Your First Visit

Our objective is to make sure your visits with us will be pleasant and informative. Your initial appointment will consist of an examination and a discussion of potential treatment options. This important visit will address the orthodontic needs of you or your child.

Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your first visit:

• Panoramic x-ray (if one has been taken by your dentist)
• A list of medications you are presently taking
• If you have medical or dental insurance, bring the necessary completed forms. This will save time and allow us to help you process any claims.
• Completed online or printed patient registration forms.

Please alert the office if you have a medical condition that may be of concern (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, artificial heart valves and joints, rheumatic fever, etc.) or if you are on any medication (i.e. heart medications, aspirin, anticoagulant therapy, etc.)

Broken Appointments: If for some reason you cannot make it to your appointment, please contact our office at 803/787-1061 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. If it is after hours leave your name and number and a brief message on our answering machine and we will return your call the next business day.

Diagnostic Records & Treatment Planning

If it is determined that treatment is indicated, you will be scheduled for diagnostic records. These records usually consist of study models (impressions of the teeth), intra-oral and extra-oral photographs, panoramic and cephalometric x-rays. Once these orthodontic records have been obtained, Dr. Green will review them and determine a specific treatment plan for your orthodontic needs and begin your orthodontic treatment soon thereafter.

Successive Visits

Periodic visits are an important part of orthodontic treatment. Generally, we will see you every 6 to 8 weeks to check your progress and make adjustments to your braces. During this time, you will need to keep appointments, follow instructions, eat nutritiously and practice good oral hygiene. Also continue to visit your dentist regularly.

Once your braces are removed, retainers are utilized to hold your teeth in their new positions until your bone, gums and muscles adapt to the new teeth positions. The retention period is an important part of your overall treatment and should not be neglected!

Length of Treatment

Braces may be on between 6 months to 30 months or longer depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation and the degree of movement possible.

Dental Care

Before any orthodontic treatment, your family dentist should make certain that all cavities have been treated and the health of your gums and underlying bone are free of periodontal disease.

In addition, your dentist or an oral surgeon will remove any teeth that Dr. Green prescribed to correct your bite. Your family dentist should also schedule cleaning and cavity checkup visits during your orthodontic care. We would like to reinforce the need to keep your regular visits with your family dentist because we are only an aid to your family dentist and not a replacement.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child receive an initial orthodontic examination as early as age 7. The timing of orthodontic treatment is extremely important and greatly affects treatment results. Since no two patients are alike, there is not an exact age that is best for all children to begin treatment. Please contact our office if you have any questions.