CSEA Dentist in Astoria, Queens — We Accept Your Union Dental Benefits

Luna Dental is a participating CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) provider. No co-pays. No deductibles. We file your claims electronically — you just show up.

New York State Employees — We Know Your Plan

If you're in the NYS Administrative, Operational, or Institutional bargaining units, we see members on your exact plan every week. Your State Dental Plan through the EBF comes with a $3,000 annual maximum per person, no deductibles, and no co-pays at participating providers like us. Exams and cleanings are paid outside that maximum — so routine visits don't eat into your allowance for bigger work.

We submit everything electronically. You don't need to file paperwork or chase down reimbursements. Just bring your EBF ID card and we handle the rest.

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CSEA Members We Regularly See at Our Astoria Office

Luna Dental is located on Broadway in Astoria — a short trip from workplaces across western Queens, Long Island City, and Manhattan. We serve CSEA members from all bargaining units and plan types, including:

NYS State Employees (Administrative, Operational, Institutional units) — You're the biggest group in our practice. Your State Dental Plan offers a $3,000 annual max with no deductibles and no co-pays at participating providers. Cleanings and exams are paid outside the maximum.

Unified Court System Employees — Court clerks, administrative staff, and support personnel at the Long Island City Courthouse (Court Square), Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens, and Queens Civil Court in Jamaica. Your UCS dental plan is administered through the EBF with a $3,000 annual max and adult orthodontic coverage — one of the only CSEA plans that covers Invisalign for members, not just dependents. Whether you're full-time or part-time UCS, we accept your plan.

NYS Thruway Authority & Canal Corporation — Your EBF dental benefits work here. Same deal — participating provider, no balance billing.

Local Government & School District Employees — If your town, village, county, school district, or public authority negotiated EBF dental benefits through CSEA, we likely accept your plan. This includes Sunrise, Horizon, Equinox, and Dutchess plans, with annual maximums ranging from $2,850 to $3,500. Many local government plans include 3 exams and 3 cleanings per year paid outside the annual max.

CSEA Retirees — If you retired from a covered position and continued your EBF dental coverage, we accept your Retiree plan ($2,500 annual max). If you're on the CSEA-endorsed MetLife retiree plan or a GHI conversion plan, call us and we'll sort out exactly what your plan covers.

Not sure which plan you're on? Call us at (718) 719-5862 or bring your EBF ID card. We'll look it up and tell you exactly what you're covered for before any work begins.

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Easy to Reach from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Nassau, and All of Queens

Luna Dental is at 33-18 Broadway in Astoria — directly at the Broadway station on the N/W line. Walk down the stairs and you're at our door.

We see CSEA members from well beyond Astoria. If you work in Midtown Manhattan, you're about 15 minutes away on the N or W train. Coming from Brooklyn? The N runs straight through — no transfers from Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Borough Park, Bensonhurst, or Coney Island. From the Upper East Side, the Second Avenue subway connects to the N/W at Lexington Ave/59th Street.

Patients also come to us from Nassau County. If you're driving, we're right off the BQE and RFK Bridge, with street parking available on Broadway and the surrounding blocks. Coming by LIRR? Take it to Penn Station and pick up the N or W — direct shot, no transfers.

Why members travel to see us: Finding a participating CSEA EBF provider who also does implants, handles complex cases, and submits everything electronically isn't easy. Most CSEA members who come to us from outside the neighborhood tell us they had trouble finding a dentist who actually understands their plan. We do — because we see CSEA patients every day.

Our hours work for commuters: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11am–7pm. If you work a standard government schedule, you can come after work without rushing.

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Understanding Your CSEA Dental Coverage

Your CSEA dental plan through the Employee Benefit Fund is one of the best union dental benefits in New York — but most members don't realize how much it actually covers.

As a participating EBF provider, Luna Dental accepts your plan's fee schedule as payment in full for covered services. That means no surprise balance bills and no out-of-pocket costs for most covered procedures.

What your plan typically covers:

• Preventive care: Exams, cleanings, and X-rays — most plans cover 3 exams and 3 cleanings per calendar year, paid outside your annual maximum
• Fillings and basic restorative work: Covered at plan allowance with no deductible
• Root canals, extractions, and periodontal treatment: Covered under your plan's endodontic and periodontic benefits
• Crowns, bridges, and dentures: Covered under prosthodontic benefits
• Dental implants: Up to 2 implants per calendar year, no copay at a participating provider (see below)
• Orthodontics: Covered for dependents under age 19 on most plans. UCS, UCS Retiree, Dutchess, and Equinox plans also cover adult orthodontics

Annual maximums range from $2,000 (EBF Member Plus) to $3,500 (Dutchess), with most plans at $3,000. Retiree plans carry a $2,500 maximum. Not sure which plan you have? Call us or bring your EBF ID card — we'll look it up for you.

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Your CSEA Plan Covers Dental Implants — Up to 2 Per Year, No Copay

This is the benefit most CSEA members don't know about: your EBF dental plan covers dental implants at a participating provider with no copay. You're covered for up to 2 implants per calendar year, and because we're a participating provider, you pay nothing out of pocket for the covered procedure.

Read that again. If you're missing teeth — whether from an extraction, an accident, or years of putting it off — your union benefits will pay for implants to replace them. Most dental insurance plans don't cover implants at all. Yours does, and it covers them well.

How your implant coverage works

Every EBF plan — State, UCS, Retiree, Dutchess, Equinox, Horizon, Sunrise, and EBF Member Plus — includes the same implant benefit: 2 implants per calendar year, with each tooth position eligible once per 10 years. Your plan covers the implant body, the abutment, and the implant-supported crown. At a participating provider like Luna Dental, these are covered procedures with no copay.

We submit a pre-authorization to the EBF before starting any implant work, so you'll see exactly what's covered in writing before we begin. No surprises, no guesswork.

We place and restore implants in-house — no referrals

Most dental offices refer implant patients out to a specialist, which means two offices, two schedules, and two sets of bills. At Luna Dental, Dr. Ishal places and restores implants on-site using CBCT 3D imaging for precise planning and guided surgical placement. One office, one doctor, one plan from start to finish — whether you need a single implant, multiple implants, or a full-arch solution.

Here's what the process looks like:

1. Comprehensive exam and 3D scan — We assess your bone, your bite, and your overall situation. Your CSEA plan covers the exam and imaging.
2. Pre-authorization — We submit a detailed treatment plan to the EBF. You'll receive a written breakdown of what's covered before any work starts.
3. Implant placement — Surgical placement of the implant, done on-site under local anesthesia. Most patients are back to normal activities within a day or two. Covered by your plan — no copay.
4. Healing period — The implant integrates with your bone over 3–4 months.
5. Final restoration — We attach the abutment and custom crown. Also covered by your plan.

If you've been told you need implants — or if you've been living with missing teeth and wondering whether it's worth it — the answer is almost always yes. And with your CSEA benefits covering the cost at a participating provider, there's no reason to wait.

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Why It Matters That We're a Participating CSEA Provider

At a participating provider like Luna Dental: Your plan pays the covered amount, and that's the end of it. No balance billing. No surprise charges. You walk out without reaching for your wallet for covered services.

At a non-participating provider: The EBF still reimburses based on the fee schedule — but the dentist can charge whatever they want above that amount. You're responsible for the difference, and it adds up fast.

Bottom line: seeing a participating provider means your union-negotiated benefits work the way they're supposed to.

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What to Bring to Your First Appointment

1. Your EBF Member ID card — this has your EBF ID number (different from your CSEA member number). If you don't have your card, you can print one from the EBF Member Portal.
2. A photo ID — driver's license or state ID is fine.
3. That's it. We verify your eligibility and submit claims electronically through DentalXChange. No paper forms for you to deal with.

If treatment is expected to exceed $500, we'll submit a pre-authorization to the EBF on your behalf before starting work. This gives you a clear picture of what's covered before anything begins.

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Dental Services Covered Under Your CSEA Plan

Preventive Care — Exams, cleanings (including deep cleanings when needed), digital X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants for children. Most plans allow 3 visits per year — and these don't count against your annual maximum.

Restorative Dentistry — Tooth-colored fillings, crowns, inlays, and onlays. We use digital impressions and modern materials for durable, natural-looking results.

Dental Implants — Your CSEA plan covers up to 2 implants per calendar year with no copay at a participating provider. We place and restore implants in-house using 3D imaging and guided surgery — no referral needed.

Invisalign & Orthodontics — Covered for dependents under 19 on most plans. UCS, UCS Retiree, Dutchess, and Equinox plans also cover adult orthodontics.

Oral Surgery — Extractions, including wisdom teeth, performed on-site.

Endodontics & Periodontics — Root canals and gum treatment, done right here.

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About Luna Dental

Luna Dental is at 33-18 Broadway in Astoria — right at the Broadway N/W station. Dr. Joshua Ishal combines advanced technology with clear, straightforward communication. We take the time to explain what's going on, what your options are, and what makes sense for your situation.

We see a lot of CSEA members — state employees, court system staff, local government workers, school district employees, and retirees — and we know how to make the most of your EBF benefits.

Office Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11am–7pm
Phone: (718) 719-5862
Email: hello@dentistastoriany.com
Address: 33-18 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106

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CSEA Dental Benefits — Common Questions