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Graduate Orthodontic Clinic
New Patient Information
Calling for a Screening Appointment
- All patients must first obtain a screening appointment by calling (919) 966-4428.
- We begin accepting calls to schedule screening appointments on the first business days of each month.
- Appointments are scheduled for the following month until all the appointments are filled.
- We repeat the process each month, so call back if you were unable to obtain an appointment at that time.
Fee for a Screening Appointment
- The fee for screening is $ 30.00 which is due on the day of the appointment. ($15 additional if an x-ray is needed.)
At the Screening Appointment
- Patients are selected on the basis of the educational need of our residents.
- At your screening appointment, the doctor will decide if you are a good teaching case and are eligible for treatment in the Graduate Orthodontic Clinic. If you are not eligible for treatment in the Graduate clinic, the staff can transfer your screening records to the Faculty Practice and make a consultation appointment for you.
Fees for Orthodontic Treatment
- At present, the cost of full orthodontic treatment in this clinic is $3800.
- Upon written acceptance into the program, an initial payment of $700 will be due before treatment begins. The $700 is payable in two installments:
- $250 records fee payable within 14 days of acceptance into the program in order to be appointed with a resident who will schedule an appointment to obtain the necessary x-rays, dental casts, and photographs (“Initial Records” appointment) required to diagnose and develop a customized treatment plan.
- $450 due at the second appointment, when the treatment plan is presented to the patient (“Case Presentation” appointment) and the contract is signed.
- The entire initial payment ($700 total) must be received prior to starting treatment.
- In an effort to accommodate individual financial circumstances, we have enclosed a description of several payment options to facilitate your ability to meet the financial obligations for this treatment.
- 12 to 24 months same-as-cash financing for the remaining $3,550 is available through Chase Bank. Patients must fill out the Chase Bank application in order to qualify. If credit is not extended through Chase Bank, the clinic will discuss other payment options on case by case basis. Options for financing will be presented and agreed upon at the patient's case presentation appointment (usually the patient's third appointment, including the screening). Patients who forego financing and choose to pay in full at the time of their case presentation are eligible for a 5% discount off the total fee.
- If interested in Invisalign the fee is $3,800; the deposit is $700.00. The deposit can be paid in installments as outlined above. You will need to discuss with the doctor if Invisalign is possible treatment for you at your screening appointment.
- The fee covers the orthodontic treatment plan agreed to by the patient as well as a set of retainers given upon completion of treatment. The fee does not include the cost of any additional treatment such as extractions, restorations or periodontal treatments that may be required to fulfill the orthodontic treatment plan. Additional charges are incurred for replacement of lost or damaged retainers.
Before agreeing to take part in the program, we would like you to be aware of the following:
- Complete patient cooperation is absolutely essential to treatment success. Poor patient cooperation and/or failure to keep appointments can produce undesirable treatment results and is grounds for dismissal from the clinic.
- Once in treatment, patients must be seen at 4-6 week intervals. Because this is a teaching clinic, very little flexibility is possible in arranging appointments. Appointments are only scheduled during the resident’s clinic hours. Clinic hours change based on the resident’s time in the program. Clinic hours will be in the morning some semesters. Thus, appointments will infringe on work/school time. Because Orthodontic treatment usually takes 2-3 years to complete, you should plan to be in the Chapel Hill area for at least that length of time.
- The orthodontist is not a substitute for your regular dentist. You must continue to see your own dentist for regular check-ups before, during and after orthodontic treatment. Scheduling these appointments will be your responsibility.