Your First Visit

smiling mother and her smiling daughter

Appointments and Office Procedures

Your Initial Exam

When you arrive for your first visit, you will be welcomed by the new patient coordinator. Additionally, you or your parent/guardian will be asked to complete a detailed health history form. You will find all of our health history forms on this web site under Appointments and Office Policies. You may print them at home and bring them with you to your initial exam.

Dr. Sabatino sets aside a dedicated one hour for your visit.

During this in-depth exam, Dr. Sabatino reviews your medical and dental history and performs a clinical exam.

The purpose of your initial exam is to answer several questions:

Second Appointment - Diagnostic Records

Once orthodontic treatment is deemed necessary, a set of diagnostic records will need to be taken before appliances can be placed. Study model impressions will be taken of both the upper and lower arches as well as a wax bite. These impressions in addition to the radiographs, photographs, and examination will allow Dr. Sabatino to study the case in greater detail. A thorough diagnosis is critical to understanding each patient as an individual and to tailoring the treatment plan.

Orthodontic records include all necessary x-rays, diagnostic photos and diagnostic plaster models for patients.

Third Appointment - Your Treatment Consultation

Your treatment consultation should last about one hour. We will start the process by reviewing our expectations of the patient during treatment. It is important that everyone understands all that is involved in achieving a beautiful smile. Next steps include the review of the treatment contract. You are to take this home with you and return the signed contract to our office before your braces are started. At this appointment we will place separators. (We do recommend taking Tylenol or Advil prior to this appointment.)

Fourth Appointment - Getting Your Braces

This is the day you will get your braces! The appointment should last about 1 ½ to 2 hours and will be scheduled during the morning hours. Your teeth will be polished and prepped for bonding prior to Dr. Sabatino placing the braces. Oral hygiene is the key to successful treatment; we will give you a thorough demonstration of proper oral care and maintenance as well as a care kit. (We do recommend taking Tylenol or Advil prior to this appointment)

Once braces are placed your regular appointments should be every 6 to 8 weeks, lasting approximately 30 minutes each.

Regular Appointments

Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 7:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and some Tuesdays are scheduled at our Arrowhead location. We are open two Fridays per month for molds and x-rays and one Friday every six weeks for all appointments.

Patients are seen by appointment only. We know that our patients have many demands upon their schedules for work and school. In an effort to accommodate patient needs we have dedicated much time and thought into designing our schedule. Please understand that due to the high volume of patients desiring after-school appointments we have reserved the time after 3:00 p.m. for short adjustments. Most adjustment appointments will average 30 minutes. Longer appointments (placing and removing braces) will need to be scheduled during the mornings and early afternoons.

As a courtesy, we will attempt to reach patients just prior to each appointment as a reminder of the scheduled date and time. However, we rely on patients to make the necessary arrangements to arrive on time. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us immediately; cancel only if it is an emergency. Rescheduling may be difficult since most appointments are made 4 to 8 weeks in advance, but we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Emergency Appointments

Please contact our office immediately if you have a loose bracket or appliance or if you are experiencing pain. We will make every effort to get you scheduled as soon as possible.

Fees & Insurance

The fee for orthodontic treatment is dependent on the complexity of the problem, appliances utilized, and the length of treatment. The treatment coordinator will discuss fees and payment options after consultation with Dr. Sabatino at the end of the diagnostic consultation exam appointment. We have several payment plans to suit different budgets.

We work hard to make orthodontics affordable.

We offer the following financial options for your convenience:

Insurance

As an additional courtesy we will be happy to assist with insurance questions to the best of our ability. If you have dental insurance with an orthodontic benefit, we will work with you and your insurance company to obtain the benefit. When the time comes we can submit claims and accept assignment of benefits. Any unpaid insurance balance will be your responsibility. Please let us know your insurance information when you contact us, or you may bring the information with you to your initial exam.

Convenient Online Services

We know how busy you are. That’s why we’re committed to providing you superior, leading-edge service. With our secure online service you will be able to:

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