FAQs
Dentist McHenry, IL

We will bring you in for an exam where we review your medical history, document any restorations, take x-rays and diagnose any recommended treatment. If you have current x-rays from another office, you can have them sent to our office from your previous provider to info@mchenrysmilecenter.com or we will take our own digital x-rays. Based on the condition of your gums, we may be able to complete a routine dental cleaning. If our doctor determines that a routine, preventative cleaning is not sufficient for your gum health, our team will go over a treatment plan with you explaining what next steps would be and what our estimates are for those services, along with any other required treatment.

If you want your records sent to us from another office, you will likely need to reach out to them to see if they want you to fill out a release of records and give them our email address or you can fill out a release from us with all of the provider’s information and we can fax or e-mail it to them and request the records on your behalf. Some providers may charge for records.

If you want us to send records on your behalf- HIPAA requires you to fill out a Release of Records form directing us in writing where you want them sent if it includes confidential financial or treatment information.

We accept payments from all insurance plans and we will submit the claim electronically to your insurance company. We will collect any anticipated out of pocket costs at the time services are rendered. The design of your plan dictates how your coverage at a particular office and may limit how much your insurance pays. We cannot be held responsible for information provided by the insurance company to us. If you are concerned, we recommend you contact your insurance company by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. If they provide you, as the member, with misinformation, they will stand by it or correct in your favor since you pay the premium. This is not the case with the information given to us as the provider. While we are not able to check what type of coverage you would have at our office on your behalf, your insurance carrier will be more than happy to assist with those questions, and we will do our best to guide you through it and will provide estimates based on the information the insurance company provides to us.

Please come prepared to the office timely for your visit with your new patient forms completed online, you can find them https://www.dentforms.com/edentforms/default.aspx?doctorid=425. If you have previous x-rays that you want sent over you will need to reach out to that office and coordinate with them to get them sent to us, x-rays cannot be faxed, but they can be emailed to info@mchenrysmilecenter.com. If you have dental insurance you will need to provide that information to us at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. If we can not verify your insurance before your appointment you will be required to pay for that visit out of pocket until we can verify payment from insurance we can issue a refund or leave as a credit on the account.

Most times you can get those forms off your schools website. We service more than one state and there are various forms Here is one we found used commonly: http://www.idph.state.il.us/HealthWellness/oralhlth/DentalExamProof10.pdf. Your child will need to be up to date within the last 6 months in order for our doctor to fill out the form. You need to fill out the top portion of the form with all of your child’s information and our doctor will fill out the bottom portion.

With emergencies (pain, swelling, bleeding), we will get you in the same day or within 24 hours when at all possible. Most appointments can be accommodated within a couple of weeks. Most current hygienist patients will book their next hygiene appointment 6 months in advance.

In general, it’s recommended that you come twice a year for routine dental visits, but it all depends on what your specific needs.

We have many options for teeth whitening between at home treatments and in-office Zoom2 Advanced Whitening. There are many determining factors to choosing the right solution for you. Please contact the office or speak to the doctor or hygienist on your visit for the best fit for you.

If you have had any heart surgeries, stents, or recent joint replacements, premedication is most often required. If you are not sure, you can check with your medical doctor and if they deem it unnecessary to premedicate, we will need that in writing from your medical doctor to perform treatment (including your routine dental cleaning). Often this is prescribed from your medical doctor who performed those procedures. As a patient of record, we can supply you with a prescription for it as well if necessary or call it into a pharmacy for you.

If the prescription is for pre-medication, you need to contact the provider that gave it to you. If it’s our office, there are often multiple prescriptions provided with several refills. Contact your pharmacy if it was less than 12 months for refills. If it’s an antibiotic, we MAY be able to refill it once prior to your treatment being completed if you are up to date on your routine visits. Pain medications cannot be refilled without an appointment.

This is up to your medical doctor who prescribed the blood thinner. We will not proceed with any treatment that can cause bleeding if a patient is on blood thinners without written medical clearance from their provider. Most physicians will have a patient stop their blood thinners for a limited time before dental treatment.

Dr. Sturt is a general dentist that restores implants. Implants are typically placed by oral surgeons or periodontists who drill into your bone to place the implant and potentially perform bone grafting, sinus lifts or other necessary things for proper placement. After healing time is completed, Dr. Sturt will have the implant crown fabricated and place it to restore form, function, and esthetics.

Yes! Dr. Sturt is a general dentist and he will perform all procedures associated with general dentistry. When he feels something is better suited for a specialist, he will refer out for those procedures, especially if sedation is required.

Yes, typically we start seeing children at 12 months old. Our oldest patient is in their 90’s! The young visits are more parent education than patient education to get them used to the dental office and experience.

How much will it cost to fix my car? It’s hard to answer that without evaluating the tooth and situation. There are various crowns, fillings, and even levels of cleanings. Some crowns require root canals, build ups or post and cores. Some are all porcelain or have metal components in them. Does your insurance subsidize it? Do you have room in your maximum? When you are at the office and we’ve evaluated your situation, we can provide you anticipated out of pocket costs and timeframes for your treatment.

Fluoride helps strengthen teeth, prevents cavities, and helps with sensitivity when our gums recede as we age or brush our teeth repetitively. It is typically recommended on your visit when your teeth are polished. You may discuss with the doctor or hygienist if it is right for your situation.

While it sounds convenient and sometimes possible, we like to set up proper expectations for your visit. There are limitations on scheduling, finances, and conditions to consider in order to provide the best possible care for you. It is not common that your tooth will be fixed the same day. If an infection is present, the infection will eat the anesthesia and you wouldn’t be numb, so often an antibiotic is necessary to remove the infection to proceed with treatment.

Anticipated out of pocket costs are due at time services are rendered. We offer flexible financial arrangements through our partnership with CareCredit.