One of the perks of being an RDHAP Connect member is being featured in a member spotlight on our website and social media pages. Today, we’re doing something a bit different. We’re spotlighting Dr. Wade Banner, DDS. Dr. Banner has been a great friend to the RDHAP Connect! He and his staff have sent many referrals to RDHAP Connect and vice versa. Below you’ll find an interview between our founder, Elly Francisco, and Dr. Banner.
Elly: You and I have talked and shared your passion for treating people who are unable to reach the traditional dental office. RDHAPs in Southern California may be aware of your name and portable practice model. I would love to share your story with readers throughout California and beyond.
Elly: How did you decide to open a portable dental practice?
Dr. Banner: The idea grew from seeing how many patients—especially seniors, people with disabilities, and medically complex patients—had significant dental needs but no realistic way to reach a traditional office. The problem was not a lack of need; it was a lack of access. I felt dentistry should adapt to the patient, so we built In Motion Dentists to bring comprehensive dental care directly to them.
Elly: Last time we talked, you shared you were expanding the area your practice serves. What part of California does your team serve right now?
Dr. Banner: Our mobile team currently serves patients throughout Los Angeles and Orange County and most parts of San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties. We continue to expand thoughtfully while making sure we can maintain the same level of service, responsiveness, and clinical quality.
Elly: Do you also have a brick-and-mortar practice?
Dr. Banner: Yes. I also own Elevated Dentistry, our traditional dental practice in La Verne. Having both models allows us to meet patients where they are—whether that means treating them at home or providing care in a fully equipped office setting when that is the better clinical option. Elevated Dentistry is a “family general practice,” but we also specialize in working with those with Special Needs and provide General Sedation services regularly.
Elly: In what ways do you collaborate with RDHAPs to further your mission? Do you employ RDHAPs, collaborate with them, or refer? Do you assist RDHAPs by diagnosing caries lesions for ITR placement? Who bills for that service?
Dr. Banner: I view RDHAPs as an important part of the access-to-care network. We collaborate and refer in both directions: RDHAPs can provide ongoing preventive care in the patient’s environment, and our dentists can step in when a patient needs an examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, restorative care, extractions, dentures, or other services outside the RDHAP scope.
When clinically appropriate, our dentists can also evaluate a patient, diagnose caries, establish the treatment plan, and provide the instruction or authorization needed for an appropriately trained RDHAP to place an interim therapeutic restoration (ITR). Typically, each provider bills for the services they personally render—our practice for the dentist’s diagnostic services and the RDHAP for the services they provide. I do employ 2 RDAHPs, and we have a direct contract with one other, but we often do make referrals for patients over to RDAHP Connect for clients we can not get to fast enough or who are outside our catchment area.
Elly: Can RDHAPs refer patients to your portable practice, as well?
Dr. Banner: Absolutely. We welcome referrals from RDHAPs. In many cases, the RDHAP is the provider who identifies a problem first because they are seeing the patient consistently in the home, facility, or community setting. Our goal is to make that handoff easy, communicate clearly, complete the needed dental treatment, and we always return the patient to the RDHAP for ongoing preventive care. There is no agreement or contract needed to refer a patient to our practice. RDHAPs can simply email or text the patient/POA’s information to our office and we will reach out to provide information about our services and schedule based on the patient’s direction.
Elly: Please share anything else you would like our readers to know about you, your practice, and your passion for treating the underserved community.
Dr. Banner: Our mission is bigger than mobile dentistry—it is about removing barriers to care. Many of our patients are homebound, medically complex, living with disabilities, or have simply been told that conventional dentistry is not a realistic option for them. I believe dentists and RDHAPs can accomplish far more when we work as a coordinated team. The more we collaborate, the more patients we can keep healthy, comfortable, and out of crisis.
To contact Dr. Banner and his team, see below.
Website: www.InMotionDentists.com / www.ElevatedDentistryLV.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inmotiondentists
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InMotionDentists
Are you an RDHAP and would like to be a part of our member spotlight? To become a member? Click HERE!