Your First Visit

At the initial appointment we will have a chance to get acquainted and help you determine if you could benefit from orthodontic treatment. Many of your questions can be answered at this appointment and we encourage you to ask about any of your concerns. Our goal at the first visit is to evaluate and determine the need for orthodontic treatment, answer all of your questions and help you feel comfortable with our office. There is no charge for this examination appointment. If orthodontic treatment is indicated, diagnostic records may be taken at this appointment or another appointment can be scheduled. The diagnostic records are needed to enable Dr. Gust to study the orthodontic problems and develop a treatment plan for you. The diagnostic records include photographs, x-rays and models of your teeth. These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move under orthodontic care.

Consultation

After Dr. Gust has evaluated your records, we 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 4 to 10 weeks apart for an adjustment, which takes 20 to 40 minutes. Our regular office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:45 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.

Payment & Office Policies

Cost
The cost of treatment depends on the severity of the patient's problem. You will be able to discuss fees and payment options before treatment begins. We have payment plans to suit different budgets, including in-house financing at 0% for the length of the indicated treatment. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans and 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.)
• If there is more than one family member in treatment, a family discount will be offered.
• 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, MASTERCARD, and DISCOVER.
• Flex spending accounts can be used on orthodontic treatment.
• In cases of serious delinquency, treatment will 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 you have available. 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.