Appointments Required for Orthodontic Treatment
Appointments Required for Orthodontic Treatment
- 1st Appointment: The Consultation and Observation Appointment: First, you will be asked to complete a patient data/history form prior to seeing the doctor. If, during the consultation the doctor determines that the patient is not ready for braces, he may schedule the next appointment for 3, 6, or 12 month intervals in the future. He will do this in order to observe the patients’ development. Sometimes during this appointment the doctor may need to take a panoramic radiograph, CDT code D0330. The usual duration of this appointment is 5 to 15 minutes. Once the patients’ development has matured, the doctor will then schedule the Records Appointment.
- 2nd Appointment: The Records Appointment: This is a mandatory pre-orthodontic treatment procedure. It involves taking radiographs, photographs and an impression of the patient's teeth CDT codes D0330, D0340, D0470. The usual duration of this appointment is 20 minutes.
- 3rd Appointment: Treatment Presentation Appointment: With the patient/parent, the doctor reviews his findings of the processed records and discusses his treatment plan. A fee for the treatment is also determined during this time. There is no fee for the Treatment Presentation. The usual duration of this appointment is 15-30 minutes. Within a few days after the Treatment Presentation, you should receive an “Orthodontic Treatment/Payment Agreement” in the mail. This agreement will need to be signed and returned to the office as per the instructions. Dr. King does not begin treatment on any patient whose agreement has not been signed and returned to the office before or on the day the actual treatment begins.
- 4th Appointment: Appliance Placement or Bonding Appointment: At this appointment the appliance is to be placed on the patient. The doctor usually allocates one hour for this procedure. Hence, it is important that you please be on time. Bonding appointments are on weekdays only. It is during this appointment that you will be required to make an initial down payment towards the treatment fee. The initial down payment due would have been indicated in the “Orthodontic Treatment/Payment Agreement.” If you are unsure of the amount due, please call Sofia at (718) 363-8701. Dr. King does not do extractions; if extractions are needed for you/your child, Dr. King will make the proper referral to an Oral Surgeon or to our recommended office’s Children’s Dentist, Dr. Doherty, depending on your/your child’s orthodontic treatment plan. Fees for Bite-plates and Palate Expanders are additional and are not included in the cost of the braces CDT code D8220, for braces D8080, adults D8090. If an X-ray is necessary during treatment there will be a charge.
NOTE:Not every patient will need or be ready for full braces on the 4th appointment. Some patients (especially children) may need a minor appliance, such as a “Bite-Plate” or a “Trans-Palatial Expander,” prior to braces. Some patients, especially children, may not require full or even partial braces. Whatever treatment is appropriate for the patient, Dr. King will determine by the 2nd or 3rd appointments.