Office FAQ

Q. Do you charge for an initial consultation visit?

A. As a courtesy to our referring dentists, there is no charge for the consultation. If diagnostic records are necessary, there will be a charge. There is an additional charge if the consultation is for a TMD (jaw pain disfunctuon) evaluation.

Q. How long will the first visit take?

A. It takes about a half-hour unless diagnostic records are taken. With records the appointment usually takes 45-60 minutes.

Q. What may happen the first appointment?

There is no charge for your initial consultation. This is an opportunity for you to meet the members of our practice and get questions answered. The doctor will also have the opportunity to do an examination and give you some recommendations about treatment.

Possible outcomes of the initial exam are:

The patient is not ready or may not need treatment and is placed on recall to be seen at a later date.
The orthodontic treatment is straightforward and appointments can be scheduled for construction and fitting of the appliance(s).
If the problem appears complex, or has multiple treatment options, a full set of diagnostic records may be needed, there is a charge for the records. These may be taken at this time or they may be scheduled for a later time. After review of the records, a 'report' appointment will be set up. At this appointment, a complete diagnosis, outline of proposed treatment and estimated fees will be presented.

Q. When should my child first be seen?

A. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child should be seen at about age 7 or 8 or if there is an obvious problem that you or your dentist sees.

Q. Do you take adult patients?

A. Yes! As a matter of fact, 35% of our patients are adults.

Q. What is the difference between an orthodontist and a regular dentist?

A. Legally a dentist may perform any type of orthodontic treatment he feels capable of doing. Orthodontists, however, are dental specialists who in addition to receiving a dental degree must have at least two continuous years of advanced study in orthodontics as required by the American Dental Association. Only those who complete such a program are eligible to belong to the American Association of Orthodontists.

Q. I notice that the doctors have different initials after their names. Does this mean they have different qualifications or skills?

A. No! Both of our doctors are licensed orthodontists in the state of Missouri and members of the American Association of Orthodontists. The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and the DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are exactly equivalent degrees given to dental school graduates. After completing orthodontic training, some schools grant a certificate (no initials) while other orthodontic programs grant an MS (Master of Science) degree. Again there is no difference in the training or qualifications.

Q. Where are you located?

A. In Manchester, near Queeny Park, in downtown Clayton, and our newest office is located in Wildwood. There is a map included with the new patient history form.

Q. Do you have Saturday or evening hours?

A. We offer Monday evening hours (every other Monday) and Saturday mornings (every other Saturday during school and less frequently in the summer). We also begin our day as early as 7:30 to see patients before work or school. In Clayton and Wildwood, we also have lunchtime appointments.

Q. Do you treat TMJ patients?

A. We do treat patients experiencing pain and dysfunction of the jaw joint and facial muscles. Consultations for patients who visit our office for this type of treatment are charged a visit charge. Treatment fees vary widely depending on the scope of treatment necessary. In some cases only behavioral changes are needed.

How can I pay for treatment?

Orthodontic treatment is an investment that can last a lifetime. Our goal is to provide the best possible orthodontic service in an affordable manner. We have a number of different plans for achieving these goals:

Comprehensive treatment fees can be paid off over the period of treatment with no interest fees charged on current accounts.
No down payment financing available through Capital One - healthcare finance.
We accept Visa and MasterCard as well as cash and checks. We participate in most major insurance programs.

Q How do you handle insurance?

A. Because of the number of dental plans and the complexity of some of these plans, this is not an easy question to answer. We would need some detailed information from you to best answer your questions. One of our treatment coordinators can help you if you give her the necessary plan information.

Q. What infection control procedures do you follow?

A. We adhere to the procedures and standards recommended by the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control. We especially follow the concept of Universal Precautions. All our instruments are sterilized, new gloves are used on each patient, and each chair and the operatory are disinfected after each patient visit.

Q: What do you think about Invisalign®?

A: Our office was one of the first in the country to offer Invisalign®. We have been very happy with the results and have treated more patients with this system then almost any other practice. Although many general dentist do use Invisalign there is much to be said about having experts handle your smile!

Q: What if I was told by my dentist that Invisalign® was not for me?

A: Our office was one of the first in the country to use the Invisalign® system. We have one of the largest groups of patients being treated with the system. With our experience, we are also able to treat more complex types of problems then most other orthodontic offices. We even have other orthodontist that refer their patients to us for Invisalign®

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