Your First Visit

At your first visit to Dr. Lohner's office you will become acquainted with the office and team members and receive a thorough orthodontic examination from Dr. Lohner. If the exam reveals that you are a candidate for treatment, then orthodontic records (medical and dental histories, plaster casts of the teeth, photographs of the face and teeth and x-rays of the jaws and head) will be needed. These records help to confirm the clinical diagnosis and determine the personalized treatment plan. The records also provide a benchmark to use in measuring treatment progress.

If it is determined that immediate treatment is not needed (for example, the patient is too young or is in need of other dental treatment first) then you'll be placed on recall to observe growth and development and await the ideal time to start orthodontic treatment. We will time the start of treatment to achieve the best result possible in the most timely manner. Different types of orthodontic problems are best treated at different stages of growth and development. The clinical exam is needed to determine this timing.

Regular Appointments

On the day you get your appliances (braces, expanders, clear aligners, etc.), the appointment usually takes from 30 to 90 minutes. You'll then see us at regular intervals 4 to 8 weeks apart for an adjustment, which takes 15 to 30 minutes. 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. Routine appointments for appliance adjustment can usually be made before or after school. Long appointments for construction, repair, or cementation of appliances are scheduled in the morning or early afternoon. 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 and Insurance Information

Fees

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 a no-down-payment option. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans, and file the necessary papers to the insurance company as a courtesy to our patients. We work hard to make orthodontics affordable.

Payment Options

In an effort to keep orthodontic fees down while maintaining the highest level of professional care, we have established the following payment options:

• Payment in Full - A bookkeeping courtesy discount is given for payment in full made directly to our office.
• Office Payment Plan: Initial Payment and Monthly Installments - Initial payment is due to the office when treatment begins. The balance is paid by recurring automatic charges to Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, or bank drafts from a checking or savings account.
• Outside Financing through CareCredit - A variety of patient payment plans are available through CareCredit, a medical and dental line of credit. These include low interest extended payment options.
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.