FAQ

Fees vary depending on the procedure. Because of this, it is impossible for our office to give you an accurate estimate over the phone without an initial consultation and x-ray analysis. However, there are a few general costs to be aware of. Most extractions (not including impacted wisdom teeth) can range anywhere from $195 to $325 but this can vary depending on the complexity of your situation. If nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is to be used, or if you require an x-ray, additional charges will also apply. If you are to have a single tooth removed that is not an impacted tooth, the entire fee is due the day of service. We will reimburse you any insurance payment. For multiple extractions and/or impacted teeth, if you have insurance, a portion of the fee will be due the day of surgery. We will inform you of the cost due prior to your procedure. If you do not have insurance, payment for the services are due in full at the time services are rendered.

If you are to have your third molars (wisdom teeth) removed, implant(s), a biopsy, multiple extractions or more extensive procedures, a consultation is strongly suggested. At this consultation appointment, an estimated total fee will be provided, and once we contact your insurance company, your estimated out-of-pocket expense will also be given to you. This out-of-pocket expense depends on a few factors, such as deductible remaining, copay, amount of insurance already used (yearly maximum allowed), and the percentage covered by your insurance company. 

We accept payment in the form of cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. We also offer payment plans through Care Credit. At the time of your procedure, you will have an estimated out-of-pocket amount due, which is a percentage of the total fee that your insurance company has estimated you will owe.

After you pay your estimated portion and after your insurance company pays its share, there may be a remaining balance for which we can set up payment arrangements with you.

Please note: Dr. Hornaday no longer accepts personal checks as a form of payment. 

Dr. Hornaday is specifically contracted with only Medicaid and Delta Dental Premier, he will submit to all insurance policies (except Medicare as he has opted out of Medicare).

Also note that insurance is not intended, and has never been intended, to cover the entire cost of your procedure. Insurance is there to assist you with the total fee. You can expect to pay an out-of-pocket expense on the day of your procedure, which our office will inform you of prior to your procedure.

Please bring both your dental and medical insurance information with you to your appointment, as general medical insurance may cover more than your dental coverage can. 

Insurance coverage varies from policy to policy. Some insurance companies cover our entire fee and others cover only a small percentage. The percentage covered depends largely on the policy you or your employer have selected. Most dental insurance policies have a yearly maximum of $1000 to $1500. Some of this maximum may have already been applied to your general dentist or other dental provider and will affect how much your insurance will still cover.

Some medical insurance companies may cover your procedure. If submitting your claim to your medical insurance provider, please be aware that you may have a deductible with your plan that needs to be met prior to your insurance company paying your claim.

Some insurance companies also have a waiting period. During this time the insurance company does not apply any health benefits. Waiting periods vary from three months to a year, depending on your situation. If you have recently received a new policy, it is highly recommended that you check with your insurance company to see if there is a waiting period and how long it is. If you are within the waiting period when your procedure is rendered, your services are not covered and you will be responsible for all costs. 

It is not required to set up a consultation; however, for procedures such as wisdom teeth, implants, multiple extractions, pathology, and more extensive procedures and those people with an extensive medical history, it is highly recommended. You will undoubtedly have questions prior to your procedure that are appropriately and accurately answered in person often because an examination of you and a recent, appropriate x-ray details the proper procedure and costs. Everyone is unique and therefore must be evaluated as such. At the consultation appointment, you will meet Dr. Hornaday, discuss your procedure, and review any questions you may have. During this time, our office will also collect your insurance information so that we may contact your insurance company and give you an estimate of your out-of-pocket expense. If you do not have insurance, you will know up front what you must cover prior to returning for your procedure. The consultation prevents any surprises or unanswered questions on the day of your procedure. 

No. Patients may schedule an appointment with Dr. Hornaday without a referral from anyone.

An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon is a specialist in the field of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, diseases and defects of the head and neck region. They complete four years of college, four years of dental school, and four to six years of a surgical residency before full consideration as a surgeon.

The scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery is very broad and ranges from simple tooth extractions to very complex head and neck cancer reconstructions. Each surgeon limits his/her practice according to the ability based on the training received. The more common procedures performed by an oral surgeon on a day to day basis include the removal of teeth, dental implants, facial fractures, and biopsy of hard (bone) and soft tissue for pathological analysis. 

Many general dentists do remove teeth and are very good at it. However, your dentist has chosen to send you to an oral surgeon for one reason or another. Your dentist may feel that your extraction(s) will be too complex or difficult or he/she may simply not be comfortable removing teeth and feels that you are better served in the hands of a specialist. Oral Surgeons remove thousands of teeth a year and are therefore very competent at what they do – just as your dentist is experienced in restoring your mouth and smile using complex crown, bridge, and cosmetic procedures. 

No. Dr. Hornaday is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and as such does not clean, fill or whiten teeth, perform root canals, make dentures, or place braces. For these procedures you must see your general dentist or other dental specialist. 

There are nine recognized dental specialties and they include:

Dental Public Health: Dental public health is the science of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts. It is the form of dental practice that targets the community as the patient over the individual. It is concerned with: the dental health education of the public, applied dental research, and the administration of group dental care programs, as well as the prevention and control of dental diseases on a community basis. (Adopted May 1976)

Endodontics (Root Canal Specialist): Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that is concerned with the morphology (form and structure), physiology (functions), and pathology (diseases and their causes) of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues (the tissues outside and around the tooth). Its study and practice encompass the basic and clinical sciences, including biology of the normal pulp, the etiology (causes and origins), diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp, and associated periradicular conditions. (Adopted December 1983)

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. It is a science that investigates the causes, processes, and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral pathology includes research and diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical, or other examinations. (Adopted May 1991)

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: Oral and maxillofacial radiology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and data produced by all modalities of radiant energy. The subsequent information is used for the diagnosis and management of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region. (Adopted April 2001)

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (this is Dr. Hornaday’s specialty): Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. (Adopted October 1990)

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics: Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is the dental specialty that includes the diagnosis, prevention, interception, and correction of malocclusion (faulty contact between upper and lower teeth), as well as neuromuscular and skeletal abnormalities of the developing or mature orofacial (mouth and face) structures. (Adopted April 2003)

Pediatric Dentistry (Children’s Dentistry): Pediatric Dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. (Adopted 1995)

Periodontics (Gum Disease Specialist): Periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth – or their substitutes – and the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of these structures and tissues. (Adopted December 1992)

Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics is the dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth, and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes such as dentures or bridges. (Adopted April 2003)