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Part I/IV: Preparation

Special Note: The Power Point presentation is an integral part of the OJW-DPOJW course, consequently examination questions will be drawn from it. To view the OJW DPOJW Power Point presentation presented to dentists at the GNYDM and to orthodontists at the American Association of Orthodontists meeting [Click Here].

Introductory letter sent to Would be OJW patients:

I recommend responding to all inquiries regarding Orthodontic Jaw Wiring whether by telephone or email by the above introductory email letter. Indeed, if a would-be OJW patient does not have an email address I would not even consider them to be good candidates for OJW. For that reason my staff is kept on notice that all callers inquiring about OJW provide ONLY their name address, address, telephone number AND EMAIL ADDRESS. I email them this letter as a prelude. I will sometimes call them beforehand for a brief chat to "sound them out".  As you can see I am very, emphatic about having them EMAIL me the correctly completed Informed Consent. Embedded in the Informed Consent are hyperlinks enabling them to download the typical forms I use for patients who are considering orthodontic treatment at my office as well as the Medical-Dental History form I use for my patients.  These form are NOT emailable so I request they fax to me. In the Informed Consent it appears as you see it below.

Please complete both forms indicated below and FAX to my office: 718 852 1894.  After I review the data from ALL THREE FORMS I will call you to discuss your goals and help you arrange an appointment.  With few exceptions OJW appointments are most often seen at noon on Thursdays.

(DOWNLOAD ADULT ACQUAINTANCE FORM)


(DOWNLOAD THE ADULT MEDICAL HISTORY FORM)

A.  Forms:

      1.  Informed Consent document

          See the document:  Informed Consent

                   The Informed Consent is key when considering who to choose as an OJW patient. The Informed
                     Consent document must be carefully completed by the patient by placing their initials in four places.
                     The doctor should read it carefully before considering them for OJW.   The IC details what you are
                     going to be responsible for, i.e. placing the appliance and reexamining them every five (5)-weeks
                     to ascertain that they are unharmed by the OJW and that they may continue to be rewired for another
                     five (5)-week period. You can copy my Informed Consent and revise it to use as a template for your own.
                     If you use mine let me know and I will refer patients who are closer to you.

      2.  Medical-Dental history form

                     I use my own Med-Dent history form which I think is sufficient.  Many practice supply companies sell standard Medical-Dental history forms.  You may already use one in your practice that can be used for OJW as well. 

       3.  Demographic Form

                     I use a form that I created that works for me. You can see both at

 

(DOWNLOAD ADULT ACQUAINTANCE FORM)


(DOWNLOAD THE ADULT MEDICAL HISTORY FORM)

  

      4.  "How to proceed once you have chosen OJW" document

            See the document:  How to Proceed When You Choose OJW
                           

                     After receiving the signed Informed Consent, their medical-dental history form and the "Acquaintance"
                     form, I review them carefully. I am now ready to call them and speak with them and review in a
                     general way their readiness to begin and their familiarity with the OJW procedure. I then send them
                     this document which
reiterates the steps they must follow to proceed to the OJW appointment. It gives
                     information about insurance coverage and sets forth how the OJW service is provided and what is
                     expected of them. I have them sign it on the day of their OJW appointment and make it part of their
                     dossier. By the time an OJW patient gets to your office they are usually quite familiar with all the
                     information related to the way OJW will be provided to them.

     5.  The "Telephone" Memo

                    See the document:  OJW telephone consultation memo

                    I deem it essential to engage the would-be OJW patient before their arrival at the office,
                      by a voice-to-voice contact since most OJW patients live out of state and are unable to come
                      unable to come to the office for a consultation examination. Hence, I created the
                      OJW telephone consultation "memo" . This memo covers all the points that I would like
                      the patient to be aware of prior to their arrival at the office. Indeed, I require that they
                      that they email the document back to me,  and in that way I am assured that I have completed my
                      due-diligence for that patience.

B.  Equipment and supplies (See the list) and see the photo of the entire armamentarium showing where to purchase all the items and the cost.

C.  Provider's telephone call to the patient:

                    When you have received the Informed Consent, Med-Dent history form and the "Acquaintance" form
                    it is time to call the patient. I do not leave this step to the office manager who is quite capable of
                    doing it for me. I do it because it enhances the patient-doctor relationship. You must be try to provide
                    the patient with a "warm and fuzzy" feeling about the upcoming OJW appointment.
                    I remind my patients that they must provide me with a note from their physician saying "There are
                    no medical reasons that this patient cannot be on a low calorie liquid diet to lose weight." lf that note
                    is lacking I get on the phone and call the physician to indicate that the patient is beginning a
                    low-calorie liquid diet enhanced by OJW.  I am especially wary to make sure the canines and
                    premolars are present. I indicate to them that I do the OJW on Thursday after my last orthodontic
                    patient at 12:30 and remind them to arrive at the office at least one hour earlier than the appointment.
                    Finally, I remind them I am going to email them the OJW telephone consultation memo,
                    
which they must read carefully and email back to me as proof they read it. I
                    email the document without delay. I then pass the patient to the office manager who schedules the
                    patient for the OJW appointment and arranges payment of fees.

Examination Questions Part I

Part II/IV  Selection of patients