Patient Education

Your first appointment:

This is when we begin to assemble all the information needed to make a well reasoned recommendation on how best to treat your orthodontic problem. We will ask you for your medical and dental history. A doctor will examine your teeth, jaws, muscles and related tissues of the head and neck. Often at the first visit we may obtain a Panograhic radiograph (Panorex) and digital photos if indicated. At this visit the doctor will usually advise you on three important points:

Is orthdontic treatment necessary or advisable?
When will be the best time to begin treatment?
How long will the treatment take and what are the estimated professional fees Involved?
With your approval, a final diagnosis and treatment plan will then be developed. To do this, we will obtain complete orthodontic diagnostic records. These consist of plaster study models of the teeth, facial and intraoral photographs and cephalometric x-rays. The doctors can then assess the tooth movement required and anticipate growth patterns to plan for a comprehensive program for successful correction.

At the Treatment Consultation Appointment, (TCA), a doctor will review their findings from the diagnostic records and present the treatment options for your consideration and approval. At this appointment the doctor will stress the importance of complete committment to the objectives of the planned treatment to insure a successful result that will be pleasing and beneficial for all concerned.

The best orthodontic treatment results are produced by a team effort involving the patient, the parent, the staff, and the doctor. We know what we must do to produce excellent results. We can't do our best without the patient doing his/her best, so education and understanding are essential from the beginning.

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