Office Policies
Your First Visit (Initial Exam)
At your first visit, Dr. Nakisher will perform a thorough exam of your teeth, bite, and oral tissues. She will discuss her clinical findings, asses any areas of concern that you may have, and recommend treatment options.
Diagnostic Records and Consultation
Once it has been determined that orthodontic treatment is necessary, diagnostic records are made to determine the best course of treatment. Complete diagnostic records typically include a medical/dental history, clinical examination, 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.
Consultation
Patient Forms
Please take a minute to print and fill out the patient information form before your first appointment:
If you're unable to open PDF files, you can get Adobe Reader® for free.
After the doctor has evaluated your records; she will discuss your treatment with you in detail, including the cost for your particular case.
Regular 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 15 to 45 minutes. Our regular office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:15 AM to 5 PM, Friday from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM, and one Saturday a month from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. 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. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us immediately. Cancel only if it is an emergency. It is difficult to reschedule you since most appointments are made 4 to 8 weeks in advance.
Cost
The cost of treatment depends on many factors, including the severity of the patient's problem, its complexity and the length of treatment. We will discuss fees and payment options with you before treatment begins. We have payment plans to suit different budgets, and work with each patient on an individual basis. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans and will file the necessary papers to the insurance company. We work hard to make orthodontics affordable.
Fees
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 a period of months.
- For your convenience, we accept payment by VISA and MASTERCARD.
- In cases of serious delinquency, treatment may be discontinued, although we will make every effort to accommodate patients with temporary difficulties.
Insurance
If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage that you have available. We work with each patient on an individual basis to asses their insurance coverage. We ask that you assign your insurance benefit to us. The balance will be arranged for you to pay (see above). 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.