Questions and Answers

Every treatment begins with a detailed and thorough examination and diagnosis. That is why we take sufficient time for the initial examination of each patient, also taking into account their general state of health. This is important because teeth, gums, and general health are interconnected (odontone). It is important for us to recognize this connection, and that begins with the initial examination.

In our therapy planning room, with a view of Lake Constance, we deliberately avoid a sterile, clinical environment. Here, we take our time for the initial examination in a relaxed atmosphere.

A thorough examination of the dental situation is preceded by a thorough anamnestic check-up of the general condition. This is very important because there are many interactions between teeth, gums, and general health (odontone). We have made it our mission to recognize this holistic approach. It already takes place during the initial examination.

Throughout the entire practice, we have not only avoided sterile furnishings, but also provided you with a view of Lake Constance to offer you the most relaxing atmosphere possible:

• a comprehensive medical history
• A detailed assessment (clinical examination with functional status, intraoral photos, digital panoramic and/or individual X-ray images, special digital images if necessary)
• Diagnosis, discussion of treatment plan, implant consultation if necessary
• Production of planning models
• Dental aesthetics consultation

We have reserved a certain number of slots in our scheduling system for new patients’ first appointments, so you will usually be able to get an initial appointment within a few weeks. You will receive the intake form via email prior to your initial examination—please fill it out online at least 2 days before your appointment.

Please notify us if you are running late. By providing your mobile phone number, we can reach you at short notice should there be any delays.

Why might there be wait times even with an appointment?
Even with careful scheduling, delays can occur. At our practice, we regularly treat patients with acute symptoms who need to be seen on short notice. These medically necessary priorities can affect our schedule.

Why can’t waiting times be predicted with certainty?
The duration of an examination depends heavily on the individual situation. Some evaluations take longer than planned, especially when dealing with more complex issues. Unfortunately, this cannot always be accurately estimated in advance.

How strict is my appointment time?
Your appointment time is a reliable guide. However, it is only an estimate, as we want to take sufficient time for each and every patient. Therefore, we cannot always stick to the exact time down to the minute.

When does my waiting period begin?
The waiting period begins at the time of your scheduled appointment. Check-in at the office takes place separately and is intended to facilitate organizational preparations.

A Message from Us
We strive every day to treat all patients with the utmost care and attention. We therefore ask for your understanding if delays occur in individual cases.

Different booking and cancellation policies apply to our online appointments, depending on the service.

Some services can be easily booked online and canceled free of charge up to 4 business days before the appointment.

Appointments booked at short notice (within 3 days) and certain services that require a reservation must be paid for at the time of booking via PayPal or credit card. This allows us to secure specific time slots and avoid last-minute cancellations.

Please note that appointments for which payment has already been made are non-refundable —even in the event of cancellation or a no-show.

Unfortunately, in recent months there has been an increase in appointments not being kept or being canceled at short notice. This is particularly the case on days when the weather is nice, after long weekends, or in weeks with bank holidays. We are unable to reschedule these appointments at short notice. This is also unfair to other patients, who may be urgently waiting for an appointment.

Please note the following rules regarding appointment cancellations and changes at our practice:

• Appointments booked online can only be canceled or changed online via the link sent by email.
• Cancellations or changes to appointments must be made at least 4 business days before the agreed date, regardless of whether the appointment was made online or in person.
• In the event of short-term cancellations (less than 4 business days in advance) or no-shows without cancellation, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee.

We thank you for your understanding and consideration for planning processes and other patients.

If you have any questions—including about financing options or payment plans—please feel free to contact backoffice@sparl.at.

For services that are not billed through a social insurance provider and that exceed an estimated cost of €1,500.00, we request a 50% deposit before the start of therapy. After completion of therapy, an invoice will be issued and any payments already made will be credited/deducted from this invoice.

We offer the following payment methods:

• cash payment in EUR
• payment by debit card
• credit card payment with Eurocard (Mastercard), VISA, or American Express
• timely transfer of funds before treatment begins

For patients who travel from further afield or have a busy daily schedule, we offer a compact and individually tailored therapy program that fits in with business appointments.

On request, we can arrange to pick you up from the airport, train station, ferry, or your hotel—or help you find accommodation in Bregenz.

Please contact our back office at backoffice@sparl.at.

X-rays are part of medical treatment and are paid for either by health insurance or by the patient themselves. Those with statutory health insurance are generally entitled to have the costs covered by their health insurance company, provided that the examination is medically necessary. Those with private health insurance receive an invoice that they can submit to their insurance company.

The X-ray images therefore belong to the patient. Although they are often stored at the treating practice or clinic, the patient has the right to request a copy or the release of the original images.

Please contact us by email at praxis@sparl.at.

We are constantly exposed to small amounts of ionizing radiation in everyday life—whether from natural sources or medical examinations. A dental X-ray is roughly equivalent to the radiation exposure from a day's hike in the mountains at an altitude of 2,000 meters. The following overview helps to classify typical dose values.

Banana
Dose: 0.0001 mSv
Significance: Completely harmless—natural radiation from potassium.

Dental X-ray
Dose: 0.005–0.01 mSv
Significance: Very low radiation dose, medically acceptable.

Mountain hike at an altitude of 2000 m
Dose: approx. 0.05 mSv per day
Significance: Slightly increased cosmic radiation at altitude – natural and harmless.

Flight from Europe to New York
Dose: approx. 3.5 mSv
Significance: Significantly increased radiation due to high altitude, but not a problem for occasional travel.

Annual natural background radiation (in Austria)
Dose: approx. 0.5 mSv
Significance: Normal environmental radiation to which all humans are constantly exposed.