What To Expect At Your First Visit
We’re excited for you to take the first step of your smile journey! Your Spark Smile Assessment is completely complimentary. Whether you’re a pre-teen or an adult wanting to improve your smile, you’ll leave your consultation feeling confident that Spark Orthodontics is the right choice.
We’re here for you every step of the way and are always excited about meeting new patients during their first visit to our office.
Your Spark Smile Assessment includes X-rays and photos and possibly impressions for study models. We need these to develop just the right treatment plan. This additional appointment will last approximately one hour. Your orthodontist will assess elements of your treatment by figuring out the answers to these questions:
- Is there a condition that orthodontics can address?
- Is treatment needed now or should treatment be delayed until appropriate growth, tooth eruption or other factors have occurred?
- What treatment procedures will be used to correct the problem?
- Do any permanent teeth need to be removed?
- How long will treatment take?
- How much will it cost?
- What are my payment options?
During your first visit, we’ll talk through our orthodontic solutions and determine which one is right for your smile! We offer braces, Invisalign®, Invisalign Teen®, and more. At Spark, we take pride in providing quality orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages and are proud to offer affordable financing options that fit any family budget.
Wondering what to bring to your first visit?
Any panoramic X-ray taken within the past six months.
If you have orthodontic insurance, bring your insurance card. By providing this information at your first visit with us, we will be able to give you an estimate of the cost of your orthodontic treatment.
At what age should I schedule my child’s first orthodontic visit?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist at the age of seven. By this age, children’s teeth have developed to the point that we can see even small problems that may be associated with such things as emerging teeth or jaw growth. For most seven-year-olds, their visit with the orthodontist is nothing more than an exam. However, there are a small number of children, around 5 to 10 percent, who can benefit from what we refer to as “interceptive orthodontics.” There are potentially dangerous problems that we find and address, including:
- Jaw alignment problems
- Impacted teeth
- Chipped or fractured teeth
- Gum tissue recession
By addressing these issues above, we also help to alleviate social issues, where children may be the victim of teasing or bullying simply because of the appearance of their teeth. A child’s teeth and smile can have a major impact on their well-being as they grow. With a beautiful smile, they are more likely to be confident and social, as well as gain a host of health benefits. Your orthodontist will find out if your child is a candidate for braces or Invisalign during their complimentary Spark Smile Assessment.
Patient: “I just got braces for the first time and the experience was really fast. Surprisingly it did not hurt at all. I was like okay, I look nice with them and I feel really confident with them.”
Your First Orthodontic
Visit Is On Us!
What Our Patients Are Saying
Everyone there was very welcoming and friendly. One of the best experiences I’ve had in any dental office, I’d highly recommend anyone looking for braces to come here. The doctors and staff were very nice and helpful. They do a great job and make you feel very comfortable about the entire process. 10/10 !
– Alex S.
My daughter has been a patient here for almost two years. In this time I have never had one bad experience. Every orthodontic assistant we’ve worked with has been great! Another great thing about Spark is the product quality. You won’t have to make additional trips to get anything fixed because of cheaply made hardware, so they’re saving you time and money. Thank you, Spark!!
– Daina S.
We recently transferred to Spark for our Orthodontist. We once saw a different provider and had many issues. Spark treated us so well and really went above and beyond in their treatment of my two children. Thank you so much Spark!
– Kate Y.
FAQs About Your First Orthodontic Visit
Your first visit is completely complimentary! We will thoroughly examine you or your child’s teeth and jaws and discuss potential treatment options. Your orthodontist will assess if orthodontics is the appropriate treatment for you or your child, when treatment is needed and how long it will take, what procedures are necessary, how often will you need to visit our office for adjustments, as well as the cost of treatment and payment options.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.
An orthodontist can straighten your teeth with braces or clear aligners. The orthodontic appliances gradually shift your teeth into proper alignment. Throughout orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will make adjustments to your braces or provide you with new sets of clear aligners as your teeth continue to move. You may also wear rubber bands while you’re in braces to help correct misalignment.
We offer a variety of orthodontic treatment plans including traditional braces, clear or ceramic braces, Invisalign clear aligners and Invisalign Teen, as well as Wild Smiles. We have something for everyone! Your orthodontist can share what the best orthodontic treatment is for you during your Spark Smile Assessment!
No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their family dentist, yet many other patients take the initiative to schedule an examination themselves.
Removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best orthodontic result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are the goal of orthodontics. However, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is not always necessary for orthodontic treatment.
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient’s specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The “average” time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months.
It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we have examined you. We will cover the exact cost and financial options during the initial examination. We have many financing options available to accommodate your needs, and we will review these with you. We will also review your insurance policy and help to maximize your benefit and file your claims.
Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every five to 10 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.
Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled five to 10 weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal school due to their orthodontic treatments. We will, however, make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs.
Yes. We understand your busy schedule, and we are happy to help you make the most of your time. On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent when they return, so we ask that parents check in with their patient manager before dropping off their child.
Generally, braces do not “hurt.” After certain visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol will ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, “It does not have to hurt to work!”
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.
Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are important while in braces. Your family dentist will determine the intervals between cleaning appointments while you are in braces.
Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.
If your braces are causing extreme pain or if something breaks, you should call our office. In most cases, we can address these issues over the telephone. If you require an emergency appointment, we will set aside time for you.
Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. However, if a patient is not yet ready for treatment, we will follow that patient’s growth and development until the time is right for treatment to begin.
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 12-21 months. The primary objective for Phase One treatment is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe and to improve self-esteem and self-image.
It is best to assume that your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One treatment is called the “resting period,” during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations.
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25 percent of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is “too old” to wear braces!
Yes. A tooth with a crown will move just like a tooth with a simple filling. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth.
Invisalign®, the Invisalign logo, and iTero®, among others, are trademarks and/or service marks of Align Technology, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries or affiliated companies and may be registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.
