Frequently Asked Questions

About the Practice

• Is this the same office that used to be Hughes and Associates?

  Yes. We’re at the same address — 4345 N High Street, at the corner of High and Henderson. The practice was Hughes and Associates for nearly five decades. After Dr. Lawrence Hughes passed in 2024, his associate Dr. Alex Whitcomb kept the office running. In 2026, Dr. Tommy Rouse, DDS acquired the practice and rebranded it as High + Henderson Dental.

  The dentist is new. The look is updated. The office manager, the hygiene team, the front desk, and the chair you’ve sat in for years are the same.

• Is Dr. Whitcomb still here?

  Yes, on a part-time transitional basis. If you’d like to schedule a final visit with him, please let our front desk know and we’ll match your appointment to one of his clinical days.

• Will the practice change a lot under new ownership?

  The dentistry is being expanded — Tommy can now do extractions, bone grafting, and implant restoration without referring you out, and modern materials and digital tools are now standard. The team, the building, and the pace of the visit are the same. Conservative, careful care is still the core of what we do.

• Where exactly are you located?

  4345 N High Street, Columbus, OH 43214 — at the intersection of High and Henderson, in Clintonville. There’s free parking in the lot. We’re easy to reach from Clintonville, Worthington, Upper Arlington, the OSU campus area, and downtown Columbus.

New Patients

• Are you accepting new patients?

  Yes. We welcome new patients of every age — kids, adults, and seniors. Request an appointment online or call (614) 268-5250.

• What should I expect at my first visit?

  Your first visit is about getting to know you and getting a complete picture of your dental health. We’ll go over your medical history, take digital X-rays and intraoral photos, do a full exam and cleaning, and sit down with you to walk through what we found. We’ll show you what we see — actual images of your mouth on the chairside screen — so you can make informed decisions about any care you might need. Plan for about 60–90 minutes.

  Read more about your first visit →

• Do I need to fill out forms before I come in?

  Yes, and we make this easy. Download our patient forms, fill them out at home (you can fill them out on your phone), and bring them with you or send them ahead. It saves time at check-in and lets us prep for your visit.

• How do I transfer my records from Dr. Hughes's office or another dentist?

  If you were a Hughes and Associates patient, your records are already here — we have everything. If you’re coming from another practice, we’ll help you request your records. Just call us or mention it when you book and we’ll send a release form for your previous dentist to sign.

Insurance, Payments, and Cost

• What insurance do you accept?

  We are in-network with Delta Dental, Connection Dental, Superior Dental, and select Anthem PPO programs. We also file claims as a courtesy for most other PPO insurance plans. We do not accept Medicaid.

  If you’re not sure whether we take your specific plan, please call (614) 268-5250 and we’ll verify your benefits before your visit.

• What if I don't have dental insurance?

  You’re welcome here. We offer financing through CareCredit and Sunbit for larger restorative work, and we’re transparent about cost up front. We’ll walk you through any treatment options and what each one costs before we start, so there are no surprises.

  A patient membership plan is on our roadmap for patients without insurance — we’ll announce it as soon as it’s ready.

• How much does a [crown / cleaning / filling / etc.] cost?

  Costs depend on your specific insurance plan, the materials we use, and what’s involved in your case. We’re not able to publish a fixed price list because we’d rather give you a real number than a misleading one. After your first exam, we’ll give you a written treatment plan with the cost of each recommended procedure spelled out clearly — what insurance is likely to cover and what your out-of-pocket portion would be.

Care and Comfort

• What if I'm anxious about going to the dentist?

  A lot of people are. Tell us when you book — or tell whoever is sitting with you when you check in. We’ll move at your pace, explain everything before we do it, and pause whenever you need a break. We also offer occlusal guards and other supportive care if anxiety is showing up in your jaw or teeth (a lot of clenching and grinding is rooted in stress).

• Do you see children?

  Yes. We’re a family practice — kids, parents, grandparents, all in the same office. We can also place sealants for kids whose adult molars have erupted, which is one of the most effective cavity-prevention steps you can take.

• Do you handle dental emergencies?

  We do our best to see emergency patients the same day during business hours. If you’re a patient of record and you have a broken tooth, severe pain, or a lost crown or filling, call (614) 268-5250 as early as you can and we’ll work you in. After hours, please call and follow the prompts for emergency guidance.

Specific Services

• Do you do wisdom tooth extractions?

  We do most extractions in-house, but we refer wisdom teeth to a trusted local oral surgeon. We’ll handle the planning and follow-up with you — you just won’t lose your dentist when you need that specific procedure.

• Do you do root canals?

  We evaluate root canals in-house. For straightforward cases, we may treat them ourselves; for more complex cases, we refer to a trusted local endodontist (typically Central Ohio Endodontics, Buckeye Endodontics, or Columbus Endodontic Specialists). Either way, we stay involved in your care.

• Do you place dental implants?

  Right now, Dr. Rouse restores implants — he places the crown, bridge, or denture that goes on top — and refers the surgical placement to a trusted oral surgeon. We do the planning, the prosthesis, and the long-term follow-up; the surgical step is done by a specialist. We plan to bring placement in-house in the future.

• Do you offer Invisalign?

  We offer clear aligner therapy through a different, non-Invisalign system. We’ll add a dedicated clear-aligner page to the website once that program is formally launched. In the meantime, ask us about it at your visit and we’ll talk through your options.

Scheduling

• What are your hours?

  Monday — 7:30am to 5:00pm

  Tuesday — 7:30am to 5:00pm

  Wednesday — 7:30am to 5:00pm

  Thursday — 8:00am to 3:00pm

  Friday — Closed

  Saturday & Sunday — Closed

• How far in advance do I need to book?

  For routine cleanings, we usually schedule 4–6 weeks out. For restorative work, we can often see you sooner. For emergencies, same-day where possible.

• Can I book online?

  Yes. Request an appointment online and we’ll confirm your slot within one business day.

• Do you offer Invisalign?

  We offer clear aligner therapy through a different, non-Invisalign system. We’ll add a dedicated clear-aligner page to the website once that program is formally launched. In the meantime, ask us about it at your visit and we’ll talk through your options.