Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, we have two convenient locations in Fremont:

4541 Mattos Dr. Fremont,                   43195 Mission Blvd, Suite A2,
Fremont, CA 94536                               Fremont, CA 94539

Click hereto book the appointment online orCall us

Yes. we are accepting new patients.

For most individuals visiting the dentist at least every 6 months is recommended to detect any problems early and maintain good oral health.

Yes. We do offer emergency dental services.

- We make sure to treat you using the highest level of sterilization. The rooms are completely disinfected after every patient using antiviral & antibacterial disinfection.
- The instruments are sterilized using an advanced high-end autoclave system.
- Special measures are taken to contain aerosols by using a state-of-the-art extraoral dental suction system and advanced HEPA NASA-grade filtration techniques so that there is no chance of cross-infection.
- All team members use necessary personal protective equipment when interacting with patients.
- We temperature check every patient before they enter and require a COVID screening questionnaire to be completed.
- We provide face masks and hand sanitizer for our patients.
- We use electronic forms and contactless payments.

Yes, we do offer virtual consultations. For any new or existing patients, you can request a Video Consultation with Dr. Dobee by clicking here

We do work with most dental PPO plans and accept assignment of dental benefits. Our experienced team will gladly answer any questions you may have about your benefits and co-pays. We will even submit your claims electronically as a courtesy. It’s important to know that even the best dental insurance plans have an annual maximum benefit limit (this usually ranges from $1000- $3000 per year) and have various coverage percentages for different types of procedures (not all procedures are covered at a 100%). After that, you’ll need to cover the rest. You’re also responsible for any deductibles, co-payments and any balance not covered by your plan. Although we estimate and expect to collect these charges before the start of the treatment, we also have financing and payment options.

No, we consciously decided not to work HMO plans because of extensive restrictions in the plans and poor reimbursement rates which prevent us from providing the high quality dental care and service that you deserve. However we do have patients with HMO benefit plans that do still choose to come to our office and pay out of pocket for the superior level of care.

Unfortunately, as your dental care provider, we do not have the power to make your plan pay. Since your insurance coverage is between you, your employer, and the insurance carrier, you could discuss it with your employer’s HR department first and see if they can do anything to help you get it covered. Also speaking to the insurance company yourself as the subscriber can sometimes help. If your insurance still doesn’t pay, you are ultimately responsible for the total cost of treatment.

Oftentimes the fees offered to a dentist for participating in-network with these plans is much lower than what the dentist needs to charge in order to manage costs and maintain a superior level of service and standard of care. The main reason certain dentists may still choose to participate in such plans is so they can get a steady flow of patients being referred to them from the insurance companies which helps them keep their schedule booked. Some plans also require that the network dentist observe restrictions to treatments they can offer and many dentists are not comfortable with the insurance company influencing the standard of patient care.

In order to save money, many dental plans allow a benefit only for the least expensive method of treatment. For example, your dentist may recommend a composite filling, but your insurance benefit only covers you up to the cost of the cheaper amalgam/silver filling. This does not mean that your have to accept the silver filling. The good news is that some amount will still be paid but more of the fee may be your responsibility. However, always keep in mind that your dentist’s primary responsibility is to recommend what is best for you. The insurance carrier’s primary responsibility is to manage their costs and control payments.

Remember that what insurance carriers call usually and customary is really just what your employer and the insurance company have negotiated as the amount that will be paid towards your treatment. This does not correlate to the actual cost of quality care. It is usually less than what any dentist in your area focused on providing high-quality dentistry and customer service might actually charge for a dental procedure. It does not mean that your dentist is charging too much if there is a remaining balance to be paid.

Even if your benefit plan does not cover the full cost of the needed treatment, in most cases it likely still pays something. Any covered amount then reduces what you have to pay out of pocket so it still helps!

When it comes down to it, Dental insurance isn’t really like typical insurance (a payment to cover the cost of a loss) at all. You can think of it more as a prepaid spending card or a coupon to assist with your required dental care. It’s actually a monetary benefit typically provided by an employer to help their employees offset the cost of common dental treatment. Your employer usually buys a plan based on their budget, the costs per month and the benefits offered. Most plans are designed to only cover a portion of the total cost for the most common services.

Many companies refer to their allowed payments as UCR, which stands for Usual, Customary and Reasonable. Sadly, “usual, customary and reasonable” does not really mean what it sounds like. UCR is actually a listing of payments for all covered procedures negotiated by your employer and the insurance company. This listing is related to the cost of the premiums and also where you are located in your city and state.

Your employer has likely selected an allowed payment or UCR payment they’ve budgeted for the plan’s premium. It may not consider other factors you may see as important. These factors include the patient experience, experience and skill level of doctor. Also, insurers may not care about the quality of materials used in your mouth. Nor do they always take into account the quality of technology, or labs used for any required lab work.

This can be confusing since the insurance tells you they are covering it at 100% but the question is 100% of what fee? The problem is that it is usually 100% of what the insurance carrier allows as payment toward the procedure, not what your dentist may actually charge (which could be different and depends on the many factors). For example, let’s say your dentist charges $70 for an exam. Your carrier may allow only $55 as the 100% payment for that exam. That leaves $15 for you to pay.