I would like to take this opportunity to review some of our office policies, and to offer some suggestions for achieving the maximum benefit and result from orthodontic treatment.

Appointments

Since appointments are usually scheduled several weeks in advance of the actual date, please keep your appointment card where it will be highly visible (bulletin board, refrigerator door, etc.)

Most appointments can be made during after school hours.  However, since the majority of our practice deals with children and working adults, it is sometimes necessary to see our patients during morning or early afternoon hours.  Your initial banding or bonding appointment and appliance removal will be scheduled in the morning.

Most appointments are scheduled at 5-8 week intervals for best treatment progress.

Cancelled or missed appointments, for any reason, can upset the orthodontic treatment plan, compromising the results.  A longer treatment time may result, since it may take several weeks to reschedule the necessary time.

Missed appointments waste valuable time for all patients in the practice.  After one missed appointment, there will be a charge of $50.00 for each additional missed appointment.  However, if you should need to cancel an appointment, please give 24 hours notice.

Emergencies & Breakage

It is possible that a wire may break, or that a band or bracket may become loose.  Don't panic!!  If this should occur, use wax and call the office.  If unable to contact the office, use a nail clipper or small scissors to cut the wire next to the nearest bracket.  If needed, you will be given an appointment as soon as possible to repair the breakage.  To avoid needless emergency appointments, hard or sticky foods must be avoided, as they, and picking at the appliances, are major causes of breakage.

Excessive breakage will require an additional charge.  After breakage of 3 brackets, there will be a $15.00 replacement charge per bracket.  After breakage of 10 brackets there will be a $35.00 replacement charge per bracket.  Every time a patient presents without an arch wire there will be a $10.00 fee to replace the arch wire.