 Your First Visit
At the first visit to the orthodontist, a medical/dental history and some diagnostic records may be made to determine the best course of treatment. Dr. Strelzow often requires a panoramic X-ray and a few clinical photographs at this appointment. After the doctor has completed his examination we discuss your treatment with you in detail, including the cost for your particular case.
Complete diagnostic records are taken prior to appliances being placed and include a plaster study models of the teeth, photos of the patient's face and teeth, and X-rays. 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.
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 6 to 8 weeks apart for an adjustment, which takes 15-20 minutes for traditional braces and 30-60 minutes for lingual braces. Our regular office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:00 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 6 to 8 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. The B.C. Society of Orthodontists does not allow payments to be accepted directly from insurance plans. All payments must be made directly by the family and we are happy to help you file the necessary papers to the insurance company.
Fees
In an effort to keep orthodontic fees down while maintaining the highest level of professional care, we have established this financial policy:
- 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 VISA and MASTERCARD.
- In cases of serious delinquency, treatment will be discontinued, although we will make every effort to accommodate patients with temporary difficulties.
Insurance
If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available. 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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