We are happy to work with you and your insurance company to receive the maximum benefit possible under your policy. We have found that the more you know about your individual policy, the easier it is to process your claim. To assist us in this endeavor, we have established the following answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Everyone deserves a beautiful smile and we believe the cost of braces should not prevent you from getting that smile. Our goal is to provide you with the most affordable and convenient payment schedule possible and we will work with you to accommodate your needs.

Please keep in mind that our primary financial relationship is with our patients and their families. We realize that understanding your orthodontic insurance can be difficult and we welcome any questions you might have. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us to provide the best and most efficient treatment for our patients.

Payment Options

We offer several payment options to help meet your individual needs.

• Families, who wish to pay in full at the beginning of treatment, receive a discounted fee, as your full payment saves us administrative time and costs.
• Care Credit is accepted for payment in full without a pay in full discount.
• We offer affordable payment plan options. Payment plan options require a down payment and then monthly payments that are automatically drafted from your checking, savings or credit card accounts.
• In order to make monthly payments more convenient, we offer automatic withdrawals (from checking, savings, and credit card accounts) at no additional cost to you.
• We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover for down payments.
• Cash and checks are also accepted for down payments.

Insurance

Many insurance plans cover a portion of the fees. You will need to bring a copy of your insurance card to our office so that we may properly submit your claim forms.

How does orthodontic insurance work?

There are many different agreements between insurance carriers and their subscribers, and each policy provides a different benefit. Orthodontic insurance differs from regular dental insurance in that it rarely pays for orthodontic treatment in full. Each insured individual usually has a lifetime maximum benefit for orthodontic services. This benefit is paid as a percentage of the orthodontic fee until the maximum has been reached. Charges for lost or broken appliances may not be covered by insurance.

How will our office assist you with your insurance?

We will generate an insurance form on our computer that describes the orthodontic problems, the required treatment, the length of treatment time and the financial arrangement. We will file a pre-estimate to your insurance company before treatment starts (however, this is not a guarantee of payment). Once treatment begins, we will file a claim for the orthodontic treatment. The insurance company will then send us payments based on their own fee schedule. If the insurance companies require follow up claims or verification of treatment, will submit those as needed.

Should the insurance company not send us the payments directly; we will need the families to reimburse our office for the insurance portion of the contract. I.e. – sometimes the insurance company will not pay our office and will send the families the checks. If we have a separate insurance contract, the checks must be signed over to our office in order to pay the insurance portion of the contract.

How can you maximize your benefit?

Know what your benefits are before treatment begins. If you are not sure, contact your insurance company or your employers human resources department so that you know exactly how much you can expect them to pay. Should your insurance company deny treatment or insurance coverage change, you will then be responsible any amount not paid by your insurance company. Please remember that you are ultimately responsible for all charges incurred in our office.

Please read each authorization request and circle either “Yes” or “No” on the line and then sign the bottom of the form. You have the right to revoke these authorizations in writing at any time; however, any information already received will not be covered under that revocation. You also have a right to a copy of any information we have provided.

(Check any you agree to)

INFORMED CONSENT

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT PRODUCES SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FOR PATIENTS. THE BENEFITS OF A PLEASING SMILE AND HEALTHY TEETH ARE WIDELY APPRECIATED. HOWEVER, ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT IS AN ELECTIVE PROCEDURE. THERE ARE SOME UNAVOIDABLE RISKS AND LIMITATIONS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF BEFORE STARTING TREATMENT.

LACK OF PATIENT COOPERATION- THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF PROLONGED TREATMENT AND POOR RESULTS

Practicing good oral hygiene, keeping regular appointments, wearing elastics, appliances, or headgear, and avoiding improper foods are all essential for a good result. Failure to cooperate will result in a compromised result, extend treatment, and result in additional expense.

TOOTH SCARRING- DECALCIFICATION AND DECAY

Poor tooth brushing and excessive sugar in the diet will produce permanent scarring and staining of the teeth and can require restorations (fillings). Proper brushing, flossing, limiting sugar in the diet, and reporting any loose braces will help prevent scarring.

HEADGEAR-INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED CAREFULLY

The elastic force must be released before the headgear is removed or it can snap back and cause severe injury to the mouth, face, or eyes. The headgear should not be worn during rough play or sports that might cause falls or collisions.

IMPACTED TEETH-TEETH UNABLE TO ERUPT NORMALLY

In attempting to move impacted teeth, especially canines, various problems are sometimes encountered which may lead to damage or loss of the tooth or adjacent teeth. Also, problems with the supporting bone and gum tissue may develop. Rarely, these teeth will not move.

DEAD TEETH-USUALLY TEETH THAT HAVE BEEN INJURED

Teeth can die over a long period of time with or without orthodontic treatment and require root canal therapy. Teeth with fillings, or a oral history of trauma are more likely to be affected.

SHORTENING OF ROOTS-ROOT RESORPTION

The roots of teeth can become shorter with or without orthodontic treatment. Under healthy conditions the shortened roots usually are no problem, but can result in tooth loss. Accidental injury, surgical procedures, impaction, medical disorders, or unknown reasons can cause this problem.

POST TREATMENT TOOTH MOVEMENT-RELAPSE

Teeth will shift or settle after treatment and retention. Some changes may be desirable, but others will not. Rotations and crowding of the front teeth are common. Slight spaces where teeth were removed can remain. Proper retainer wear prevents relapse.

UNFAVORABLE FACIAL GROWTH-POOR JAW RELATIONSHP

The position of the jaws in relationship to each other determines how well the teeth can fit together. If the jaws do not develop in a favorable position, the orthodontic result can be compromised. Unfavorable growth of the jaws before, during, or after treatment may necessitate surgery to correct the bite.

TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ)-JAW JOINTS

Popping, clicking, locking, and pain can develop in the jaw joint and surrounding structures. These symptoms may exist before, during, or after orthodontic treatment. While tooth position or bite problems may contribute to these symptoms; non-dental factors such as psychological stress, arthritis, injury, or structural problems can also be involved. Clenching or grinding the teeth may also be associated. Orthodontic treatment may or may not correct TMJ symptoms.

GUM DISEASE-PERIODONTAL DISEASE, LOSS OF BONE AROUND THE TEETH

Periodontal disease results in the loss of support for the teeth and may exist before, during, or after orthodontics. A periodontics or dentist must evaluate patients with periodontal disease before orthodontics can be started. Good oral hygiene can help control periodontal disease, but gum and bone support can sometimes be lost during orthodontic treatment, and teeth can be lost.

APPLIANCE REMOVAL

When removing bonded brackets or bands, enamel flaking or fracturing can occur. This risk is highest for teeth with large restorations or root canals, which tend to weaken the enamel.

UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES-VERY RARELY ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES, DENTAL RESTORATIONS, OR CHIPPED TEETH CAN BE SWALLOWED OR ASPIRATED AND COULD REQUIRE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT.

DENTAL CHECK-UPS

All required dental work must be completed before orthodontics can begin. Patients must continue to visit their regular dentist while undergoing orthodontic treatment. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE ABOVE, PLEASE ASK DR. DAVID JONES and DR. NICOLE DESHON

I consent to the taking of photographs and x-rays before, during and after treatment, and to the use of same by the doctor in scientific papers or demonstrations.

I certify that I have read or had read to me the contents of this forms and do realize the risks and limitations involved, and do consent to orthodontic treatment.

I have read and understand the above and consent to treatment of :

(Please Print – Patient, Parent/Legal Guardian if under 18)

Office’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information (PHI) (i.e., individually identifiable information, such as names dates, phone/fax numbers, e-mail addressed, home addresses, Social Security numbers, and demographic data), to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect o protect health information, and to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured protected health information. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this Notice while it is in effect. This Notice takes effect 09.23.2013, and will remain in effect until we replace it.

We reserve the right to make our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law, and to make new Notice provisions effective for all protected health information that we maintain. When we make a significant change in our privacy practices, we will change this Notice and post the new Notice clearly and prominently at our practice location, and we will provide copies of the new Notice upon request.

You may request a copy of our Notice at any time. Form more information about our privacy practices, or for additional copies of this Notice, please contact us using the information listed at the end of this Notice.

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

We may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) for different purposes, including treatment, payment and health care operations. For each of these categories, we have provided a description and an example. Some information, such as HIV related information, genetic information, alcohol and/or substance abuse records, and mental health records may be entitled to special confidentiality protections under applicable state and federal law. We will abide by these special protections as they pertain to applicable cases involving these types of records.

Treatment. We may use and disclose your PHI for your treatment. For example, we may disclose your health information to a specialist providing treatment to you.

Payment. We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain reimbursement for the treatment and services you receive from us or another entity involved with your care. Payment activities include billing, collections, claims management, and determinations of eligibility and coverage to o obtain payment from you, an insurance company, or another third party. For example, we may send claims to your dental health plan containing certain health information.

Healthcare Operations. We may use and disclose your PHI in connection with our healthcare operations. For example, healthcare operations include quality assessment and improvement activities, conducting training programs, and licensing activities.

Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care. We may disclose your PHI to your family or friends or any other individual identified by you when they are involved in your care or in the payment for your care. Additionally, we may disclose information about you to a patient representative. If a person has the authority by law to make health care decisions for you, we will treat that patient representative the same way we would treat you with respect to your health history information.

Disaster Relief. We may use or disclose your PHI to assist in disaster relief efforts.

Required by Law. We may use or disclose your PHI when we are to do so by law.

Public Health Activities. We may disclose your PHI for public health activities, including disclosures to:

• Prevent or control disease, injury or disability;
• Report child abuse or neglect;
• Report reactions to medications or problems with products or devices;
• Notify a person of a recall, repair, or replacement of products or devices;
• Notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or condition; or
• Notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

National Security. We may disclose to military authorities the PHI of Armed Forces personnel under certain circumstances. We may disclose to authorized federal officials PHI required for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities. We may disclose to correctional institution or law enforcement official having lawful custody the PHI of an inmate or patient.

Secretary of HHS. We will disclose your PHI to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when required to investigate or determine compliance with HIPAA.

Worker’s Compensation. We may disclose your PHI to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to worker’s compensation or other similar programs established by law.

Law Enforcement. We may disclose your PHI for law enforcement purposes as permitted by HIPAA, as required by law, or in response to a subpoena or court order.

Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose your PHI to an oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include audits, investigations, inspections, and credentialing, as necessary for licensure and for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose your PHI in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose health information about you in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process instituted by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made, either by their requesting party or us, to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

Research. We may disclose your PHI to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board or privacy board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your information.