What actually happens at a free consultation

A first orthodontic visit should not be a sales meeting, and it should not end with "we will be in touch." It should end with you knowing exactly where you stand. Here is how ours runs.

Records first

We start with digital scans of your teeth instead of the putty impressions many people remember, and the X-rays needed to see roots, jaw joints, and any teeth still to come. All of this is included in the free consultation. It takes about fifteen minutes.

Then we sit down together

I go through the scans and X-rays with you, on the screen, and explain what I see in plain language: how the teeth line up, how the bite closes, whether growth is a factor, and what I would recommend. If there is more than one reasonable approach, I explain each one and which I would choose for you and why.

This is also where I tell you if I would not start yet. For children, that is common, and complimentary observation visits continue until treatment will be most effective. For adults with a retainer that still works, I say so rather than sell a new one.

The plan, in writing

You leave with the recommended treatment, the timeline, the exact fee, and an estimate of what your insurance is expected to cover. The fee covers the normal course of treatment, including emergency visits and your initial retainers, and 0% financing runs through treatment. If treatment needs more time, that is included.

Starting, if you want to

Some patients start the same day, when it is appropriate. Others take the plan home and think. Both are fine. Second opinions are complimentary, and if you are comparing offices, bring the other plan and I will walk through it with you honestly.