New Patients Forms and FAQ

New Patients Forms and Frequently Asked Questions

Has it been a while since you saw a dentist? Are you or your family just getting established in Central Iowa? Are you studying at Iowa State and found yourself with a dental need while away from home? Maybe you are looking for the best services for teeth whitening, full or partial dentures, TMJ, or more? We are the team to care for you.

When you or your family member first come to our office you will be welcomed and will feel at ease by the calming atmosphere our office provides. Our team will offer you a tour of our space and answer your questions. We ask that you fill out our online forms as a new patient prior to your first appointment. Follow the link in the upper right corner of this page!

We love new patients and most of ours are referred from our current patients. If someone refers a new patient to us we enter their name in a drawing when the new patient comes for their first appointment. Every quarter we give a prize as a token of our appreciation.

How much does ______ cost?

Well, it depends! There are over 200 different procedures performed in our office. In fact, there are over 10 different kinds of crowns alone! In order to give you an accurate estimate, we will need to schedule an appointment to see what is best for you.

What types of dental insurance do you accept?

The insurance questions can often be confusing--even to us!! The Bottom Line is this: We "accept" payment from most insurance carriers which means they can send us a check directly and we can "accept" it as payment toward the treatment provided. However, this is different than being "in-network" with a specific insurance plan. Dr. Patten is in an in-network provider for Delta Dental Premier and Wellmark Blue Dental.

Do you take my insurance?

This question is a variation of the previous question and is answered there as well.

Are you accepting new patients?

OF COURSE! We are always happy to welcome new patients to the practice. Please fill out our New Patient Forms prior to your first appointment. Follow the link in the upper right corner of this page!

Do you see children?

Yes, we enjoy seeing children in our practice and would love to be your pediatric dentist of choice.

How young of children will you see?

Some of our favorite smiles are often the smallest! We will see patients as early as 1 year of age for consultation and what we call a Happy Visit. We usually begin cleanings around the age of three.

How soon can I get in?

We make every effort to accommodate your schedule as soon as possible. We have emergency times reserved each day and new patient cleaning appointments each week. Emergencies are seen the same day – we know that a severe toothache can’t wait.

How long will the appointment take?

It depends! Some appointments are very short and only 20-30 minutes, others are longer if more work is being done at one time, such as root canal treatment or diagnosing an abscess. Most routine check-ups are about an hour in length.

Where are you located?

We are conveniently located two blocks south of HWY 30 on University Boulevard--near the junction of Airport Road and Oakwood Road. Our address is 2625 South University Blvd in Ames, Iowa. Our phone number is 515-233-2898 if you need directions.

Are there other ways to contact you?

Yes! We love hearing from our patients and encourage you to contact us when you have an interest or concern about dental hygiene or dentistry procedures! You are welcome to visit us at the address above, call our office, connect with us on Facebook, or fill out the convenient form online and we will be happy to get back to you!