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YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
About Tipton Orthodontics
About Dr. Thomas Tipton
Meet the Team
Your First Phone Call
During your first call to Tipton Orthodontics, one of the team members will explain your first orthodontic visit to you. She will also gather enough information to check your insurance benefits for you and have everything ready for your first visit.
We will schedule an appointment for you to have a thorough, individualized consultation with Dr. Tipton and the treatment coordinator.
You will need to download and print the forms at the bottom of this page, fill them out and bring them with you to your first appointment.
Your First Orthodontic Appointment
Upon arriving for your orthodontic appointment, we ask that you check in at the receptionist's desk. Please remember to bring your paperwork with you.
Dr. Tipton will do a thorough exam of your mouth and teeth, to assess the best course of treatment for you.
He will determine what kind of treatment is necessary and what the best time frame to begin will be. After the doctor's examination, he and the treatment coordinator will further explain the treatment needed and reference the orthodontic robotic technologies or types of braces or other orthodontic treatments that are available to you.
You will have time to ask any questions you might have.
If treatment is needed and work can begin immediately, we can save you a visit by doing the remaining diagnostic records the same day.
If no treatment is needed at this time, you will be given an observation appointment for a future date, where we will check your teeth periodically until the time is right to begin treatment.
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Diagnostic Records.
Diagnostic records are made to determine the best course of treatment. They typically include digital x-rays and facial and dental photographs, and an impression for digital study models. These items are used to plan a custom treatment plan for you and to track progress as your teeth move during orthodontic treatment.
Regular Appointments. The appointment when you get your appliances (braces, expanders etc.) usually takes from one to two hours. You'll then be seen at regular intervals 4-8 weeks apart for adjustments, which take 20-40 minutes. Our regular office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:15am –5:00pm. Our office is closed daily from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM for lunch.
We make every effort to be on time for our patients and ask that you extend the same courtesy to us. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us as soon as you know. You should only cancel your appointment if it is an emergency, to prevent any delays in treatment.
Payment and Office Policies. The cost of treatment depends on the severity of your problem and the length of time needed to correct the problem. You will be able to discuss the fees and payment options before treatment begins.
We have payment plans to suit different budgets. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans and file the necessary papers with the insurance company. We work hard to make orthodontics affordable.
Fees. In an effort to keep orthodontic fees down while maintaining the highest level of professional care, we have established this financial policy:
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If full payment is made at the onset of treatment, we will offer a bookkeeping discount. (If you have insurance, we will offer a discount for payment of your portion of the fee that will not be covered by insurance.)
To fit your individual needs, financial arrangements can be made to extend your payments over a period of months. Full payment is necessary before treatment is completed.
For your convenience, we accept payment by Visa and MasterCard.
Discounts. We offer a variety of discounts, which we will discuss with you at your initial consultation. These discounts include upfront payment discounts, family discounts and others.
Insurance. If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available. We ask that you assign your 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 you in every way we can in filing your claim and handling your insurance questions from our office on your behalf. |
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Patient Forms
Please help us be prepared for your first appointment by downloading, printing and completing the Patient Information, Medical History, Privacy (HIPAA) form and Acknowledgement.
Please bring them with you to your first appointment
New Patient Information
Medical History
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Acknowledgement
All forms are in pdf format. To read and print them, you'll need Acrobat Reader, which is available for free download from Adobe.
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