Pensacola Orthodontist Partners Greg Woodfin & Sal Cabassa

Appointment Policies General Appointment Thoughts
Most people have important obligations during the day. During active orthodontic treatment, we will need to see you on a regular basis. Some of these appointments might conflict with some of your other commitments; however, we have created a schedule that will work most efficiently for all! We respect that your time is valuable, so we work hard to stay “on time”. Your prompt arrival for your appointments will enable us to utilize all the time reserved for your visit. Please plan to come 5 minutes prior to your appointment to allow sufficient time to brush your teeth and check in on the computer!	Please help us be prepared for your first appointment by completing this patient form. Just download and print the form, fill it in, and return it to our office. New Patient Form If you're unable to read PDF files, you can download Acrobat Reader free from Adobe.
Dr. Woodfin and Dr. Cabassa Once your treatment starts, you will be seeing both Dr. Woodfin and Dr. Cabassa generally on an alternating basis. If you have any special requests, please let us know. Long Appointments We realize that after school appointments are a more convenient time for most patients. Generally, we schedule the longer appointments in the morning between 8-12. This allows us to accommodate more short appointments in the afternoon. Rescheduling Appointments With our carefully crafted schedule, your late arrival or missed visit can pose a problem. In fairness to our other patients, we will probably not be able to “squeeze you in”, but will reschedule your appointment. It is important that you do not delay in rescheduling as this could affect your treatment progress. Emergency Appointments If you experience an orthodontic emergency, you should call our office. Our 24-hour message service will have a phone number where you can reach one of the doctors or an assistant. Someone will return your call as quickly as possible. Confirmation Call We offer HOUSECALLS- a confirmation call the night prior to your appointment. Please keep your phone number current! Braces and Treatment Information Hygiene You will be given instructions on care of your teeth, gums and appliances. Good care is vital for an ideal result. Your care and cooperation will be checked at each appointment. If you are having any difficulty we will help you. We want straight, clean and healthy teeth for that beautiful smile! We will reward your efforts with “prizes”! Broken Appliances It is very important that you notify our office of any broken wires or loose appliances prior to your regular appointment. We can determine if the repairs can be made on your next visit or if we need to reschedule your appointment. If we are not notified in advance we may not be able to do all of the required work and you will need additional appointments. Loose or broken appliances can extend treatment time and financial responsibility. Diet The braces are cemented to the teeth. Eating hard or sticky foods (ice, chewing gum, nuts, taffy, etc.) can bend and break the wires and loosen the braces. Please avoid these if possible. Elastics, Headgear and Growth Appliances Sometimes there are additional appliances needed during treatment. Please follow all instruction carefully. Your estimated treatment time is based on your full cooperation as instructed. Retainers When your braces are removed, your treatment is not over. You are beginning the retention phase of your treatment. In order for your teeth to stabilize, you must wear your retainers as directed. We will continue to monitor you for 12 months after your braces are removed at no additional charge. Family Dentist We strongly recommend that you see your family dentist for a cleaning and check up prior to the placement of any appliances. After braces are placed, it is advised that you see your dentist every 3-6 months during treatment. WE BELIEVE THAT ORTHODONTICS SHOULD BE A “FUN” EXPERIENCE! WATCH FOR OUR CONTESTS FOR OUR PATIENTS WITH EXCITING PRIZES! WE ALSO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR! WELCOME! Your First Visit At the first visit to the orthodontist, diagnostic records can be made to determine the best course of treatment. Complete diagnostic records typically include a medical/dental history, clinical examination; plaster study models of the teeth, photos of the patient's face and teeth, and X-rays. This information is used to develop a custom treatment plan for each patient. These records are also helpful in tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move under orthodontic care. There is a fee for diagnostic records. Consultation After the doctor has evaluated your records, we discuss your treatment with you in detail, including the cost for your particular case. Top