FAQ

Our typical hours are Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm and select Fridays 8am-12pm. Please call for appointment availability.

We accept all non-Medicaid major insurance plans. Dr. Brown-McDonald is in network for: Aetna, Ameritas, Principal, Metlife, Humana, Delta, Cigna and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Cash, Check or Credit Card are accepted at our front desk for all payment needs.  An additional option is the use of CareCredit.  Click HERE to learn more about CareCredit and how to help you with your payments.

Yes, we try to accommodate emergency appointments same day.

This appointment allows you to provide us with a history of your teeth and the dentist to discuss treatment options and recommendations. The appointment includes necessary x-rays and an assessment of your teeth and gums. It may include a cleaning depending on your oral health needs.

The recommended x-rays will depend on the individual needs of the patient. If pertinent x-rays were taken at another office recently, they may be requested. Various types of x-rays allow the dentist to see all areas of the teeth and surrounding structures, from 2 dimensional to 3 dimensional. All of our x-ray units are digital, reducing your radiation exposure to approximately equivalent of spending 20 minutes outside in the sun..

Tooth colored, or composite, are approved by the FDA and the American Dental Association. These fillings match the color of your teeth and are nearly impossible to distinguish from natural tooth structure. They are held into the tooth structure by bonding retention and may require less tooth structure to be removed during cavity preparation.

Silver, or amalgam, fillings are also approved by the FDA and the American Dental Association. These are held into the tooth by mechanical retention and may require slightly more tooth structure to be removed during cavity preparation.

Every area that requires a filling is unique, making it best to discuss your options with your dental professional.

We provide access to two forms: a pill you take before your appointment and/or nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide is inhaled throughout the appointment and relaxes the patient. After the appointment you can carry on with your day as usual.

The pill form of sedation is a heavy sleeping medication that allows the patient to be conscious, yet very sleepy throughout the appointment. It does, however, require more logistical planning. You will take one the night before your appointment to ensure you get a sufficient night’s sleep. Another dose will be taken just prior to the appointment. Because of this, it will be necessary for you to arrange a driver to and from our office.

If you prefer IV sedation, your procedures can be completed by Dr. Brown-McDonald at the Surgery Center.

Children should have their first dental visit when the first tooth is erupted. This allows the child to become acquainted with the office and staff over time, resulting in positive experiences. The dental providers will reviews techniques to ensure your child has optimal health.

Dr. Brown-McDonald offers Invisalign. If you are not an Invisalign  candidate, Dr. Brown-McDonald can provide a referral to a local orthodontist.

To ensure you get the most benefit out of our whitening program, a comprehensive exam must be completed and the health of your mouth must be determined to be free of disease before starting the whitening process. The whitening program allows you to receive an initial whitening session and custom trays for $113, followed by free touch up kits at each attended 6 month hygiene visit, for a LIFETIME!

No Shows:  Missed appointments without prior notification are considered “No Show” appointments. In the event of the first and second No Shows, you will receive a letter advising you of the No Shows. In the event of Three No Shows or missed appointment, Cottonwood Dental will no longer provide scheduled patient care services for 12 months. For 3 months the patient will be seen for emergency services only. You may be charged a “No Show” fee. 

Late Arrivals:  Late arrival for a scheduled appointment leads to inadequate time to accommodate the remaining patients on the schedule. As such, late arrivals of greater than 15 minutes may be required to re-schedule. In addition, those patients who are on schedule and here at the assigned time will be seen first. We will try to accommodate late appointments if time permits.

Cancellations:  Cancellations of appointments with less than 48 hours notice are considered “No Shows.” We are aware of the fact that from time to time unforeseen circumstances may necessitate the cancellation of an appointment; however, a pattern of repetitive scheduling followed by a cancellation will be treated as “No Shows.” Late cancellation of appointments may prohibit other patients from being seen in a timely fashion. We will attempt a reminder call 24 hours prior to routine appointments, if we are unable to reach you in person, we will leave a message. You may be charged a “No Show” fee for no shows and cancellations.