Consultations and Costs

So I went to the orthodontist for a second consultation with him (three years after my initial consultation with him). The consultation for me is what sold me on this particular orthodontist to begin with. So here's a rundown on how the process went.

First I called to make an appointment at which time the clinic manager asked if I had any X-rays recently taken of my teeth. Knowing the kinds of X-rays I would require were different to the recent ones I'd had done at my dentist 2 months prior I said no. Once they took all my details they discovered they still had my old X-rays from 3 years ago still on hand. After making a time and date for the consultation they told me they would send out all the information I would require in the post. This would include a short questionnaire including my personal details and questions about what I disliked about  my teeth and what I would like to receive from my orthodontic treatment. I will add at this point that this orthodontist requests the X-rays be done before at the appointment and brought with you and that they are also bulk billed.

Later that afternoon I was called back and told that she had spoken to the orthodontist who was happy with the X-rays they had previously taken, that I would not need new ones taken and to just come along to the appointment and if he felt like new ones were required then I'd be able to do that after. A nice touch I might say because it meant I didn't need to spend time doing something unnecessary and I wasn't expecting that kind of service at all.

I received the conformation letter, questionnaire, and some brochures about Invisalign to read two days after I made the appointment.

At the consultation appointment the orthodontist looked back over my old X-rays and ushered me into a very lush chaise lounge (not a dental chair) and looked over my teeth. At that time I raised the issue of a small crack in a molar I have and asked if he thought I should have it filled before starting treatment (which would involve my tooth being carved out and filled in). He said not unless it was causing me a lot of pain (which it isn't). Something he told me that I wasn't aware of was that now in Australia if you need to stop treatment for some reason (such as a tooth cracking and falling out of your face, requiring urgent dental intervention to save your poor chompers) that it was not a problem at all. In the past if you needed to stop treatment it would cost a buttload (an official unit of measurement in my books) of money to basically start a whole new course of treatment. Now if that were the case then we could stop treatment, have my tooth fixed, take new moulds, and send away for new aligners at no extra cost. Now I'm not sure if this is the case with just him or Australia wide but it is something I would certainly ask about.
He then asked if I would like him to go back over the way Invisalign works (which I did just so I'd be sure, even though I was fairly confident from my time reading blogs and forums) and then went on to cover what he would plan to do for my case.

After seeing him I went back out to speak to the clinic manager who printed out a full rundown of costs involved. I also discussed if it was possible to work out a payment plan (something they offer anyway) around my insurance so that I would be able to get the most possible back. Not a problem which is great.

So here's what my quote looked like:

$7500 was the total cost ($2000 will be covered by my insurance). This will include all appointments, aligners, refinements, two sets of retainers and a years worth of supervision of these, and fixed braces should Invisalign not work how we planned or should a combination of both be required.

And the breakdown of the overall cost looks a little something like this:
$1600 at the first appointment to take the moulds, plus $250 for records ($144 will be covered by my general dental insurance)

$1650 six weeks later when the first set of aligners are fitted and then 17 monthly payments of $250.

So after confirming all the details with my insurance company I called to set up my first appointment, at which time they actually made the first 3 appointments for moulds, then fitting, then any attachments 6 weeks after the first set.

A week from now is my first appointment so I'm definitely excited. The only downside is that the way the dates work out means that I will end up having them fitted 2 days before an assessment at university and 5 days before a weekend trip away, and the attachments right around exam time. Realistically I could postpone those appointments a little but I would rather just get started ASAP.