First Orthodontic Visit
Our greatest goal is to give your child the healthy, straight, beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. We understand choosing to receive orthodontic care is a big decision, and we respect your reasons for wanting to improve the way your child looks and feels. Our practice will work with your child every step of the way to make sure his or her orthodontic care is as comfortable, convenient, and as rewarding as possible. We’ll use the latest technology, offering a variety of safe and gentle treatment options, giving your child the customized, individual care he or she deserves.
Every smile starts with a complimentary consultation!
Your complimentary consultation will give you the opportunity to meet our team. You also will learn more about orthodontics, receive an initial orthodontic exam, and find out which treatment options will best meet your child’s needs. During the complimentary consultation, we will:
Review your child’s dental and medical history forms and help you create a customized treatment plan.
Discuss all financial information, insurance options, and various payment plans that we have available.
During your complimentary consultation, we will explain everything you need to know about your child’s orthodontic treatment, so you can choose what’s best for him or her – no strings attached. If you’d like to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call our office.
What happens after the initial consultation?
If your child is dentally and mentally ready for orthodontics and you do choose for your child to receive orthodontic treatment, you will need to schedule the first appointment. At the first appointment, your child will have Orthodontic Diagnostic Records, which include several x-rays, models of the teeth, intraoral photos, and photos of his or her profile and frontal views so that we can analyze the best treatment option. Typically, this appointment is no longer than 50 minutes, and then your child will be on the way towards a new smile! After the Orthodontic Diagnostic Records appointment, you will need to schedule an appointment for about four weeks later for the Orthodontic Treatment Consultation, which is included in the cost of the Records. The next step is the placement of the braces when your child will be truly on the way to a new smile! That appointment usually lasts 2 1/2 hours. You are more than welcome to stay with your child, or if you prefer, you may leave to do whatever you’d like.
If your child is not yet ready for braces, we will let you know that. We will schedule to bring your child back for another Orthodontic Visual Examination when it is appropriate, again at no charge.
Scheduling Appointments
Visiting the orthodontist every 4-6 weeks is an important part of orthodontic treatment. Routine adjustments last between 20-40 minutes. Our practice will work with you to make sure appointments are set around your busy schedule. This way, your child will spend less time in the dental chair and more time enjoying the things he or she loves to do.
We understand that “life happens,” so if you’re running late please call to let us know, or if you need to reschedule, please let us know 24 hours in advance, and we will do everything we can to accommodate you. When you’re ready to schedule your first appointment, call our practice; we’re looking forward to working with you and your child!
Visiting the dentist during orthodontic treatment
It is very important your child continues to receive regular dental visits once every six months, even during orthodontic treatment, for teeth cleanings and routine dental checkups. We have a pediatric dentist and will be happy to take care of your child’s hygiene appointments and other dental needs. If you prefer, we will be happy to coordinate with your family dentist to make sure your child is receiving the best care possible.