Your first consultation

Orthodontic treatment is a complex biological process that influences the jaw bones, facial bones, and oral and facial soft tissues to move teeth into new positions. To safely and effectively align your teeth and jaws, a thorough in-person exam of the teeth and mouth should be completed before any treatment. This includes X-rays, photographs, and an examination of past dental records. With this full-picture view, a bespoke treatment plan, or menu of treatment options, can be developed to best address your individualized orthodontic treatment needs in a manner which best fits your lifestyle.

Initial consultation will be for a 60 minute appointment. The typical format of this appointment will be:

✦ Discussion of your specific dental and facial concerns and/or your reason for referral.

✦ Discussion of any relevant features of your general medical history and health status.

✦ Thorough extra-oral and intra-oral examination including both a specialist orthodontic examination and a general dental and oral health assessment.

✦ Collection of any relevant diagnostic records and special tests (Diagnostic records will usually comprise of an intra-oral scan for creation of digital orthodontic study models of your teeth and bite, extra-oral and intra-oral clinical photographs and any relevant orthodontic x-rays for closer examination of your teeth and the bones of your facial skeleton).

✦ In depth explanation of the features of your orthodontic diagnosis.

✦ Detailed discussion of the potential treatment options available to address the various features of your orthodontic diagnosis (in terms of both possible treatment approaches and types of orthodontic braces which can be used). An estimate of the approximate cost and duration of each treatment option shall also be provided.

✦ Display and discussion of example cases previously treated by Dr. O’ Connor with similar diagnostic features to your own to further illustrate your different treatment options and types of braces which can be used to best fit your lifestyle.

✦ Following completion of your consultation Dr. O’ Connor will undertake an in-depth analysis of the diagnostic records which have been collected and a comprehensive orthodontic report will be generated and sent to you, usually within 24 hours of completion of your consultation appointment.

Your orthodontic report will contain:

✦ An itemization of the relevant features of your orthodontic diagnosis

✦ Your various treatment options with the exact treatment costs associated and estimated treatment duration

✦ An itemization of the specific aims of treatment associated with your preferred treatment option

✦ Detailed information on all general points relevant to orthodontic treatment with all types of braces

✦ A copy of your clinical photographs and x-rays