Policies

Your First Orthodontic Visit

At your first visit to our office, diagnostic records are taken to determine the best course of treatment. Complete diagnostic records include a clinical examination, photos of your face and teeth, and 3D dental x-rays. The doctor will evaluate your records to develop a custom treatment plan and discuss your treatment with you in detail, including the length and cost of treatment, for your particular case. These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move.

Regular Appointments

The initial appointment to get your appliances; braces, expanders, etc., usually takes between one to two hours. We will then see you at regular intervals 6 to 8 weeks apart for an adjustment, which takes anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes. Our regular office hours are Monday – Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 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. If possible, only cancel if it is an emergency, as it may be difficult to reschedule you during prime times since most appointments are made 6 to 8 weeks in advance.

Office Hours

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Thursday

While hours at different locations can vary from week to week, we are always available by phone.

Please call for information about a specific location.

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 offer several different payment plans to suit all budgets. 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 bookkeeping 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, MasterCard, and Discover.
  • In cases of serious delinquency, treatment will be discontinued, although we will make every effort to accommodate patients with temporary difficulties.

Insurance

If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available and provide you with an estimated benefit. 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.