Your First Visit

At your first visit to the orthodontist, we will take a complimentary Panorex X-ray, photos, and a bite registration. Dr. Thalgott will clinically evaluate your bite, your teeth, and facial form.  With this information he will be able to determine your need for treatment and give you a pretty good idea of what that treatment will be. If he determines that you are a candidate for orthodontic treatment, we will schedule an appointment to take more diagnostic records so that he can do a thorough diagnosis and treatment plan.

Diagnostic Records

Diagnostic records are made to allow Dr. Thalgott to determine the best course of treatment for you.  Diagnostic records, typically, include a medical/dental history, clinical exam, mounted plaster study models of your teeth, photographs of your teeth and face, a cephalometric X-ray of the side of your head, and individual X-rays of your front teeth.  This information is used to develop a custom treatment plan for each patient.  These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move under orthodontic care.

Consultation

After the doctor has evaluated your records, we discuss your treatment with you in detail, including the cost for your particular case.

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 8 to 12 weeks apart for an adjustment, which takes 20 to 40 minutes. Our regular office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:30 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. Cancel only if it is an emergency. It is difficult to reschedule you since most appointments are made 8 to 12 weeks in advance.

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 have payment plans to suit different budgets, including a no-down-payment option. 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 fee 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 DISCOVER, VISA, MASTERCARD and debit cards.

Insurance

If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available. 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.

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