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Brightening Up Smiles

We’ve been doing it for more than a decade.

Brightening Up Smiles

We’ve been doing it for more than a decade.

Providing You With Exceptional Dental Services

Toni Ambus DDS

Dr. Toni Ambus

Dr. Toni Ambus graduated from San Francisco State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. In 1995, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Dental Sciences and a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). She continues to change and update her offices with the newest dental procedures and equipment, always assuring patients and providing the best service possible.

Dental Care

Diagnostic and Preventative

A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.

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Restorative Dentistry

Inlays and Onlays; Made of laboratory-crafted porcelain, gold, or resin, inlays and onlays provide an alternative to fillings and crowns when cavities affect otherwise healthy teeth.

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Cosmetic Dentistry

Teeth Whitening; At-home teeth whitening is a convenient way to dramatically transform your smile in the comfort of your own home. During an initial office visit, we will provide you with clear, removable plastic trays fitted to your mouth.

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Gum Disease

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums.

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Payments

Insurance

We are happy to process your insurance claims to maximize your benefits. Since insurance can be complicated, we ask that you call or contact us with specific questions.

Payment Options

We gladly accept Cash, Checks, Mastercard, Visa and American Express and offer interest-free patient financing. Unless prior financial arrangements have been made, we accept payment at the time of service.

Now you can pay online via PayPal, credit card, or bank transfer.

Monthly Payment Plans

As a service to our patients, we are pleased to offer Care Credit. Upon request and approval, we offer a comprehensive range of plans with low minimum monthly payments that fit comfortably into every budget.

Insurance FAQ's

How does dental insurance work?

Dental insurance isn't actually insurance, it's a benefit plan that only about half of employers offer to employees and should be considered a gift card rather than insurance. Most dental benefit plans only cover up to $1,500 per year and will not pay anything beyond that whether it is dentally necessary or not. That average annual maximum has not changed much in 40 years although premiums are going up and dental benefits plans are becoming more restrictive in what they will pay for. With most dental plans, we will contact your insurance plan for an estimate for how much they will pay for your care and collect just your portion at the time of service. For our many patients with Delta Dental plans, we will collect payment in full from patients at the time of their dental care and Delta Dental will send payment directly to the patient 7-10 business days later to reimburse them for Delta's portion of the treatment. We are pleased to be able to offer flexible financing through Care Credit for patients who need to make monthly payments for more extensive dental needs.

Which dental insurance plans do you take?

We accept all dental plans that allow you the freedom to choose your own dentist, although we do not directly contract with plans that would require our discounting our dentistry to appear on advertising lists. We choose to take the time to listen to our patients, provide safe and comfortable care, use the finest labs, highest quality dental materials, and adhere to the strictest infection control standards. Most plans, with the exception of HMO plans, allow patients to choose their own dentist and the level of dental care that best meets their needs. Plan benefits from the same insurance carrier can often differ significantly by employer. If you would like to know how your plan will work in our office, please call us and we will contact your dental plan to find out the details for you.

My employer offers several plans, how do I decide which to choose?

A good dental plan should allow the patient to choose their own dentist with few or no restrictions.

​Better plans also pay for dental treatment based on average area fees for dental care. Some plans will tell you that they pay 100% toward a cleaning, but what they won't tell you directly is that they may only be willing to pay up to 100% of a $60 preventative cleaning compared to a better plan that will pay 100% of the average area fee of around $115 for a preventative cleaning. Always ask to compare maximum contract allowances for certain common procedures like cleanings, exams, fillings, and crowns instead of just choosing based on the percentages described by the plan.

​And finally, almost all plans allow the patient the convenience to choose to have their plan send payment directly to the dental office, so the patient only has to pay for the co-payment at the time of dental treatment. This is called assignment of benefits. Most of all plans acknowledge a patient's request to assign benefits to their dental office regardless of the dentist's contractual agreement with the dental plan, with the exception of most Delta Dental plans.

If your plan does not allow you to choose your own dentist, does not have maximum contract allowances that are comparable to average area dental fees for procedures, or does not recognize your right to assign benefits to your dental office regardless of your dentist's contract, you may want to speak with your employer about other options they may be able to provide when it comes to dental benefits.

My employer does not offer a dental benefits plan; what are my options?

Some employers are choosing to offer flex spending plans that cover dental care instead of traditional dental benefits. Others are offering direct reimbursement plans where they will reimburse you a certain percentage or dollar amount that you spend on dental care per year provided you supply them with a receipt showing you received services and paid for them.

If you are self-employed or working for an employer that offers no benefits at all, consider purchasing a medical insurance plan that is Health Savings Plan (HSA) compatible. Each year you will be able to contribute to your HSA. Contributions are tax-deductible, withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified medical and dental purposes, earnings on account balances grow tax-free, and balances accumulate and roll over from year to year, unlike a flex spending account that you may lose if you do not spend it.

We are often asked if it is worthwhile to buy a dental plan as an individual. We have not found a plan that makes good sense to purchase as an individual. Most of these plans charge more in premiums than the patient is likely to actually receive back in the form of benefits due to waiting periods, non-covered services, and other restrictions. With a large group plan through an employer, the plan premiums for the estimated 35% of the enrolled employees who do not actually go to the dentist, pay for the loss the insurance plan would otherwise incur if all patients who were insured actually used their plans.

​Unfortunately, it is estimated that 50% of all adults have gum disease and cavities are the most widespread chronic childhood disease in the United States. Good oral hygiene, watching what you eat, using a fluoridated toothpaste, reducing risk factors for dental problems like dry mouth and mouth acidity, routine preventative care, and detecting and fixing dental problems when they are small are the best strategies for reducing the cost of dental care.

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Your teeth are important. We know that they are an integral part of our appearance. Allow us to take care of them for you.

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