You will be asked what you want to change about your smile and what questions
do you have about braces.
Your
initial consultation will include a review of our Privacy
Notice followed by a complete review
of your past medical and dental history. If you rely heavily on the
opinion of others before making treatment commitments, you are encouraged
to bring all the decision makers with you to this consultation. They can
be taking notes while you listen or act as a sounding board. Your orthodontist
doesn't want information lost in translation if decision maker does not
come and you have to relay the consultation outcome to them.
You will be asked what you want to change about your smile and what questions
do you have about braces.
Your orthodontist will do a detailed examination
of your face, jaws and teeth. Orthodontists want your teeth to be properly
aligned but they don't want to change the more desirable features of your
face.
Your orthodontist will explain any diagnostic tests
(x-rays, photos/digital images and impressions of the teeth) that are
necessary to plan treatment. These diagnostic tests record the position
of the teeth and jaws. X-ray radiation is minimized by using films with
intensifying screens which produce higher quality images with less radiation
and by using special shields that block radiation to the thyroid/neck and
below. Making impressions of your teeth involves pressing a tray filled
with soft putty onto your teeth. After a minute, the putty hardens and
is removed from your mouth. The hardened putty is now a mold which is filled
with plaster to form an exact copy of your teeth. There is no substitute
for having all the information that these diagnostic tests can provide.
This is one area where taking shortcuts (skipping diagnostic tests) can
lead to improper diagnosis and treatment. These diagnostic tests will be
kept by the orthodontist indefinitely because they can be used to explain
treatments proposed and carried out.
Your orthodontist will try to answer the following questions: Can the problem
be corrected? Has your orthodontist corrected similar problems before?
How long will it take? When should it begin? What kind of appliance or
device will be used? What does the patient do for braces
treatment to succeed? What does the patient do for
Invisalign treatment to succeed? What are the
pros and cons of braces and what are the pros
and cons of Invisalign? What are the advantages
of self-ligating braces over conventional braces? Will the teeth need
to be thinned or shaved in width for treatment to succeed? Will temporary
plastic bumps called attachments have to be placed on the teeth to aid
in their movement? How much will it cost? What are the payment
options?
Your orthodontist will custom tailor treatment for you.
Your orthodontist will indicate that any patients who want Invisalign treatment,
must have any dental care that will change the shape of their teeth completed
before the Invisalign impressions are taken. If the shape of a tooth is
altered after the impressions are taken, the aligners may no longer fit
and treatment can progress no further.
Your orthodontist will explain that he/she assists your family dentist
in your dental health care but your orthodontist does not replace your
family dentist who remains your primary care provider. Your orthodontist
will not be checking for cavities during your visits unless the cavity
is very obvious without the use of x-rays. This is why it is important
that each patient see their family dentist for a cleaning, cavity check-up
and periodontal evaluation check-up every
4 - 6 months.
You may schedule an orthodontic
appointment with Dr. William Trepp in his Pasadena, MD office by calling
410.696.4624 or in his Clinton, MD office by calling 301.868.6200.
Written inquiries should be mailed to: 3020 Mountain RD, Pasadena, MD 21122,
USA or 8918 Woodyard RD, Clinton, MD 20735, USA
