What to Expect When You’re Expecting…Braces!

When patients (and parents!) come in to our office for the first time, it’s natural for them to be a little nervous. But orthodontic treatment like traditional braces and Invisalign are a great start toward a straighter smile your child will be proud to show off for a lifetime—it can be helpful to look at your first orthodontic appointment as the beginning of a new era.

So what can you expect when you take that first step by scheduling an appointment with Reed Orthodontics?

Get to know each other! At your initial visit, our staff will get to know the patient and their family. We’ll also orient you with our office and our processes. We’ll perform a thorough exam to determine if (and what kind) of orthodontic treatment might be needed. And, of course, we’ll answer any questions you may have about our pricing and payment options.

Get into the nitty gritty. As you’re probably aware, orthodontics isn’t just about making chit-chat—as much as we love to! After your initial consultation, we’ll take photos, X-rays, and create molds of the teeth. This helps our staff design a specialized treatment plan that’ll work for you.

After the initial visit, our team will meet again with you to review our proposed treatment plan and answer any questions that you or your child may have, then finalize the paperwork.

Next, comes the initial appliance placement, which is typically a longer appointment than the others, especially if the treatment plan involves conventional braces. We’ll install the appliance and once again review instructions for caring for and cleaning it.

And here begins our active treatment phase, which may include monthly adjustment visits and progress reports to make sure everything’s going smoothly. Once our team feels your treatment is complete, we’ll remove the appliance and give you instructions for your retainer, if applicable—and of course, we’ll have regular check-ins and adjustments in that case, too.

Have a question for Reed Orthodontics or would like to make an appointment? Click here to send our staff a message or call us at 412.421.8565.