Doctor Login
Office Policies
Hours
Our office is open to serve you, answer questions, or schedule an appointment during the following hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. We close for lunch from 1 - 2 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. – Noon for scheduling and financial purposes only.
Appointments
We will always do our best to accommodate your scheduling needs. We understand that you have obligations during the day, usually involving work, school or family. After orthodontic treatment begins, you will see us every 8-10 weeks, and some of these appointments will inevitably conflict with work or school schedules. In order to minimize these inconveniences, we request that you alternate between morning and afternoon appointments.
We have designed our daily schedule to accommodate all of our patients’ needs. Your scheduled appointment time has been reserved specifically for you and your orthodontic requirements. When you are late or arrive without an appointment, we might not be able to accomplish all of our scheduled changes. Out of respect for our other patients, we will ask you to reschedule your appointment if you are more than 15 minutes late.
We are aware that unforeseen events sometimes require missing an appointment. We request 24 hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment. Please call to reschedule as soon as possible. After missing your second appointment without notifying us 24 hours in advance, you may be charged an additional fee.
Your appointment is scheduled for a specific time period based on the procedure that we will complete that day. If you have a loose or broken appliance, it will take longer for us to replace or repair it. We must be aware of any problems in advance so that we can adjust our schedule accordingly. If you don’t notify us of any problems, we may only be able to complete some of the work scheduled for that day, and you may have to return at a later time.
Emergencies
Please refer to the Ortho 101 page on our Web site for information about fixing small orthodontic problems at home. If you believe you have an emergency that can’t wait, please call our office. Our answering service will page a member of the CCO team.
Insurance
Our office is committed to helping you maximize your insurance benefits, but because insurance policies vary, we cannot guarantee coverage. Your estimated patient portion must be paid at the time of service. We will bill insurance companies for services and allow them 45 days to render payment. After 60 days, you are responsible for the entire balance, paid in full. Our courteous team is available to assist you with any questions about insurance.
Patient Compliance
Dr. Harter and his team expect you to fully participate in your orthodontic treatment by maintaining proper oral hygiene and complying with our instructions. Here is a list of guidelines to follow:
• Keep every appointment and arrive on time. If you miss appointments, you are extending your treatment time and delaying the day that we can remove your braces.
• Schedule regular appointments with your family dentist for cavity inspection and cleaning.
• Brush your teeth after you eat. This includes meals and snacks. Food that remains trapped can leave permanent marks or scars on your teeth.
• Floss after every meal. Flossing is crucial to maintaining your oral health and orthodontic treatment. Use floss to remove what your toothbrush misses. Ask us to show you how to floss properly.
• Always wear your elastics, headgear or retainers as instructed by Dr. Harter. Remember to bring your retainers, headgear and any other appliance to every appointment.
• Make sure that your teeth are clean when you arrive for your appointment. If you haven’t had time to brush, please visit the toothbrushing station and brush before you are seated.
