We love meeting new people! Everyone has a good story to share! During your first orthodontic visit, along with assessing your orthodontic needs and reviewing treatment options, we want to get to know you and give you a chance to get to know us!

One of the first things that will happen when we welcome you to our office is we will give you a tour of the office. You will then be greeted by one of our friendly treatment coordinators, who will help guide you through your visit. As with any healthcare provider, there will be a few forms to fill out. We will then take a series of clinical photographs and x-rays to properly examine and assess your orthodontic needs. The x-rays are necessary to examine everything underneath your gums; including your bones, the roots of your teeth, and any teeth that may still be developing.

After all the photos and x-rays have been taken, either Dr. Shaw or Dr. Wirig will review them and develop a treatment plan that best suits your needs and desires. Dr. Shaw or Dr. Wirig will present treatment options and discuss any main concerns or questions that you have. We will discuss if treatment is necessary or not, different treatment types that are available to you, and the best timing for treatment to begin. We want to make sure that all of your questions and concerns are addressed at this time.

The most common result of an initial exam is that you are ready to start treatment. If you are ready to start treatment, one of our treatment coordinators will work with you to come up with the best financial arrangement possible. Many people like to start treatment the same day as their first visit since they are already in the office. We have streamlined our consultation process to allow for this if that is what you’d like to do as well.

We see patients both young and old and everywhere in between (everyone likes straight teeth!) The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have a consultation with an orthodontist by age 7. A vast majority of 7 year olds do not require treatment at their young age but there are a few conditions where an early treatment with braces or something similar can prevent more complicated treatment in the future. Click here to learn more about when to see an orthodontist.

We look forward to seeing you at our office!