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First
Visit
Your first visit to our
office is for a complimentary consultation. We schedule about
an hour with you to find out if braces are right for you.
In this first visit, you will have pictures taken of the inside
of your mouth from every angle as well as some photos of your crooked
smile. We will review your medical and dental history, and perhaps
take an x-ray. Remember there is absolutely no discomfort
during this process.
Then Dr. Kahn will check
your facial symmetry, profile, smile, TMJ or jaw joints, your teeth
and bite, and your x-rays. After this evaluation Dr. Kahn will discuss
her findings and areas of concern with you. She will recommend one
of four options. 
The first option is that no treatment is needed. These individuals
have a good bite, nice profile with the jaws aligned, healthy teeth
and gums, and good jaw joints.
The second
recommendation is that treatment will be needed, but it is too early
to start. In this case Dr. Kahn will recommend a recheck, usually
six months later after there has been more growth and development
of the teeth and jaws.
A third diagnosis
is the recommendation of Phase I treatment. This early treatment
is usually for younger children (ages 7-10) and often involves limited
braces and growth appliances for 18 to 24 months. Limited braces
may involve braces only on the four front teeth. The purpose
of Phase I is to treat those problems that are easy to correct with
growth, expansion, and tooth guidance at an early age. The cost
of limited early treatment is less than the cost of full treatment.
The
fourth diagnosis is the recommendation of full orthodontic treatment
or Phase II. This usually requires 18 to 24 months of full braces
attached to all the permanent teeth. Phase II treatment may,
but not always, involve appliances such as headgear, Herbst or other
appliances in order to completely correct the bite. It is followed
by a period of retention. Retention is when you wear your retainer.
This is done to make sure your teeth stay straight after the braces
are removed. Since it is comprehensive treatment the fee is
higher than that for limited treatment.
 Before
you leave our office on your first visit, Dr. Kahn will give you
a treatment outline in which she summarizes the functional as well
as the esthetic problems found with your bite as well as the recommended
solutions to these problems.
Our treatment
coordinator will give you an estimate of the treatment
costs. Most cases are covered by insurance.
If you give us your insurance information we will check for you
and we will notify you of the cost to you.
It is important
to remember that our fees always include
everything that you will need during treatment. There are no hidden
charges. Our fees include one set of retainers and up to
two years of follow-up visits after you get your braces off.
We
usually recommend having your records
taken the same day as your first appointment. We often even place
separators in between the teeth as part of your first appointment.
Separators are used to prepare the teeth for braces. This
speeds up the process so you can get your braces on sooner and then
get them off sooner.
Please check
the section on braces to learn and check
out different orthodontic appliances.
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