What to Discuss During Your Orthodontic Appointment

As a parent, you shouldn't wait until your child begins to show signs of orthodontic problems to schedule an appointment with a specialist. If you are concerned about the way your child's teeth are emerging, you can schedule an appointment with the orthodontist when your child is as young as two or three years old. Orthodontists recommend that a child come in for his/her first visit before the age of seven.

By the age of 7, your child will have had sufficient numbers of permanent teeth that have already emerged, and so, it's easier for your orthodontist to identify if there are potential problems. Often times, parents mistakenly assume that they have to wait till all the permanent teeth have emerged, before they can visit the orthodontist.  That’s not true at all. The earlier you visit the orthodontist, the quicker he can decide the right time to begin treatment in case of a problem. Early treatment can not only be easier on your child, but also quicker. If braces are recommended, he may have to wear them for a shorter duration of time than if he had begun treatment late. Shorter treatments are usually cheaper treatments.  Besides, beginning treatment early can reduce the need for intensive treatment later on. 

If you have decided to take your child to the orthodontist, begin by choosing an experienced and reputed orthodontist. If you are the main decision maker in your child’s health matters, visit the orthodontist with your child. However, if you need to take other people's approval before you begin orthodontic treatment for your child, take someone along. Having another adult at the orthodontist's office, can also help you discuss treatment options and reach the right decision. 

Make notes about your discussion with the orthodontist.

If he recommends treatment, make sure you understand why your child needs the treatment.

Ask him the right time for your child to begin treatment.

Discuss the possible length and duration of the treatment. Keep in mind that there may be variations in the actual duration of time that your child is expected to wear braces.

Make sure you understand the kind of treatment approach that your orthodontist will use. Your orthodontist must be willing to answer all these questions, and even draw diagrams or show you computer images, to illustrate his explanations better.

Ask the dentist to show you the expected results upon completion of your treatment, using computer images. These images can be taken as a more or less accurate guide for what to expect, but there may be slight variations in your case.  Be prepared for this.
Ask him about the kind of successful results he has seen, using the treatment on other patients.

Discuss any disadvantages from the treatment.

Finally, discuss the cost of the treatment and any financial options with your orthodontist. Braces treatment doesn’t come cheap, and if your insurance doesn’t cover it, you still have several other options to help you pay for the braces.