Appointment Scheduling

For the convenience of working parents and patients, we offer early morning, lunch hour and evening appointments. Our office is also open on most school holidays. School-age patients may need to miss a small amount of school, as there are some procedures we can do only in the morning. The majority of visits, however, can be scheduled so that they interfere very little with the school day. As a courtesy, we ask all our patients to call us at least 24-hours in advance of any cancellations, so that another patient may use this time.

Orthodontic Insurance Benefits

If you have insurance coverage for orthodontics, we will be happy to assist you in determining the amount of benefit available to you and your family. Our insurance coordinator will file all claims for you and take care of any other necessary paperwork and communication with the insurance company.

Orthodonic Records: 30 Minutes

The first step in determining a treatment plan is learning as much about your orthodontic condition as possible. At the initial consultation, if we feel that treatment is indicated, diagnostic records will be taken to help the doctor study the problem and determine a course for treatment. Full orthodontic records consist of:

• Diagnostic casts: impressions (molds) of upper and lower teeth. These plaster models enable Dr. Cohen to study your teeth and work out the details of your treatment plan even when you’re not in the office.

• Full face and profile photographs

• Intra-oral photographs of the teeth

• Panoramic x-ray of the teeth and jaws

• Cephalometric x-ray: lateral head film
  

Treatment Conference: Varies

With the completion of orthodontic records, Dr. Cohen may discuss the treatment plan in more detail, depending on what was accomplished at the initial consultation. Any related questions may be addressed at this time.

Separators: 15 Minutes

Separators are small doughnut-shaped modules or springs that are inserted between the teeth. Separators create space to make it possible to place the bands. Separators may cause the teeth to be sensistive, but this discomfort will disappear in a few days. Separators are usually put in place during the treatment conference appointment to save an extra trip to the office.

Banding and Wires: 2 Hours

This appointment will be scheduled approximately 1-2 weeks after the separators have been placed. During this visit, all braces will be cemented and wires placed. Depending on the patient, you may also have a palate expander, headgear elastics, etc. placed at this appointment.