Choosing to improve your oral health with orthodontics is a big decision, and we’re excited to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted! Every orthodontic journey begins with a consultation, which we offer free of charge to potential patients. This appointment is one of the most important visits you’ll have with us, giving you the chance to meet our team and learn more about everything we have to offer. You might be feeling a little nervous about it, especially if you aren’t sure what to expect from the process. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what you can expect from your free consultation with Sandifer Orthodontics!
Completing your new patient paperwork
If you’re new to our practice, we’ll need you to complete intake paperwork on or before your first visit. For your convenience, we have these available on our website. If you prefer, you can also complete these in the office once you arrive for your appointment. While every office has its own set of required forms, there are some basics you’ll need to complete in almost any healthcare setting. We’ve outlined these for you below.
New patient intake forms
This basic paperwork will ask for your name, date of birth, contact information, and the party responsible for any recommended treatment. This person will be financially responsible for the treatment and will be expected to sign all consent forms, so they must be at least 18 years of age.
Medical history forms
The medical history form is used to evaluate your overall health before treatment. Read through each item carefully as the accuracy of this form is important to the success of your treatment plan.
Dental history forms
A thorough dental history is essential before beginning orthodontic treatment. This paperwork will include an assessment of the dental work you’ve had over the years and ask you to outline any dental surgery or trauma you’ve had. You’ll also lay out the basics of your current oral hygiene routine.
Dental insurance forms
If you have dental insurance, you’ll need to complete the insurance verification form at your initial appointment. This allows our office staff to verify your benefits promptly.
HIPAA forms
You’ll receive a notice about our privacy practices regarding your personal health information. This describes how your medical information may be used and disclosed and explains how you can access this information. It also goes over the rights you have with respect to your Personal Health Information (PHI) and how you can exercise those rights.
Meeting your treatment coordinator
Once you’ve completed your paperwork, we’ll show you to a consultation room. You’ll meet our treatment coordinator, learn more about what you can expect from our practice, and go over any concerns you have about your oral health. After going over your medical and dental histories, you’ll be introduced to Dr. Sandifer!
Meeting Dr. Sandifer
After meeting Dr. Sandifer, she’ll perform a careful examination of your teeth and jaws. She may also ask some follow-up questions about your specific concerns. Once the exam is complete, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about your diagnosis or the proposed treatment plan. This part of the visit will give us important insight into your orthodontic needs and typically takes about half an hour.
We know your time is valuable, so we may also reserve time following the exam for diagnostic records, which will help expedite treatment. These records include digital photographs, X-rays, and a scan of your teeth for study models. This allows us to get a good look at what’s happening beneath the surface of your smile, giving Dr. Sandifer a deeper understanding of your overall oral health.
Diagnostic records are an essential part of developing a customized treatment plan for you and will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Your personalized plan will outline each step of the treatment process, from start to finish. It will also include information on which appliances would be best for you and an estimate of how long treatment will take.
Understanding your investment in a healthy smile
Once you’ve decided on a treatment plan, we’ll go over the total investment needed for your new smile. Because every case is different and each patient responds to treatment in their own way, the total costs will always vary from person to person. You’ll never have to worry about hidden fees here, though. Our team will make sure you understand everything included in your treatment plan before moving on to the next step.
Here at Sandifer Orthodontics, we believe everyone should be able to access high-quality orthodontic care and a confident smile! The financial side of treatment can be confusing, but we do our best to keep it simple. Our practice has payment options to fit every budget, including 0% financing over the course of treatment and paid-in-full discounts.
If you have insurance that covers orthodontic treatment, we’ll obtain that information prior to your consultation and include the estimated benefit in your overall treatment fee. Our insurance coordinator and treatment coordinator will help you understand how insurance can play an important role in your orthodontic treatment!
The official go-ahead
The final step in your consultation will be completing a financial contract and treatment consent form. This will make everything official! Our financial contract outlines the total fees for your treatment, any upgrades included, and the expected insurance benefit amount. As the responsible party, you’re liable for this contract. In the unfortunate event that insurance stops payments, the remaining unpaid balance will need to be paid by you to settle the account. Take time to carefully review these contracts and clarify any final questions you have before signing!
Your consent form permits us to treat you (or your minor child.) Legally, nothing can move forward without this form so be sure to read and initial each statement on the form. This helps us verify that every point has been read and understood prior to beginning treatment. There will also be some office policies to review before we move on. These will generally include our policies on emergency visits, payments, and broken brackets or appliances. There will be some additional information on transferring or discontinuing your treatment.
Your free consultation with Sandifer Orthodontics
Now that you know exactly what to expect from your free consultation with Dr. Sandifer and our expert team, it’s time to make some smile magic! If you haven’t already, get in touch to schedule your first visit with our Jackson or Brandon office. The beautiful smile you’ve always wanted is waiting for you here!