Appointment Policies
Before starting active orthodontic treatment, we want our potential patients to understand all aspects of the commitment. Treatment will not move forward effectively or efficiently without your active participation in appointment attendance and proper oral hygiene. When active orthodontic treatment begins, each patient is seen every 4 to 8 weeks. We anticipate that some of these appointments will conflict with work or school schedules. We understand that your time is valuable and limited, so we have arranged our office hours to increase available appointment times. As with any schedule, some appointment times will be more popular than others. Please note that all appointments are made on a first-come-first-served basis. Vacations, holidays, and educational seminars will alter our schedule during the year.
It is important not only to arrive on time for each appointment but also to leave sufficient time for completion of all necessary procedures. Throughout your treatment, the majority of appointments will be pleasantly short, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes. This includes most routine checks, adjustments, and emergencies. There are a few appointments that will take more time. These include the initial placement of braces, fine-tuning of bracket placement midway through treatment, and finally, the removal of braces. These longer appointments may need to be scheduled during school or work hours. Dr. Karkhanechi and Dr. Lachica use treatment methods that straighten teeth efficiently and require fewer office visits. Our office is committed to providing you with the best orthodontic service, while also making treatment convenient for your busy schedule.
- Late or Missed Appointments: We understand that conflicts can arise and may interfere with your scheduled appointments. In order to keep your treatment on schedule, we will always do our best to make up your appointment as soon as possible; if time permits, we will make exceptions for late or missed appointments, as long as it does not compromise our ability to complete other scheduled procedures. Numerous missed appointments will inevitably result in an extension of your treatment time and may result in additional charges. All missed appointments should be rescheduled as soon as possible.
- Rescheduling Appointments: We ask for at least 48-hours notice to reschedule an appointment, as we have set aside time to accommodate your specific needs. Numerous appointment changes will inevitably result in an extension of your treatment time and may result in additional charges. Our goal in rescheduling appointments is to maintain both effective and on-time treatment. Waiting for a convenient after school or work appointment can delay treatment.
