Our current patients will tell you, Dr. Kumar makes effective communication and patient education a priority . We are constantly striving to service our patients better and ensure they have all their questions answered. Below is an attempt to some of the common questions asked of Dr. Kumar. We encourage you to just pick up the phone and call us with any additional questions.

Simply put, it is the customer service that sets us apart. We always strive for a positive and great dental visit experience to our office - this means a combinations of friendliness, cleanliness, patient education, treatment options, technology, treatment success, treatment cost explanation, insurance coverage explanation, payment options that ultimately results in happy customers. It's that simple!! Our patients will tell you that we are one of the friendliest dental office in San Jose, CA.

We accept all major insurance plans. Please visit our Insurance Section for a partial list of some of the Insurances we accept. Selecting a dentist that is in-network automatically reduces your out-of-pocket dental treatment costs. We’ll do our best to maximize your benefits. We will complete your claim forms and even help argue your case if your claim is denied. We try to be efficient with insurance billing - The claims are generally transmitted to the carrier every day we are open. In addition to filing the claim, we will initially ask you only for your estimated co-payment. Please understand that this is only an estimate and is based upon the information available to us. Once your carrier has paid the claim, any difference will be due upon receipt of our statement. The financial obligations for the dental treatment are between you and our office.

We work diligently to make sure you’ll always know what the next steps are. Dr. Kumar will help you understand what interval is needed to keep a healthy oral hygiene. We’ll schedule your sequential appointment before you leave. We will send you a reminder card a week or two ahead of your schedule an d then call you couple of days prior to confirm your appointment. We even use e-mail communication for those who prefer. Please note that, the ADA says most people need to see a dentist three times each year. Make an appointment today and we’ll help you figure out what schedule is best for you.

Yes. We love referrals. Thanks to our high patient satisfaction, many of our patients ask their friends and family to see us. Wonderful people refer wonderful people, so we look forward to treating your friends and family with the same expert care and friendliness we extend to you. And as a token of appreciation you will receive a gift card of your choice.

We consider our relationship with you to be of primary importance and will always make our recommendations based on what we believe is the very best treatment for you regardless of your insurance coverage or financial arrangements. For your comfort and convenience, we offer a wide range of financial options and welcome your suggestions and questions.

Cash, Check or Credit Cards - we appreciate the payment of estimated out-of-pocket costs after each visit. For your convenience we offer all major forms of payment such as cash, check or credit cards. We accept most major credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover.

Pre-authorized credit card agreement – with your permission and signature, we will charge your credit card with an agreed payment amount each month. This allows you to make monthly payments, generally about 3 or 4 installments, without applying for additional credit. Generally this applies to out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $1000.

CareCredit – interest free payment plans with low payments up to 12 months. With good credit we can get fast approval by phone.

Pay as you go – you may choose to pay your obligation for each visit with Cash, Check or Credit Card at each visit after fulfilling the initial financial obligation. Generally this applies to treatments that take many appointments.

Gradual Treatment Plan – For those patients on a limited budget. By prioritizing treatment, those patients who do not have dental insurance or are on a tight budget can still complete their dental work by spreading appointments over several months or years.

 

I have a temporary crown in my mouth. What happens if it comes off or breaks?

We recommend you put it back into place and call the office so we can reset it immediately. Keeping your tooth covered is of utmost importance in this situation. Call us for guidance immediately.

Please do not hesitate to call any one of our two offices. See phone numbers in the contact us section. Alternatively you can also email us at info@accu-dental.com. Depending on the type of question either the office manager or Dr. Kumar will promptly respond. Please keep in mind that Dr. Kumar may be with a patient when you call, but usually calls back either the same day or latest by next day.

We offer at home and in-office whitening options. For in-office teeth whitening we use the latest ZOOM2 technology that whitens the teeth by several shades in just about an hour. Make an appointment today and we’ll look at what the best option for you might be.

 

What precautions do you take to ensure patient safety?

There are so many different ways we put your safety first: using gloves, masks and glasses; ensuring sterilization and disinfection of all instruments and counters; testing our sterilizer weekly to make sure it meets all hospital level standards and more. Each room is cleaned between patients and all proper sterilization procedures are carried out and monitored in meticulous fashion. Rest easy at ACCU Dental – we take patient and employee safety seriously. 

 

I really do not like visiting the dentist. Is there anything you can do to help me relax?

We make every effort to make your visit soothing and relaxing! We have invested in a near pain-free injection technology. Our friendly staff are here to serve your needs and ensure that your anxiety issues are mitigated. We mean it - many high anxiety patients have given us the kudos for mitigating their high anxiety and state of fear. We also offer wireless stereo headphones so you can bring your favorite music selection and listen to it while we are taking car of your dental health. Talk to us about your anxiety and we can be extra sensitive to your needs, as appropriate.

Yes. Besides cleaning your mouth, flossing daily adds years to your life by eliminating the bacteria that’s around our teeth. The bacteria causes infection, which can seep into your blood stream and cause heart disease. So, besides the health of our mouth, it’s the overall health consideration that makes a daily flossing habit so important. For our teeth, the infection process happens in just a couple of days! Stay on top of your overall health by flossing regularly.

 

I want my front teeth to look better, but I do not want to wear braces. What would you recommend?

Depending on the teeth condition and the number of teeth affected, Dr. Kumar will advise either porcelain veneers or the new clear, removable aligning tray series called Invisalign. Porcelain veneer option is the faster option and may take two to three appointments to complete the procedure. Our patients have been thrilled with Invisalign, which accomplishes the goal of better aligned teeth over a period of time (typically nine months to eighteen months depending on the severity). Sometimes the patients may require both Invisalign and Veneers to perfect their smile. Dr. Kumar will do the initial consultation at no charge and advise you of your best treatment option.

 

Why do I need perio maintenance? Can’t I just get my teeth cleaned?

The word prophy or prophylaxis cleaning means prevention. Prophylaxis appointments, or cleanings, focus on preventing disease such as infection, bone loss, gum loss, etc. Periomaintenance means we’ve gone from a clean/healthy state (where only prevention is needed) into a deeper state, causing a need to really address the health issues within your mouth beyond the prevention level of care. Periodontal maintenance involves going 360 degrees around each tooth. There’s a difference between preventive cleanings and periodontal maintenance. But, trust us on this one: both are important and we’ll always only recommend what you really need.

 

My spouse snores and keeps me up at night. Is there a dental appliance that prevents snoring and grinding. Can you help?

Yes, we can! We offer Snoreguards or nightguards as an effective treatment for patients with snoring and mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This FDA approved method works magic in homes where snoring is an issue. Not only is this an effective remedy for snoring, it also prevents people from grinding their teeth while asleep causing teeth enamel erosion. Make an appointment or contact us for more information today!

Sometimes my gums bleed when I brush my teeth. Should I be concerned?

Bleeding gums are never a good sign! However, the condition may or may not require professional attention, depending on the source of the problem. Bleeding gums can be caused by improper, rough, "scrubbing" instead of gentle, circular brushing motions; using a hard-bristled tooth brush instead of a soft one; plaque and/or tartar build-up below the gum line; or gum sensitivity due to gingivitis or periodontal disease.

If your problem persists despite correct brushing and flossing methods, or occurs every time you brush, it's likely to be the result of some level of gum disease, and we recommend you set up an evaluation appointment with Dr. Kumar immediately. We specialize in helping patients arrest and successfully treat various stages of gum disease.

 

I'm a new patient and I know there will be forms for me to fill out prior to my first appointment. Could I get copies of these ahead of time, to save time on my appointment day?

We're happy to provide you with all the necessary new patient forms prior to your first appointment. Simply click on the "Forms" link on the left and choose the appropriate forms from the list. From there, you can quickly print the forms you need. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you'll find that we provide a free download version for your convenience.

 

My breath has a terrible odor, even though I brush every day. What can I do about it?

Millions of people struggle with halitosis, or bad breath, despite daily teeth brushing. Here's a checklist of procedures that can eliminate the problem: twice daily brushing, daily flossing, tongue cleaning, regular professional cleanings, and careful cleaning of any dentures or removable dental appliances. However, if your hygiene is meticulous and the problem persists, we can offer several solutions. Please let us know that you have persistent breath odor issue in spite of trying the above techniques and we will order special breath kit such as Breath Rx or Oxyfresh. These kits typically include a plastic tongue scraper that cleans away bacterial buildup on your tongue ten times more effectively than just brushing your tongue, significantly alleviating odor. The kits also include a toothpaste, rinse and portable mouth spray containing an ingredient designed to actually destroy the odor-causing sulfides that cause bad breath.