Orthodontics question.. when first payment is made

[disneysnowflake]

We made our first appointment with the orthodontist in June. It's almost January and nothing has happened.

I posted before about the ortho giving a referral for very expensive oral surgery. The oral surgeon is the ortho's spouse.

Anyway, we have no appointment to go back to the ortho. I was told until we meet with the oral surgeon (who hasn't contacted us) they won't make another orthodontist appointment. I called the oral surgeon, but they were out of the office for the holidays.

Today I got a letter in the mail from the orthodontist.

The orthodontist wants me to sign a paper agreeing to pay them $4500, plus any additional fees for unexpected expenses.

I was told on this paper that I needed to make my down payment and monthly payments would begin on January 27, 2007. The down payment is to be received by December 31, 2006.

Is this right??

Why would I agree to start making payments on orthodontics when my son has had absolutely nothing done besides a set of initial xrays I paid out of pocket for and a consultation I paid out of pocket for, too?

I called the ortho, but they are out of the office.

When my son finally gets an appointment to get the expander or braces, then I'll make the down payment (on the day of the appointment) and then begin monthly payments.

Am I wrong to believe that the down payment and monthly payments shouldn't happen until the orthodontic treatment actually begins?

DS was taken in once in October for xrays I paid for.
I went in right before Christmas for the consulatation I paid cash for.
Nothing else has been done. DS only saw the orthodontist once for the xrays.

Would you pay the down payment, sign a contract and agree to start monthly payments to an orthodontist in this situation?

This just doesn't set right with me.

 

[ceecee]

I think you were advised in a previous post to seek a second opinion? I would definately do that. I paid our down payment on the day DD had her brackets put on, why would you pay in advance? Unless they give some kind of a discount. I am in the dental field and we refer to specialists all the time and this just sounds fishy to me. If I were you, I would call them and tell them you are getting a second opinion (or just ignore the letter) and go somewhere else. Sounds to me as if 2006 wasn't profitable enough and they're trying to get more receivables in.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I paid for my braces the day I had them put on, not before. (A year ago next month). I got a 5% discount for paying in full by cash, but didn't have to do it before the brackets were put on.

Based on what the oral surgeon does/says, the treatment may differ following surgery. Don't do anything until you talk to the oral surgeon.

We did get a second opinion by phone -- we thought it was too high, but he was pretty close to the others in our area in price.

 

[Kimmumum]

I took both of my DS's for FREE ortho consultations at the end of November. They told me that my oldest would need to come back in 6 months when more teeth fell out. No fee. No charge. Nothing except they would call to see how he was doing in 6 months.

With my youngest, they said he was going to need work starting in January (after the holidays). They told me the price. They said that they would check with our insurance, see how much they were going to cover and tell us our portion when we came back in. We didn't need a down payment and we can make payments every month. They were not pushy, we didn't receive anything threatening in the mail and were nice as pie.

Your ortho sounds fishy. I'd check around.

 

[Darcy03231]

We didn't pay anything until the brackets went on. We paid the entire bill up front as they offered an 8% discount.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Thanks.

We are getting a second opinion. The appointment isn't until the end of February.

I just thought it was odd that the orthodontist would send a paper wanting me to sign, send back with the down payment and begin making payments when there is no appointment to get the braces on.

I wasn't sure if this was the way orthodontics works or not. I've never seen someone ask for a downpayment and payments to begin before they've done anything.

This wasn't for a paid in full bill. There is only a 2% discount if you pay in full. This was for just a downpayment of $600 with $150 per month payments. Payment due by 12/31 with monthly payments beginning at the end of January.

 

[bettyann29]

wow.. I have one who is just out of braces and another still in.. I didnt pay a penny until the braces were on their teeth and I wouldnt pay anything if they didnt have them.. I dont think I even paid until they were in them for 1 month before a payment was due..

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Payment made the day the braces went on. I paid for xrays and impressions before hand and that's all. I wouldn't go with that Ortho if I were you.

 

[goofyforlife]

My dd has had two different ortho docs.....

THe first was watching her teeth (the had a space in them) She had three consults done over a year but was too young for braces at that time.

No charge for those consults either....

The second doc was here in MD for consult....Again no charge... They said her bite was near perfect and that there were very minor things we could if we were that anal but he said it basically wasn't worth it.

I would

1) get another ortho consult and take your xrays with you. (You paid for them.)

and

2) not go to his wife as the oral surgeon (boy is that a conflict of interest)

 

[dis-happy]

This doesn't sound right to me either. Our orthodontist never charges for a consulation and includes free x-rays. We met with the office manager to find out all the costs, time frame for treatment, payment plan options. OUr treatment also includes the retainers and wire to hold the bottom teeth in place afterwards---no extra charges to be expected (unless child loses something). Not sure what the problem is here, but both offices sound dis-organized. In your shoes, without fail, I would go see another ortho in your area. Ask around and see who the other kids use---talk to other moms. Find out who LOVES their orthodontist. We adore ours---really friendly office, everyone on top of things, special events for the kids a couple time of year, monthly newsletter, very professional and very good and always on time. My dd has gone to him, my ds is wearing braces and I started with Invisaline a few months ago.

Hope you get things figured out.

 

[my3kids]

Take your x rays and run to a different orthodontist. Don't go for the oral surgeon's expensive consultation. Wait for an opinion from another orthodontist. We paid for the molds and panorama xrays then paid the down payment the day the first appliances were put on the teeth. Then paid monthly after that.

 

[buzzlady]

I have to agree run, don't walk away from this orthodontist! DS14 has had an expander and now braces. We never paid a fee for x-rays or consultation.

I took DS10 in to be checked to see if he was ready for braces. Ortho said not yet but bring him back in 6 months. No charge. I'm bringing him back in Jan. again there will be no charge.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I paid $350 out first visit for the consult and impressions... That came off the total of the braces. If we decided to elsewhere we were Sol. ...than I had to pay more for a total of approx $900 at the next visit before they started. Than the monthly plan kicked out one month after that date,

 

[disneysnowflake]

I guess I'm stupid.

When I went in to get the xrays done I signed a paper stating the xrays were property of the orthodontist.

This is my first time dealing with an orthodontist. The boys have had dental xrays from their regular dentist, but we've never needed to use the xrays for anything. When I signed that paper with the ortho I didn't think it was a big deal.

I guess I'm a sucker.

I'll most likey have to pay for repeat xrays at the other orthos. Of all the ones I've called in my area they all charge for initial xrays and consult.

 

[zumbergc]

Call your orthodontist office and find out if they can make copies of the xrays. In the same thought find out if other offices will take current copies of xrays or if they insist on re-taking the x-rays.

I know some doctors like different views and such, and like things done their way. But, it can't hurt to ask. I saw in your post that they all want x-rays, but if you have current ones from somewhere else I don't get why they wouldn't take them.

Its not teeth, but when I've seen different orthopedic sergeons, they don't require more x-rays and mri's of my knee, when I have current ones already done, and in hand.

Good luck,

 

[tinan]

I'm just a state over in Ohio and my dds Ortho is very lax. She had initial consult, xrays, and impressions all done before he had a dime. He came very highly rec. from dds dentist and the ortho has been in business some 26+ years. He had several different payment plans to choose from. We could have paid up front with a cash discount of 10%, we could have chosen to go with basically like a credit card for health ins. which was very low interest rate but no money down, or to put $500 down and then monthly payments through his office with no interest. The initial deposit was not required until after dds expander was put on, but before the braces went on. I too would RUN away from that Ortho. Ask around to see what ortho other children in your area go to. In dds school, the majority of the kids go to the same ortho as her.

 

[my3kids]

Xrays are generally traded among offices or copies are made with the origional belonging to the initial physician or lab. Go ahead and ask for copies to be made or the x rays sent on loan to X orthodontist.

 

[dianemb]

I'm an xray tech and have been for 27 years. Yes the xrays are property of the facilty they are done at but you have a right to borrow them or have copies made for your use at other doctors. There is no way a child/person should get re xrayed unless there is a medical reason they can't be used (too old or not the right view). I have had this argument with patients many times in the past.

 

[TN Dreamer]

I guess I'm stupid.

When I went in to get the xrays done I signed a paper stating the xrays were property of the orthodontist.

This is my first time dealing with an orthodontist. The boys have had dental xrays from their regular dentist, but we've never needed to use the xrays for anything. When I signed that paper with the ortho I didn't think it was a big deal.

I guess I'm a sucker.

I'll most likey have to pay for repeat xrays at the other orthos. Of all the ones I've called in my area they all charge for initial xrays and consult.

The originals are the property of the orthodontist, just sign a release and request copies. If you have paid for them, he should release copies to you.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Thanks.
I didn't know you could do that.