Office Policies

Steve T. Yabuno, D.D.S.
3500 W. Lomita Blvd. #103
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 530-7011

Dear Patient,
We appreciate your selection of this office to serve your dental needs. Our goal is to provide the best possible dental care for you, our patients. We hope to be your partner in helping you to enjoy optimal dental health throughout your lifetime. This statement has been prepared to give you information about our office policies. Please feel free to ask the front desk staff if you have any questions about areas covered in this statement.

ESTIMATES

In most cases, other than emergency situations, we will perform a complete diagnosis before we begin treatment. Based on this examination, a complete estimate of the total charges for your treatment will be available. As we proceed with your treatment, we may encounter additional problems that were not apparent to us at the time of the initial examination. In this event, we will discuss the problem, including the effects, if any, on your financial arrangements. We will not proceed without your approval.

APPOINTMENTS

We ask that you give our office at least 36-hr notice if you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment. Failure to give us appropriate notice will result in a charge of at least $40.00. Arriving more than 10 minutes after your scheduled appointment time could be considered a missed appointment and the appropriate charge will be applied. Failed appointment charges are not covered by insurance, and must be paid prior to a new appointment being scheduled. Patients with three missed appointments may be asked to transfer their records to another dentist.

FINANCIAL POLICY

It is our policy to receive payment in full at the time services are rendered. Patients with dental insurance will be required to cover your estimated portion of the charges, including deductibles. For your convenience, we accept credit cards, cash or personal check. Checks returned by the bank will be charged a $25.00 service fee, which will be due and payable within three (3) days along with the amount of the original check.

INSURANCE

Insurance is a contract between you and your insurance company. We are NOT a party to this contract. As a courtesy to you, we will bill your insurance company for services rendered. If we are to provide this service, you must supply us with complete information regarding your insurance and employer, including the proper insurance forms, filled in and signed by the insured. Although we may estimate what your insurance company will pay, it is the insurance company that makes the final determination of your eligibility. The responsible party, in most
cases, the patient, is ultimately responsible for the account in full, even though the patient may have dental insurance. Should there be a problem with the insurance company paying in a timely manner or the amount being what the patient considers to be correct, the patient will be responsible for paying the dentist and settling his differences with the insurance company.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

A. You may choose to pay by cash, check or credit card on the day the service is rendered.
B. On treatment involving laboratory fees (crowns, bridges, dentures, etc.) you may choose to pay 50% on the preparation date and the balance at the time of delivery.
C. On extensive treatment, you may prefer to secure bank, credit union or third-party financing for the entire amount and make payments to the lending institution.
D. We offer special financing through Care Credit. If you pay them within 12 months, there will be no interest charged.

DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS

Any account, which has not had a payment for 30 days, is considered delinquent and may be subject to a 1.8% monthly service charge. If an account has had no payment action for over 60 days, it may be subject to outside collection action. If your account is referred to a collection agency, you will be responsible for all the collection costs, which are incurred.