revisiting Dental Insurance

December 12, 2018

We are always getting questions about insurance. We did have a blog post about this back in May, 2016, but still there is much confusion, so I thought I would try to shed some more light on dental insurance.

As we mentioned in our first blog about insurance, dental insurance started in the 1970’s and the benefit hasn’t increased since then, still between $1,000 and $1,500 per year. And, you can’t use this without restriction and limitations. So, we have now decided to term “dental insurance” more of a coupon for dental care. Let me try to explain this. You have $1,000 in coupons that you can use per year. Now, your cleanings, x-rays, and exams are covered almost entirely by your coupon, so you will have little to pay out of pocket for these procedures. We recommend that you take full advantage of this! Your 2 cleanings and exams will be the best value for your coupon. BUT, the cleanings and exams do count to your total coupon value of $1,000. When we move into discussing fillings, your coupon will cover some of the cost, but your co-pay, the amount you pay out of pocket, will be greater. Again, you still only get $1,000 per year. If you need major work such as; crowns, dentures, bridges, or implants, this coupon covers even less, meaning that your out of pocket expense is more. Most of these procedures are over your $1,000 per year each, so the coupon will help, but doesn’t cover very much.

The other confusing part is we can’t tell you how much your coupon will cover for any procedure. Your insurance company uses their own formula for deciding what they will cover and how much they will pay for each of those services. You do need to remember, your insurance company is in the business to make money, not to pay for your work, so they will pay for as little as possible.

In conclusion, we will work to get you as much as we can from your insurance for each visit. We will file the claims, call when we need to, and write letters on your behalf to get you everything that we can.

If you have any questions about your insurance, or would like to find out more about our office, please give Bettina a call at 978-401-9081.

I would like to thank one of my colleagues- Dr. Mac Lee for the resource to help write this post.
-Dr. McDowell

What Our Patients Are Saying

K. J. (Verified Patient) | Jan 08, 2021
5
Very clean and super friendly environment...

Very clean and super friendly environment...

W. H. (Verified Patient) | Jan 08, 2021
5
Office took all precautions for covid. They are very careful and follow all the recommended...
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Office took all precautions for covid. They are very careful and follow all the recommended protocols. Dr. McDowell takes time to answer questions and explain. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Always feel welcome whenever I have an appointment. ( Posted by Edith)

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5
Although I am still in the midst of treatment, I have to say that Dr....
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Although I am still in the midst of treatment, I have to say that Dr. McDowell has gone above and beyond in his treatment of my TMD, making himself available when necessary and doing his best to provide treatment, comfort, and relief. Dr. McDowell's staff has been excellent to work with as well; I find them very accommodating and in this COVID era, they seem to do everything possible to ensure that they provide treatment in a clean and sterile environment.

C. M. (Verified Patient) | Dec 09, 2020
5
Although I am still in the midst of treatment, I have to say that Dr....
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Although I am still in the midst of treatment, I have to say that Dr. McDowell has gone above and beyond in his treatment of my TMD, making himself available when necessary and doing his best to provide treatment, comfort, and relief. Dr. McDowell's staff has been excellent to work with as well; I find them very accommodating and in this COVID era, they seem to do everything possible to ensure that they provide treatment in a clean and sterile environment.

P. G. (Verified Patient) | Dec 04, 2020
4
Brian McDowell DDS is/ has been consistently great. Friendly professional staff, with very good Covid-19...
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Brian McDowell DDS is/ has been consistently great. Friendly professional staff, with very good Covid-19 safety protocols. I have high hopes for their continued excellence.

P. G. (Verified Patient) | Dec 04, 2020
4
Brian McDowell DDS is/ has been consistently great. Friendly professional staff, with very good Covid-19...
Read More

Brian McDowell DDS is/ has been consistently great. Friendly professional staff, with very good Covid-19 safety protocols. I have high hopes for their continued excellence.

P. G. (Verified Patient) | Dec 04, 2020
4
Brian McDowell DDS is/ has been consistently great. Friendly professional staff, with very good Covid-19...
Read More

Brian McDowell DDS is/ has been consistently great. Friendly professional staff, with very good Covid-19 safety protocols. I have high hopes for their continued excellence.

S. H. (Verified Patient) | Oct 21, 2020
5
Such kind people. The staff treated me so well...even offered a warmed neck pillow! Dr...
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Such kind people. The staff treated me so well...even offered a warmed neck pillow! Dr McDowell did such a comprehensive exam. I am confident that they will help resolve TMJ. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone in this dental office!

S. H. (Verified Patient) | Oct 21, 2020
5
Such kind people. The staff treated me so well...even offered a warmed neck pillow! Dr...
Read More

Such kind people. The staff treated me so well...even offered a warmed neck pillow! Dr McDowell did such a comprehensive exam. I am confident that they will help resolve TMJ. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone in this dental office!

S. H. (Verified Patient) | Oct 21, 2020
5
Such kind people. The staff treated me so well...even offered a warmed neck pillow! Dr...
Read More

Such kind people. The staff treated me so well...even offered a warmed neck pillow! Dr McDowell did such a comprehensive exam. I am confident that they will help resolve TMJ. I look forward to continuing to work with everyone in this dental office!

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558 Electric Avenue, Fitchburg, MA, 01420
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Call Today to make an Appointment 978-401-9081 Request an Appointment

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558 Electric Avenue, Fitchburg, MA, 01420

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  • Tuesday 8am- 6pm
  • Wednesday 8am- 5pm
  • Thursday 8am- 6pm
  • Friday By Appt. Only
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed

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Call Today to make an Appointment 978-401-9081 Request an Appointment

Location

558 Electric Avenue, Fitchburg, MA, 01420

Office Hours

  • Monday By Appt. Only
  • Tuesday 8am- 6pm
  • Wednesday 8am- 5pm
  • Thursday 8am- 6pm
  • Friday By Appt. Only
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed

Latest Blog Articles

Repair Cavities With Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings

You've probably noticed other people with unattractive silver fillings when they've been eating, talking, or laughing. ...

Read More
6 Tips for Easing Sleep Apnea Symptoms

People may joke about your loud snoring, but sleep apnea is no joke. Research has linked the disorder to many health ...

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