FAQ · Plain answers
Questions patients actually ask.
Most of what people want to know before becoming a patient at Dunning, about scheduling, insurance, services, and what a first visit is like. If your question isn’t here, call the office and ask. The front desk handles most things in five minutes or less.
If it’s not here, call.
We didn’t try to make this an exhaustive list. Specific questions about your situation are usually a phone call, not a webpage.
5-minute answers
New patients
Becoming a patient.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes. Call the office and the front desk will get you on the schedule. Tell them you’re new when you call so they can send the right Dental Intel forms ahead of time.
How do I schedule a first appointment?
Call 518-842-3220 during office hours. We don’t use online booking because it creates duplicate appointments and misses context the front desk needs to match you with the right visit type.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Identification, anything your insurance company has issued you (card or membership details), and a list of medications you currently take, supplements included. With those three things in hand, the team can move straight into the exam without administrative back-and-forth. The new-patients page has the full walkthrough of what the first appointment looks like start to finish.
How long does a first visit take?
About 60–75 minutes. The first appointment is mostly listening, about your history, concerns, and what you want from dental care. Cleaning may happen at the same visit or get scheduled separately depending on what we find.
Can I fill out forms at the office?
Yes. The Dental Intel forms arrive by email or text after you call, but if you’d rather fill them out in the office, arrive about ten minutes early and the front desk will hand them over.
How do I transfer records from my old dentist?
Tell us your prior dentist’s name and the front desk will request your records on your behalf. Most offices send them within a week. You don’t need them in hand to book a first visit.
Insurance + payment
How billing works.
Do you accept my insurance?
Dunning Family Dental does not participate in any insurance plans as an in-network provider. We submit dental claims to your insurance company on your behalf as a courtesy, and the reimbursement comes directly to you. Most patients with dental insurance still use their benefits. CareCredit is accepted for treatment plans you'd like to spread across months. Medicaid and Fidelis are not accepted. The honest reason for the non-participating posture is preserving doctor continuity and unhurried appointment time, both of which network participation makes harder. Call (518) 842-3220 with your specific plan details and the front desk will give a realistic estimate of out-of-pocket cost in about five minutes.
Why don’t you take insurance?
Insurance networks require reduced fees that, over time, change the math of how a practice runs, less time per patient, more pressure to upsell, less room for honest conversation. We opted out years ago to keep the pace and the integrity of how we work. Many patients find the total cost ends up comparable to in-network practices.
Do you accept CareCredit?
Yes. CareCredit is accepted as a payment option for treatment plans that benefit from spreading the cost, crowns, implants, or multi-visit work. You can apply online or at the office.
Do you accept HSA or FSA cards?
Yes. Dental visits are eligible HSA and FSA expenses. We accept the cards directly at checkout.
When do I pay?
At the visit. Your insurance reimburses you directly, typically within 2–4 weeks. This keeps the billing simpler than waiting on insurance before billing you.
Will I get an estimate before treatment?
Yes. For any work beyond a basic exam and cleaning, you get a written estimate that includes both the practice fee and the expected insurance reimbursement before you decide to proceed.
Services
What we do.
What services do you offer?
General & preventive dentistry (cleanings, exams), restorative dentistry (fillings, crowns, bridges), cosmetic dentistry (whitening, bonding, veneers), implant restorations, emergency dentistry, and family care across all ages. The services page has details on each.
Do you place dental implants?
Dunning restores implants, meaning we make and place the crown, bridge, or denture that sits on top. The surgical placement of the implant fixture itself is referred to a trusted local oral surgeon. We coordinate the referral so everyone is working from the same plan.
Do you treat children?
Yes, family dentistry means patients from first visits onward. For routine preventive care, sealants, and small restorations on younger patients, we handle most situations in-house. For complex pediatric cases, sedation, or very young children with extensive needs, we refer to a trusted pediatric specialist. Call (518) 842-3220 to talk through what's appropriate for your child's specific age and situation.
Do you do orthodontics or Invisalign?
We don’t place braces or do Invisalign in-house. We monitor tooth development and refer to local orthodontists when alignment work is the right next step.
Do you do root canals?
Straightforward root canals, yes, Dr. D’Addio handles them. For complex cases involving back molars or unusual anatomy, we refer to an endodontist.
Do you do oral surgery or extractions?
Simple extractions, yes. For surgical extractions, impacted wisdom teeth, or anything requiring sedation, we refer to a local oral surgeon.
Emergencies
When something happens today.
Do you offer emergency appointments?
Yes. Call the office and the front desk will triage. If there’s a way to see you the same day, we’ll find it. We don’t promise same-day on a webpage because availability varies, but we do pick up the phone.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe or worsening pain, swelling in the face or jaw, a broken tooth or tooth loss, a lost crown or filling, or persistent bleeding. When in doubt, call, the front desk will help you figure out whether to come in or go to the ER.
Should I go to the ER first?
Go to the ER for trouble breathing, severe facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma to your jaw. For tooth pain, broken teeth, or lost restorations, call us first.
What if I lost a tooth?
Pick up the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root. Rinse gently with water if dirty, don’t scrub. Try to gently reinsert it in the socket. If you can’t, put it in milk or saliva. Call us within the first hour for the best chance of saving it.
Office + scheduling
The practical stuff.
What are your hours?
Monday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Tuesday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Closed weekends.
Where are you located?
310 Jansen Avenue, Johnstown, NY 12095. Phone (518) 842-3220. The contact page has directions and a map.
Are you open on holidays?
We’re closed Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Eve and Day.
Can I book online?
We don’t use online booking. Call 518-842-3220, the front desk can match you with the right visit type more accurately than a form, and it avoids the duplicate appointments that online systems tend to create.
Can I reschedule by text or email?
Call the office. A phone call resolves scheduling changes in one exchange instead of a back-and-forth thread.
Do you have parking?
Yes. Free off-street parking is available at the office.
Still have a question?
Pick up the phone. Most patient questions get answered faster in a five-minute conversation than in a webpage scroll.
A legacy of family dentistry you can trust.