Questions patients ask us

Do you have evening hours?

Yes. Our Franklin office is open until 6 pm on Tuesdays, and our Edinburgh office until 6 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We also see dental emergencies for new and existing patients, and we make every effort to see you the same day.

Are you in network with my insurance?

We are in network with Delta Dental, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Health Resources, Inc., MetLife, Principal, Ameritas and HIP Plan. Those are not the only networks we work with, so if your plan is not on the list, call Franklin at (317) 736-9546 or Edinburgh at (812) 220-2676 and our team will look up your coverage with you.

What are the basics of dental insurance?

Most dental plans run on the calendar year, so your benefits renew in January and end in December. A plan usually has a deductible and a yearly maximum, often covers preventive visits in full, and pays a percentage of treatment. Deductibles, maximums and percentages vary from plan to plan, even within one insurance company.

Good questions to ask about your own plan: which services are fully covered, whether it runs on the calendar year, whether there is a deductible, what the yearly maximum is, and whether your dentist is in network.

Why does it help to see a dentist in my network?

You can use dental insurance at a practice outside your network, but you usually get more from your benefits inside it. In network, routine cleanings and checkups are typically covered in full, and treatment is paid at a higher percentage, so you pay less yourself.

When should my child first see the dentist?

We like to see children around age one, or about six months after their first teeth come in. An early visit lets your child get used to the big chair and our instruments, and lets us watch how the teeth develop so we can tell you about any concern early. Bringing your child along to your own appointments helps too.

As your child grows, we may recommend fluoride treatments and dental sealants, which help protect small teeth from decay, and a mouth guard for sports.

How can I replace a missing tooth?

A dental implant replaces both parts of a tooth: the root, with a titanium post, and the tooth itself, with a porcelain crown. Dr. Corn places implants here in our office rather than sending you elsewhere for the surgical step, and he plans each placement ahead of time with 3-D x-rays. Once the implant has healed, he makes the porcelain crown, and you care for it by brushing and flossing like your other teeth.

An exam and x-rays tell us whether an implant suits you, and Dr. Corn can talk through other ways to replace a tooth if it does not.

Are x-rays necessary, and are they safe?

X-rays let Dr. Corn see inside and between your teeth, where decay and gum disease can start long before anyone could see them, and finding them early means the simplest treatment. We use digital x-rays, which use less radiation than film, appear right away so we can talk about what we see, and need no developing chemicals. We recommend x-rays at least once a year.

How long is a first visit, and will I get a cleaning?

A first visit usually takes about 60 minutes. Dr. Corn spends much of that time getting to know you, talking through your concerns and goals, and examining your teeth and gums. If we find no signs of gum disease, we try to finish your first cleaning in the same visit.

If it has been a while since your last cleaning, we never judge. We may book a longer, more thorough cleaning at your next appointment to get you back on track.

Why do routine checkups matter?

Regular visits every six months help you avoid problems such as gum disease and tooth decay, and catch gum disease, decay and oral cancer early, when treatment is simpler and less costly. Many insurance plans cover these preventive visits in full.