4 Questions to Ask During Your Free Orthodontic Consultation

The journey to get your best smile is exciting. If you count yourself among the four million Americans who are undergoing orthodontic treatment, you’re all too aware that the anticipation of your new smile is definitely worth the wait, but the experience can also be a bit nerve-wracking.

The good news is that McGill Orthodontics in Easton and Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, offers free orthodontic consultations so you and your family can meet Dr. Jean Seibold McGill and our caring staff, ask questions, and learn more about your treatment options before the process even begins.

The goal of orthodontics

Let’s do a quick primer on the purpose of orthodontics. Regardless of whether your orthodontic treatment plan uses traditional braces or clear aligners, the ultimate goal is the same — to gently move your teeth and underlying tissue into new, optimal positions over time.

But orthodontics is much more than a way to get a beautiful smile. Orthodontics addresses a wide variety of bite issues that not only affect your ability to chew your food properly but disrupt your ability to properly clean your teeth, making you more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease.

Orthodontic treatment can address crowded or crooked teeth, overbites and underbites, crossbites, open bites, and gaps and spacing issues.

Free orthodontic consultation explained

An orthodontic consultation is like a personal open house and your chance to empty your head of all those nagging questions rolled into one. During your free orthodontic consultation, you can check out our office and meet Dr. McGill and our team. 

During your consultation, Dr. McGill orders some diagnostics to assess your bite issues. Specifically, we perform digital impressions, use a wraparound X-ray called a Panorex radiograph, and take photographs. An important part of your consultation is the opportunity for you to talk about your treatment goals and lifestyle.

Dr. McGill uses the results of the diagnostics and your treatment goals to recommend treatment options that best address your needs. Typically the conversation then turns to the cost and specific details of how various treatment options play out.

Here are some important questions to ask during your consultation:

1. Am I too old (or too young) for orthodontics?

Not surprisingly, questions about the optimal age for undergoing orthodontic treatment are common. While there once was a time when nearly all orthodontics patients were children or adolescents, all that changed when Invisalign® entered the market. Today, about 25% of orthodontics patients are adults.

The good news is beautiful smiles are ageless. Tooth movement doesn’t rely on age. Patients simply need to have a permanent set of teeth, a strong jawbone, and healthy teeth and gums. However, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation no later than age seven or at the first sign of a bite problem to preempt future orthodontic needs.

2. How long will my orthodontic treatment take?

Treatment time differs from patient to patient since not every person’s teeth move at the same rate. In addition, factors like the severity of the problem being treated and the type of oral appliance being used to correct your issue influence your treatment time.

Today’s orthodontics plays out in much shorter treatment times than in the past. On average, patients can expect to be in active treatment for about 22 months. Clear aligners typically take less time to move teeth.

3. How do I know what orthodontic treatment is right for me?

Sometimes having choices can be confusing. When it comes to determining which orthodontic treatment is best for your needs, usually your treatment goals, including the severity of your condition, help us zero in on one or two options. From there, it becomes a matter of time and money.

McGill Orthodontics offers Invisalign® and the Spark™ clear aligner system as well as metal braces. While traditional metal braces may seem old-fashioned, they’re great at fixing severe crowding issues. We use the Damon™ System at our practice.

4. What are my responsibilities during treatment?

Each orthodontic treatment option comes with its own unique responsibilities, which we go over during your free orthodontic consultation. For instance, with clear aligners, it’s important that you wear your aligner trays for 22 hours a day and switch to the next series of trays as prescribed in your treatment plan.

Probably the most important thing patients need to do, regardless of the oral appliance used in your treatment plan, is keep your teeth clean and clear of food debris. Taking your at-home hygiene routine up a notch during your orthodontic treatment will keep your teeth and gums healthy while your smile is being transformed.

If you’re ready to take the first step to transform your smile, contact McGill Orthodontics to schedule a free orthodontic consultation. Call our office most convenient to you or request your appointment online today.