It’s no secret that some people can be scared or intimidated by the thought of their first visit to an orthodontist. Already, people have nerves about dentists, and orthodontists conjure up similar emotions. We happen to feel that knowledge is a powerful tool in combating these fears and anxieties, so that’s why we wanted to break down exactly what you can expect at your first visit so you can rest your mind and be prepared for the experience.
A Commitment to Positivity and Professionalism
First off, before we dig into the nuts and bolts of what happens in the first visit, we want to establish one thing. We strive exceptionally hard to provide you with unequaled professionalism. However, our commitment to the right attitude doesn’t stop there. We aim to give you encouragement, motivation, positive feelings (we dare you to not smile for your whole visit!). Most importantly, we focus on you and your needs throughout the entire visit.
The Goals of the First Visit
We don’t go into a first visit with an assumption of orthodontics care being necessary. The goal of the consultation is to examine if orthodontics is the right choice for you right now. We do this with a variety of diagnostic tools, primarily a panoramic x-ray (the machine actually spins around your head!) and a complete set of photos, both of you and your natural smile and detailed photos of all your teeth. These diagnostic tools allow us to get the full picture of your bite, smile, and jaw, including things not obvious to the naked eye and allow us to present you with all of the information so that we can determine, together, if orthodontics treatment is the right choice at the moment.
Know All Your Options
One of the great things about orthodontics is that there is rarely ever one course of treatment. Generally, you have a variety of options with various pros and cons, depending on your precise situation. We are dedicated to taking you through all of your options from treatment and financial perspective. When you make the decision as to the course of treatment you’ll take, we want you to feel good, knowing you got all of the information you needed and can accurately budget, with no surprises.
Ask as Many Questions as You Want
Especially as you are going through the options for treatment, you may have questions. That’s great! We will be happy to answer as many questions as you have to throw at us. Again, the more you know, the more comfortable you will feel.
Hopefully, this demystifies the first visit to the orthodontist and sets your mind at ease. Contact us today and gain that confident smile.
