Office Policies
Your First Visit
During the first visit to the office, we spend time getting acquainted with each other, and we find out your orthodontic concerns. Sometimes we take ask to take a digital panoramic x-ray, where we can almost instantly diagnose most orthodontic problems. If it turns out that you are ready for treatment, we may request that we take full diagnostic records to determine the best course of action. Full diagnostic records typically include a medical/dental history, clinical examination, plaster study models of the teeth, photos of the patient's face and teeth, and x-rays (the panoramic, and often also the cephalometric, x-rays). This information is used to develop a custom treatment plan for each patient. These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move under orthodontic care.
Consultation
We can usually evaluate your records at the time they are taken, and we can discuss your treatment in detail at that time. If you are not yet ready for orthodontic treatment, we will ask you to come back within 2-12 months for a recall visit. If you are ready for treatment, we will be able to give you all the necessary information to make an informed decision as to when and how to treat your case, how long treatment typically takes, and how much it costs.
Regular Appointments
The appointment when you get your appliances (braces, expanders, etc.) usually takes from 1 to 2 hours. You’ll then see us at regularly scheduled (every 4 to 8 weeks) adjustment appointments; these appointments take 15-30 minutes each. Our regular office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:15 AM to 5 PM. Patients are seen by appointment only. We make every effort to be on time for our patients, and ask that you extend the same courtesy to us. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us immediately, especially if the appointment was for placement or removal of braces. Cancel only if it is an emergency. It is difficult to reschedule you since most appointments are made 4 to 8 weeks in advance.
Payment & Office Policies
Cost
The cost of treatment depends on the severity of the patient's problem. You will be able to discuss fees and payment options before treatment begins. We have payment plans to suit different budgets, including a no-down-payment option. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans, and file the necessary papers to the insurance company. We work hard to make orthodontics affordable.
Fees
In an effort to keep orthodontic fees down while maintaining the highest
level of professional care, we have established this financial policy:
- If full payment is made at the onset
of treatment, we will offer a fee discount. (If you have insurance, we
will offer a discount for payment of your portion of the fee that will
not be covered by insurance.)
- To fit your individual needs, financial
arrangements can be made to extend your payments over a period of months.
- For your convenience, we accept payment
by Visa and Mastercard.
- When it is not possible to keep up with regular payments, we ask that patients feel the utmost comfort approaching us! We pledge to keep these meetings confidential, respectful, and helpful so that we can together find our way to completing treatments and payments in the easiest way possible - we ask that no matter the financial condition, pateints and parents NEVER stop coming for regular visits, as this can prove to be dangerous to the health of the patient; and only when both parties have agreed do we ever consider the early discontinuation of treatment for financial reasons.
Insurance
If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available. We ask that you assign your insurance benefit to us. The balance will be arranged for you to pay (see above). Professional care is provided to you, our patient, and not to an insurance company. Thus, the insurance company is responsible to the patient and the patient is responsible to the doctor. We will help in every way we can in filing your claim and handling insurance questions from our office on your behalf.
Links
Patient Finance
CareCredit, a GE Money Company, gives you convenient payment options so you can get the procedure you want, when you want it.