Meet the Doctors

How do I choose the right dentist for my needs?

Choosing the right dentist is in many ways similar to making other consumer choices we do every day. Two things make it difficult. First, you need to become a knowledgeable consumer, to understand what you actually need. Back in the day, when the information sources were few, this meant referencing a handful of legitimate sources well known and routinely accessed by everyone, talking to knowledgeable people, reading up on something, getting a word-of-mouth reference from you family, friends or colleagues, etc... Today it is a different story. You are bombarded with information from all sorts of directions, trying to keep up. When you try to educate yourself, it is often difficult to know what is and what isn't a legitimate source of information, and even among legitimate respectable ones, there may be a difference of opinion, depending on your circumstances. Second, once you know what you need, it is also difficult to weed through a large number of options and choices. There are just too many.

What we have said so far doesn't necessarily have anything to do with dentistry. You could say the same thing about practically any product or service today. Dentistry is not unique to this. That is why we publish guides, recommendations, articles and other materials to make our professional, competent voices heard in the Rochester, NY community, educating people and disseminating first-hand, qualified, scientifically validated and evidence-based information. We want our potential patients to understand that matching their oral health needs to the many services that are offered in our area is critically important. Everything needs to be carefully considered - how well-stablished the dental practice is in the community, the providers' professional and personal backgrounds, their commitment to continued professional development and training, their specific professional interests and niche services, their work portfolio (aka the smile gallery), their social proof (aka the testimonials and reviews), their commitment to technology and innovation, their office atmosphere, their staff's smiles, their commitment to making their services financially accessible to all, etc... It's the small things that matter.

Every general dentist's website will likely list the majority of services performed by any other general dentist. But as you scroll through the pages, do you pick up a vibe that our practice is going the extra mile to listen, to be more empathetic and compassionate, to care about your unique needs, to be capable of addressing the most challenging clinical issue, to be both efficient and transparent, to be financially accessible and cost effective? If the answer to these questions is yes, or maybe even a "maybe", please give us a call or submit the Contact Us form. For those "maybes" we would love to show you our beautiful office, have you meet our dentists and our wonderful staff and then let you decide if you want us to be a part of your journey to a better and more beautiful smile.

How are Dr. Anna Belous and Dr. Adriana Palacio different from many other dentist in Rochester, NY?

Way before the connection between the oral and systemic health evolved into a trendy topic, Dr. Anna Belous became a founding member of Rochester, NY's first holistic dentistry practice - a practice that put the overall health of the patient front and center. This required rethinking some of the basic fundamentals of practicing dentistry, researching and fully understanding the long-term effects of material toxicity and biocompatibility, different routes to clinical excellence by applying preventive and minimally invasive procedures, healing and antimicrobial features of various agents like ozone, fluoride alternatives, safe mercury amalgam removal (SMART) and many other techniques. It also required rethinking the human factor of dentistry, such as handling complex cases with anxious and fearful patients, listening, empathizing and finding appropriate ways to reduce and eliminate stress and discomfort.

When Dr. Adriana Palacio joined the practice years later, she became an enthusiastic holistic practitioner, too, contributing, improving and building on the foundational principles, first developed years earlier. The practice now stands as the premier destination for holistic, integrative, full scope general dentistry, offering the most versatile and advanced treatments one would find in the Rochester, NY area, supported by the most well-trained staff, in a comfortable, beautiful, state-of-the-art, conveniently located office, while maintaining the "access for all" financial philosophy, offering phased and gradual treatment plans, accepting a slew of insurances and offering no- and low- interest financing options. Perhaps, one could find other practices in the area with one or more of these things being offered, but Contemporary Dentistry does it all. It is a complete one-stop-shop solution, a complete package for all of your dental needs, under one roof.

Do all doctors offer the same services?

Both Dr. Anna Belous and Dr. Adriana Palacio have the same practice philosophy and that is why they work so well with each other, complementing each other's work in many ways. When you come to the office, either dentist will be well-equipped to serve your most challenging clinical needs. All services listed on our website and in our printed or digital materials are equally performed by both doctors. Both doctors are certified in many advanced procedures and techniques and they typically maintain parity between their certifications to ensure they can both handle all of the clinical cases, as they sometimes fill in for each other, based on their busy schedules.

Can I request a specific doctor or hygienist?

You can certainly request a specific provider, when you reach out to us or when you come to our office. We understand that you may have personal preferences and that is why we offer you this flexibility. The only downside may be that you may sometimes need to wait a bit longer for your appointment, if the provider you prefer happens to have a busier schedule. But regardless of the doctor or hygienist you choose, rest assured that you will receive a consistent, top-quality service at exactly the same cost. The doctors also ensure that they themselves, as well as all of the hygienists and staff, consistently receive the same amount and quality of professional training and continuing education. The service quality and the patient experience are practice-wide and we strive to achieve consistency among all of our providers to ensure our patients aren't disappointed, no matter who they see when they come in.

What if I have dental anxiety or fear?

Well, then you have come to the right place. There is no other general dental practice in the Rochester, NY area that is more locked in on the patient experience and comfort. Patient comfort means different things to different people, and we do it all. From offering a spa-like, relaxed, tranquil atmosphere in the office, to training our staff to pace themselves, speak in a soothing way and offer comforting amenities to the patients, everything and everyone are focused on creating a certain vibe - one of calm, peace and relaxation.

And this is just the beginning. From the clinical side of things, we offer an array of gas agent, prescription medication and IV -induced sedation, ranging from very light to very deep, depending on the patient's state of anxiety and discomfort and the procedure's complexity. We do it all with one goal in mind - patient's comfort state and well-being.

Will it hurt? :-)

Many patients have traumatic and sometimes painful dental experiences, as children or even as adults. All it takes is one unfortunate experience for one's brain the remember that consciously or subconsciously, making the patient develop unnecessary stress and anxiety, sometimes causing the person to delay or avoid treatment. Sometimes patients wait until it is too late to save a tooth or willingly decide to give up on dental treatment altogether, risking losing one or more teeth. Some think that dentures will one day be the solution to all of their problems. They won't. Dentures, although they can significantly rehabilitate one's missing teeth, do not perform the function of natural teeth at the same level of strength, comfort and durability. The jawbone loss continues, the facial features change and the discomfort ensues with the progression of age.

We understand all of these nuances. And that is why we have built a practice that leaves these unfortunate, painful experiences in the rearview mirror. You, as a patient, can start fresh, can experience modern, compassionate dentistry the way it was mean to be, pain and stress free. We will open up your eyes to what can be done to rehabilitate your smile. We will slowly and gently build your confidence in us and in what competent and thoughtful dental professionals can do for your oral and overall health.

What if I think I may not be able to afford treatment?

Our "access for all" practice philosophy may cause you to reconsider. We will take extra time to understand your health objectives and balance them against the various clinical avenues that could get you to those goals. Modern dentistry is evolving and new technologies, solutions and techniques are becoming available all the time. Sometimes, different procedures and different techniques may be considered to achieve the same or similar goal. These techniques may have different level of complexity, invasiveness and time commitment. Consequently, they carry different costs. Also, many procedures can be phased and done gradually and that is why we would develop a thoughtful, actionable treatment plan with you as an integral part of the conversation. We will utilize your insurance coverage to the best degree possible and, if necessary, we will offer convenient no- and low- interest financing. All these things work together to ensure you would get the best return on your investment in your oral and overall health.

Do all doctors take the same insurances?

Our providers may be "on the panel" with some insurance payers, but, as a general rule, our practice will take a wide range of insurances and submit claims on your behalf. This means that, at best, you may get a full or significant partial coverage. Sometimes, depending on the type of insurance plan you have, you may get a less-than-desirable coverage for certain procedures or even no coverage at all. That is why we can custom-craft your treatment plan to make it more affordable and have convenient financing to complement any anticipated shortages.