Madison Family Dental

FAQ

At Madison Family Dental, we welcome any questions and interest in what we are doing. You may want to know more about us and about the services we offer, so we have provided answers to many of the questions we commonly receive. If any other questions should arise, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us at our office (608) 274-5970.

How is Madison Family Dental an actual "Family?"

In 1981, Dr. Ron Schmidt and Dr. Don Pfahler founded Madison Family Dental with a vision of dental care that would reflect their strong commitment to treat patients and staff as family members.  In 1987, Dr. Schmidt's daughter, Dr. Lori Veerman joined them and has continued to support and carry on their vision. 

We have a long tradition of longevity in our staff with many working over 20 years at MFDA. Hear from our employees who comment on our family-oriented atmosphere. We like having family members work at Madison Family Dental and currently have two mother/daughter-in-law pairs on our assisting staff.

Do you offer gift cards?

No we currently do not offer gift cards for our services.

Can I get my wisdom teeth pulled at MFD?

In most cases when wisdom teeth removal is indicated, we recommend that you are referred to an oral surgeon who has 4-5 years of additional specialty training. We believe that you should have the best care possible.

Can I get braces at MFD? Is there an orthodontist on staff?

Madison Family Dental does not have an orthodontist on staff, however, 2 of our dentists, Dr. Lori Veerman and Dr. Christine Julian, have completed training in Invisalign- the invisible braces system. Since 2008, they have improved the smiles of many patients. Read patient testimonials.

Can I communicate with my dentist via email?

We love to hear from our patients, however we need to be careful about using electronic means of communication, especially with regard to dental care. Questions that are not urgent (requiring a response in less than 24 hours) can be sent to our general address listed above. This is monitored daily during business hours. Because our patient’s care is of the utmost importance, sometimes these messages are forwarded to one of our capable dental assistants for a response. We strive to return calls or emails as soon as possible within a 24 hour period.

Keep in mind that if you have an urgent need, please call our office at (608) 274-5970.

How do I receive my patient records?

Either call (608) 274-5970 and request them or email us in our office. (Email link above.)

Do you offer sales or promotions?

On occasion we offer promotions for teeth bleaching, Invisalign, and electric toothbrushes. Watch for information on our website and in the office.

What job or career openings are available for hire?

Please check our Careers link on the lower right corner of our website at madisonfamilydental.com.

Who are your insurance plan providers?

As a service to you, we file insurance for most dental plans. We are in-network providers for Physicians Plus, Delta Dental, American Dental Plan, Humana, WEA, and Ameritas. Your payment, or copay, is required at the time of service. If you do not have insurance, we offer a 5% discount if payment is made with cash or check at the time of service.

To learn more about billing information, visit our Patient Center.

Do you sell toothbrushes? What toothbrushes to you endorse or recommend?

We do sell two types of toothbrushes in our office, manual and electric. We like the Oral B family of products. We especially encourage our patients to consider purchasing electric tooothbrushes as we believe they significantly improve the level of oral hygiene patients can achieve.

Do you offer sedation dentistry? Do you have any types of anesthesia?

We do not offer sedation; however, we have other alternatives such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or valium. Learn more about the pros and cons of sedation dentistry at the dentalfearcentral.org website.

What types of appointment confirmation or appointment reminders are available? Can I change my type of reminder?

Currently we have one form of confirmation which is by phone.  We are pleased to announce that beginning April 1st, we will have the additional option of e-mail confirmation. Please send your e-mail address and your request for e-mail confirmation to the address link at the top of this page.

How do I cancel my scheduled appointment?

If you are canceling your appointment 48 hours or more before your scheduled time, please call us or you may e-mail us at the link above.

Do you offer endodontics (root canal treatment) services?

Yes we do. Please visit our Services > Family > Root Canal section for all the details regarding what's involved in treating the removal of the tooth's pulp.

How do I check my appointment? Can I do this online?

Call us at (608) 274-5970 and we will be happy to look it up for you.  At this time you cannot check your appointment online. However, we are pleased to announce that beginning April 1st, we will have the additional option of e-mail confirmation. Send your email address and your request for email confirmation to our general email link at the top of this page.

Do you offer childcare during parent appointments?

While do not offer drop-in child care for patients or visitors who need temporary child care while at Madison Family Dental, we do offer an extended schedule from 7a to 7p, Mon-Thurs, and 7a to 4p on Friday. This allows for appointments before school or work and during the lunch hour or evening.

What is your phone number? Fax number? Address?

Phone 608-274-5970
Fax 608-274-0158
Address 5709 Odana Road, Madison WI

I'm sensitive to the dental products available at my local store. What types of natural products are available on the market?

While we don't endorse any one type of natural toothpaste or mouthwash, one of the more readily available brands that we find to be effective is Tom's of Maine www.tomsofmain.com. Another brand of dental products that we find very helpful for patients with dry mouth or other health concrns is the Biotene family of products www.biotene.com. It is always best to discuss your personal situation with your MFA dentist or hygienist so that we can make recommendations that are best for your needs.

How do I contact Human Resources?

Please call our offices at (608) 274-5970 during the hours of 7a-7p Monday - Thursday and Friday 7a-4p.

Can I get a loan for my dental services if I don't have the cash upfront?

Madison Family Dental Associates is pleased to work in conjunction with Wells Fargo Financial in providing you with interest-free financing for your dental services. Wells Fargo Health Advantage offers two plans which allow you to finance from $400 and up, for a period of 6 or 12 months. Click here to apply online and see if you qualify today!

What if I don't have dental insurance? How do you make my dentistry more affordable?

We watch that our fees are consistent with the level of care, skill, and judgment your case requires and are in-line with fees in our areas. We want our patients to get their dentistry without worrying about the financial part. We accept Visa, Discover, MasterCard, American Express, debit cards, cash, and personal checks.

Very popular are no-interest Wells Fargo loans. Wells Fargo Health Advantage offers two plans which allow you to finance from $400-$800, for a period of 6 months and over $800 for 6 or 12 months. Click here to apply online and see if you qualify today!

We offer a 5% discount with cash or check payments (sorry, no debit cards) – day of service – if you have no insurance. We would be happy to answer any financial or insurance questions you have.

I'm on Medicaid. What information regarding dental coverage is available to me?

Since we are not Medicaid providers, our Medicaid patients choose to pay cash for ther services. If you do pay with cash or check (debit cards are not cash), a discount of 5% is given. We also take debit and credit cards. We do request payment on the day of service.

I'm on BadgerCare. What information regarding dental coverage is available to me?

Since we are not BadgerCare providers, our BadgerCare patients choose to pay cash for ther services. If you do pay with cash or check (debit cards are not cash), a discount of 5% is given. We also take debit and credit cards. We do request payment on the day of service.

I'm a new patient. What paper work is required of me to bring to my first appointment?

All of the paper work is available on our website, Download our new patient forms from the PATIENT CENTER section of our website (click on patient forms).  If you prefer to fill out your forms in our office you may do so, we ask that your arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to allow adequate time to complete them before your visit.

Please bring your completed registration and medical and dental forms, your insurance cards, and any other information you may have from your previous dentist (e.g. x-rays).

Will I need my wisdom teeth pulled?

Every patient's treatment needs are unique. Your MFDA dentist will evaluate your mouth and your x-rays to determine if wisdom teeth removal is required. Your treatment needs will be explained to you and a referral to an Oral Surgeon will be made in most cases.

Who founded Madison Family Dental?

Madison Family Dental was founded in 1981 by Dr. Ron Schmidt and Dr. Don Pfahler. 2011 marks Celebrating 30 Years of Smiles and we look forward to many more years of serving Madison.

Are you wondering about financial arrangements and dental insurance?

We are committed to providing you with the best possible care. If you have dental insurance, we are eager to help you receive your maximum allowable benefits.  In order to achieve these goals, we need your assistance and your understanding of our payment policy.

Payments for services are due at the time services are rendered unless payment arrangements have been approved in advance by our staff. If you have been scheduled for a new patient exam and have proof of insurance, payment will not be due at the time of service, but will instead be billed to your insurance company first. After the payment is received, we will notify you if additional payment is required. If you do not have insurance, we offer a 5% discount if paid by cash or check on the day of service. We also accept MasterCard, VISA, Discover and American Express but no discount is offered. Interest free financing is available through Wells Fargo.  Return checks are subject to additional fees and will be assessed to your account.

You must realize, however, that:

1. Your insurance is a contract between you, your employer, and the insurance company. We are not a party to that contract.

2. Our fees are generally considered to fall within the acceptable range by most companies, and therefore we are covered up to the maximum allowance determined by each h carrier. This applies only to companies that pay a percentage (such as 50% or 80%) of “U.C.R.”  U.C.R. is defined as usual, customary and reasonable.

This statement does not apply to companies that reimburse based on an arbitrary “schedule” of fees, which bears no relationship to the current standard and cost of care in this area.

Not all services are a covered benefit in all contracts. Some insurance companies’ arbitrarily select certain services they will not cover.

We must emphasize that, as dental care providers, our relationship is with you, not your insurance company. While the filing of insurance claims is a courtesy that we extend to our patients, all charges are your responsibility from the date the services are rendered. We realize that temporary financial problems may affect timely payment of your account. If such problems do arise, we encourage you to contact us promptly for assistance in the management of your account. If you have any questions about the above information or any uncertainty regarding your insurance coverage, PLEASE don’t hesitate to contact our Business Office. We are here to help you!