What to Expect during Your First Orthodontic Appointment

If going to the dentist makes you nervous then going to the orthodontist may seem like a nightmare scenario. Having wires attached to your teeth or forcing your teeth to move into a new position may seem like torture. You may want to improve your smile and your confidence by correcting your bite and alignment issues, but you may be too nervous about the treatment that you just resign yourself to always covering your mouth when you smile.

Knowledge is power. Knowing what to expect for your Arrowhead orthodontic treatment can help you to prepare for the unpleasant parts and maybe even feel less anxious overall by learning that it won’t be as bad as you thought. Scheduling the initial orthodontic appointment is the first step. Here’s what you can expect during that visit:

Paperwork

Yep, you have to fill it out at every doctor and dentist visit you ever have, and your first orthodontic visit will be no different. You will be asked to provide information about your dental insurance, as well as your dental history and your goals for treatment.

Many dentists now have websites that allow you to fill this paperwork out online. If this is the case for your dentist in Arrowhead, you can usually skip this step when you come into the office. You may be asked to provide your insurance card or fill out some other brief information.

Pictures and X-Rays

Your dentist will need to know the condition of your teeth and mouth in order to make a recommendation for treatment. To start, your dentist will ask that you have x-rays taken of your mouth and teeth to see the alignment of your bite and jaw. You may be able to bring copies of x-rays from your most recent dental visit to skip this step.

The dentist will also likely take pictures of you to see how your smile looks and how it influences your face. These pictures will also be used as a frame of reference at the end of your treatment, should you decide to move forward.

Evaluation

After your dentist looks at the x-rays and pictures, he or she will perform an in-person exam. Your dentist may feel your teeth and jaw, look at your lips and gums, assess the shape of your face and more to get a better understanding of the issues you may be experiencing.

Your dentist will ask you a lot of questions during this evaluation about your concerns and what you have experienced. Questions may cover whether you have any pain, whether you grind your teeth, how your teeth feel when you talk or chew, whether you has a history of sucking your thumb as a child, and so on. Your dentist will also ask you what your goals are for treatment, such as if you just want a straighter smile or if you want to correct a bite issue.

Recommendations

After performing the evaluation and taking into consideration all the information you have given, your dentist will then make recommendations for treatment. In most cases, you will have several options for treatment, such as multiple types of braces in Arrowhead, veneers and implants in Arrowhead. However, most patients choose the treatment option that is the least invasive and that will make them the most comfortable.

Your dentist may also discuss finances at this meeting if you indicate that you are strongly considering or are ready to move forward with treatment. The office staff will verify your insurance benefits and let you know what kind of coverage you can expect for the proposed treatment. You will then discuss options for the remaining treatment cost, such as making a payment plan to the dentist directly or using a financing plan.

Understanding what to expect from your first orthodontic visit will make you feel a little more relaxed about it and help you to think through what you want to discuss. You can think about your potential treatment options and what the most important deciding factors are for you so that you can ask your dentist the right questions.

Aesthetic Dentistry of Arrowhead provides some orthodontic treatments to Arizona residents, such as Invisalign teeth straightening and veneers. We provide a full range of dental services to help you create a beautiful and healthy smile, including corrective and maintenance services. Call us in Arrowhea, Arizona today to learn how we can help you.