We are always excited about meeting new patients during their first visit to our office. Your initial appointment will consist of a detailed examination and a discussion of potential treatment options if these can be determined without X-rays. This important 20-minute visit will give us insight into your orthodontic needs and in many cases it is also possible to compare your case to a similar case using our patient education software. We will also, if possible, be able to give you an estimate of the cost of treatment.
During the initial examination for each patient, we aim to address your main queries, including:
• 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?
We encourage you to ask questions as well.
In order to define your personal treatment plan and fee, it will be necessary to arrange a records appointment to take full diagnostic records, including X-rays, photographs and impressions for study models. These records will provide Dr. Crotty with the extra information required. This appointment will last approximately thirty minutes and there is a fee for these records.
While it is often possible to answer these general questions about treatment during the initial examination, Dr. Crotty will address specific areas after careful analysis of the diagnostic records. We feel it is important to analyse each patient's specific needs, because in-depth planning leads to superior results and higher patient satisfaction.
We can then schedule a discussion appointment to present treatment options, time frames and financial arrangements. This appointment can be in the Office or Online - enabling you to have it at a more convenient time and location. We make every effort to ensure that our patients get a clear understanding of their specific needs, what the treatment will consist of and how long it will take.
At your first appointment, it would help you greatly if you could provide us with any dental X-rays taken within the past six months.
As Orthodontics is Specialist Dental Treatment it is very important that the teeth & gums are clean and healthy, and that they have been checked and assessed by your own Family Dentist within the last six months. It is equally important to keep up regular dental check-ups with your family dentist throughout your orthodontic treatment.
New Patient Forms
You may access the following forms to assist us with your care. Please print and fill out the following forms, then bring them to your appointment.
*These forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Reader already installed on your computer, click the Adobe logo to download.
**For Apple/Mac Users: You must use Adobe Acrobat Reader to submit the forms. To do so, simply right click on the form and save form. Open form in Acrobat Reader, fill out the form and submit.