At the first visit to our office, Dr. Forwood or Dr. Christie will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and bite. Treatment options and the timing of treatment will be discussed. Two questions will be answered. First, is there a condition that orthodontics can address? If so, is now the correct time to act, or should treatment be delayed until appropriate growth, tooth eruption or other factors have occurred?
If we find that treatment is needed, then we will recommend that a set of diagnostic records be produced which consists of X-rays, study models and digital photographs. These records will allow us to develop a diagnosis and plan of treatment to address your orthodontic problem. Often, the records can be produced at this appointment to save you an additional trip back to our office. A consultation will be scheduled to review the findings in two to three weeks. There is a charge for the orthodontic records and the consultation. We encourage you to ask Dr. Forwood or Dr. Christie any questions that you may have regarding orthodontic therapy. While we can often answer general questions about treatment during the initial visit, we will address specific areas after a careful analysis of the diagnostic records.
If we feel it is best to postpone treatment while we wait for more teeth to erupt or for more growth to take place, then we will determine the appropriate time to wait for you to return to our office. We will send you a postcard to remind you to return for a follow-up visit, usually in 6-12 months. We do not charge for this recall courtesy.
Please assist us by providing any panoramic X-rays taken within the past six months. In addition, if you have orthodontic insurance, bring your insurance card. By providing this information at the time we take the orthodontic records, we will be able to give you a detailed explanation of your costs at the consultation appointment.