For many people, dentist appointments usually end up at the bottom of the to-do list. Excuses include fear, not having enough time or lack of insurance. The dental community is now on the offensive, promoting itself in a more inviting light and hoping its reinvention encourages patients to take care of their teeth just as they do the rest of their bodies. Dentist offices have heard every excuse in the book and answered them with welcoming office atmospheres, prompt appointments and discounted rates and payment plans.
One such practice is American Family Dental Care, located in Bala Cynwyd. Its patients’ dental health is the top priority. Highly qualified dentists, specialists and staff work together to make patients feel relaxed for the duration of their treatment, instilling a level of mutual trust and respect. Under this one roof, American Family Dental Care can provide a wide range of services to keep one’s teeth in tip-top shape, including general dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, cosmetic dentistry and oral surgery.
Tiffany Morgan, D.M.D., is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the American Dental Association. She says American Family Dental Care fits her style of providing dental care by fostering a comfortable environment for patients and doctors. “I believe in a straightforward approach with patients and I want them to understand how essential their oral health is,” she says. “This practice encourages us to educate the patients on the different treatment options available and what is realistic for your lifestyle. We’re going to give real advice.”
Besides the general cleanings offered, patients can receive tooth whitening, sealants, root canal therapy, bridges, dentures and fillings. Once the necessary treatment is recommended, patients don’t have to worry about searching for another doctor to perform that service. “Because we have a lot of different specialties at this office, patients don’t need to travel or get a referral,” Dr. Morgan adds. In addition, all records are digital—a sign of how the practice has embraced technology—making it that much easier for notes to be accessed at other locations in the dental network should a patient have an emergency.
Much of the staff at American Family Dental Care has dual certifications, including Amen Dhyllon, D.D.S. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 2008 with special recognition and honors in orthodontics and esthetic restorative dentistry. After graduating from University of Southern California, he attended the only combined orthodontic and periodontic program in the world at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Dhyllon is certified in Invisalign, invisible braces, laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) for periodontitis, micro-aesthetic surgeries and accelerated osteogenic orthodontics.
As an orthodontist and periodontist, Dr. Dhyllon is able to see a bigger picture when he looks at a patient. “For me it’s not just about making the teeth straight; I’m also looking at the growth pattern of the bones and the alignment of the jaws,” he says. “The bones are the foundation of our teeth and if they are not harmonious then it will lead to problems. When adults begin to have problems with their teeth as their age progresses, much of it can be traced to their bite or how their teeth come together.” He says a person’s jaw muscles have a position they find naturally comfortable, but so do the teeth, so while people sleep, these things conflict and can lead to grinding, causing teeth to break down.
Although some adults might not want to consider braces at a late stage in life, accelerated osteogenic orthodontics enables patients to be in and out of braces in six months, according to Dr. Dhyllon. “This procedure rejuvenates the bone architecture, making teeth move faster and more easily,” he says. Other options include Invisalign or incognito braces (which go only on the back of the teeth), but both require the right candidate.
Dr. Dhyllon has a great reputation for putting patients at ease, which he attributes to the way he treats them. “I don’t treat them as patients,” he says. “I look at them as family members.” He adds that he doesn’t like making his patients wait and knows their time is important. “I enjoy treating my patients and making them happy, and it’s always a great feeling when they are happy with the outcome, which has as much to do with their efforts between visits as it does mine.”
Another unique offering at American Family Dental Care is its PresiDental Plan. Vishal Pandya says the office accepts almost all insurance plans, but if patients do not have insurance, this option is a deep-discount dental plan that provides affordable dental care. Dr. Bhaskar Savani developed the PresiDental Plan as a solution to the complicated and revenue-driven mainstream insurance plans. His aim was to create an opportunity for all patients—regardless of their insurance coverage—to come into a high-end facility with qualified professionals and receive the best treatment possible.
The PresiDental Plan does not require pre-authorization, and has no waiting period, no yearly maximum and no claims to submit. There are three levels of membership:
Red: The Red plan starts at as little as $9.99 per month for a single enrollment and offers discounts of up to 40 percent on dental procedures.
White: The White plan starts at $29.99 per month for a single enrollment and offers discounts of up to 60 percent on dental procedures.
Blue: The Blue plan starts at $49.99 per month for a single enrollment and offers discounts of up to 80 percent on dental procedures.
There is also an orthodontics plan offered as a membership for three or five years depending on the length of treatment and costs $99.99 a month.
Pandya says patients have been appreciative of this plan as many don’t have insurance at all or don’t have enough to cover the procedures they need. “Many times people won’t visit a dentist because they aren’t sure if they have coverage or if they can afford it,” he says. “With the PresiDental Plan we make everything clear and understandable, which leads to healthier patients.”
Dr. Dhyllon says the entire staff is dedicated to serving patients, no matter what their insurance covers. “I don’t allow money to come between me and my patients; I just know that I will give them any treatment necessary to make their smiles brighter and their mouths healthier.”
Word of mouth has spread and placed American Family Dental Care in the midst of a growth spurt. The office will soon be expanding into the second floor and another location will be opening on Presidential Boulevard, allowing more patients to be served.
American Family Dental Care P.C.
301 City Line Avenue, Suite G-5
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-660-9510
MyFamilyDentalCare.com
PresiDentalPlan.com
Photograph by Rob Hall