19 Alpers Avenue
Newmarket
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND 1001

phone [+64] 09 524 5056
fax [+64] 09 524 5057

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more...

- TMJ fees
- prolotherapy

did you know...

General dentists [like us at Alpers Dental] are entitled by law to do orthodontic or other specialist procedures - and we don't usually charge as much!

home : the jaw joint : tmj fees

Treatment of temporomandibular joint [jaw joint] disorders or craniomandibular - cervical [head and neck] pain can take several forms. This Fee Scale covers most of the options we will consider for you, but obviously we cannot be definitive about the costs of your treatment until we have completed a thorough examination [diagnostic workup] and discussed our findings and recommendations with you. The final decision on whether to proceed with this treatment is, of course, over to you. You must understand the programme we undertake for you. Please ask questions whenever you are unsure about our procedures or recommendations. All fees detailed in this Scale include GST.

FIRST APPOINTMENT: 30 minutes: an evaluation examination where we assess your problem and consider whether we can help you. Cost $200

SECOND APPOINTMENT: 1 hour: the Diagnostic Workup. At this appointment, the Diagnostic Technician will carry out a thorough examination of your mouth, head, and neck. She will also make study models of your teeth and will take several different types of xrays of your TMJ, head, and neck. Finally, I will discuss our findings with you, suggest a treatment plan, and detail the costs involved. We will explain our fee policies to you and you will complete and receive a TMJ Treatment Financial Agreement so that you understand payment requirements. Please inform the Office Manager if you have a dental insurance policy. Cost $450

For many patients, we recommend a computer based functional analysis at this time. There is an additional time and cost involvement in this procedure, and, if we suggest this method for you, we shall detail it to you at your first appointment.

THIRD APPOINTMENT: 15 minutes: Phase One [pain relief] treatment commences with the insertion of the selected orthotic [splint] or orthodontic appliance or the commencement of muscle exercises or other treatment types. At this stage we may refer you to other health professionals such as medical practitioners, chiropractors, physiotherapists, or dental colleagues, for associated treatment for your condition. If you enter our 6 month orthotic programme, the fee covers the splint cost, plus regular appointments to monitor progress and modify the orthotic as necessary through the treatment period. This fee does not cover any additional xrays required, some specialised treatments such as a computerised iontophoresis therapy, or consultation and treatment by associated professionals. Cost $700

SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS: costs depend on the treatment agreed to at the Diagnostic Workup and on your state of health at the completion of Phase One of treatment [the 6 month orthotic programme] but would normally be $900 for the 6 months. We would discuss the various Phase Two options at this time. Here we are aiming for the permanent maintenance of a balanced, pain free, relationship of your head, jaws, teeth, and muscles.

If continuing splint treatment is required after the 6 month Phase One period is completed, then there will be a fee of $80 per visit to the office.

This phase of treatment may include partial dentures, crowns and bridges, or orthodontic treatment. Some of these costs may be covered by dental insurance policies or by ACC if an accident was involved in your illness. Please inform us if this is the case.

This information is presented merely as a guide for you. There are obviously variations for individual requirements and differing treatment plans. We are happy to discuss this aspect of treatment with you at any time. Your treatment plan and the associated fee are determined with your consent. You will receive a written copy of this agreement.

You may be interested to know that the recommended fee in the United States for a diagnostic workup, for which we charge $200, is NZ$800, and the U.S. fee for the Phase One treatment is from NZ$1800 to $3000, compared to $1650 at this office.

There is no recognised dental specialty for the treatment of TMJ disorders. As you can see from this article, several fields of dentistry [as well as non-dental therapy] may be involved in your treatment. We have had a particular interest in this field of dentistry since 1986. But we are not specialists.

It is your right as a patient to discontinue treatment at any time if you so wish. However, it is our expectation that we can help you with your problem, and with your FULL COMPLIANCE with the determined treatment plan, restore you to full and long lasting health.