Dr. Erik Scott Atkinson

Dr. Atkinson has been practicing dentistry for 6 years, and has worked in both Arizona and Georgia. He is the sole owner and dentist of Deerfield Dentistry, which opened in the fall of 2004.
Do you take my insurance?
We are currently providers for the following PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental Premier, Ameritas, MetLife, Guardian, Principal, and Cigna. Please call our office if you need clarification on what your insurance is.
What do I do if I don’t have dental insurance?
You certainly do not need to have dental insurance to come to the dentist, although it does help to alleviate some of the cost for the patient. For your convenience, we offer two types of financing options (see below).
What forms of payment do you take?
We accept Cash, Check, American Express, Visa, and MasterCard. We also offer two types of financing options: CareCredit (healthcare credit card) and Capital One Healthcare Finance (healthcare loan). They both …offer No Interest and Low Monthly payment options for the dental procedures you want and need. You can get more information, including applications by visiting their websites:
www.carecredit.com and https://www.capitalonehealthcarefinance.com/dental
Are you taking new patients?
We welcome new patients! Please call our front office coordinator, Vicki, to set up your new patient appointment. She can answer all the questions that you may have, and will be able to set up a time that will be convenient for you. You can expect to get a new patient appointment within 2-4 weeks (different times of year are busier than others!).
How long will it take?
Each patient’s treatment varies, so it is difficult to quote a time schedule. When you make the appointment, feel free to ask how long you will be required to be there.
For estimate purposes, new patients (adults) can expect to be here for one hour, 45 minutes. This allows plenty of time to take X-rays (full mouth and panoramic), check the health of your mouth, gums and teeth, take note of existing dental work, as well as address any problems that you may currently have. If you require a simple cleaning, this will be done at your first appointment. If you require a more extensive cleaning (where anesthesia is involved), a second appointment will be necessary.
On average, a ZOOM! Teeth whitening procedure will last about an hour and a half. Fillings and simple extractions can be completed in about an hour. Root canals require a two-hour appointment. Other cases that involve crowns, bridges or veneers require us to prepare the teeth on the first visit, after which you will be sent home with a customized temporary tooth / set of teeth. After your case is returned from our laboratory, we will seat your permanent tooth / set of teeth.
Will it hurt?
Ah, the most frequently asked question! Almost all patients have been fearful or apprehensive of “the dentist” at some point in their life. If this is you, please don’t feel alone (or put off necessary treatment!). With the modern advances in equipment and medications, our patients state that they are much more comfortable in their treatment than ever before! Once we have a treatment plan outlined for you, your specific questions about discomfort and pain control can easily be answered.
While our staff is extremely friendly to chat with, our office is also equipped with televisions above each chair, with a wide selection of movies and sitcoms to make you forget about any discomfort! Please feel free to bring your own “comfort” movie (family-friendly, of course). Head sets are also available with a wide selection of music.