We hope to make your first visit as pleasant and informative as possible whether you are a young child, adolescent, their parent, or an adult considering orthodontic treatment.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children should be seen as early as seven years of age. This enables us to detect growth problems that may benefit from early treatment intervention or to monitor a child's growth and development until the ideal time to initiate treatment, for their particular problem, is determined.
At this visit you will have the opportunity to meet the doctor(s) and many members of our team, as well as, tour our office. (You can start that tour on the web). Below is an outline of what you can expect at your initial visit (including possible recommendations) and the diagnostic follow-up visits, if deemed necessary.
Before you leave our office you will know if any treatment is necessary now or in the future, the approximate cost and time involved, any insurance questions answered, and how treatment costs can be financed. The cost of orthodontic treatment varies according to the complexity of the case and is generally budgeted over the treatment time. We offer many different options (see finances) so that the cost will, hopefully, never be an obstacle to starting treatment.
While we may not have a direct relationship with your insurer, will make the necessary inquiries on your behalf to clarify your coverage. In addition, we will file the required forms to assist you in obtaining your maximum benefits.
For you convenience, payments can also be made by credit card. (Visa, MasterCard, Discover).
Initial Examination
In our office, we call your first visit an initial examination. A panoramic x-ray will be taken of your teeth and jaws so the doctor can evaluate your dental health and detect potential problems that may not be seen by a simple visual inspection. A clinical examination will be done, your medical and dental health history reviewed, a discussion of your particular concerns and/or those of your dentist, followed by the doctor's recommendation.
Those recommendations may include:
- Pre-Phase Treatment
- Phase I Treatment
- Phase II Treatment
- Full Comprehensive Treatment
- Surgical Orthodontic Treatment
- TMD Therapy
- No Treatment indicated at this time
Diagnostic Records
Assuming that the patient is ready for treatment, the next two steps, diagnostic records and consultation will be scheduled. If time permits, (for both the patient and our office) diagnostic records can be taken at the initial exam visit. The records generally consist of:
- Diagnostic Study Models
- Photographs of the teeth and face
- Head-plate x-ray (cephalometric film)
Consutaton
The Doctors will analyze the diagnostic records and a customized treatment plan will be determined for the patient. The Doctor and Treatment Coordinator will present the information in an easy to understand format at the consultation visit. With the aid of a 'State of the Art' diagnostic imaging program, you will be able to view your digital records and visualize the treatment necessary. You will also see how auxiliary appliances can affect facial growth and how the braces and force systems utilized actually move teeth, thereby, making it very easy to understand the complexities of an orthodontic treatment plan. Of course, any and all questions regarding the treatment can be answered.
In addition, the various elements of patient compliance can be visualized including hygiene, wearing removable auxiliaries ("retainers", elastics, etc.) that are necessary to achieve the best possible result.
After the consultation is completed, our Financial Coordinator will finalize a payment plan, submit the necessary forms to your insurance company and schedule the appointments necessary to start treatment.
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