The Dangers of DIY
Put Your Health First: Choose Orthodontics Over DIY
If we’ve learned one thing during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the importance of putting health and safety first. That makes this a good time to remind new and prospective patients why it’s far better to straighten your smile with the help of a skilled and trained orthodontist rather than using a do-it-yourself option.
The Dangers of DIY Aligner Methods
DIY braces may seem like a fast and easy solution, but at-home methods can lead to long-term oral health problems that will ultimately require the expertise of an orthodontist to correct. Attempting to save money in the short term can have long-term consequences, both on your wallet and your health.
Why is that? The DIY approach is typically a one-size-fits-all solution. It doesn’t take X-rays or conduct exams – in other words, it doesn’t take your personal situation into account. In addition, there is no orthodontist to monitor the process, evaluate your progress, assess whether treatment is proceeding as it should, and adjust your treatment plan if needed. The resulting health issues can be significant: long-term bite problems, tooth misalignment, and infections are just some of the problems that can crop up after trying DIY orthodontia.
The Advantages of a Board-Certified Orthodontist
Rather than risking your smile and health with a dangerous DIY “solution,” turn to a proven expert who lives and works in your hometown. A board-certified orthodontist is uniquely educated and trained to provide the expert services needed to help you gain a healthy, beautiful smile. These are just some of the benefits of working with a licensed professional orthodontist:
Personalized Treatment Plans
At Adirondack Orthodontics, an on-site, board-certified orthodontist will complete X-rays and a visual exam, explore your medical history and tailor a customized treatment plan that meets your specific needs. We can even utilize technology to show you what your new smile will look like before we begin treatment!
Customized Payment Plans
When it comes to your budget, Adirondack Orthodontics has you covered. We can tailor a plan that will work within your budget, and we are a participating provider with nearly all insurance plans. We’ll also work with your insurance company to make sure you get the most out of your benefits and handle all the administrative details so you don’t have to.
Long-Term Retention
One of the most important factors that make choosing an orthodontist superior to a DIY method is retention, or the ability to keep your smile after the treatment. At Adirondack Orthodontics, lifetime smile maintenance is guaranteed.
Convenient, Friendly Service
Flexible scheduling, caring and compassionate staff members, and affordable service are just some of the qualities that set us apart. At Adirondack Orthodontics, our patients are our most important priority!
Invest in Your Smile Today
Your health is too important to risk with a do-it-yourself treatment. Turn to the team that provides a personalized solution under the supervision of a licensed, board-certified orthodontist.
Get started at Adirondack Orthodontics today and allow us to create a treatment plan just for you! We are proud to treat all cases, no matter the challenges. Whether Invisalign is the best treatment for you, or you choose another solution such as ceramic or metal braces, we are here to help you gain and retain a beautiful smile.
You deserve the best in oral care, so skip the gimmicks and invest in your smile by calling Adirondack Orthodontics. Schedule an appointment today at one of our convenient locations in Clifton Park, Albany, Latham, or East Greenbush, NY. It would be our pleasure to provide you with incredible orthodontic care that puts your health, safety, and smile first!
Improving the Patient Experience With Our New Website and Online Tools
We’re thrilled that all Adirondack Orthodontics’ offices have reopened, but we’ve also learned that patients and families appreciate the opportunity to connect with us from their homes. So, we’re making it easier than ever to access the tools and information you need to make the right decisions about your oral health.
On June 1, we launched a new website that includes several online tools to assist both current and new patients.
Smile Assessment Tool
Take our quick and easy smile assessment to get a better idea of the orthodontic treatment that may be right for you or your child. Once we understand your concerns, we can begin to put together a treatment plan. All you’ll need to do after that is make an appointment with one of our Smile Ambassadors, which you can do while using our Smile Assessment tool.
Payment Calculator
We believe in being upfront when it comes to the cost of treatment. Use our payment calculator to understand how your payments will be spread out over time. We offer completely customized plans because we believe everyone should be able to afford the perfect smile – and remember, we are a participating provider with nearly every insurance plan.
Our payment calculator can estimate the cost of your treatment based on your initial payment, how much insurance will pay, the length of the treatment, and more.
Online Bill Payment
Paying your bills from the comfort and safety of your home is more essential than ever. Utilize our secure online bill payment option any time you need to make a payment. If you have any questions, our trained and friendly staff is always available to help you.
Explore Our Website
We hope you’ll take a few minutes to look through our new website and check out the many great things happening at Adirondack Orthodontics. Whether you’re a current or new patient, we’re sure you’ll like what you see, and if we can be of service, we’d love to talk to you. Don’t hesitate to contact your nearest office in Albany, Clifton Park, Latham, or East Greenbush. We look forward to seeing you soon!
This is a Great Time to Get Braces – Here Are 5 Reasons Why
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many people to pursue longstanding desires, from home improvement and landscaping projects to health and fitness goals. We are seeing that firsthand at Adirondack Orthodontics, with an increasing number of people contacting us to inquire about straightening their teeth with Invisalign or traditional braces. Now is a great time to get started – here are five reasons why.
Health and Safety is Our Top Priority. We have established extensive protocols to ensure the well-being of our patients and staff. Once our doors fully reopen, we are spacing out appointments to minimize contact with others; checking the temperatures of staff and patients daily prior to treatments; installing partitions to enable social distancing during treatments; and enhancing deep cleaning and thorough disinfection so each patient has a safe and enjoyable experience.
Virtual Screenings Get Treatment Started Safely and Comfortably. Our complimentary virtual consultation program has been a huge hit! It gives patients access to our orthodontic services from the comfort and safety of their homes. See our Virtual Consultation page to find out more; you can call us, email us, or fill out the form on that page, and we will get started on putting together the information needed to schedule your virtual appointment.
Patients Starting Now Move to the Front of the Line. As we start to ramp back up, your path to achieving a beautiful and healthy smile is wide open. With your virtual screening completed, you’ll be ready to have your braces put on immediately. That means your treatment will be completed faster and it won’t be long before you’re showing off your gorgeous new smile!
The Cost Savings Have Never Been Better. No matter your financial situation, Adirondack Orthodontics wants to ensure you have access to all the best orthodontic care. In addition to our customized payment plans, low down payment options, and discounts for teachers and first responders, we’ve put together a special offer: start your treatment by June 30 and we’ll match your down payment up to $650. (This applies to comprehensive treatment only)
We Offer the Flexibility You Need and Convenience You Want. With four offices conveniently located in Albany, Latham, Clifton Park, and East Greenbush, we’re right in your neighborhood. And, with evening and weekend hours, we can work around your busy work schedule, school and sports activities, and other commitments to make treatment a seamless process.
Now is the perfect time to start planning for the future. We invite you to visit our webpage to see the latest updates on our practice and policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. And, if you would like to schedule a complimentary virtual consultation, visit our Virtual Consultation page to make an appointment at your convenience. We look forward to helping you achieve the perfect, healthy smile of your dreams!
Orthodontics: Don’t Try This at Home!
Forced to stay at home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many people are turning to do-it-yourself solutions for everything from haircuts to home improvement projects. But while styling your own hair might not yield the ideal results, and trying to sponge-paint your own living room might lead to some regret, hair can grow back, and you can always repaint later. Orthodontics, on the other hand, is definitely not a DIY activity.
The Dangers of DIY
Online companies might boast of at-home teeth straightening solutions, but in truth, the results can be both expensive and painful. The initial price of at-home treatments may be lower, but the long-term costs of fixing your teeth will be far more. Worse, at-home DIY solutions can cause long-term bite problems and dangerous infections, and a trip to the hospital is the last thing anyone needs right now.
With professional orthodontics, patients benefit from the presence of a trained expert who can provide a personalized solution and monitor ongoing treatment. A licensed orthodontist will conduct a comprehensive exam and take X-rays to develop a treatment plan, and he or she will be there to identify and address any issues along the way.
Further, keeping your teeth in place once treatment is over – what is called retention – is just as important as the actual treatment. An experienced orthodontist will help you come up with a plan for keeping your beautiful smile once you achieve it. DIY kits might skip this vital step, and your teeth are likely to revert to their former positions, leaving you right where you started.
Clearly, DIY braces come with a price tag and risk that are significant. Instead, turn to the caring and committed professionals at Adirondack Orthodontics to work one-on-one with you to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted in a safe, effective manner. Dr. Sergey Berenshteyn and his experienced team are standing by to help provide the services you need in Albany, Clifton Park, Latham, East Greenbush, and across the Capital Region.
Don’t Want to Wait? Try a Virtual Screening!
At Adirondack Orthodontics, the health and safety of our patients is always our number one concern. While we are scheduling appointments to address urgent cases and following CDC guidelines, we encourage new patients to schedule a complimentary virtual appointment. This can be done in the comfort of your own home, at no cost to you.
We invite you to visit our Virtual Consultation page to find out more. You can call us, email us or fill out the form, and we will begin putting together the information needed to schedule your appointment. The initial consultation is an essential first step toward developing a treatment plan to meet your oral health care needs. We look forward to seeing you!
Help Us Win Best of 2020!
Help Us Win Best of 2020!
Each year, people throughout the Capital Region nominate businesses to participate in the Times Union’s Best of the Capital Region contest, and readers vote for their favorites in each category. Adirondack Orthodontics is proud to have been nominated for the Best of 2020 in the “best dentist/orthodontist” category!
Please help us win by casting your vote and showing your support for our team. Voting begins on February 24th at 6:00 am Eastern and ends on Thursday, March 5th. Every person can vote once per day throughout the voting period, and even better, each voter is automatically entered to win $500!
Don’t forget to click “share” on the voting page to encourage others to vote. Thank you for all of your support, which has allowed us to stand out in the Capital Region.
How to Vote
- Visit the voting page: https://www.timesunion.com/bestof2020
- Click the Goods and Services category
- Find the section for Best Dentist/Orthodontist
- Choose Adirondack Orthodontics
How to Make Orthodontics More Affordable
How to Make Orthodontics More Affordable
A healthy, beautiful smile is a long-term investment, yet many people assume they can’t afford it. Fortunately, Adirondack Orthodontics makes it as easy as possible for patients to pay for the treatments they need. From guiding you through the process of insurance and medical spending accounts to offering discounts and various payment methods, the team at Adirondack Orthodontics is here to help you save on your most important investment: your health.
FSAs & HSAs: What You Need to Know
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are related, but each offers distinct ways to save money on health care. While both allow patients to use pre-tax dollars for certain health expenses, there are some important differences between the two.
FSAs enable you to set aside pre-tax dollars to use towards specific health care, including orthodontic treatment. Not only can FSAs be used for your own deductibles and office visits, but they can also be used for your dependents as well. Employers set up the FSA and have control over them; they get to decide the rollover rules, and contributions can only be changed during open enrollment.
An HSA is a bit more restrictive in some ways and less restrictive in others. While an HSA enables you to use pre-tax income towards medical costs just like an FSA does, an HSA can be utilized only if you have a high-deductible health plan. As the owner of an HSA, you have control over changing contributions and can bring your account with you if your employment changes. You also have the ability to contribute more to your account, meaning you will have a greater amount set aside to help with orthodontia and other medical bills.
By using an FSA or HSA for necessary medical expenses, you can save money in the long run. Generally, using one of these accounts won’t give you a straightforward discount on the treatment you need. What it does is help you to save money on your taxes. At a minimum, you’ll save the money that would have been taxed on the income you set aside; at maximum, you might be able to put yourself in a lower tax bracket altogether.
Keep in mind that the next deadline for making your FSA contribution is December 31, 2019, while the deadline for HSA contributions is April 15, 2020. If you have any questions about how to utilize your plan, call the knowledgeable staff members at Adirondack Orthodontics.
Choosing a Participating Provider
If you have insurance, selecting an in-network (participating) provider will allow you to make the most of it. When you choose a participating provider, you ensure that your provider will accept the fees set by the insurance company. Plus, many participating providers can offer extra assistance, maximizing your benefits. They understand the insurance company’s rules and procedures – they’re in the network – and will often handle paperwork and claims for you.
At Adirondack Orthodontics, we participate with almost every insurer in the area, but we recommend you check with yours to be sure. That way, you won’t be blindsided by a bill that you thought would be covered by your insurance.
Other Ways to Save
Adirondack Orthodontics is always searching for ways to help our patients save on their orthodontic treatments, both immediately and over long periods of time. Some of the ways we help you save include:
- Spread Out Payments: Extended payment plans and low down-payment options allow you to pay a little upfront and spread payments out over time.
- Pay Now or Later: Whether you want to take advantage of our paid in full discount by paying upfront or paying over time with an interest-free payment plan, we are here to help.
- Sibling Discount: If you have more than one child who needs treatment, we offer a multiple sibling discount.
- Other Discounts: We offer discounts for military personnel, teachers, and first responders.
- Referral Program: Pass on your love of Adirondack Orthodontics and enjoy a referral discount.
Schedule an Appointment
Adirondack Orthodontics can inform you about all the different options available to you. No matter your budget or how you want to structure your payments, we can guide you through the decision-making process and make sure you’re fully informed before you get started. Call us today to schedule an appointment and let us help you start your journey or your child’s journey to a strong, stunning smile.
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