We are always excited about meeting new patients and as a courteous this initial appointment is free of charge. Your initial appointment will consist of a thorough examination and a discussion of potential treatment options. This important 40-minute appointment will give us the opportunity to gain insight into your orthodontic needs. We may take orthodontic records such as X-rays and photographs to aid us in discussing your case. In some cases, for younger patients, Dr. Pappel will monitor jaw growth and tooth eruption, and begin treatment when it is ideal. We place these patients on our recall program, and will schedule them for periodic checkups.
During the initial examination for each patient, we will address the following questions that cover the basics of orthodontic treatment. We encourage you to ask questions as well.
- Is there a condition that orthodontics can address?
- Is treatment needed now or should treatment be delayed until appropriate growth, tooth eruption or other factors have occurred?
- What treatment procedures will be used to correct the problem?
- Do any permanent teeth need to be removed?
- How long will treatment take?
- How much will it cost?
- What are my payment options?
While we can often answer these general questions about treatment during the initial exam, additional diagnostic records are usually required. We will schedule an additional appointment to collect diagnostic records. This appointment will last one-hour. We feel it is important to analyze each patient’s specific needs after careful analysis of the diagnostic records. In-depth treatment planning leads to superior results and higher patient satisfaction.
We will then schedule a consultation visit to discuss treatment options, time frames and financial arrangements. We insist that our patients leave the office with a clear understanding of their specific needs, what the treatment will consist of and how long it will take. Also, we will answer any additional questions.