What To Expect
Your initial visit will give you the opportunity to meet the doctor and our knowledgeable team who will answer any questions you may have regarding orthodontic care. In addition to a thorough clinical examination, we will talk about whether or not this is the best time to begin treatment, or if further growth and development are needed. We’ll also be happy to review the financial aspect of your care. Although fees will vary based on individual cases, we offer a variety of affordable payment options, including the coordination of insurance.
If braces are needed, as a courtesy to you, we’d be happy to schedule diagnostic records on the same day as your initial examination.
What Are Diagnostic Records?
Diagnostic records are obtained to document the patient’s orthodontic problem and to help determine the best course of treatment. The most common types of records are a panoramic and cephalometric x-ray, photographs, and digital scans or plaster study models. If you choose Clear Aligners for your treatment, those impressions will also be taken.
An Early Start
Because each orthodontic problem determines its own best starting time, children should be checked by an orthodontist at the time that permanent teeth begin to erupt. At this time Dr. Miller will be able to detect any deficiencies in your child’s teeth formation and abnormalities in dentofacial growth patterns. This will allow him to predict the need and timing for treatment.
Some orthodontic problems may be very difficult to correct if the face and jaws have finished growing, since treatment may include influencing the growth of jaws and muscles.
Early detection can significantly reduce the need for removal of permanent teeth. For this reason, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7 – or earlier if an orthodontic or orthopedic problem is detected by parents, the family dentist, or the child’s physician.