Appointments & Scheduling

We make every attempt to remain on schedule and realize how important your time is during your daily activities. We will work with you to schedule appointments around your work schedule as much as possible. Successful orthodontics requires a series of scheduled appointments throughout treatment. We see patients approximately every 6 to 8 weeks and schedule appointments as far in advance as possible. The average time for most appointments is 15 to 30 minutes and are scheduled throughout the day. Longer appointments are scheduled at specific times to allow for as many after school appointments as possible.

If you are late for an appointment, we will accomplish as much as possible within the allotted time, but may have to reschedule you to complete the necessary treatment. In the event that an appointment may need to be rescheduled, we ask that you contact us as soon as possible. We will reschedule the appointment and keep you or your child on track with our treatment plan.

Occasionally, a wire may break, a bracket may come loose, or a similar situation may arise. This will require a Repair Appointment, which is about 30 minutes long on average. Usually, you or your child will simply notice the loose bracket or wire while brushing or flossing your teeth, but will not experience discomfort. You may also become aware of the need for a Repair Appointment by some minor irritation from the end of a wire poking out a loose bracket, rubbing your cheeks or gum area. If this is the case, you may need a Comfort Appointment to eliminate the discomfort until your Repair Appointment can be scheduled. Please call us immediately so we can begin to work out a time for these appointments.

Very Important Facts About Repair Appointments!

Do not wait to tell us about a needed repair because you are coming in for a regular visit anyway! We can’t do your regular visit (15 minutes) and a Repair Appointment (30 minutes) in your 15 minute scheduled time. This leads to one of the MOST frustrating Orthodontic events, you or your child sits down in the chair, a loose bracket is discovered, and there is not enough time for the repair, which needs to be completed before the regular visit! So, you are back up at the front desk rescheduling for the next day and haven’t accomplished anything this trip! We understand how frustrating this can be.

If you need a Repair and it is causing discomfort, please call immediately! Do not wait until after school.
We can see you for a Comfort Appointment any day. We have an assistant available every day but if you wait until after office hours they are only available at certain times and this may be in the middle your soccer game or even until 10 o’clock at night. It will be much more convenient for you to call early and arrange a visit during regular office hours.

Here is the Good News: Repairs are not life threatening!

If you have a loose bracket or band, broken wire, or missing rubber band hook, you will need a Repair Appointment as soon as possible. BUT, this can and will be scheduled during regular Repair Appointment times. If a bracket comes loose on Friday night, Monday morning will be fine! A month from now might not be, but nothing terrible will happen in a few days. However, if the wire is poking you and you cannot get it clipped or get the wax to cover it until it can be repaired, then you need a Comfort Appointment. Please contact our office as soon as possible. We have assistants on call 24 hours a day, but they have to arrange to meet you at the office and this may take some time for both of you.

REMEMBER Most Repair Appointment are caused by eating and chewing things you are not supposed to! (For young patients: this means 93%. And adults, shame on you! You knew better!)

Call as soon as you know there is a problem. Many times we can shift your appointment and save you a trip!

Don’t wait just because you had an appointment already, call ahead!