Patient Resources
A calmer first visit starts here.
Everything you need to arrive prepared — what to expect, which forms to bring, how your insurance gets verified overnight — so the only thing you focus on in our office is the conversation with your surgeon.
Average new-patient wait time: 4.2 days — versus a 6-week regional average.
Your First Visit
The 75-minute new-patient consult, walked through minute by minute.
Most new patients tell us the consult felt "more like a planning session than an appointment." Here is exactly how those 75 minutes are spent — no surprises, no rushed hand-offs between providers.
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0–10 min
Welcome and intake review
Our patient coordinator walks you into a private consult room — not a crowded waiting area — and reviews your completed forms. Any imaging you brought (or that we already pulled from your records) is already on the screen.
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10–30 min
Conversation with the surgeon
Dr. Wakefield joins you personally. You talk through symptoms, history, and goals. He listens first, then examines. Patients see him — never a rotating resident or a triage assistant.
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30–50 min
In-house CBCT imaging
If a 3D scan is indicated, we take it on the same visit in our in-house CBCT suite — no third-party imaging referral, no second appointment. The scan is rendered in the room so you can see what your surgeon sees.
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50–70 min
A single written treatment plan
Before you leave, you receive one clear document: diagnosis, recommended procedure, alternatives, recovery timeline, and an itemized estimate with insurance pre-authorization status already attached.
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70–75 min
Scheduling and questions
Our surgical coordinator books any follow-up on the spot. You leave with the surgeon's direct line for any question that comes up overnight.
Patient Forms
Download, fill at home, bring to your consult.
Completing these ahead of visit cuts your chair-side paperwork from twenty minutes to under five. All forms are PDF, fillable on screen, and accepted by every surgeon on the team.
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Request form →
New Patient Medical & Dental History
Comprehensive intake covering medications, prior imaging, TMJ symptoms, and surgical history. Required for every first visit.
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Request form →
Informed Consent for Surgical Consultation
Standard consent acknowledging the scope of the 75-minute consult, imaging authorization, and discussion of treatment options.
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Request form →
Insurance & Benefits Authorization
Authorizes our office to verify benefits and request pre-authorization on your behalf. Submit 48 hours ahead for fastest turnaround.
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Request form →
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Required acknowledgement of how your health information is handled, stored, and shared with referring providers.
Need a form not listed here? Call (415) 555-0182 and our coordinator will email it within the hour.
Insurance & Pre-Authorization
Verified and pre-authorized within 24 hours.
Other offices bill patients weeks after the procedure. We verify your coverage and submit pre-authorization the same day your consult is booked — so the estimate you leave with is the estimate you pay.
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01
You submit your insurance details
Hand the form to our coordinator at booking — by phone, email, or in person. We accept every major commercial carrier and most regional PPO plans.
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02
Our coordinator verifies benefits
A dedicated insurance coordinator (not a third-party billing service) calls your carrier directly to confirm coverage, deductibles, and surgical co-insurance.
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03
Pre-authorization submitted same day
For procedures that require pre-auth — orthognathic surgery, TMJ arthroscopy, implants — the request is on your carrier's desk within 24 hours of your intake form arriving.
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04
You leave the consult with a written estimate
Your surgeon hands you a one-page, line-item estimate showing the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, facility, and your out-of-pocket responsibility. No follow-up phone calls required.
Common Questions
Logistics, answered before you call.
The questions our front desk answers every week. If yours isn't here, the phone is staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Do I need a referral to book a consultation?
No referral is required for TMJ evaluation, dental implants, or facial trauma consultation. Some insurance plans do require a referral for specialist coverage — our coordinator will tell you within the verification call whether yours does.
Can I bring imaging from another office?
Yes. Please request your files in DICOM format from the originating office and email them to [email protected] at least 48 hours before your visit. If the images are more than 12 months old, we may recommend a fresh in-house CBCT — which we can perform the same day.
What financing options are available?
For out-of-pocket portions, we partner with two healthcare financing providers offering 6-, 12-, and 24-month plans. Decisions are made before scheduling. Pricing is never quoted without a clinical evaluation, but our coordinator will walk you through likely ranges based on the verified estimate.
Is anesthesia available in your office?
Yes. Our in-office surgical suite is AAAASF-accredited and equipped for IV sedation and general anesthesia, administered by a board-certified dental anesthesiologist. Hospital-based anesthesia is also available for combined procedures.
Do you offer second opinions?
Yes — it is roughly a third of our new-patient volume. Bring prior imaging, op notes if available, and a list of the recommendations you've received. Dr. Wakefield will review independently and provide a written opinion you can take back to your referring provider.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask for 48 hours' notice on consultation appointments and 5 business days on surgical bookings. Same-week emergency slots reserved for trauma and acute flare-ups are held until 4 p.m. the prior business day — call early if you need one.
Still have a question? Email [email protected] or call (415) 555-0182.
Begin Your First Visit
Meet the surgeon. Leave with a plan.
Average new-patient wait time is 4.2 days. Insurance verified within 24 hours. Same-week emergency slots reserved daily for facial trauma and acute TMJ flare-ups.
Two locations serving the greater metro area · Hospital privileges at three regional medical centers · Member, AAOMS since 2009