When it comes to an orthodontic treatment, it’s all about the timing. You or your child might not be ready for treatment. That’s why we want to examine your teeth and bite, so we can better understand your needs.
At Langford Orthodontics our goal is making sure all your visits with us are pleasant and informative. Your first appointment will consist of an examination and a discussion of potential treatment options. This important visit addresses the orthodontic needs of you or your child.
Your first appointment at Langford Orthodontics will be about 45 minutes. We use this as an opportunity to meet with you to perform a limited evaluation of your dental and orthodontic issues, gather information, discuss appropriate orthodontic treatment options, and decide on the best time to start your treatment. While we discuss treatment, we certainly take into account your dental development, your oral hygiene and your own concerns. We’ll reevaluate your situation every 6-12 months if you aren’t ready to start treatment.
We’ll also make an appointment to take orthodontic records including photographs, digital study models, and radiographs for those who are ready to start immediately. These orthodontic records will be necessary to provide you with a choice of appropriate and definitive treatment options.
We want you to know that your comfort is our top concern, so we’ll make sure you know about and understand your upcoming orthodontic process and your particular situation. We’ll make every effort to answer all of your questions at our initial consultation so you don’t leave with any concerns. If we need more diagnostic information to be able to determine your treatment options, we’ll recommend taking orthodontic records to present you with appropriate treatment alternatives. We may also ask questions like, “Are there any problems when you chew or swallow?” or, “Does your jaw make noise when your mouth is opening or closing?” — in addition to just looking in your mouth at the first examination. Taken together, this information allows us to make a proper diagnosis and finalize our treatment plan for you.
Diagnostic Records & Treatment Planning
If we decide you need treatment, you’ll be scheduled for diagnostic records. These records usually consist of digital study models, diagnostic photographs, and orthodontic radiographs (X-rays). These help us see what’s going on underneath your gums – the position and growth of bones and joints and the teeth that are still below the gum line.
In some cases, we may also take an impression (mold) of your teeth. This lets us make an exact replica of your bite, which helps us understand exactly what the problem is and how best to treat it. If we need to do this, we’ll ask you (or your child) to bite down on some soft putty-like material for a few moments; then we’ll remove it and make the mold in our lab. Once these orthodontic records have been obtained, Dr. Langford will review them and determine the appropriate treatment options. He’ll also inform you about your Invisalign treatment options.
Your Next Visits
Periodic visits are an important part of orthodontic treatment. We’ll schedule you for a checkup every 6–8 weeks to check your progress, make adjustments to your braces or deliver your next set of aligners. You’ll need to make sure you keep all appointments, follow instructions, eat nutritiously and practice good oral hygiene.
Once we remove your braces, you’ll wear a retainer to hold your teeth in their new positions until your bone, gums, and muscles adapt to the new tooth positions. We’ll schedule a return visit to our office one month after you’re fitted for your retainer. After that appointment, visits will typically take place every 2–4 months. During these appointments, we’ll examine your retainer to adjust it and correct it to make sure it’s functioning the right way. The retention period is an important part of your overall treatment and should not be neglected, so it’s very important that you follow Dr. Langford’s instructions on wearing the retainer in order to prevent relapse.
Length of Treatment
The length of time your braces may be on varies anywhere between 6 and 30 months. They can possibly stay on longer depending on the severity of the problem, your cooperation, your ag, and the degree of movement possible.
Dental care
Your family dentist should make certain your gums are healthy and the underlying bones are free of periodontal disease, and that all cavities have been treated before any orthodontic treatment takes place. One or more of your teeth may be prescribed by Dr. Langford to be removed to eliminate crowding and correct your bite. Make sure to also schedule cleaning and cavity check-up visits with your family dentist during your orthodontic care.
Treatment Cost
The team at Langford Orthodontics strives to provide affordable care for our patients and their families. We know that an orthodontic treatment like braces is an important investment and we want to make your orthodontic treatment affordable. One of our primary goals is to help the average family receive personalized orthodontic care without straining their finances. For your convenience, we offer a variety of flexible, orthodontic payment plans with no down payment options and low monthly payments. Check with our office staff if you have any questions or would like to obtain more specific information.
Before you leave your first exam, we’ll sit down with you to talk about what you should expect if you move forward with your orthodontic treatment. We enjoy meeting all prospective patients and their families – you are what makes us who we are!
Patient care is a huge priority for the Langford Orthodontics team, and giving you the most beautiful, healthy smile is something we are honored to provide. If you’re in the Knoxville area, stop by one of our two offices, or call us today to schedule your initial exam and see why we are the orthodontic team that kids love and parents trust.
- Dr. Langford
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