If you’re struggling with misaligned teeth, there’s a good chance that you have been considering orthodontic treatment for a while. After all, by just wearing Invisalign trays or braces for a few months, you can experience a lifetime of health benefits and higher confidence—and it all begins with a simple consultation.
Consultations fall into the first stage of orthodontic treatment: the planning stage. This phase of the orthodontic process is all about setting a solid foundation for your entire treatment. During the initial consultation, your orthodontist will review your dental history, examine your teeth and bone structure, diagnose any alignment issues or bite problems, and create possible treatment plans for the future.
For many potential orthodontic patients, the idea of an initial consultation can be daunting. That’s why the team here at Beverly Hills Orthodontics takes great care to curate a comfortable patient experience for every appointment. Here, we take a look at what happens at an orthodontic consultation so you can be as prepared and relaxed as possible during your first appointment.
What Happens at an Orthodontic Consultation Part 1: Preconsultation Digital Forms
When you schedule an appointment, you will receive our medical history and intake forms via email. This information is automatically populated into your chart. While this isn’t the most exciting part of the consultation process, paperwork is of course a major part of your initial orthodontic visit.
If you haven’t had a chance to do this beforehand, you can fill them out at our office on one of our devices or on your phone.
- New patient intake information
- Medical history
- Insurance documents
Although forms can be a bit of a bore to fill out, they are absolutely essential to effective orthodontic treatment. These documents provide our team with the information required to understand which treatment approaches will work best for your needs. There is space to give information about your main goals and concerns, any potential allergies, or specific medical or dental concerns.
Once this is complete, we are ready to begin your oral examination.
What Happens at an Orthodontic Consultation Part 2: A Full Oral Examination and Imaging
With paperwork out of the way, you are now ready for the examination phase of the consultation.
Examinations tend to begin with an X-ray screening and a set of full facial and dental images. Often, we also take a digital scan of your mouth and gums. Quick and comfortable for patients, these imaging procedures provide your orthodontist with a detailed look at the state of your teeth and reveal the exact issues that you are dealing with.
By the end of the examination, you will learn:
- Whether you are healthy enough for orthodontic treatment
- Which alignment issues are affecting your smile
- Approximately how long treatment will take to correct your alignment
- What options you have to comfortably afford treatment
- Whether we need you to visit with other dental or medical specialists to develop your personalized plan
After the examination, you are ready to discuss treatment options with your orthodontist, Dr. Monica Madan or one of her associates.
What Happens at an Orthodontic Consultation Part 3: Treatment Planning
Using the scans taken during your examination, Dr. Madan and the BHO team will create computer-generated models of your anatomy. Highly accurate and deeply detailed, your orthodontist uses these digital models to assess your different treatment options and create possible care plans.
The most popular orthodontic treatment plans today involve either braces or Invisalign clear aligners. In years past, you may have heard that Invisalign can only treat mild crowding problems. However, thanks to recent technological advances, orthodontists can now use Invisalign in combination with other methods to correct even severe alignment issues.
During this stage of your consultation, we will discuss:
- Which treatment methods you qualify for
- How long each treatment option will take to complete
- The different ways that each treatment option will affect your lifestyle
- Whether you could benefit from accelerated orthodontics
With this information, you can make an informed decision about which treatment plan will work best for your needs. Once you have decided which course of action is right for you, you can schedule your next appointment and officially begin improving your smile.
Ready to Begin Orthodontic Treatment?
If you have crooked teeth and bite problems, orthodontic treatment is the key to a perfect smile. More than just a beautiful look, perfectly-aligned teeth allow you to experience better oral health and a greater sense of confidence. If you are ready to begin the journey towards your new smile, schedule a consultation at one of BHO’s greater LA locations Beverly Hills, Studio City, Alhambra, or Downtown LA.