For some Ahwatukee Foothills residents decent insurance coverage and health benefits may be a luxury of the past, but local dentist office Mountainside Family Dental is offering an exam, X-rays and cleaning to new patients without insurance for only $25.

“We believe that dentistry and its costs should be painless,” said Dr. Eric Kerbs, DDS, who practices at Mountainside Family Dental. “People are calling and asking what the catch is to this offer, but there isn’t one.”

According to Kerbs the $25 price on exams is actually slightly below what it costs the practice to complete the exam, but he views the offer as a form of community service.

When people delay dental cleanings because of the price tag they run the risk of making manageable dental issues worse.

“We promote prevention because we can catch small decay and give the patient a chance to reverse it with flossing and fluoride cleaning,” Kerbs said. “If decay is allowed to grow a dentist will have to fill it.”

Mountainside Family Dental is currently fielding about five to 10 calls each day about the $25 exams.

“People are really happy about the offer, especially when they find out its true and there aren’t any catches,” office manager Deborah Claudio said. “We’ve been getting patients in the same day they call or within two days.”

Mountainside Dental will be hosting a grand re-opening on March 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. Potential patients are welcome to stop by for special discounts or to set up an appointment for a $25 teeth cleaning.

“We’re trying to attract new patients to an old practice in Ahwatukee,” Kerbs said.

For more information on Mountainside Family Dental, visit www.affordabledentalaz.com or call (480) 295-7206.