Frequently Asked Questions...

Check out the detailed directions and maps on our on-line directions page.

For new patient, appointments email us or telephone 650-323-2138 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Mon-Fri. New patient appointments typically last two hours to allow time for a complete exam (and x-rays if needed), as well as teeth/gum cleaning, plus plenty of time to talk with the dentist. If you are having discomfort, call us right away for priority scheduling.

You'd think, what with water seeking it's own level and all, that the average level of the oceans (Mean Sea Level, or MSL) would be some fairly constant distance from the center of the Earth. However, several factors combine to make it not that simple. The tidal pull of other bodies in the solar system stretch the Earth and it's oceans like a piece of taffy, making it wider than it is tall (which is how I feel some days...). The Sun (because it's so big) and the Moon (because it's so close) are the main players. And the spin of the Earth itself tends to make it "fatter" in the middle (near the equator). Then there's the fact that the sea level varies with water density, which changes due to factors like temperature and mineral (salt) content. Then there's the fact that a lot of the water is in motion, flowing in currents and rivers, ice fields, clouds, etc.So what do we do? In the tradition of all good science, we approach the problem both empirically (go out and measure it) and theoretically (try to figure it out), and then combine both. The result is the "geoid", a mathematical shape that shows where the water level would be (as measured from the center of the Earth) if it were allowed to settle, and there was no land in the way. This mathematical model can be used with technology like the Global Positioning System (GPS), which is good at figuring how far from the center of the Earth you are, to find out how far above MSL you are, which is how most people think of "how high am I?"

Well, the simple answer is, any that will pay! Here's how we handle dental reimbursement plans: We charge our fees to our client: you. As a service to you, we generate claim forms to send to your dental plan. Many plans will pay us directly instead of you (this is called "assignment of benefit"). If you have one of those plans, we will wait up to 60 days to settle the claim (most settle in less than 14 days) before we collect from you. Extending this credit to you seems to be the easiest way to get around the almost impossible task of figuring out what each and every dental plan will pay in every circumstance. Some plans will pay only you. For those, we collect from you at the time of service and send a claim for you. Some plans put together a "network" of providers who agree to provide services at a discount rate. To encourage you to use the discount providers, many plans provide less coverage at the non-discount providers. If you have a "provider list" with your plan, you might want to contact them and ask what coverage they will provide to you at Amy Guthrie, DDS. It varies from none to almost as much as a "network" provider, depending on the plan (including different plans within a particular insurance company).

We understand why you would like for us to be on the list. The insurance company says they will give you more coverage to go to a "preferred provider". Of course, "preferred" doesn't mean better, it means cheaper. As in, a little cheaper for you, and a lot cheaper for the insurance company. The insurance companies want to force us into deep, deep discounts to our fees in order to be on their "preferred provider" lists. In return for that, they say they will bring more customers in the door. That leaves us with a choice; do we decrease the quality of our care and service and try to make it up on high volume, or focus on providing a high-quality service, worthy of a non-discounted fee? The best way to get wealthy from Dentistry is clearly the 'high volume' choice, but Amy and the people she chooses to have around her are more interested in helping people than in selling one more procedure to make a quota. So we have chosen the path of personal service and high quality over discounted quantity, and we are not on any insurance company's list of discounted providers. For people who have maximizing insurance coverage as a top priority, we may not be the best fit. Fortunately, there are a lot of choices out there. But we hope everyone keeps in mind that insurance companies are like casinos in Las Vegas; the game is rigged so the house always wins, and very few people walk out with more than they came with. We are happy to help you obtain all the reimbursement your plan provides by submitting and managing claims, waiting to collect from you until the claims have settled (for companies that will pay us directly), and submitting for predetermination-of-benefits. We want to work for you, not for your insurance company.

Yes. Currently enrolled college students (pursuing an undergrad or graduate degree) can get 25% off most procedures performed in the office. To qualify you must:

- Have no reimbursement plan (insurance, medical savings account, etc.) that we have to do paperwork for (saving this overhead makes it possible to offer a large discount)
- Pay in full at time of service (no exceptions)
- Be able to present a current ID card from the college

Mates (spouses or equivalent) and children of students being seen in the office can get a 15% discount under the same terms.

Not currently.

No.

That can vary considerably depending on your needs; call the office at 650-323-2138 to discuss it.

Most were taken by Rich Acuff, our Business Manager. He has a fragile ego, so be sure to mention it if you like them! :-)

AMY@Dr-AMY.com goes only to Amy.

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