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Patient Information
- Introduction
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Scheduling
- Financial Policy
- Insurance
- Sedation
- Privacy Policy
Contact Form
We monitor our appointment requests several times a day and will usually reply within one business day during open hours.
Welcome
Welcome to our practice website. We congratulate you on taking the first step toward better periodontal health. Please utilize this website as a resource. It will help you better understand your course of treatment and answer any questions related to periodontal therapy.
Dr. Jean-Pierre is a specialist in periodontics and implantology. Our practice specializes in conservative treatment of gum disease, cosmetic procedures to aesthetically enhance your smile, and dental implants that can replace single or multiple missing teeth. We also diagnose and treat oral pathology.
Although no one likes to go to the doctor or dentist, we strive to make your visits with us as comfortable and pleasant as possible. We strongly believe that our patient’s comfort is an important part of quality dental care.
Dr. Jean-Pierre believes that your right to choose a dentist is an important freedom. We work closely with your dentist, but a referral by a dentist is not required to visit our office. We also welcome referrals from patients and friends of the practice.
We are extraordinarily proud of our staff, which is comprised of caring and dedicated professionals. They ensure that the patient's surgical and administrative needs are met as efficiently and smoothly as possible.
Our goal is to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. We are here to listen to your questions and concerns and to help provide solutions leading to your better health. Please don't hesitate to e-mail us if you have any questions regarding your care, or call us at (615) 264-6404. Our fax number is (615) 264-0689.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Will Happen On My First Visit?
Please assist us at the time of your initial visit to the office by providing the following information:
- Your referral slip and x-rays from your referring dentist.
- A list of medications you are currently taking (please note that you can fill out your patient registration and medical history form on our website.)
- If you have dental insurance, please bring any forms or insurance cards with you to the appointment.
Please Note: All patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the consultation appointment.
Please notify the office if you have a medical condition or concern prior to surgery (e.g. artificial heart valves or joints, heart murmurs requiring pre-medication, severe diabetes, or hypertension).
We will complete an in-depth medical and dental health history and a thorough examination to measure for bone loss, loose teeth, bite, oral cancer screening, TMJ, and other signs of periodontal disease.
Will It Hurt?
We will be as gentle as possible. The periodontal exam can be completed with little or no discomfort.
Do I Need X-Rays?
We will need current periodontal x-rays in order to see disease not otherwise visible. If your referring dentist has taken x-rays, you may request that they be forwarded to us.
What Will It Cost?
Since all patients are different, your periodontist must complete your examination before establishing your treatment plan and the fee for care. The fee for periodontal treatment can vary considerably depending on the type of problems and the complexity and length of treatment. An approximate fee can usually be determined at the initial visit; but on occasion, some initial treatment or further diagnostics must be completed before the final treatment plan can be established. Our philosophy of practice is to treat as conservatively as possible to attain treatment goals
Will My Insurance Cover The Cost?
Dental insurance policies often cover a portion of periodontal treatment. Please bring all medical and dental benefit information and cards to your examination appointment. Upon request, we will submit a claim to predetermine your insurance benefits; however, this is not required by most plans.
Will I Need Surgery?
Not everyone needs periodontal surgery. If treated early, gum disease can be controlled without surgery. We will make recommendations based on your individual situation. Our philosophy of practice is to treat as conservatively as possible to attain treatment goals
Can My Teeth Be Saved?
The recent advances in periodontal treatment allow us to successfully treat most teeth.
When Will I Go Back To My General Dentist?
Our office and your dentist will work closely together. If crowns and fillings are needed your dentist will provide them. Regular visits to your dentist are an important part of periodontal maintenance.
What If I Don't Have Gum Treatment?
Periodontal disease is a progressive, painless infection. Delay can cause you further bone loss and more expense. If your teeth are lost, dentures are never as effective as your own teeth.
Scheduling
Dr. Jean-Pierre is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We will schedule your appointment as promptly as possible. Please allow approximately (90) minutes for your initial visit. If you have pain or an emergency situation, every attempt will be made to see you that day.
We try to stay on schedule to minimize waiting at the time of your appointment. Referral of emergency patients can cause delays to the schedule, and your understanding and patience are very much appreciated.
Financial Information
Our doctor and staff are proud to be a team whose primary mission is to deliver the finest and most comprehensive periodontal services available today. We are concerned about your dental care and want to ensure you that it is performed in the most responsible manner. Our policies have been designed to keep our office running efficiently and make it comfortable for our patients to receive needed care. In order to assist you with the investment in your dental health, we have a variety of options for our patients such as extended payment plans and interest free loans. Please feel free to discuss these options with our financial personnel.
For your convenience, payments may be made with cash, personal check, and bank draft, Discover, Visa, or MasterCard. If you have any problems or questions, please ask our staff. They are well informed and up-to-date. They can be reached by phone at (615) 264-6404 or by fax at 615-264-0689. Our office location is 100 Springhouse Court, Suite 220, Hendersonville, TN 37075. Please call if you have any questions or concerns regarding your initial visit.
Insurance Information
Our insurance coordinators deal with many different insurance companies. Some companies offer many different dental and medical plans. These companies can change benefits, co-pays, and deductibles many times throughout the year. We do our best to provide you with accurate coverage estimates based on information available to us. At times, it is almost impossible to accurately estimate a patient’s insurance co-payment. Further, most dental insurance policies are limited and often only pay for a portion of the procedure(s) that may need to be done. Many insurance companies will not give out fees until after the treatment is completed. Dealing with these companies can be difficult and time consuming. As a courtesy, we ask that you keep us informed of any change to your insurance. It is important that all information about you and your insurance is current.
Some important points about dental insurance:
- Our treatment recommendations and fees are based on your needs, not what your insurance may or may not provide for.
- Some insurance companies will use confusing language, such as “usual and customary fees,” to define what they will pay for. These reasons are typically based on the quality of policy you have but have nothing to do with usual or customary.
- As a courtesy to our patients with medical and/or dental benefit plans, we will submit necessary claim forms, receipts, and other information to your insurance company to make sure you are reimbursed as promptly as possible.
- Although we will gladly file your claim on your behalf, you may wish to submit the claim yourself. In general, insurers process claims filed directly by patients faster than those filed by the service providers (dental offices).
Sedation
Nitrous Oxide: Also known as laughing gas, a sweet smelling, non-irritating, colorless gas you can breathe. The patients are able to breathe on their own and remain in control of all bodily functions. The patient may experience mild amnesia and may fall asleep not remembering all of what happened during their appointment. There is no after effect with nitrous oxide and you do not need a driver for this type of sedation.
Oral Sedation: Sometimes called “Sedation Dentistry”, is administered by taking a pill. The medications used for Oral Conscious Sedation in dentistry may be Lorazepam, or other similar medications. These oral medications are given to a patient the night before a procedure or 1-2 hours before their appointment, depending on the severity of anxiety. Not only do these medications have a sedative effect, most people also experience some degree of amnesia. The patient will often fall asleep.
Intravenous Sedation: Conscious sedation administered intravenously. This type of sedation provides a moderate level of sedation that is deeper, more reliable and controllable and is easily adjusted to the needs of the individual patient. The medications used in IV sedation may be Versed or Valium and Demerol. Patients normally fall asleep and remember little or nothing about their dental appointment.
We are committed to minimizing stress and maximizing safety. We’ll minimize discomfort prior to starting an IV with a local numbing medication. While your sedation is still in effect, we give you analgesic medication to ensure that you will be comfortable when the anesthetic wears off. Of course, the type of pain control will be determined on an individual basis according to your needs. We will keep you safe, healthy and happy.
Privacy Policy
This form, Notice of Privacy Practices, presents the information that federal law requires us to give our patients regarding our privacy practices.
This notice is a pdf document which requires the Adobe Reader software. You most likely already have this software on your computer. However, if you have difficulty reading the notice, please click here to install Acrobat Reader.
