Maintaining patient satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any health care professional, but it’s even more important for dentists who have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Alfred B. dela Cruz, DDS, the key to achieving and maintaining high levels of patient satisfaction is taking the time to educate his patients about their dental conditions and clearly explain how they can improve their oral health. “A lot of people don’t even know they have a problem until they actually see it, so I always take a lot of ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos so I can show them exactly what’s wrong,” says Dr. dela Cruz. “My number one goal is to create positive dental experiences for my patients, and they really appreciate that.”

Dr. dela Cruz has been providing general dental services for patients of all ages at his San Ramon practice since 2003, handling everything from composite fillings, extractions and dentures to root canals, whitening and cosmetic work. He also works with veneers, inlays and onlays (a conservative alternative to crowns), and he uses carefully tailored anesthesia to offer painless oral surgery.

Unlike dentists who sacrifice personalized service in order to maximize their patient volume, Dr. dela Cruz and his employees believe in providing a personal touch for every patient, regardless of the extent of their issues. “I only see one patient at a time, which translates to about 10 a day, so each person receives very focused, personalized care,” says Dr. dela Cruz. “When someone comes into our office, they know it’s going to be all about them.”

Another distinguishing feature of Dr. dela Cruz’s practice is its ability to utilize a wide variety of state-of-the-art dental equipment, from digital x-rays that reduce radiation exposure by 85 percent to lasers used for periodontal and soft tissue work that reduce pain, swelling and the risk of infection. “Also, our hand pieces don’t make the unpleasant screeching noises that older dental equipment makes,” adds Dr. dela Cruz. “It may seem insignificant, but eliminating those sounds really puts patients at ease and makes for a better overall experience.”

If you need a dental crown, consider the benefits of “all-ceramic.” According to San Ramon-based dentist Alfred B. dela Cruz, DDS, one of the most significant advancements in dental technology in recent years has been the use of ceramic crowns. “Some dentists are exclusively using all-ceramic crowns, which means there’s no metal underneath to create that unsightly black line where the crown meets the gum,” he explains. “The main benefit to these crowns is they can be made in one day, which speeds up the process and eliminates the need for multiple fitting visits.”
To make an all-ceramic crown, a dentist uses cameras to create a 3-D model of the original tooth, mills a replacement crown on the spot and has it ready to be cemented in place in 30 minutes. Relatively few dental practices have the equipment to perform this procedure right now, but Dr. dela Cruz says dentists who stay up-to-date on advancements in industry technology will have a distinct competitive edge when state-of-the-art equipment becomes more readily available.
A crowned tooth doesn’t require any special care, but it’s important to remember that the tooth underneath the crown is still susceptible to decay and gum disease just like your other teeth. Following good oral hygiene practices (brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day around the crown area where the gum meets the tooth) will greatly reduce the risk of complications and increase the life span of the crown.

Q: How much will my dental work cost?

A: Once we decide on a treatment plan, we’ll lay out the specific costs and provide you with various payment options. We offer structured payment plans through CareCredit, which is designed for medical and dental treatments. You can also pay the entirety of your bill upfront and receive a discount.

Q: Will I be in pain while you’re working on my teeth?

A: No. We use ‘profound anesthesia,’ which means you won’t feel a thing. Often, our patients don’t even realize their procedures are over until we tell them.

Q: Are you skilled in cosmetic dentistry?

A: Yes, one of our specialties is cosmetic dentistry. Our goal is to ensure our work functions properly and looks great at the same time. For example, we don’t use any metal in our crowns, which means you won’t see that black line along the gum line like you see in older dental work.

Q: Do you treat children?

A: Yes. Our practice is adult-oriented, but we offer pediatric dentistry services as well.

Q: Do you accept dental insurance?

A: Yes, we accept a number of dental insurances, including Delta Dental, Metlife, United Concordia, Aetna and Cigna, just to name a few. We’ll be happy to go over benefits with you to determine how much your insurance policy will pay on a given procedure, but the ultimate responsibility is yours.