Your first visit to our office will be for the purpose of a thorough oral examination and the Doctor’s opinion as to whether orthodontic treatment is indicated. If it appears that treatment is needed at this time, full diagnostic records may be taken as this saves you an extra trip and initiates your treatment. If the dentition is not mature enough for active treatment to commence, the patient will be placed in recall for a future appointment. Since you will be receiving an opinion, rather than a full diagnosis on this first visit, it is necessary for only one parent to accompany the patient.
The fee is quoted and arranged at this time. The fee is based upon the complexity of the malocclusion to be treated and the length of time to treat and retain the occlusion. Do not hesitate to discuss fees, budgeting of the fee and your insurance benefits. Individual budget arrangements within the office are made for the patient/parent with no additional service or carrying charge. Other arrangements are available with Capital One Bank, if this is a convenient method for you.
We want your child to look forward to every visit in our office, beginning with the very first one. A part of our objective is to capture their interest and cooperation so they will look forward to orthodontic correction. Your enthusiasm about orthodontic treatment will encourage them in this direction.
Cooperation means keeping appointments as scheduled and this cannot be overstressed. The patient usually visits our office every five to six weeks during active treatment, and every three to six months during the retainer phase. If a patient fails a scheduled appointment for a long procedure, it may be several weeks before he/she can be rescheduled, this delays treatment and wastes valuable office time.
Please call the office with at least 72 hour notice to change an appointment so rescheduling is possible and treatment interruption is avoided. Appointments should be changed or cancelled only for serious circumstances. Please do not cancel appointments for sports practice, games, after school activities, etc.. This is unfair to our office and other patients. In the event that removable appliances such as headgear, lip bumpers or a retainer are prescribed, it is important for the patient to follow carefully the number of hours recommended for daily wear. This is explained to each patient, but it is the responsibility of the parents to see that he/she does their part at home. This may take some firm encouragement at times. Unless the appliances are worn every day, the required number of hours, the treatment can come to a virtual stand-still.