At Andrew Wheatley, DDS at Tecumseh Ridge Dental our primary goal is to provide top-notch dental care to our patients. We understand that life can sometimes throw unexpected curveballs, making it necessary to cancel or reschedule appointments. While we strive to be as flexible and accommodating as possible, we are also a small, family-owned business. No-shows affect us financially and operationally, take valuable appointment time from other patients, and impact our staff and practice negatively. Therefore, we have implemented an appointment cancellation policy to ensure that we can continue to serve you and all our patients efficiently.
You can read the full policy on our Financial Policies & Insurance Coverage page.
Why We Have an Appointment Cancellation Policy
Our appointment cancellation policy is not designed to inconvenience our patients. Instead, it is in place to benefit everyone involved, including you, our staff, and other patients. Let’s take a closer look at why this policy matters:
1. Optimizing Appointment Availability
When you schedule an appointment with us, we reserve a specific time slot just for you. This means that other patients may be unable to access that time slot if it’s booked, even if they have urgent dental needs. By providing us with at least 24 hours’ notice when you need to cancel or reschedule, you enable us to open up that time slot for another patient in need. This ensures that more people have access to timely dental care.
2. Respect for Everyone’s Time
Respecting one another’s time is essential in any professional relationship. When you arrive for your scheduled appointment, our dedicated dental team is prepared to provide you with the best possible care. However, when patients fail to show up or provide sufficient notice of cancellation, it disrupts our carefully crafted schedules. This not only impacts our ability to serve other patients promptly but also inconveniences our staff.
3. Cost-Efficiency
Efficiency in our practice helps keep costs in check. When we can manage our appointments effectively, it reduces the need for overbooking or extended hours, which could lead to increased overhead costs. This, in turn, allows us to maintain competitive pricing for our dental services.
Our No-Show Fee: A Fair Approach
We understand that life can be unpredictable, and emergencies happen. That’s why we’ve implemented a fair and reasonable no-show fee of $50. Here’s how it works:
- 24-Hour Notice: If you provide us with at least 24 hours’ notice of your need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, you won’t incur any fees. We appreciate your consideration in giving us this advance notice.
- No-Show Fee: However, if you fail to provide at least 24 hours’ notice or do not show up for your scheduled appointment, a $50 no-show fee will be applied. This fee helps cover some of the costs associated with the lost appointment slot.
- Billing Options: The No-Show Policy can be charged to the credit card on file, or will be billed directly to you. We aim to make this process as convenient as possible for our patients.
Our appointment cancellation policy is not meant to be punitive but rather to ensure fairness and efficiency for all our patients. By adhering to this policy, you contribute to a smoother operation at Tecumseh Ridge Dental, ensuring that we can continue to provide the high-quality dental care you deserve.
We genuinely value your trust in us as your dental care providers, and we appreciate your cooperation with our policies. If you ever have any questions or concerns about our appointment cancellation policy or any other aspect of your dental care, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Your oral health is our top priority, and together, we can make the dental experience at our practice even more exceptional.
