Orthodontic treatment is an ongoing process and keeping appointments on a regular basis is very important. Our adjustment appointments are scheduled on average every four weeks. We do realize that most of our patients are school age, but it is impossible to accommodate all of them during non-school hours. We do our best, and schedule as many of the routine adjustments as we can during those “prime times.”

Because some procedures, particularly those where we put on the braces, are more difficult and time consuming, requiring more of our undivided attention, we only schedule those earlier in the day. We feel that we can devote more quality time to them when the office is not so busy and at the same time leave more “prime time” slots available for more patients.

Missed appointments may prolong treatment and result in unwanted side effects. Since we normally schedule three to four weeks in advance, a missed appointment may be difficult to reschedule quickly or conveniently. We know you have made a commitment to treatment. Needless to say, if you don’t make appointments a priority, treatment may be compromised or prolonged. As a courtesy to our patients, we use an automated system to confirm appointments but it is not infallible. Please do not assume that because you were not called, you do not have an appointment. There will be charges for missed appointments or cancellations made less than forty-eight hours in advance. Although we do take a thorough medical history at the start of treatment, some changes in a patient’s medical condition may have a bearing on dental treatment. Please assist us by informing the office immediately of any new medical information so that we can continue to provide the proper care.

Most breakage of orthodontic appliances is preventable with proper care. Braces will not withstand the forces produced by biting on hard candies, ice cubes, hard foods such as bagels, and particularly, gum. Habits, such as chewing on pencils or pens, can also do a lot of damage. If these are avoided, breakage will be minimal. We realize that some breakage is inevitable but ask your cooperation in keeping it to a minimum. If it becomes excessive, there will be additional charges. Furthermore, breakage usually necessitates extra appointments, which will almost always come at an inconvenient time. If you discover that something is broken, please let us know immediately, even if it is the day of your regular appointment! We may want to adjust our schedule to give us more time to “repair the damage.” Breakage should not go unattended, since problems or delays in treatment may occur.

We want you to be checked and have a fluoride treatment by your dentist prior to banding. During treatment, please keep your teeth clean because appliances tend to trap food, which can lead to cavities and inflammation of the gums. Further-more, food left around the brackets causes decalcification or etching of the enamel that is not reversible. The teeth are left with ugly white spots when the braces are removed. Fluoride rinses and toothpastes may help to prevent this, but there is no substitute for good brushing! We also expect you to continue to see your dentist 2-3 times a year for regular checkups. We strongly encourage our patients to take advantage of coordinating their cleaning appointments at the dentist with us so that we can remove the wires for you prior to your cleaning appointment. This way the hygienists have improved access to your teeth and gums.

Our fee includes everything associated with the braces, with the exception of missed appointments, excessive breakage, removal of teeth, if indicated and lost or broken removable appliances. As a rule, we budget that fee over the course of treatment. If treatment is prolonged because of lack of cooperation, additional fees may be assessed. We try to be flexible and do appreciate your financial situation. If you have financial problems during the course of treatment, please let us know and we will try to be of assistance. Please understand that our contract is with you. Any insurance payments will offset your obligation, but you have made a commitment for the total fee.