The drive along US 460
From the middle of Rich Creek it is 9.2 miles to our office, about 15 minutes along US 460. From Glen Lyn it is 12.9 miles, about 20 minutes. Those times assume a clear road, so allow a little more in bad weather.
You will find the office on Tazewell Street in Pearisburg, with parking at the door, and patients are seen there Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Book the family back to back
If more than one person in the house is due, say so when you call and give everyone's name. When there are appointment times next to each other, whoever answers can put the family in them, so one drive covers everyone.
The same thinking works for treatment. If you already know a filling is needed, ask whether it can be done at the same visit as your cleaning. Sometimes it can and sometimes it needs its own appointment, but it is worth asking before you make two trips.
Settle insurance before you drive
Insurance is the question most worth settling on the phone. Call with your card in hand and we will check what your plan covers here before you make the drive. The insurance page lists the plans we participate with and explains the terms that trip people up.
Neighbors from across the West Virginia line are welcome too. Plans differ from one to the next, so the same advice applies: call with your card before your first visit.
No dental insurance? The Virginia Dental Club is a membership plan for people without it. It is not insurance: there is no deductible, no annual maximum and no waiting period.
What to bring, and what to mention
Nervous about the visit? Say so on the phone. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are both available, and if you choose oral sedation, you will need someone else to drive you home, which is worth arranging well before the day.
The first visit page explains what happens once you are here. Whatever the visit, a few things are worth having with you:
- Your dental insurance card, if you have one, and a photo ID.
- A list of every medicine you take, including the ones that seem to have nothing to do with teeth.
- The name of your last dental office. If they took X-rays recently, ask them to send those to us before your visit.
- Your questions, written down, so none are forgotten on the drive home.
If something goes wrong between visits
Do the first steps below, then call: appointment scheduling is available 24/7. Tell whoever answers what has happened and they will get you seen. The emergency care page covers each situation in more detail.
Some things need a hospital rather than a dentist: swelling that is closing an eye or spreading down the neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, a suspected broken jaw, or bleeding that firm pressure will not stop. Otherwise, the first steps are these, and they come before the drive, not after it:
- A knocked-out adult tooth: hold it by the crown, rinse it briefly in milk if it is dirty, and put it back in the socket or keep it in milk.
- A broken tooth: keep the pieces and rinse your mouth with warm water.
- A lost filling or crown: keep the crown, and do not glue it back with household adhesive.
Questions patients ask
How long is the drive from Rich Creek and Glen Lyn?
Rich Creek is 9.2 miles away, about 15 minutes along US 460, and Glen Lyn is 12.9 miles, about 20 minutes, both measured from the middle of town. You will find us on Tazewell Street in Pearisburg, with parking right at the door.
Can a filling be done at the same visit as my cleaning?
Sometimes. It depends on the tooth and on how much else is planned for that visit, so ask when you call. If the two cannot be done together, you will know before you make the drive.
I live in West Virginia. Can I be a patient here?
Yes, neighbors from across the state line are welcome. Insurance plans differ, so call with your card before your first visit and we will check what yours covers here.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Your insurance card if you have one, a photo ID and a list of the medicines you take. If another office has recent X-rays of your teeth, ask them to send those to us before the visit.
Will I know the cost before treatment starts?
Yes. You get a written estimate before any treatment is scheduled. For larger work, a pre-treatment estimate can go to your insurer first, so you know what they will pay before you commit.