FAQ's

The following are a few answers to common questions about working with Dr. James C. Downs and Dr. Nickie K. Le. If you have a question that you do not see listed below, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling 303.377.9278.

Simply click on the question that interests you to jump to the answer...

• Do you take credit cards?
• Do you take insurance?
• Do you offer payment plans?
• How do I make an appointment?
• Where are you located?
• Do you guarantee your services?
• I've heard that cosmetic dentistry hurts, is this true?
• What’s the difference between the type of dentistry you provide versus what I can get at the cheaper places?
• I've had ___ for a long time, how can you help me?
• How long do the procedures take?
• I've heard root canals hurt, is this true?
• I've heard that whitening products from a grocery store is as effective as the whitening options done in dental offices, is this true?
• I don't want unnatural looking teeth, so why should I consider cosmetic dentistry?
• I don't want my teeth to be sensitive after my dental treatment is completed, how do you prevent this?

Do you take credit cards?

Yes. We accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express. Patients pay for treatment at time of service.

Do you take insurance?

Yes. However we do not subscribe to a provider list, therefore we are out of network for most insurance plans.

Most insurance plans still have out of network coverage which is close or the same coverage as in network coverage. Most dental insurance companies have the capability for subscribers to research their specific coverages online.

If you have dental insurance, we submit the claims for you, then you'll be reimbursed directly through your insurance carrier.

Do you have payment plans?

Yes. As a service to our patients, we are pleased to offer the card, North America's leading patient payment program. CareCredit lets you begin your treatment immediately then pay for it over time with low monthly payments that are easy to fit into your monthly budget. You can begin your dental care treatment today and conveniently pay with low, monthly payments.

CareCredit offers a full range of No Interest and Extended Payment Plans for treatment fees from $1 to over $25,000.

No Interest Payment Plans

• 3, 6, & 12 month plan options

• No interest if the balance is paid within the specified time period

• Low minimum monthly payments

Extended Payment Plans

• 24, 36, & 48 month plan options

• For procedure fees from $1,500 to over $25,000

• 12.96% interest rate

• Monthly payments as low as $41 for a $1,500 fee balance

With CareCredit, you pay no up-front costs, no pre-payment penalties and no fees. Plus, CareCredit is a revolving credit line for additional treatment or add-on charges, without the need to re-apply. It only takes a few minutes to apply for CareCredit and you'll receive an online decision in seconds! Call our staff for more details.

How do I make an appointment?

Simply call 303.377.9278 to schedule an appointment.

Where are you located?

Our physical address is:
820 Clermont Street
Suite 310
Denver, Colorado 80220.

We are located next to the Health Sciences Center and near the VA hospital.

Do you guarantee your services?

Yes. If you are not 100% satisfied, we will fix the issue until you are satisfied without any additional costs.

I've heard that cosmetic dentistry hurts, is this true?

No. We use topical anesthetic in combination with a local anesthetic. We offer prescriptions to further relax our patients for dental procedures if necessary or requested.

What’s the difference between the type of dentistry you provide versus what I can get at the cheaper places?

There is a huge difference. For starters, we schedule enough time with our patients to address their needs, this helps the provider from being rushed. We are committed to developing a relationship with our patients and providing comprehensive preventative dentistry.

The materials we use with our restorations, partials, dentures, implants and composite fillings are the highest quality biocompatible materials. The dentistry we provide is beautiful and functional. We take our time when addressing your dental needs which prevents future sensitivity and frequent replacements. We use the latest technology to diagnose and treat our patients. With the advancements that we have, we are able to provide a much more thorough comprehensive exam and from that information, come up with a more accurate diagnosis along with a detailed treatment plan.

I've had ___ for a long time, how can you help me?

No matter what your situation is, we can help. Some patients have chronic dental pain and are only seen on an emergency basis because they feel every time they have pain they're going to have another tooth extracted. For these patients we like to approach their mouth as a whole and diagnose necessary treatment to prevent emergencies and pain.

A patient might have had a denture or partial for several years and would like to have a smile that doesn’t need to be removed. For this patient, dental implants are a great option. Maybe a patient has never been confident with their smile and would like to know their options.

Dr. Downs and Dr. Le are masters of cosmetic dentistry and has been very successful in changing patient’s lives by giving them the smile they’ve always dreamed of but never thought possible.

How long do the procedures take?

It depends upon a specific procedures, but to give you an idea...

A general cleaning, takes about an hour. A comprehensive new patient exam with a full mouth series of x-rays takes an hour. A single crown / onlay / inlay takes an hour and a half.

Composite fillings can take from 40 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of teeth.

Full mouth restorations (crowns and veneers) can take from 2 to 4 hours depending on the number of teeth involved.

When you book your appointment, our receptionist will discuss the amount of time needed for your appointment and procedure.

I've heard root canals hurt, is this true?

No. There have been huge technological advances in the instruments and materials used with endodontic / root canal procedures. Patients are always amazed at how little discomfort is involved and tell their friends and family how painless the procedure is.

Some patients have heard that dentistry hurts and that is why they avoid having their treatment needs addressed. At our office we go to several lengths to ensure our patients are comfortable.

We use topical anesthetic to numb the tissue prior to delivering anesthetic. We also have the ability to prescribe medication for our patients who prefer to be very relaxed during dental procedures.

We also listen to our patients and monitor them during procedures to make sure they are not experiencing any discomfort or sensitivity.

We welcome patients to let us know how they are feeling and prefer to allow more time for a patient to become numb rather than try to rush through the procedure while the patient is experiencing discomfort.

I've heard that whitening products from a grocery store is as effective as the whitening options done in dental offices, is this true?

No. Dental offices actually have access to a higher strength of whitener than your typical whitening strips available for purchase in a grocery or drug store.

Also our whitening material contains fluoride which helps prevent sensitivity. We also offer custom whitening trays which fit your mouth specifically so the results are more impressive. Custom trays also are great because when most people smile, they smile with bicuspids and even molars showing.

The strips available at grocery or drug stores cover less teeth area so when you smile it's noticeable which teeth have been whitened and which have not.

We also offer in house whitening which has amazing results and is a great alternative to conventional whitening especially when you are low on time.

I don't want unnatural looking teeth, so why should I consider cosmetic dentistry?

Well, then you've come to the right place! The restorations Dr. Downs or Dr. Le does look so natural that our patients' friends and families have no idea our patients have had a crown or veneer placed!

Even our patients who have had full mouth restorations comment on how their friends and family notice a change in their appearance, but can never pinpoint what has caused the change. Their friends and families just recognize that the patient looks amazing.

They get asked, "Did you cut your hair?", "Lose some weight?", etc... but, rarely are asked if they've had cosmetic dentistry.

That's how natural and amazing our crowns, veneers and restorative procedures are.

I don't want my teeth to be sensitive after my dental treatment is completed, how do you prevent this?

We go to great lengths to ensure our patients do not encounter sensitivity after restorations are placed. The first step we take to help our patients avoid sensitivity is by taking time when the tooth is prepped as well as when the restoration is seated.

Dental treatment is very technique sensitive and involves several steps.

By allowing plenty of time for our patients treatment, the doctor is not rushed and we are able to add a few extra steps which prevent sensitivity. Also, we use the best materials which last longer and prevent sensitivity.

If you have other questions or if you're ready to book your appointment, give us a call today at 303.377.9278.

See the before and after results we've achieved for our patients through our comprehensive dental services >>