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Prior to Your First Visit After telephoning to schedule an initial examination, you will receive a packet of material from us including a brochure about orthodontics, information about Dr. Burkey, a business card with directions to find our office, and a medical history form to fill out. Please bring the completed medical history form to your initial examination. If you have insurance, arriving with an insurance form filled out will also expedite your appointment and allow us the opportunity to help you determine your insurance benefits. In case you need an insurance form or another medical history form, these can be downloaded and printed under “Patient Forms” here on our web site. Back to Top Your First Visit  At the initial examination appointment, you will be welcomed to our office by our treatment coordinator who would be happy to give you a tour of our office. She will also show you how to sign in on our computer, and she will review with you the medical history form you completed and answer questions you might have about it. Dr. Burkey will then have the opportunity to meet you. He will evaluate you or your child’s smile by doing a thorough examination of the bite measuring such things as overbite, overjet, cross-bites, crowding, and spacing. Evaluating the fit of the bite is important, but Dr. Burkey is also interested in how the bite affects the profile and smile.Patients who are not ready for any orthodontic treatment at this time would be placed in our supervision program. Dr. Burkey can then continue to monitor growth and evaluate teeth as they erupt to help prevent or lessen problems as they arise. There is no charge for the initial examination appointment or any supervision reassessment appointments. If, at the initial examination, Dr. Burkey determines you or your child could benefit from orthodontic treatment, he will recommend that orthodontic records be taken. These records include impressions to make plaster models of the teeth, x-rays to help evaluate jaw positions and tooth angulations, and photographs of the teeth and face. Usually, records can be taken at the initial examination appointment to save you a trip back to the office, but they can be taken at a subsequent appointment if you prefer. This information is used to develop a custom treatment plan for each patient. These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as teeth move under orthodontic care. Back to Top Age Seven Is Not Too Early Why should children have an orthodontic screening no later than age 7? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have an initial orthodontic screening by the age of 7, as by this age all of the permanent incisors (front teeth) as well as the permanent first molars should have erupted. If inadequate space exists, some of these teeth could become impacted. An evaluation at this time helps identify problems with eruptions. Also at this time, Dr. Burkey can evaluate growth discrepancies of the jaws, crossbites (when upper teeth hit inside the lower teeth), crowding, and the development of injury-prone dental protrusions. An early orthodontic screening enables Dr. Burkey to advise you if treatment will even be necessary, and if so, determine the best time for your child to be treated. There is no charge for an initial examination or for supervision reassessment examinations. Some signs or habits that may indicate the need for an early orthodontic examination include early or late loss of baby teeth, difficulty in chewing or biting, mouth breathing, thumb or finger sucking, crowding, displaced or blocked out teeth, biting the cheek or roof of the mouth, teeth that meet abnormally or not at all, jaws or teeth that are out of proportion to one another, and a smile that is not symmetrical. Back to Top What are the benefits of an early evaluation and possible treatment? For young patients who have clear indications for early orthodontic intervention, this type of treatment presents an opportunity to:
Consultation appointment At the consultation, Dr. Burkey will discuss the findings from the records, explaining the diagnosis and proposed treatment plan. If different treatment options are possible, the advantages and disadvantages will be reviewed. The treatment coordinator will show you all the records and will assist Dr. Burkey in explaining what to expect during treatment. You will be given an opportunity to ask as many questions as you might have, as we feel strongly about communication in order that you have the information you need about your orthodontic treatment. The fee for taking records, including the diagnosis, treatment plan, and consultation appointment is $240.00. Back to Top Fees As everyone’s mouth is different, treatment plans vary depending on the bite problem. Fees are determined based on the finalized treatment plan after Dr. Burkey has carefully studied your orthodontic records. Fees and payment plan options are normally presented at the consultation appointment when the diagnosis and personalized treatment approach are discussed. However, at your request, a fee approximation can be given at the initial examination. Treatment fees quoted at the consultation appointment include all active treatment as proposed, including placing the braces, all adjustment appointments, the initial set of retainers and all retainer check appointments for years to come following completion of active orthodontic treatment. Additional fees would apply to replace lost or broken retainers to cover lab costs. Our payment plans include a down payment (to cover the longer appointment as well as the materials to place the braces) and monthly payments. Our proposed arrangements can be modified if you have a need for a smaller down payment with larger monthly payments, or vice versa. Payment plans are interest free. For your convenience, we offer automatic debits from a checking or savings account, or we can do automatic credit card payments as well. We accept assignment from most insurance companies, and this would lower both your down payment and monthly payments. We also offer a discount for payment in full at the beginning of treatment. Back to Top Our Sterilization Procedure In the past few years, there has been a significant increase and concern regarding infection control and asepsis in medical facilities. At Dr. Burkey’s office, we share these concerns and are committed to providing a safe environment for orthodontic health care.
We want you to be well informed regarding procedures performed in our office, and we welcome any of your questions. As always, we will do everything possible to provide you with the highest quality of care while maximizing your protection. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for more information about orthodontics! Back to Top
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