We are open to serve you, answer questions or schedule an appointment during the following hours:
Office Hours:
Monday – Wed: 8 AM – 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM – 3:30 PM
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 10 weeks apart for an adjustment, which takes 20 to 40 minutes at our regular office hours (see above).
Since most of our patients are of school age, it is impossible to see all patients after school. We will make every attempt to accommodate your schedule, however, at times you may need to alternate afternoon and morning appointments. Morning appointments may be required for placement or removal of braces and other lengthy procedures.
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. Your scheduled appointment time has been reserved specifically for you. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us immediately. Cancel only if it is an emergency. We request 24-hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment. We are aware that unforeseen events sometimes require missing an appointment. After missing your third appointment without notifying us 24 hours in advance, you are subject to being charged an additional fee. If you must reschedule an appointment, we ask that you be flexible with the choices we offer you. Although we do our very best to accommodate you promptly, many of the “prime” appointment times are booked 4 to 8 weeks in advance.
Breakages:
Most patients go a full treatment without breaking or loosening up appliances. If you happen to break a bracket, wire, or an appliance, or if a bracket, band, and/or an appliance become loose, please call us right away, even if your regular appointment is coming up. Fixing breakages requires a longer appointment time, and usually cannot be done during your regular adjustment visit. We will either reschedule you appropriately to fix the breakage or check our schedule to see if we’ll have enough time to fix it during your upcoming regular visit. Please let us know about any breakages as soon as possible! Please note that continual breakage may cause a delay in treatment time and additional charges may apply for numerous breakages of appliances during treatment.
Cooperation:
Successful orthodontic result cannot be achieved without your cooperation. Orthodontic treatment is a constant team-effort that involves Dr. Tsibel, our staff, the patient, and if applies, the parent. To obtain the best possible outcome, it is crucial to keep regular appointments. Unsupervised orthodontics may cause irreversible harm to the teeth and/or gums. The patient must avoid hard or sticky foods that will cause breakage. The gums and teeth must be kept clean to avoid cavities and permanent damage. Instructions for elastics (rubber bands) and other appliances must be strictly followed. Without patient’s cooperation, all of these items can cause a delay in treatment and lead to a compromised (not ideal/successful) treatment result. If cooperation does not improve, we may choose to discontinue treatment to avoid irreversible damage your teeth.
Your Family Dentist:
Before beginning orthodontic treatment we require a clearance for your general dentist. A cleaning and exam along with any necessary fillings must be completed before braces are placed. During treatment, it is very important for you to keep regular 4 to 6-month checkups with your dentist.
Insurance:
Our office is committed to helping you maximize your insurance benefits. If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the orthodontic coverage you have available. We ask that you assign your insurance benefit to us. Because insurance policies vary, we can only estimate your coverage in good faith, but cannot guarantee coverage due to the complexities of insurance contracts. 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. When necessary, we fight for you, so you don’t have to!
For details or specific questions regarding insurance see the “Insurance and Payment Options” section of this website or just ask our helpful insurance coordinator.
