Policies & Mission

Our Office: The Best of the Old and New
We have always believed and practiced that the doctor to patient relationship should be a close, personal one, with the maximum personal contact with the doctor, patient and parent. To provide the greatest amount of personal attention has always been the underlying theme of our office.

We are interested in all of our patients as people, not as numbers or “cases” to be treated.  You will not find the impersonal attitude here, so common to much of contemporary health care.

This is a small practice and we like it that way! We are not interested in seeing tremendous numbers of patients each day, only in providing the highest quality orthodontic care and the best possible service to all of our patients, utilizing the latest techniques in orthodontic treatment. In doing so, we hope to combine state-of-the-art treatment with old-fashioned concern for the patient.

Office Hours

Our office opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Our last appointment scheduled is at 4:30 p.m.

Appointments

In our office we reserve appointment times solely and specially for each patient - we do not “overbook” or book large numbers of patients for the same time. Accordingly, if appointments are broken with no notice given, we are usually left with idle time on our hands.

We are happy to state that usually we run on time here:  respecting the value of your time, we always do our best to honor your appointment time directly on schedule. Long waiting periods in the office are as distasteful to us as to you. As unexpected emergencies can sometimes arise with our patients, there will be occasions during which we run behind schedule, but fortunately, these are the exception.

We ask that if you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, to please notify us as soon as possible for rescheduling. We can then utilize your time and not cause you a delay in the future.

The Problem of School-Time

We realize that many parents are reluctant to have their children miss any time off from school for appointments. Since 80% of our patients attend school; however, it is physically impossible to see everyone after 4:00 p.m. for every appointment. There will be occasions when a school-aged child may need to miss an hour or so of class time. We ask that you schedule your appointments alternating one during school with one after school. We appreciate your cooperation and a doctor’s note will be given for missed school time.

Let’s Talk About Fees

We know that the fee for orthodontic services is a significant investment and will be of great concern to parents and patients. It is also a fact that in our area, there is a wide range in the fees charged for this service and a variety of different operations offering orthodontic treatment. Besides a private office such as our own, “braces” are offered by advertising clinics, mall and department store practices and various contract-provider groups.

For your own protection, be sure to compare the type of service offered when considering fees in this area. Questions you should ask are:

  1. Will the patient be given truly personal attention, or be just another number or body in the chair?
  2. Will appointments times be honored on schedule?
  3. Will the same orthodontist be providing care throughout the treatment period?
  4. Will sufficient time and attention be allotted to deal with those special problems or circumstances, which can and do develop during treatment?
  5. Should treatment run past its estimated length, would additional charges be incurred?
  6. What does a fee include or not include: what additional charges can be made?
  7. Are there separate charges for X-rays, retainers, headgear, elastics, emergencies and check-up appointments?

We are proud to state that our fee covers all treatment rendered here from beginning to end.

The typical course of orthodontic treatment, over approximately a two-year period, will consist of about 25 to 30 appointments and 15 to 20 hours of chair time. It is this large number of visits and considerable amount of treatment time, together with the worth and lifetime value of the service, which accounts for the amount of the fee.

Having said that, we also understand that many of our patients come from young, hardworking families. For that reason, you will find that our fees may be less than some of our colleagues. We feel that a beautiful, healthy smile should be provided in the friendliest and most professional manner, and that this service should be accessible to more of our community.

Methods of Payment

Those patients wishing to pay the entire fee at the start of treatment will receive a reduction of 10% on the fee, which will result in a savings of about $440 for a full treatment period.

For those wishing to pay the fee over a 20-month period, we offer various payment plans. Please consult our receptionist for details. There is no finance charge on the balance.

For your convenience, we accept Visa and MasterCard.

Epilogue

The practice of orthodontics requires mutual understanding, respect and confidence on the part of both doctor and patients. Our aim is to offer you the best and highest standards of care, and we request that you reciprocate by having confidence in our judgment. Should you have any questions or doubts, please convey them to us, and do not hesitate to request another opinion if you are not satisfied.

We feel that the patient-doctor relationship is unique and sacred and will do our best to make your experience here as rewarding and pleasant as possible.