Your First Visit
What Sets Us Apart | Your First Visit | Office Tour | Patient Forms
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We look forward to meeting you at your first appointment. Prepare to learn how we can work together to create a beautiful smile. When you arrive for your 1 hour appointment we will welcome you into our family by touring our office and showing you how much we CARE. We pride ourselves with educating our patients and want you to leave excited about the possibilities for your smile. Upon arrival you are greeted by one of our Treatment Coordinators. Your treatment coordinator will guide you through every step of the new patient process. We start with a tour of the office. (We offer Internet ready computers and XBOX games in the lobby for patient and family use while waiting). After the tour we begin the records phase of the exam which consist of pictures and X-rays to assist the doctor with diagnosis. After your records have been completed you will meet Dr. Hershey or Dr. Heymann, and they will personally examine your teeth. If orthodontic treatment appears to be in your best interest, the doctors will work together to formulate a specific treatment plan addressing your orthodontic concerns. Patients who are ready for treatment receive all the information pertaining to their diagnosis and treatment plan including the type of treatment, length of treatment, cost for treatment, and financing options available. Younger patients who are not yet ready for treatment are enrolled into our Gator Grills Club (our complimentary observation program in which growth and development of the teeth and jaws are followed until ready for treatment). You can be sure that the treatment plan our doctors present to you is the same treatment they would use to achieve excellent results on their own children and family. A beautiful smile and healthy teeth can be tremendous assets, and we are here to help you attain these goals. Regular Appointments Your initial appointment when appliances are placed usually takes an hour. You will then see us on regular intervals every 6–10 weeks for adjustments (usually 20–30 minutes). Our goal for each and every patient is to provide excellent orthodontic care, with the highest level of service. We make every effort to remain on time for our patients, and we ask that you extend the same courtesy to us. If you cannot keep your scheduled appointment we ask that you contact our office immediately to reschedule. Our regular office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is important that our patients and their parents understand the manner in which we schedule our appointments. Our doctors and staff work extremely hard to create a schedule that is fair to everyone. In our schedule, we have reserved before and after school/work times for short appointments such as appliance checks and progress checks. This allows us to accommodate more families during this popular time. Longer appointments and repair appointments are scheduled during work/school hours. Dollars and Cents Orthodontic treatment is one of the best investments you will ever make. It will not only be an investment in improved self-esteem, but a sound financial investment as well. Straight teeth are easier to clean, and therefore less likely to cause expensive problems over the years. Payment Options We do not want finances to be an obstacle to achieving a spectacular smile. You will be able to discuss fees and payment options at the examination appointment. Treatment fees depend on the severity of the patient's problem. We have payment plans to suit different budgets that may even include 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 your investment in a beautiful smile affordable, and offer the following flexible payment options:
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. We have a team with over 100 years of collective experience in orthodontics which enhances quality and communication with our patients. |