09/18/2026
Dear Patients and Friends,
I am happy to share that we at Mountain View Dental have chosen to remain in-network with Delta Dental.
First, I want to apologize for the uncertainty and confusion this process may have caused you and your families. I also want you to know that your voices were heard. Many of you reached out to our office, your employers, and Delta Dental directly to express how much you value being able to continue receiving care at Mountain View Dental.
It made a difference.
The response from our patients prompted renewed conversations with Delta Dental and encouraged us to take another look at the options available to our practice.
When we began the process of leaving the Delta Dental network, it was not a decision we took lightly. One of the biggest challenges we have faced for years has been the growing gap between the cost of providing excellent dental care and Delta Dental's reimbursement rates.
To put that into perspective, under our previous reimbursement structure, Delta Dental was reimbursing our office less for a routine dental cleaning today than it did more than 20 years ago. During that same time, wages for talented dental hygienists and team members have risen, along with the costs of supplies, equipment, technology, laboratory services, continuing education, and operating a dental practice.
We also learned through this process that the financial impact of going out-of-network could be greater for some of our patients than we initially anticipated. Depending on an individual's Delta Dental plan, remaining with an out-of-network provider could mean a significantly greater out-of-pocket expense. I heard from patients who genuinely wanted to stay with our office but were worried they simply could not afford the increased cost.
That weighed heavily on me.
At the same time, the principles that led us to consider leaving the network have not changed. I do not believe the answer should be to shorten appointments, ask our hygienists to see more patients in less time, or compromise the level of care we provide. I want our doctors to recommend treatment based on what is best for the person sitting in the chair, and I want Mountain View Dental to continue investing in excellent people, technology, education, and materials.
While reimbursement under this different model remains below our standard fees for many services, it represents meaningful improvement and allows us to remain in-network while continuing to provide the level of care our patients have come to expect from us.
I recognize that we previously told you something different, and I sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we worked through this complicated situation. I would rather change course when additional information and a better solution become available than continue down a path simply because we had already announced it.
Most importantly, thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your care, supporting our team, and sharing how important it was to you to continue receiving care here. Your feedback played an important role in our decision to take another look at the options available to us.
We are grateful that we get to continue caring for you and your families.
Warmly,
Dr. Joshua Kirk
Mountain View Dental
