Arrangements for fee payment are agreed upon, the down payment is made and, if the payment plan is chosen, a contract is signed. In addition, treatment may be initiated at this appointment providing that the fee is paid in full or the payment plan has been initiated. Most patients are ready to start treatment on the same day as the Consultation Appointment by the placement of separators. Separators are small rubber O-rings or metal springs that are placed between specific teeth to create space for orthodontic bands to be placed. This takes only a few minutes.
Patients typically come in one week later to have their braces placed.
Although residents are treating patients in the clinic everyday, some instructors are present in the clinic only several days per month. Therefore, it is critical that patients do not miss appointments. Patients may only be seen on days when their faculty supervisor is present. The Dentofacial Program Patients screened in the Graduate Orthodontic Clinic who may benefit from a combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery are referred to the Dentofacial Program for their Records Appointment. The Dentofacial Program is staffed by faculty and residents from the Sections of Orthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.