Welcome to Lake Jackson Orthodontics! Taking the first step towards a straighter smile is a big decision, and we appreciate your trust in our expert team. Every orthodontic journey begins with a consultation, something we provide free of charge for potential patients.
We do more than simply examine your mouth during this evaluation! It’s actually one of the most important visits you’ll have with us, giving you the chance to meet our team and learn more about the services we offer.
You may be feeling a little nervous about this appointment, especially if you’re not familiar with the orthodontic process. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what you can expect from your free consultation with us!
Completing new patient paperwork
If you’re new to our practice, we’ll need you to complete intake paperwork on or before your first visit. For your convenience, we have the Health History form available on our website. If you prefer, you can also complete this form in the office once you arrive for your appointment.
Meeting your treatment coordinator
Once you’ve checked in with the front desk and completed your paperwork, Renee, our treatment coordinator, will introduce herself and then take you back for photos and x-rays. These images are used to identify any orthodontic problems that are present. Once photos and x-rays have been completed, Renee will escort you to the exam room. You’ll learn more about what you can expect from our practice and go over the concerns you have about your smile.
Meeting Dr. McGrory
You’ll be introduced to Dr. McGrory, who will then perform a careful examination of your teeth and jaws. He may ask some follow-up questions about your specific concerns as he looks at your mouth. The findings from this exam will form part of your diagnostic records, which also include the digital photographs and any X-rays we take.
Dr. McGrory will use the data from your records to create a “problem” list for you. This is a customized catalog of everything that needs to be corrected during treatment, and it leads to a skeletal and dental diagnosis for you. Receiving an accurate diagnosis at this point will help ensure the most appropriate treatment plan for your unique smile!
Dr. McGrory will then create a personalized treatment plan for you, outlining each step of the process, from start to finish. This plan will also include information on which appliances would be best for you and an estimate of how long treatment will take. If he feels you’re ready to get started, we can often expedite treatment by scanning for Invisalign® or an appliance the day of your exam. In some cases, Dr. McGrory can even place braces on the same day!
Exploring the financial side of treatment
Once you’ve decided on a treatment plan, we’ll go over the total investment needed for your new smile. Because every case is different and each patient responds to treatment in their own way, the total costs will always vary from person to person. You’ll never have to worry about hidden fees here, though. Ashley is our financial coordinator and will make sure you understand everything that’s included in your treatment plan before moving on to the next step.
We understand that each family has its own financial needs and will always work with you to make sure your treatment is affordable. If you choose to pay your treatment in full at the time of services, you’ll receive a courtesy discount credited to your account. We also offer an in-office payment plan with 0% financing if you prefer to pay over time instead. We work with most orthodontic insurance companies in Texas, and our Lake Jackson team will be happy to file your insurance for you!
Making everything official
The final step in your consultation will be completing a financial contract and treatment consent form. This makes your orthodontic journey official! Our financial contract outlines the total fees for your treatment, any upgrades included, and the expected insurance benefit amount. As the responsible party, you are liable for the contract. In the unfortunate event that insurance stops payments, the remaining unpaid balance will need to be paid by you to settle the account. Take time to carefully review the contracts and clarify any final questions you have before signing.
Your consent form permits us to treat you (or your minor child.) Legally, nothing can move forward without this form so be sure to read and initial each statement on the form. This helps us verify that every point has been read and understood prior to beginning treatment. There will also be some office policies to review at this point. These will generally include our policies on emergency visits, payments, and broken brackets or appliances. There will be some additional information on transferring or discontinuing your treatment.
Your free consultation with Lake Jackson Orthodontics
And there you have it! Now you know exactly what to expect from your free consultation with Dr. McGrory and our expert team. We proudly serve the Lake Jackson, Angleton, & Clute area. Learn more on our blog.