Appointments

Because we realize that your time is valuable, we make every effort to see patients at appointed times. However, if an emergency situation arises that causes a delay or necessitates rescheduling your appointment, we will keep you well informed. If you find it necessary to change your appointments, we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible. In general, most of our patients, even if referred to our office for a specific surgical service, will be seen for a consultation visit before the date of surgery. The purpose of this visit is to allow you to meet your doctor and discuss your diagnosis and treatment in a pleasant, stress-free environment. It is our experience that trying to have both the exchange of information that is the essence of the consultation visit as well as the surgery on the same day may make it difficult for some to make careful and considered decisions about their care. There are, of course, exceptions to this and some patients who are hurting or require urgent care will naturally be seen and treated on the same day. This is a decision best left up to the patient and doctor. If you have concerns or comments about this feel free to discuss this at the time your appointment is made, or you may email us. We welcome your feedback.

It would greatly assist us if, at the time of your initial consultation, you might provide us with any or all of the following:

• Your referral slip and any x-rays from your doctor
• A list of your current medications, including dosages
• Insurance information to assist us in filing your claim
• Medical records if you have a complex history

If your referring doctor has taken x-rays, you might request that these films be forwarded to our office in order to expedite your care. Additional films, if needed, may be taken at our office.

Surgical Fees and Payment

Our goal is to provide our patients with the highest quality of oral and maxillofacial surgical care. We endeavor to do this in a professional and businesslike environment, at a cost that is both fair and reasonable. Sending frequent statements and following up on delinquent accounts are costly. Therefore, to avoid rising costs, we ask that all fees be paid at the time of service. If special arrangements are necessary, please contact our office as soon as possible. For your convenience, we also accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit cards. Additionally we may be able to offer a third party financing option for major elective surgeries that can ease the financial burden for these procedures.

We realize that medical and dental care is expensive. Our fees, by design, are within the usual and customary range for our specialty in this geographical area. We also understand that sometimes it can be a sobering experience to discuss the costs of surgical care. Please try to understand that we strive to deliver care in the safest, most comfortable fashion. For many patients this includes general anesthesia or IV sedation techniques to further enhance their comfort during the procedure. The care is delivered in a manner that is analogous to, and as safe as, that delivered in a hospital operating suite, but at a fraction of the cost. The costs of your care underwrite this provision of comfort, safety, and expertise.