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What To Expect | Privacy Policy

What To Expect

Your First Visit

At the first visit to the orthodontist, a digital x-ray of your teeth and jaws will be taken. Dr. Gottsegen will then perform a thorough, comprehensive clinical examination of your teeth. If Dr. Gottsegen feels treatment is necessary, he will recommend a course of action at that time, along with all associated fees and payment options. Before treatment can proceed, we will need to make diagnostic records, which consist of one additional digital x-ray, digital photographs of the face and teeth, and digital study models. This information is used to develop a customized treatment plan for each patient. These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move under orthodontic care.

Regular Appointments

The appointment when you get your appliances (braces, expanders, etc.) usually takes from one to two hours. You'll then see us at regular intervals 4 to 8 weeks apart for an adjustment, which typically takes 15-20 minutes. Our regular office hours are Monday to Friday from 8 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. Cancel only if it is an emergency. It is difficult to reschedule you since most appointments are made 4 to 8 weeks in advance.

Our polite and helpful front office staff will make every conceivable attempt to schedule your visits in a way that comfortably fits into your busy lives.

Please understand, however, that no orthodontist can successfully see his or her entire practice each day outside of the hours from 8 A.M. until 3 P.M. Therefore (this relates primarily to patients of school-age), it is inevitable that, from time to time, some attempt will be made to schedule an appointment during a non-critical school hour so that treatment can proceed efficiently and without needless delays.

Obviously, some give-and-take is required on the part of both our staff and parents. We will be more than happy do our part.

Fees & Payment Plans

Because no two individuals are alike, there are no standard fees in a practice like ours that makes a genuine attempt to set costs on a true, case-by-case basis. We know that our fees are representative of those of most offices within our region, and we make every effort to be creative in arranging the payment of those fees in a manner that makes our services affordable to nearly everyone.

We do not charge on a by-the-appliance or a by-the-visit basis, but set one total fee at the outset of therapy that covers all anticipated treatment and all appropriate follow-up. Then, we offer a variety of methods of paying out this obligation, with any of three primary alternatives:

• First, for those in a position to do so, we offer a 5% discount when the fee is paid in full at the outset of treatment (3% if paying by Visa or Mastercard.)
• More commonly, we will arrange a payment plan in our office that, to the greatest extent possible, is individualized to your needs. This approach typically involves a downpayment at the beginning of treatment followed by monthly payments of an extended duration. If you opt for this payment option, we will automatically draft your monthly payment from either a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or your checking account on a day of your choosing.
• Finally, for those who cannot afford any substantial downpayment, or for those who require a particularly lengthy payout term for our services, we work with several financial institutions that specialize in providing liberal terms for qualifying individuals.

Insurance

A large percentage of our practice is comprised of patients who have some form of orthodontic insurance that pays a substantial portion of our fees. Although we do not accept insurance assignment, we will gladly file claims on your behalf as a convenience to you, and, based upon the specific terms of your coverage, you will be reimbursed by your insurance company directly. We will also be happy to provide you with any necessary documentation for annual tax-free flex plan/MSA planning purposes if you use one of these excellent vehicles for health care spending. Our staff is particularly experienced in working out these third party arrangements, and will cheerfully work with you and the insurance company to help in any way we can.

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