Frequently asked questions

How do I make an appointment?

Call 540-921-3323 at any hour, day or night, and somebody answers. You can also send a request through this site and the office will call you back during office hours.

Are you taking new patients?

Yes. New patients are welcome, and so is anyone who wants a second opinion on treatment another practice has quoted them.

What are your hours?

Patients are seen Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Those are clinical hours, not phone hours: appointment scheduling runs around the clock.

Do you take my insurance?

We are participating providers with Delta Dental, Cigna and United Concordia. We work with many other plans too, and we file the claim for you. We are not able to accept Medicaid. Plans differ a great deal even within one company, so call with the details on your card and we will check what yours covers here before you book.

Do you work with Medicare dental benefits?

We work with many of the newer Medicare Advantage dental benefits. They vary a lot from plan to plan, so call with your plan details and we will check yours before you book.

What if I do not have dental insurance?

Virginia Dental Club membership covers cleanings and exams outright and takes a set percentage off most other treatment. There is no deductible, no annual maximum and no waiting period, because it is not insurance.

Something hurts. How soon can I be seen?

Call rather than waiting, and tell whoever answers what has happened. They will get you seen. If swelling is closing an eye or spreading down the neck, or you are struggling to breathe or swallow, go to an emergency room first. Outside office hours, take a knocked-out adult tooth to the nearest emergency room too, back in its socket or in milk.

I have not been to a dentist in years. Will I get a lecture?

No. A fair number of our patients arrive after a long gap, usually because of something that happened in a different chair years ago. Say so when you book and we will take it slowly.

Is anything available if I am anxious?

Yes. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are both available, and so is the simpler thing: longer appointments, an explanation before each step rather than after, and an agreed signal to stop.

Do you see children?

Yes, and we would rather meet them early, for a count of the teeth and a ride in the chair, than first meet them when something hurts.

How often should I have a cleaning?

Twice a year suits most people. If you are being treated for gum disease that usually becomes every three or four months, because the interval is what keeps it under control.

Will I know what it costs before you start?

Yes. For anything beyond a check-up you get a written estimate first, showing what insurance is expected to pay and what it leaves you. Nothing is begun before you have seen it.

Where are you, and is there parking?

300 Tazewell St, Pearisburg, VA 24134, in the middle of town, with parking at the door.

More detail on first visits, insurance and emergencies.