Office Policies
Appointment #1 - Initial Evaluation
The initial evaluation is the first step in determining your orthodontic needs. You do not need a referral for this evaluation. Since each patient is special and unique, Dr. Howland will use this time to evaluate treatment concerns and answer questions. Our New Patient Coordinator will discuss scheduling and financial options. We are happy to offer this as a courtesy to our patients. This appointment will take approximately 45 minutes. No charge will be issued for this appointment.
To save you time when you arrive for this appointment, you may wish to download, print, and complete the Patient Information Sheet ahead of time and bring it with you to the appointment.
Appointment #2 – Diagnostic Records
Diagnostic records may be taken at the first visit or scheduled at your convenience. Diagnostic records are made to determine the best course of treatment. Complete diagnostic records typically include 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. This appointment will take approximately 30 minutes.
- Patient Forms
- Please take a minute to print and fill out the patient information form before your first appointment:
- » Patient Form (Adult) PDF
- » Patient Form (Child) PDF
- If you're unable to open PDF files, you can get Adobe Reader®
Appointment #3 - Banding/Bonding Appointment
This is when the initial braces are places or impressions for a special appliance are taken, as discussed at your consultation appointment. This appointment can take up to 2 hours.
Regular Appointments
You will see us at regular intervals 5 to 6 weeks apart for an adjustment, which takes 15 to 30 minutes. We make every effort to see our patients at their scheduled appointment time. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us immediately. Sometimes, it can be difficult to reschedule you since most appointments are made 5 to 8 weeks in advance.
Costs of Treatment
The cost of treatment depends on the severity of the patient's case. We will discuss with you fees and payment options before treatment begins. We have payment plans to suit different budgets, including 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 orthodontics affordable. In an effort to keep orthodontic fees down while maintaining the highest level of professional care, we have established this financial policy:
- If full payment is made at the onset of treatment, we will offer a fee discount. (If you have insurance, we will offer a discount for payment of your portion of the fee that will not be covered by insurance.)
- To fit your individual needs, financial arrangements can be made to extend your payments over the length of treatment.
- For your convenience, we accept payment by VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX and DISCOVER CARD.
- In cases of serious delinquency, treatment will be discontinued, although we will make every effort to work with patients with temporary difficulties.
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 as stated above. However, should your insurance change or terminate during treatment, different payment arrangements may have to be made at this time.