Otego Family Dental PC

Yes, both of our offices are handicap accessible

We do not have any in office payment plans, however we do accept all major credit cards, CareCredit, and Proceed Finance.

Yes, we see kids of all ages. (Sometimes we will also mention that the doctor may determine that a referral to a pedodontist is necessary. This is usually if they mention behavioral or special needs issues.)

Dr. Kathy and Dr. Alex both graduated from Stony Brook. Dr. Kathy has over 40 years of experience in the dental field. Dr. Alex has 10 years of experience in the dental field

We unfortunately do not have nitrous oxide, however we do make every effort to make our patients comfortable in the dental chair.

Yes we do place implants (do extraction or root canals), however the doctor may determine that your case is best referred to a specialist after a clinical evaluation.

We do not work directly with any insurance companies and do require payment at the time of service. If your policy has out of network benefits, we do send in claims on your behalf, and you will receive reimbursement directly from your insurance company for the portion of the services that they cover.

Let me ask you this: What if you wanted your finger removed (extracted) from your body? How do you know that you need to have it extracted? Is it infected? Is it broken? If it can it be fixed, you do not need to have it removed (extracted). You need your finger. I understand that it hurts you now and you just want to get rid of it, but once I take it I can’t put it back. Are you healthy enough for me to do the surgery? A dental extraction, is just that, surgery. A hospital will not do any surgery without doing pre-op. So why would you want your dentist to just pull your tooth (a body part) without checking first. We need to take an x-ray of the tooth, why? I need to know if the tooth savable, infected, does it have straight roots or curved roots, is it near a nerve that can be damaged during the extraction? We have to know these things before proceeding. I wish I had x-ray vision. We take our dental extractions seriously at Otego Family Dental. What to expect: we will review your medical health and ask you many questions about your current and past health; check your meds; take your blood pressure; pulse; and check your oxygen levels before administering local anesthetic. Please be aware that local anesthesia is very safe for most people, but it is still a drug. If you have an infection, that infection needs to be under control with antibiotics before your extraction. Too many times I hear stories from my patients that they had a tooth removed elsewhere and it was very painful. That’s because the tooth was infected and the anesthetic that was delivered was not effective.

It is a typical scene in almost every dental hygiene clinic. Students rush to greet and seat their patients. Medical histories are reviewed, and vital signs are taken and recorded. Dental hygiene students frantically wave to signal the supervising dentist that their patients are ready to be cleared so that preventive and therapeutic services can begin. We were all taught the importance of assessing blood pressure before we even dared put a scaler in our patients' mouths. Why is it that there have been countless times over the course of my career that new patients were shocked when I asked them to extend their arms so I could take their blood pressure? Surprised looks were then followed with questions such as "Why is this necessary?" or "I've been going to the dentist every six months since I was a child and have never had my blood pressure taken in a dental office." Blood pressure measures the force on the arterial walls as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Normal blood pressure is essential for life. Oxygen or nutrients could not be delivered through the vessels and into the tissues and organs without the pressure to drive the blood through the circulatory system. In addition, blood pressure aids in distributing white blood cells throughout the body so they can protect the body against illness and disease. A person's blood pressure rises when the heart beats and drops as the heart relaxes between beats. Optimal blood pressure is less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic. It is worth noting that blood pressure readings will vary throughout the day, especially during periods of exercise, high stress, postural changes, or sleep. According to the American Heart Association, roughly one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure.1 In most instances, the lower your blood pressure reading is, the better off you are. Although we are well aware that normal blood pressure is important to a person's health, there are far too many dental professionals who have fallen out of practice in taking their patients' vitals before beginning treatment. As licensed health-care professionals, it is the standard of care for dental hygienists to assess and record blood pressure on all of their patients. The reading must then be discussed with the patient as a means of helping him take charge of his overall health.

We do not and are unable to submit claims to them as they require offices to be in-network to provide reimbursement.

Yes. Please visit the following link where you will find our patient forms and financial policy. Please print off relevant forms, fill out, and bring with you to your appointment: https://www.otegofamilydentalpc.com/forms/

Medical and dental history Interview the patient regarding past, present, and future desires and concerns with respect to their dental condition and needed treatment A screening examination and evaluation of the occlusion (bite) (screening for bruxism, excessive wear patterns on teeth, malocclusion, etc.) A comprehensive periodontal examination (pocket, depth, mobility, furcation involvement, recession, tissue evaluation) Decay detection and caries risk assessment Evaluation of dental restorations Oral cancer screening augmented with Velscope Blood pressure screening Dental radiographs (x-rays) if needed (usually a full mouth series – 7 to 8 vertical bitewings and a panoramic image) A series of photographs of the patient’s teeth An explanation of the findings along with a treatment plan

Your first visit will take approximately 90 minutes and consists of an interview, comprehensive exam and radiographs (x-rays). Before the initial exam, the doctor will ask you about your medical history. On your medical history form, be sure to provide complete, up to date information. It is very important to note any allergies, hospitalizations, surgeries, or illnesses. It is especially important to tell the doctor about allergic reactions to antibiotics, joint replacements, heart surgery, and osteoporosis treatment. Also, tell the doctor the names, doses, and frequency of any medications that you are taking including prescription and over the counter products. The doctor will also need the name of your physician. This information will help the doctor to select the safest and most effective treatment for you. The doctor will then perform a thorough exam which includes checking the muscles of your neck and face, your gums, teeth, jaw, lymph nodes in the neck and jaw, and an oral cancer screening. The oral cancer screening includes a new technology called Velscope. It is an early detection tool that is used in addition to visual and tactile screening methods. Next, a set of radiographs (x-rays) will be taken, usually a full mouth series (FMX) which consists of 7 to 8 vertical bitewings and a panoramic image. They allow the doctor to see tooth decay, the structure of the jaw, the position of any teeth that have not yet erupted, malformed roots, and abnormalities. Finally, we take a series of photographs of your teeth which aids the doctor in developing the best possible treatment plan for your needs. If the treatment plan is not complex or extensive, the doctor will discuss it with you immediately. Otherwise a consultation appointment will be scheduled so that you and the doctor can discuss the treatment plan fully. There is no charge for treatment consultation appointments. The doctor will recommend the cleaning that is appropriate for you as part of your treatment plan and our scheduling coordinator will assist you with making your appointments at the conclusion of your new patient appointment.

Sorry, no. We are a fee for service practice and Fidelis doesn't allow out of network care.