Why do so many people seem to be charged for a consult?

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#16 Post by **Lynette** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:12 am

At my first appointment I got digital photos taken and moulds - no charge.

Ortho sent me to the x ray place to get x rays done - no charge.

Second meeting with ortho to discuss treatment plan. $5000 for ceramic braces including any emergency appointments, broken brackets, broken wires & retainers. He told me if I wanted to start treatment to give them a call - no charge for this appointment too.

#17 Post by **BraceFace2o1o** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:30 am

venom wrote:i was charged £190 , was only there for 15-20minutes.

I thought my £130 was high!

VA5 wrote:
NervousNewbie wrote:My consult was free. My total was $5500 and everything including office visits and adjustments are included. The only thing which is not included is if I do something which requires an additional, out of the ordinary visit - like, break a bracket, have a wire come loose, etc. Something unscheduled, basically.
This is different than me too. I don't have to pay for any of these kinds of visits, they are all just part of the entire ortho treatment. I'll be interested to hear if others have to pay for a broken bracket, loose wires, etc.

I received my letter this morning and it states:

The visits and replacing brackets are included in the price and supervision of retention for up to 1 year.
A fee will be charged for lost appliances, those broken beyond repair or requiring replacement.

So I am taking it as brackets that come off are replaced with no charge, but if I break something myself (like brackets, retainers, etc etc) then I will be charged for it. Obviously there is also a charge for missed appointments and not giving enough notice prior to cancelling.

#18 Post by **KatieGee** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 6:13 pm

I have broken 3 brackets now, all caused by an upper molar knocking the lower bracket off because I have a crossbite. I was not charged for any of the replacement brackets but my ortho did say when he fixed the brackets on my lower molars that he wasn't sure if they would stay on so I guess he knows that they did not come of because I was chomping on ice or nuts! I have a molar band now to keep the bracket from breaking again.

#19 Post by **Loztredders** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:07 pm

My consult is £110, this includes two appointments though.
At my first appointment I will have moulds, x-rays etc and whatever else they need to do, then I go back in a week or two after she looks at xrays and things, for a comprehensive discussion with my ortho about what treatment I need and the costs of the different type of braces I can have, and an estimate of the time it will take. I think two appointments for £110 where I can get one on one discussion about any questions I may have is pretty reasonable, so I don't mind paying, even though I don't think it gets taken off the treatment cost if I proceed.

#20 Post by **Jewles** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:26 am

I think I paid $80 AUD for my consult and about $200 AUD for my records appt. In Australia it is common practice to be charged for a consult with a specialist, it is generally the less respectable practices that offer a free consult to get you in the door.

#21 Post by **llehsal** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:15 pm

I paid for all three consults...It's not free here at all. lol