Dentist FAQ — Columbia, SC
Answers to the questions patients most often ask before booking at Complete Dental Care. If your question isn't covered here, call us at (803) 771-7695 — we'll walk you through it.
Office & Appointments
What are your office hours?
We're open Monday through Wednesday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We're closed Friday through Sunday. Emergency calls outside business hours are forwarded to the on-call doctor.
Where are you located and how do I get there?
Complete Dental Care is at 3727 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29205, on the south side of Rosewood Drive between Harden Street and Beltline Boulevard. Free parking is available in the lot directly in front of the building. The office is easily accessible from I-77, I-26, and I-20, and about 8-12 minutes from West Columbia, Cayce, and Forest Acres.
How do I schedule an appointment?
You can book online at completedentalcarecolumbia.com/book, call us at (803) 771-7695, or email frontdesk@completedentalcarecolumbia.com. Online booking is available 24/7 and syncs directly with our appointment calendar.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes. We're currently accepting new family and cosmetic patients of all ages. Same-week new-patient exams are often available.
Insurance, Billing & Financing
What dental insurance do you accept?
We accept most major PPO dental insurance plans and handle billing in our office so you don't have to. Call us at (803) 771-7695 to verify your specific plan before your visit — we'll confirm your benefits and estimate any out-of-pocket cost up front.
Do you offer financing if I don't have insurance or my insurance doesn't cover a procedure?
Yes. We offer straightforward in-office financing and also accept CareCredit, which lets you spread payments over 6, 12, 18, or 24 months with promotional interest rates. We'll walk you through the options before any treatment begins so you can pick what works for your budget.
How much does a new-patient exam cost?
Cost depends on your insurance plan and whether x-rays and a cleaning are included in the visit. For insured patients, your plan typically covers the exam at 100%, and we'll verify benefits in advance. For patients without insurance, we'll quote the full cost up front before any treatment begins — no surprise bills.
Do you offer cost estimates before treatment?
Always. For any recommended treatment, we provide a written estimate that breaks down what your insurance is expected to cover and what your out-of-pocket portion will be. We don't proceed with work until you've reviewed and approved the plan.
New Patients
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Please bring a photo ID, your dental insurance card (if applicable), and a list of any medications you're currently taking. If you have dental x-rays from another office taken within the last 6-12 months, bringing those can save you from having new ones taken. You can also download and fill out our new-patient forms ahead of time from the New Patients page.
What happens during a new-patient visit?
Expect about 60-90 minutes. We'll review your medical and dental history, take digital x-rays, do a comprehensive oral exam including an oral cancer screening, assess your gum health, and — if time allows — complete a routine cleaning. Dr. Meader will discuss findings and, if any treatment is needed, walk you through the options and costs before you leave.
Do you treat children and families?
Yes. We see patients of all ages and love treating families together. For children, we focus on positive early dental experiences — gentle cleanings, preventive sealants, and education. We refer out for pediatric orthodontics when needed.
Emergencies
Do you see dental emergencies the same day?
Yes. We keep same-day slots open for dental emergencies — broken teeth, lost crowns, denture repairs, abscesses, and trauma. Our onsite dental lab also lets us handle crown and denture emergency repairs in-house instead of sending work out. Call (803) 771-7695 first so we can triage and confirm availability.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe toothache that won't go away, a knocked-out or cracked tooth, a broken or lost crown or filling, swelling in the face or jaw (possible abscess), a broken denture, and any dental trauma from a fall or accident. If you're unsure, call us — we'd rather have you come in than wait.
What do I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
Speed matters. Pick up the tooth by the crown (not the root), gently rinse it with water if dirty, and try to reinsert it in the socket if you can. If not, place it in a small container of milk or saliva. Call us immediately at (803) 771-7695 — the best chance of saving the tooth is within 30-60 minutes.
Services & The In-House Lab
What makes Complete Dental Care different from other dentists?
Dr. Daniel Meader is the only dentist in South Carolina who is also a board-Certified Dental Technician (CDT). That means the person placing your crown, implant, or denture is also the person who understands — at a technical level — exactly how it's built. Our onsite dental laboratory lets us design and fabricate restorations in-house, eliminating the weeks of back-and-forth most practices deal with when sending work to outside labs.
What kinds of work do you do in your in-house lab?
Crowns, bridges, dentures, partial dentures, implant restorations, cosmetic veneers, night guards, and same-day repairs of broken dentures and crowns. Because Dr. Meader is both the dentist and the technician, there's no communication loss between the impression and the finished restoration — fit and aesthetics are dialed in from the start.
Do you offer cosmetic dentistry?
Yes — porcelain veneers, composite bonding, teeth whitening, and smile-design cases. The CDT credential is especially valuable in cosmetic work where shade matching, translucency, and contour make the difference between a restoration that looks patched and one that looks completely natural.
Do you do dental implants?
Yes. We restore single-tooth implants, implant bridges, and full-arch implant-supported dentures. The crown, abutment, or denture that sits on top of the implant is designed and fabricated in our lab, so fit and shade are handled in-house.
Still have questions?
We're happy to answer anything over the phone before you commit to an appointment.