What to Expect at Your First Visit

A prosthodontist is a specialized dentist with advanced training in oral rehabilitation methods for damaged or missing teeth such as crowns, dentures and dental implants. They have demonstrated their commitment to improving patient outcomes by completing a full-time, 3-year, post-dental-school, accredited advanced ADA-recognized specialty training residency.

For the same reason you would choose a cardiologist for open heart surgery. Dr. Andrus is certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics as having demonstrated special skill, knowledge, and experience in restoring damaged teeth and replacing missing teeth. It is not uncommon for our patients to say that they “wish they had found us first” or return and say that they “wish they had gone with us.”

Some dentists do offer crowns, dentures, and implants, but unless your dentist is a board certified prosthodontist then, no, you can't get the same level of care that you will get with Dr. Andrus. Discerning family dentists refer their patients with challenging dental problems to Dr. Andrus for expert solutions.

Surgery-only specialists provide irreversible surgical options, but often overlook effective non-surgical alternatives that they do not provide that are less aggressive and often more appropriate. Discerning surgeons not only know that Dr. Andrus' specialty is the only specialty dedicated to weighing ALL options — BOTH surgical and non-surgical, but they prefer to start their surgeries with his expert plan for your smile and bite. If you are considering extensive treatment, insist on starting with Dr. Andrus.

Remember to bring the new patient forms (or just come early and we can help you fill them out in the office), insurance cards (medical and dental), a list of your current medications, dentures (if any) and referral slip (if any). We also encourage you to bring a spouse or trusted significant other so they can hear the details of the presentation. Also, remember to bring any required medications to every appointment such as inhalers or heart tablets.

We will review your forms and desires, make 2D and 3D radiographs, and perform a comprehensive exam. You may be scheduled back to select a treatment plan and sequence after Dr. Andrus has had time to study your information. You may also need diagnostic photos, casts and concept simulation before beginning a treatment plan.

We ask that you provide our fees on the day of service and then we will submit your forms to the insurance company as a courtesy to you so that you don't have to deal with that at all. If you are covered for our care, then your insurance company will reimburse you directly. In some cases we can submit to your medical insurance for medically covered dental treatment — for example, if your mouth isn't healthy, hasn't been functioning properly since birth or has been harmed by accident, disease or illness, we can help! Our staff is well informed and up-to-date to assist you with a wide array of convenient financing options such as local credit union financing, Care Credit, debt consolidation, pre-tax HRA, HSA, IRA, Flex Spending and, of course, cash, check, VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover.

Maxillofacial prosthodontists manage congenital or developmental defects; traumatic injuries; and abnormalities resulting from cancer surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy treatment. While Dr. Andrus is not a Maxillofacial Prosthodontist, his prosthodontic training included literature reviews and hospital-based treatment of maxillofacial prosthodontic patients including diagnosis of oral cancer, treatment of mandibular discontinuity defects, cleft lip/palate, fabrication of palatal obturators, palatal lift prosthesis, prosthetic eyes, prosthetic noses, and prosthetic ears. He is able to work with familiarity with otolaryngologists, radiation oncologists, anaplastologists, speech pathologists, and other members of the tumor board and medical professionals to treat these patients and refer to and collaborate with maxillofacial prosthodontists around the country. He is currently credentialed as a referral surgical staff member at St. George Regional Hospital.