What to Expect / Your First Visit

At your complimentary first visit to Schmidt Orthodontics, the doctor completes a clinical exam and diagnostic records will be completed (if needed) to determine the best course of treatment for you. The records include a dental/medical history, photos of your face and teeth, impressions and digital x-rays. Our office is one of the few offices in the area with digital x-ray equipment which can reduce radiation exposure. These x-rays are of the teeth and of the skeletal profile. The information from the diagnostic records is used to develop your custom treatment plan. The diagnostic records are also used to track your progress as your treatment proceeds. We will also discuss the recommended treatment, length of treatment, the expected results, and the fees involved.

Getting Started

It will take us between 1 to 2 hours for the “Get Started” appointment – we have a lot to do and you have lots to learn. In certain circumstances it may be necessary to come back for a second or third visit to get all of your appliances. After that, we’ll see you at regular intervals of 6 to 10 weeks for your adjustments. These adjustments generally take 20 to 40 minutes.

The time you spend at Schmidt Orthodontics is valuable to you and to our staff. We want you to have fun, and achieve an excellent orthodontic result….your smile will say it all!

Payment & Office Policies

Cost

Your treatment fees at Schmidt Orthodontics are based on the type of treatment and the complexity of your case. We have payment plans to suit different budgets including convenient, monthly, no-interest payment plans and a no-down payment option. We accept MasterCard, Visa and offer automatic payment options through your checking account. If you choose to pay your account in full we offer a full pay professional courtesy. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans, and file the necessary papers to the insurance company. We work hard to make orthodontics affordable.

Orthodontic Insurance Benefits

If you have an orthodontic insurance benefit, we will be happy to assist you in determining the amount of benefit available to you and your family. Professional care is provided to you, our patient, and not to the insurance company. Thus, the 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 the insurance questions from our office on your behalf.

Eligibility

Your dental plan my offer orthodontic coverage, but have eligibility requirements. Some plans have age requirements, or there may be a waiting period for orthodontic coverage. Eligibility may change during the course of treatment, if the insured changes employers or if the employer changes the coverage, benefit payments may change or be discontinued.

Benefit Payments

Every insurance plan offers a different level of benefits. Orthodontic benefits are not the same as your general dental benefits. There is usually a lifetime maximum benefit, however some benefits renew yearly. Orthodontic benefits are rarely paid in one payment. Partial payments will be issued throughout the length of treatment until the maximum benefit has been paid or the estimated treatment time is complete.

Assignment of Benefits

We accept assignment of benefits for most insurance plans. This means that we will accept the benefit payments on behalf of the patients. By doing this, the family’s out of pocket expense is substantially lower. Filing orthodontic claims can be a burden for your family. If we do not accept assignment of benefits from your plan, we will be happy to file the claims so that the insured can be reimbursed directly.

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