Frequently Asked Questions

A client is a seeker of service that has been evaluated by a dentist and advised of the need for dental procedures.

No. ShopADoc is a platform that facilitates connections between Clients seeking dental treatment and licensed dentists. A doctor-patient relationship is established only when a Client independently engages a dentist outside of the ShopADoc® platform.

Your Ask Fee is the amount you are prepared to pay for your dental treatment. ShopADoc® does not establish or recommend your Ask Fee.

You can use an AI search tool or another independent source to research the range of typical fee-for-service prices for your dental procedure in your ZIP code.

You decide what you’re willing to pay. Dentists decide what they’re willing to accept.

TIP: If your goal is to offer a full fair fee for high-quality dental work and appeal broadly to participating dentists, consider establishing your Ask Fee at the higher end of the researched fee range.

You can then increase your Ask Fee throughout the week using the Play Board feature on the Auction page up until the first dentist engages. Once a dentist engages, your Ask Fee is locked and may no longer be changed.

Until the first dentist engages, you may increase your Ask Fee if the initial amount does not attract participation.
Increasing your Ask Fee may make the treatment opportunity more attractive to participating dentists. Once the first dentist engages, the auction proceeds according to ShopADoc® marketplace rules.

You will need the following items to register and post an auction:

• Cell phone photos of your current x-rays or digital originals emailed to you.

• A copy of your treatment plan complete with services needed, tooth numbers and fees.

Ortho services require cell phone photos of your teeth, smile, and facial profile.

Requirements are specific for the service(s) selected.
Register as a client on the ShopADoc® site (no fee to register / no obligation to participate).
Select a service. You’ll be prompted to upload x-rays & photos. Examples are provided as a reference.

Panorex- the 6”x12” x-ray taken while your standing that circles around your head.
Periapical- small film taken of individual tooth.
Bitewings- small films taken to evaluate bone levels and activity between teeth.
Full Mouth Series- complete set of periapicals and bitewings.

Photocopies and faxes of your x-rays lack the detail and contrast necessary to be diagnostic.
You must request digital original x- rays be emailed to you, obtain original dental films, or photograph your x-rays while at your dentist office.

In accordance with federal law, specifically, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you are legally entitled to your x-rays.
Should you encounter resistance, your State Dept. of Health is available to assist you.

Disclaimer: The following content is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to be a U.S. Government Agency endorsement of the ShopADoc site.

Which of the following three scenarios best describes you?
Suggestions follow each scenario.

1) You’re at your dentist appointment and discover you are in need of dental services:

While in the dental chair, use your cell phone to take photos of your dental x-rays.
Paper films will be posted on a viewbox beside you. Digital x-rays will be displayed on a computer screen/ monitor. Request a copy of your treatment plan.

2) You’ve recently (within 30 days) visited your dentist and are in need of dental services:

Contact the dental office and ask that your x-rays be emailed to you. If paper films, return to the office and take photos of your labeled films while they are posted on a viewbox. You will presumably have in your possession a copy of your treatment plan with fee estimate; if not, request this as well.

3) You know you need a dental procedure, but it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist:

Visit a dentist and have an exam, x-rays, and treatment plan generated. Take cell phone photos of your x-rays while at the office or request the office email them to you. Corporate operated dental offices customarily offer free exams and x-rays to attract new clients.

The best way to acquire your x-rays is to request the dental office email them to you. Alternatives would include returning to the office and asking staff to assist you with capturing the photos with your cell phone. Although we do not recommend, it is possible to place a light source behind the film(s). Hold or tape on a window with sunlight as a source of light.

While on your cell phone, retrieve and open the email.
“Screenshot” the images and save them to your photo library.
Edit each screenshot to “crop” your name from view and to frame the image (both techniques are demonstrated in the “How to crop” video below).
“Screenshot” the edited images and save them to your photo library for use on the site.
While on the “Offerings” page, you’ll be prompted to “upload” a specific image (examples are provided as a reference). See the “How to upload” video provided below.

You’ll need a detailed copy of your treatment plan on which will be listed the tooth number, the description of service, and fee.
Periapical x-rays are labeled with tooth numbers. Clarify with staff if your x-rays are not labeled.

Your device has been changed from factory setting to “Larger Text” size. Reset by following these steps:

1. select “settings” on your device.
2. select “accessibility”
3. select “Display & Text Size”
4. turn off “Larger Text”

No. ShopADoc® is a transparent, fee-for-service marketplace. It does not establish discounted dental fees or require dentists to provide treatment at a predetermined discount.
Clients establish the amount they are prepared to pay, and dentists independently decide whether to participate at the current Ask Fee.
A Fair Fee Isn’t Dictated. It’s Agreed Upon.

No. ShopADoc® does not determine what constitutes a fair dental fee.
The Client establishes the Ask Fee. The dentist independently determines whether the current fee makes economic sense for the practice.
Participation is voluntary. If an opportunity does not work for your practice, do not engage.

ShopADoc® provides dentists access to previously diagnosed, fee-for-service treatment opportunities within their service area.
Clients establish an Ask Fee representing the amount they are prepared to pay. Dentists can view the treatment information and current Ask Fee before deciding whether to participate.
If the fee doesn’t work for your practice, pass. If it does, engage.
Until the first dentist engages, the Client may increase the Ask Fee. Once dentist participation begins, ShopADoc® controls the auction increments according to the House Rules.
Clients decide what they’re willing to pay. Dentists decide what they’re willing to accept.
Any treatment ultimately provided remains subject to the dentist’s independent clinical judgement and the Client’s acceptance of treatment.

Locums organizations provide dentists with opportunities to generate additional clinical revenue by practicing at another location, which requires the dentist to leave his or her existing practice and travel to where the opportunity is available.
ShopADoc® reverses the relationship: instead of the dentist traveling to the opportunity, the opportunity is brought to the dentist’s existing practice.
Participating dentists can view previously diagnosed, fee-for-service treatment opportunities within their service area, review the current Ask Fee, and independently determine whether an opportunity makes economic sense for their practice.
This allows dentists to potentially generate additional production utilizing the facility, staff, equipment, and available capacity already in place within their own practices.
Two Paths to the SAME Result!
Locums: Dentist travels to the opportunity.
ShopADoc®: Opportunity travels to the dentist.
Participation in each opportunity remains entirely the dentist’s decision.

ShopADoc® provides participating dentists access to Clients already seeking previously diagnosed dental treatment.
Rather than purchasing additional advertising in hopes of generating prospective treatment inquiries, dentists can view available treatment opportunities and the current Ask Fee before deciding whether to engage.
During the current promotional period, all dentist registration and participation fees are waived. Following the promotional period, an annual registration fee and applicable weekly participation fee will be required to view and engage treatment opportunities.
Each dentist independently determines whether the cost of participation and the opportunities available provide an acceptable return for the practice.

Register to create your ShopADoc® account and access treatment opportunities available within your service area, determined by each Client's selected travel distance.
During the current promotional period, all dentist registration and participation fees are waived.
Following the promotional period, an annual registration fee will apply. Dentists must also satisfy the applicable weekly participation fee to view and engage treatment opportunities on the platform.
Each opportunity allows you to review the treatment information and current Ask Fee before deciding whether to participate.
Auctions are held weekly Monday through Thursday. Auctions without a successful pairing continue into the Friday morning Flash Bid Cycle®.
View opportunities. See the Ask Fee. Engage when it works for your practice.
ShopADoc® provides an additional fee-for-service channel for participating dentists.

You will need to log in to your dentist account to follow the progress of an auction. ShopADoc® will not annoy users with push notifications. We suggest and encourage participating dentists dedicate a PC workstation or laptop device within their office to monitor and engage auctions throughout the workday.