Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
 

 FAQs

1.  What is Whole Health Dental Center, really?

Just as there are processed and whole foods, there is piece-meal and whole health.  Whole Health Dental Center is a general dental office helps seeking patients attend to the oral part of their whole-person health.   

Our mission is to help patients attain a healthy mouth, and healthy use of the mouth as part of overall health and wellness. We work with each patient as an individual, based on a detailed understanding of medical and dental history and goals.  Treatment plans and referrals are based patient patient’s own values, beliefs, and preferences. Our services include:

• General Checkup, cleaning, and routine treatment of dental cavities and mild gum disease.

• Periodontal education  monitoring, important in cardiovascular disease, stroke incidents, diabetes, and premature birth with low birth weights.

• Oral Habits and Dietary Choices, important in prevention of cavities, obesity, allergies, and referrals.

• TMJ Dysfunction and associated neuromuscular patterns, important in headaches, neck and shoulder stiffness, and low back pain.

• Occlusal Disease: pathological wearing away of tooth structure from grinding and loss of vertical lower facial height, important in TMJ stability, periodontal strength, and smile esthetics.

• Smile Appeal: important in personal and business relationships

2.  How does my dental insurance work in Whole Health Dental Center?

Our patient-doctor relationship is based on dental-systemic wellness, not dental insurance.  Patients value our integrative orientation, and we respect patients’ concerns for insurance assistance.

Our policy is that payment is due at the time of service.  We ask patients pay for the initial examination and consultation.  In turn, we will provide you with a completed dental insurance claim form ready to file for reimbursement.  The amount of reimbursement depends on the plan purchased by your employer. 
How much does the first visit cost?

Because we treat each patient as an individual rather than a number, the fees for the fist visit varies from patient to patient, depending on the nature of the presenting issues and the details desired by the patient.  The fees for initial examination and consultation can range from $60 - $300, plus necessary X-rays and/or diagnostic models.  A closer estimate will be given at the end of initial telephone interview with Dr. Liao.

3.  What is your office policy on dental X-rays?

X-rays are necessary for proper diagnosis and insurance claims.  We take only necessary X-rays to understand your case, and always with proper X-rays protection. 

New patient records require a full mouth series, or a panoramic film, plus bite-wings for checking cavities and close-ups for problematic teeth.

Copies of X-rays within the past year from previous dentist must be of diagnostic quality to be considered.  Please have them sent to you and bring them in with you
 
 
4.  Do you offer a payment plan to help pay for a lot of dental work that I need?

A treatment plan will be set up based on the initial examination and consultation.  In some cases, necessary treatment can be done in logical segments utilizing yearly insurance benefits.  For those cases that must be done in big segments or all at once, we suggest you visit www.carecredit.com, which provides up to a year of interest-free installment payments, and even longer terms.

What can you do about my shame and anxiety since I have not been to the dentist for a long time?

We are here to help you get healthier and feel better, not to pass judgment and create stress.  Our house rule is no pain, and Dr. Liao has 30 years’ of experience in helping anxious dental patients with both pharmaceutical and homeopathic options.
What are your office hours?

Mondays through Thursday, 9 AM – 5 PM.  Special arrangement can be made for exceptional cases beyond normal hours.

5.  How can I make an appointment?

Please call (703) 385-6425 during business hours, and (703) 424-0322 in case of urgent need.  Or you can e-mail us: Appt@WholeHealthDentalCenter.com.  Please be sure to include your phone number(s), best times to call, and best times of the week Monday – Thursday.

6.  Upcoming Q & A include:

• What can be done for my child’s awful teeth grinding at night? 
  
• How can I help myself if I have periodontal disease and do not want gum surgery?