Richard A Rush, DMD in Chattanooga: General Dentistry with Defined Pricing for New Patients
Richard A Rush, DMD operates a general dental practice in Chattanooga focused on preventive and restorative care for adults and accepts most major insurance plans. The practice handles routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, and oral evaluations; patients seeking orthodontics or specialized periodontal care are referred elsewhere. The office sits within Chattanooga's mid-sized dental provider landscape, where patients typically choose between practices based on insurance acceptance, appointment availability, and whether they need specialist referrals on-site.
What Richard A Rush, DMD Actually Is
This is a single-provider general dentistry office serving as a primary-care dental home for patients in Chattanooga. The practice does not perform implants, complex periodontal surgery, or orthodontics; instead, Rush handles the preventive and routine restorative work that forms the foundation of dental health and then refers patients to specialists when needed. For patients already integrated into the local dental landscape, this model works well. For patients new to Chattanooga or searching for a single office that can handle everything from a routine cleaning to an extraction to orthodontic consultation, knowing the scope upfront saves a phone call.
Services and Pricing
New-patient visits at Richard A Rush, DMD include a full-mouth examination, periodontal screening, and typically X-rays if none have been taken recently. The fee for a new-patient exam and cleaning runs approximately $150 to $200, depending on the extent of imaging; confirm current pricing when you call. Subsequent routine cleanings and exams cost roughly $100 to $150 per visit for established patients without insurance. Fillings range from $150 to $300 per tooth based on size and material (composite or amalgam). Simple extractions start around $200 to $400 per tooth; wisdom teeth or surgical extractions are referred to an oral surgeon.
For patients with insurance, the practice files claims directly. Many plans cover preventive visits (cleanings and exams) at 100 percent and basic restorative work (fillings) at 70 to 80 percent. Verify your specific plan's coverage before scheduling, as deductibles and annual maximums vary widely. The office works with most major carriers; call ahead if you carry a smaller regional plan to confirm participation.
How It Compares to Other Chattanooga Dentists
Richard A Rush, DMD differs from practices like Mountain View Dental (also general dentistry, accepting similar insurance) primarily in referral patterns and specialist availability within-building. Mountain View maintains an orthodontist on-site, which means families seeking braces can stay in one office; Rush refers orthodontic patients to external providers, requiring a second appointment with someone like Chattanooga Dental Specialists. For patients who want one convenient address for basic care and are comfortable with referrals for advanced work, Rush's model is standard. For families anticipating multiple specialties (braces for children, a crown for one parent, and root canal therapy for another), an all-in-one practice reduces administrative friction.
Chattanooga also has two large group practices (Bright Smile Dental and Premier Dental Group) that staff multiple general dentists and hygienists under one roof, reducing new-patient wait times and offering after-hours slots. Single-provider offices like Rush's often have longer appointment lead times during peak months (September through November, when many patients' insurance deductibles reset) but may offer more continuity because you see the same dentist for years.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not Suit
This practice suits adults who need routine preventive care and the occasional filling or extraction, have established insurance or the ability to pay out-of-pocket, and are comfortable with referrals for anything beyond general dentistry. It also works well for patients who value seeing the same clinician and appreciate lower overhead and shorter front-desk wait times that often come with a single-provider office.
It does not suit families seeking pediatric care; Rush's practice is adult-focused and does not have a separate children's operatory or behavior-guidance protocols for young patients. It also does not suit patients who want same-day emergency extraction on a weekend or after-hours care; the office operates standard business hours and does not maintain an emergency line. Finally, patients expecting cosmetic services like professional whitening or veneers should ask specifically, as these are not routinely offered.
What the First Visit Involves
Call to schedule a new-patient appointment; lead times typically range from one to three weeks depending on season. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to complete health and insurance paperwork. The dentist or hygienist will review your medical history, take X-rays if needed, perform a visual exam, and do a gentle periodontal probe to check gum health. The dentist will then discuss any findings and propose a treatment plan. For most patients, the entire visit lasts 45 minutes to an hour. If you need a filling or extraction, that is usually scheduled at a follow-up appointment unless it is an immediate problem and the schedule allows.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited or no Saturday hours; confirm the current schedule by phone. Parking is available on-site or in the surrounding lot. The office is accessible by car from all major Chattanooga corridors and does not require public transit. If you need to cancel, do so at least 24 hours in advance; same-day cancellations may incur a fee.
Richard A Rush, DMD fills a reliable role in Chattanooga's dental landscape for adults who need consistent general care and understand that specialist services require a referral elsewhere.
