Visiting an orthodontist for the first time should be an informative and pleasant experience, which may or may not result in further treatment. Derek M. Busciglio, D.M.D., runs the family business Busciglio Orthodontics. Here, he discusses what to expect from your first visit to him.
Your free initial consultation will be to get acquainted and to determine if there is a need for orthodontic treatment. Please plan to spend 50 to 60 minutes with us for a thorough examination, which includes a panorex x-ray, digital photographs and discussion of orthodontic concerns. Treatment recommendations as well as the estimated time to complete treatment goals and the approximate investment will be determined at this time.
What we would do in detail is meet the patient, take some pictures of the teeth, take the aforementioned panoramic x-ray and discuss the growth and development of the child. We would look for bite problems, TMJ or temporomandibular joint problems, and examine the facial soft tissue. Then we would advise whether or not any treatment is necessary at this time.
In Recall
If treatment is not necessary, we put the patient in recall, meaning that we would see him again every four to six months to examine him and see how he is developing. We see patients even if there are no problems at all, as in children everything changes from day to day.
The American Association of Orthodontists suggest that every child see an orthodontist at age seven for the first time, and every six months after that until they are about 10 to 12 years of age. So those are the guidelines we follow.
Nervous Child
However, if the child is very preoccupied or nervous sometimes we will postpone it, let the child grow up a bit, and see him in a year. The last thing you want to do is have the child scared of the orthodontist for the rest of his life, especially if it turns out that further treatment is needed.
If further treatment is warranted, we would schedule new appointments, usually two to begin with about one week apart, to start working on braces. This, however, would obviously depend on the type of braces you would choose, and the problems specific to each individual.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
