Patient Resources

Your First Visit

We can’t wait to meet you and help you discover the transformational journey of orthodontics! Our team is committed to making every visit enjoyable and educational.

During your first visit, one of our treatment coordinators will take orthodontic-specific records (X-rays and photos). After a comprehensive examination by your orthodontist, we’ll discuss orthodontic treatment options, estimated treatment length, and all associated finances. This is a wonderful time to ask any questions you may have. In many cases, we offer convenient same-day starts to save an additional trip to the office and avoid missing extra school.

If your child is not ready for treatment at this time, you will be encouraged to come for periodic appointments to monitor the growth and development of the teeth and jaws. We always aim to start treatment at the optimal time in order to minimize total treatment time and obtain the best possible result.

Finances & Insurance

The cost of your orthodontic treatment may vary, depending on your individual needs and treatment plan. Our team will discuss the cost of your treatment and each of your available payment plan options with you, so you are able to make the best choice for yourself and your smile. We will work with you to create a payment plan that fits your budget, and you will know what to expect before beginning treatment. With our in-house financing options, we offer 0% financing and low down payments.

For your convenience, our practice accepts credit/debit cards, cash, checks, and ACH payments. Additionally, if you have insurance that covers any portion of your orthodontic treatment, our team is always available to help you with filing claims and paperwork.

Patient Forms

To ensure your first appointment with us is convenient and time-efficient, we encourage you to complete your patient forms prior to your appointment. This will reduce overall appointment time and ensure we can provide you with accurate financial information. If you have questions about the patient forms, or if you would like to know more about your first visit, please contact us via phone or text.

General Care Info

Our team is dedicated to educating and providing patients with the knowledge and tools to obtain the best results. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions related to maintaining your braces or clear aligners.

Oral Hygiene During Treatment

It’s extremely important to keep your gums and teeth clean during orthodontic treatment! Poor oral hygiene can result in the formation of “white spot lesions”, or permanent scars, on your teeth. While it requires extra effort, it is completely possible to keep your teeth clean during treatment. We recommend the use of an electric toothbrush, water flosser, plaque-indicating toothpaste (PlaqueHD), interproximal flossers, and braces floss picks to maintain your oral hygiene. For your convenience, we stock these supplies in our office at below-market price.

Foods To Avoid During Treatment

Orthodontic appliances are designed to be strong enough to stay on during treatment, but weak enough so that they will not hurt your teeth upon removal. Avoiding hard, sticky, and chewy foods during treatment will reduce the number of emergency visits and help us get to the finish line as fast as possible.

It’s also best to avoid eating foods that are high in sugar because they can promote tooth decay and other related problems. We encourage you to quit bad habits like biting your nails, chewing on pens and pencils, and chewing on foreign objects. These activities can also damage your appliances.

Emergency Care

We understand that life happens and orthodontic emergencies can occur, even though they are rare. If you experience an orthodontic emergency we’ll help get you right back on track toward the beautiful smile you’re working on!

If you experience severe pain or have an issue with your orthodontic appliance that you cannot resolve on your own, we urge you to contact our office right away. Surprisingly, you may be able to temporarily resolve many issues yourself until you can visit our office.

Loose bracket or band

If a bracket, band, or wire has loosened, please call or text our office immediately. We will guide you on the appropriate next steps. We will likely repair the bracket at your next scheduled appointment. If you are experiencing discomfort and need to clip a wire, we recommend using fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If unable to clip the wire, we are happy to schedule an emergency appointment to make you comfortable.

Poking wires or irritating wires

If the wire is irritating your cheeks or gums, you can move the wire away from the irritated area by using a cotton swab or eraser. If you cannot move the wire, cover the end of it with a small piece of cotton or wax to relieve irritation. If the wire is still painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If unable to clip the wire, we are happy to schedule an emergency appointment to make you comfortable.

Lost Separators

If a separator is lost please call or text our office. If your appointment is within a few days from the date the separator is lost, we may not require you to come into the office for replacement.

Discomfort or Soreness During Treatment

During the first week after your braces or aligners are placed, and after routine adjustments, you may feel some soreness, discomfort, and mild mobility of the teeth. This is normal and expected. We recommend taking acetaminophen or another non-aspirin pain reliever if your teeth are sore after adjustment appointments. You may also wish to use a warm washcloth or heating pad to reduce soreness in the jaws.