Refer a Patient to Korch Orthodontics
Reviewed by Dr. Susan Korch, DMD, MS
Korch Orthodontics accepts referrals from general dentists throughout the Hershey and Harrisburg area. Send records by phone, email or the form below, and we will see the patient promptly, send you our findings and treatment plan, and keep you informed through active treatment.
We know a referral is a transfer of trust, not just a patient.
You have a relationship with this family, you will continue to see them for their restorative and preventive care throughout their orthodontic treatment, and how we handle them reflects on you. This page sets out what we do with a referral, and what you can expect back from us.
Dr. Susan Korch has practiced in the Hershey and Harrisburg area since 1998. She completed a three-year orthodontic residency at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and holds a Master of Science in Oral Biology.
How to Refer
1. Send the patient’s details. Use the referral form on this page, call (717) 533-7400, or email records directly. Radiographs and any relevant clinical notes are welcome but not required; we will take our own records at the examination.
2. We contact the patient. We schedule the initial examination, which is complimentary, and we make clear the referral came from your office.
3. You receive our findings. After the examination we send you our diagnosis, our proposed treatment plan, and the anticipated treatment duration.
What We Commit to Sending You
This is the part most referral pages leave vague, so we will be specific:
- A written summary after the initial examination, including diagnosis, proposed appliance and estimated treatment time.
- Notification when active treatment begins, so your recall scheduling can account for it.
- Progress updates during treatment, and a note if anything material changes in the plan.
- A debond summary at completion, with the retention protocol we have prescribed so you know what to check at recall appointments.
- A direct line to Dr. Korch for clinical questions, rather than a message routed through reception.
What We Treat
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment for children, adolescents and adults: fixed appliances including ceramic and self-ligating brackets, clear aligners, interceptive Phase I treatment, and retention.
Diagnostics and technique. Digital scanning rather than alginate impressions, 3D low-dose cone beam imaging, and digital indirect bonding for planned bracket placement. Retainers and bonding trays are fabricated in-house.
Remote monitoring. Dental Monitoring reduces in-office visit frequency, which is often relevant for patients you share with us from further out.
Working Alongside You
Restorative sequencing. If a patient needs restorative work, crowns or implants placed around orthodontic treatment, tell us at referral and we will plan the sequence with you rather than around you. Implant sites in particular need agreeing before tooth movement begins.
Trauma and dental emergencies. We direct patients with an injured tooth to their general dentist first, then repair any appliance damage afterwards. Your patient will be told to call you, not us.
Surgical cases. We co-manage orthognathic cases with regional oral surgery practices.
Adult patients with periodontal history. We are glad to treat them, and we will want your assessment of periodontal stability before we begin.
Send Us a Referral
Korch Orthodontics · 357 West Governor Road, Hershey, PA 17033 · (717) 533-7400
Referring offices are welcome to call Dr. Korch directly with a clinical question, whether or not it results in a referral.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions referring dentists ask us most often. If yours is not answered here, call (717) 533-7400 and ask for Dr. Korch directly.
Do you require a referral to see a patient?
No. Patients may self-refer, and many do. When a referral comes from your office we record it and acknowledge it, so your involvement is documented rather than lost.
Will you return the patient to me for restorative care?
Yes, always. We treat orthodontics only. Your patient remains yours for everything else throughout treatment, and we will reinforce that they keep their recall appointments with you.
How quickly can you see an urgent case?
Call us and we will fit it in. For appliance problems and dental trauma affecting an appliance we work to see patients promptly.
Can you treat a patient whose case another practice started?
Usually. Send us what you have and we will assess what completing treatment involves.
