Every great journey begins with a plan! There are 4 steps to beginning this journey at our practice:
- Initial consultation
- Records appointment
- Treatment conference
- Placement of orthodontic appliances
Initial consultation
This a complimentary session with the patient, the patient’s parents/guardians (if applicable), and Dr. Ghaffari to consult and determine if there is a need for orthodontics. If it is determined that orthodontic treatment is needed, Dr. Ghaffari will discuss treatment options and answer any questions.
Records appointment
During the records appointment, Dr. Ghaffari and his staff take molds of the patient’s mouth, pictures of the mouth, and X-rays of the mouth and jaw. Dr. Ghaffari utilizes his knowledge of orthodontics, engineering, and biology to develop a customized treatment plan for each patient that addresses each person's particular case.
Treatment conference
During this appointment, Dr. Ghaffari meets with the patient and with the patient’s parents (if applicable) to discuss the appropriate orthodontic treatment for the patient. He will refer to the mouth molds, pictures, and X-rays to provide a visual case for the patient and a discussion of what to expect. In addition, the office manager will review the financial portion of orthodontic treatment. This includes payment plans and the payment options offered at the office.
Placement of orthodontic appliances
This is the appointment where active orthodontic treatment is typically begun. Dr. Ghaffari implements what is called "indirect bonding," which only requires about 10 minutes for placement of braces! The rest of this appointment time is utilized to clean the surfaces of the teeth that will have braces attached to them, educate the patient on brushing and flossing with braces, and the placement of orthodontic wires.
After completing the initial 4 appointments, adjustment appointments are set up for every 4 to 8 weeks. Most adjustment appointments are around 30 to 40 minutes. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible.