| Question | Answer |
| What is Concierge Dentistry? | Concierge dentistry is a more personalized, patient-centered model of care. Instead of rushing patients through crowded schedules and insurance red tape, your enrollment offers exclusive benefits, smooth operations, and a focus on quality over volume. |
| What is a “True” dental emergency. | While it is a subjective term, most true emergencies involve pain that is not resolving and may keep you up at night. Swelling around a tooth, or in the facial region near the tooth that may be painful to the touch and warm. I also consider significan damage (eg. a break) to a front tooth, especially before a meeting or event to be an emergency. |
| I see a crack in my tooth, what are my options? | Depending on the size, depth, and associated symptoms, it may be something you just have to be careful with, like a crack in your windshild. Some may require a filliing to stop the progression, and some may be best treated with a crown. This is the importance of individualized care, and not cookie-cutter dentistry. |
| My crown came off! What do I do. | Try to keep the portion that came off. We can take a look and determine what caused the crown to come off and if we can do a simple recement, or if the tooth tooth requires other treatment. |
| What if I only need cleanings twice a year? | Great! We’ve got you covered. If your dental needs are minimal and you don’t want to take advantage of concierge benefits, that’s ok, you can still use your insurance, pay out-of pocket, or sign up for our Basic Plan. New patients will be required to have new x-rays taken or bring in or email their most recent (within 1 year) set of x-rays with them, and have a comprehensive exam with the doctor. |
| Is this insurance? | No, the plans we offer are not classified as insurance. The fee you pay is applied solely in our office and includes access to certain benefits and services. |
| I have insurance, can I still use it? | If you have PPO insurance, you can still utilize your benefits outside of what we offer. We are considered an out-of-network provider and will send a claim into your insurance. |
| I’m not sure if concierge dentistry is right for me, can I can I come in and speak with you about it? | This model isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it’s completely okay to have questions. You’re more than welcome to come in and we can perform a comprehensive exam and evaluation prior to you making your decision. There’s no pressure or sales pitch—just an open, honest conversation to help you decide what’s best for you. If you’d rather pay full-fee and out of pocket, you may do that. |
| What are emergency house calls? | Our concierge guests will have access to emergency house visits – something almost unheard of in modern dentistry. Premier Plan participants have this included in their care plan. Essential Plan participants can access this service for a fee. These are for true dental emergencies and are triaged based on need, doctor availability, and location. |
| I’m not a current patient, but I have a dental emergency, can I come in? | Yes! We will not turn away dental emergencies. We can help alleviate pain and discomfort. You pay a simple emergecny fee and if you choose to continue with treatment, then we would require you to enroll in one of our plans |
| Can I use my HSA or FSA to pay for the concierge or Basic plan? | In many cases, yes. While we recommend checking with your provider, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) often cover plan fees for medical and dental care. |
| Will I have access to the dentist directly? | Those with the concierge plans will have direct contact with me (Dr. Brugnone) for urgent questions or concerns. While I may not always be immediately available, I’ll do my best to respond quickly and personally. Respect for boundaries and balance is key for both sides. |
| Do I have to pay for my treatment up front, or do you send a claim to insurance first? | Because we are an out-of-network provider, all fees need to be paid at the time of service. After your claim is submitted, your insurance will reimburse whatever they decide to cover. Think of it as being similar to your pet insurance, or a rebate plan. |
DOWNTOWN DENTAL SOLVANG - ROBERT A BRUGNONE, DDS, INC. 