Your first consultation

What to expect at your first consultation

We want to give you and your family the chance to get to know our team and for us to get to know a little bit more about you, so we can best meet your needs and provide you with a personalized orthodontic treatment plan.

We will first ask you to fill out some new patient forms, so we can get some basic medical background that is essential for creating your treatment plan. We will then conduct an initial examination by taking digital photos and X-rays that will help us diagnose any current or developing orthodontic problems you may have. Once we identify any issues, we discuss various options like braces and Invisalign, and create a recommended treatment plan.

Finally, we’ll break everything down piece-by-piece with you: the type of treatment, the length, and the cost you can expect. We want to make sure that you always feel comfortable with your treatment, so we encourage you to ask any questions and we will be happy to give you all of the information you need.

The questions a first exam answers

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) lists the questions generally covered during a child’s first orthodontic exam:

• “Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what is it?”
• “What are the options to correct the problem?”
• “Is there a possibility teeth will need to be removed?”
• “How long is the recommended treatment expected to take?”
• “How much will the recommended treatment cost?”

For an adult’s consultation, the AAO’s list of usual take-aways covers the same ground and adds customized treatment goals and whether other services are needed to reach optimal dental health.

At Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics, the first consultation covers most of that list for your own case: the examination looks for current or developing problems, the options are discussed, and the type of treatment, the length and the cost are explained. If the plan does not mention whether any tooth needs to come out, that is a fair question to ask before you leave. Questions about a child’s first visit continue in children and early treatment. Where a child is concerned, the early assessment and what can follow it, phase one included, are described on early treatment and phase one.

How to prepare

Tell your orthodontist about any relevant medical or dental history that you have. That history helps the orthodontist in determining the right treatment plan for you.

Before your appointment, try and prepare a note of the medical and dental history that you want to share with your orthodontist. If you are taking your child, you need to recall their dental history as well.

Your new patient forms are sent to you digitally before your appointment.

Before the visit, the practice’s new patient coordinator helps verify orthodontic insurance benefits and guides patients through pre-appointment steps; what an orthodontic benefit covers and how it pays has its own page, how orthodontic insurance works.

Comfort at the first exam

The AAO answers the comfort question for children directly. Asked “Will anything be uncomfortable for my child on a first visit?” the AAO replies “No. Your child should experience no discomfort during the visit.” Its answer filed under consultations says “you should experience no discomfort during the exam.” The word in both answers is “should,” so anything that worries you or your child is worth raising when the visit starts.

X-rays are part of the initial examination at Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics, and the AAO’s answer on them is direct: “Dental X-rays are considered safe for children.” The AAO adds that the amount of radiation exposure is minimal and that “the potential to find and prevent significant oral health issues far outweighs the small risks associated with the procedure.” When booking, the AAO also suggests telling the person who makes the appointment if a child has special needs, so the team can prepare for the visit.

Needles come up as a question too. In its section on braces and aligners, the AAO’s FAQ answers “Will you use needles?” with “No.” That answer is about braces and aligners; for anything else in a treatment plan, ask your orthodontist at the consultation.

What you will discuss

After the orthodontic examination, your orthodontist will discuss the orthodontic treatment options available to you. This includes discussing orthodontic procedures, orthodontic appliances available, and their corresponding treatment cost. They will also inform you of the estimated treatment timeline.

Caring for your braces

Your orthodontist will give you instructions on proper dental hygiene and care for your orthodontic treatment. This includes brushing, flossing, and the use of orthodontic products such as orthodontic wax and fluoride mouthwash.

Your orthodontist will also explain how to take care of certain orthodontic appliances, such as brackets and wires. This includes cleaning orthodontic wax off of appliances and checking for any loose orthodontic brackets or wires.

The Carvalho & Roth philosophy

The Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics philosophy is:

• LEAD by using orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic technology and treatment methods to help improve your dental health.
• CREATE custom tailored treatment plans based on your individual needs.
• IMPROVE the confidence of our patients by helping you achieve a new, healthy, more radiant smile.
• WELCOME patients of all ages and provide you with comprehensive orthodontic treatment, since it is never too late to change a smile for the better.
• TRANSFORM your community by creating brighter smiles and spreading positivity, one patient at a time.

Questions about your first consultation

If you have any questions about your first visit with us or about any orthodontic treatments we offer, you can contact us directly by phone and a member of our staff will be more than happy to help you. You can also reach out to us via email or easily request a consultation online today.