New Patients

About a week before your first visit, you will receive a new patient package in the mail. It will contain information that will speed up your first visit and make it go smoother. If for some reason you have not received these materials, you can download it here.

We will talk about problems and solutions at your first visit. You will be thrilled with the kinds of results we can get for you. You can take a look at some of the most common problems and customary results by clicking here.

We set aside enough time to begin with “hellos”, take diagnostic records, and leave with separators inserted, ready for braces at the next appointment (if certain factors fall into place). We always try to do as much as we can for you on each visit. This is how we try to value your time and save you more money.

Your First Appointment

Parent completes paperwork in the reception area and the new patient room, while the patient goes with a team member for x-rays. There will be two types taken-a panoramic x-ray and a cephalometric x-ray.

Patient goes right back to the new patient room after the x-rays. The parent is waiting and a team member goes over the medical history and other information Dr. P will need.

Dr. P comes in and does a thorough initial examination-the “54 point” check.

Dr. P goes over his initial diagnosis with patient and parent and explains everything in understandable language. He will say what needs to be done, about how long it will take and what the fees will be.

If the patient and parent decide to go on with treatment, the parent will go into the Financial Coordinator’s Office and make financial arrangements there.

While that is taking place, the patient will complete the rest of the diagnostic records (9 photos, a wax bite and upper/lower impressions.)

Finally, if no cleaning or dental work is necessary before treatment can begin, separators will be inserted and the patient will be ready for braces at the next appointment!

Diagnostic records are a vital part of your treatment and diagnosis. They consist of a set of dental impressions to create study casts (models of your teeth), a set of 9 facial and oral photographs, a cephalometric x-ray and a panaramic x-ray of the full mouth. The study casts and x-rays are stored digitally on the Internet. These diagnostic materials are used to create a diagnosis and plan of treatment, and they are consulted from time to time to evaluate progress.