Orthodontic consultation is the first step in determining whether or not orthodontic treatment is needed. It is important for patients to know what to expect from this introductory meeting.
What is the role of dental care?
During the consultation, an orthodontist will examine your teeth and take x-rays to help determine what kind of treatment may be necessary. The doctor will discuss the results of these diagnostics with you and answer any questions that you may have.
If the doctor does not feel that you (or your child) are ready for treatment at this time, he will discuss deferring the treatment until later. This can be a very good idea for many children, especially in cases where jaw injuries or disorders have caused poor development of the teeth or jaws. In some cases it may also be recommended that a child wait until their teens to begin treatment because of problems like poor habits, eating issues or gum disease.
Once the doctor has determined that you need orthodontic treatment he will recommend the best course of action. He will create a problem list based on the diagnostic information and the specific areas that are of concern to you. He will then prepare a detailed skeletal and dental diagnosis addressing these issues. He will provide you with a choice of options to correct these problems and will go over the advantages and disadvantages of each. A member of the office’s financial team will also go over insurance and payment information with you at this point.