Orthodontics Your First Visit and Beyond

We look forward to meeting you on your first visit to our office. We are patient-service oriented, pay special attention to detail, and are committed to your individual needs. Below you will find a description of the first visit (initial exam) as well as possible subsequent visits.

Initial Exam Your first orthodontic visit will consist of a thorough clinical examination and discussion of any orthodontic problems and the potential treatment options (*). This important visit will address your orthodontic needs to determine if this is the proper time to begin treatment. If treatment is necessary, a complete set of orthodontic records will be taken.

Diagnostic records typically include a review of your medical/dental history, digital X-rays, digital photos of the teeth and face, and impressions (moulds) of the teeth for study models. These records are necessary for developing a personalized treatment plan to meet your individual orthodontic needs. This visit will last approximately 30-45 minutes. After your records are obtained, we will then schedule your consultation appointment within the following two weeks.

(*Only available in Smiles Orthodontic Dublin) We also offer a free-preliminary orthodontic assessment for the purpose of discussing your orthodontic concerns and to give you an idea of any treatment options available and approximate costs involved. However, in order to formulate a detailed treatment plan and quote specific fees, full diagnostic records are necessary. New patients who schedule and do not keep their scheduled free orthodontic assessment are not entitled to a second free consultation appointment.

Consultation Appointment At the consultation appointment we will go over your diagnostic records together and discuss the orthodontic problems, potential treatment options, treatment limitations, time frames, cost and financial arrangements. We will provide a written summary of the findings and a detailed plan that outlines your treatment, goals and estimated fees. We will familiarize you with the different types of braces and appliances we use to correct your orthodontic problems. We will listen carefully to your concerns and expectations and we will make sure all your questions are answered. We make every effort to ensure that our patients leave the office with a clear understanding of their specific needs, what the treatment will consist of, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. This appointment takes about 30 minutes.

One of our front desk staff will prepare a written breakdown of all costs involved in your treatment plan. If you have health insurance or a benefit scheme at work that covers orthodontic treatment, be sure to bring details (insurance card) with you on your visit. Aviva Health insurance members can avail of a 10% discount on all treatments.

The fee for the full orthodontic consultation is €95.00. This covers the thorough examination of your teeth and jaws, all diagnostic records (x-rays, clinical photographs, study models) and a treatment planning discussion outlining your treatment options to formulate a treatment plan that is best for you. If you are happy with the proposed treatment plan we can get your treatment started as soon as possible.

If you require extractions or any other general dental treatment, this will need to be arranged with your general dentist before the orthodontic appliances are fitted. A general dental check-up and scale and polish is strongly advisable prior to fitting the braces.

If after your consultation visit there is anything that you do not fully understand or need to discuss further, you can always contact us to arrange a follow-up consultation at no extra cost. We will keep your records in our current file for twelve months. The fee quoted and the treatment plan described may change if treatment is not started within that time.

Bonding Appointment For most patients, this is the appointment where the Orthodontist places the braces on the teeth and a wire is secured into the braces. This is a precise procedure and typically the longest visit you will have with us. It should last approximately 1 hour. The office will provide a comprehensive care and maintenance package to help ensure the patient's comfort, dental health, and reduce emergency visits. We will also discuss foods to eat and avoid, how to brush and floss your teeth with braces and how to use plaque-indicating tablets along with a fluoride mouth rinse. Oral hygiene is the key to successful treatment.

Some orthodontic problems require additional appliances to help achieve our goal of a beautiful smile. Depending on your individual treatment plan, separators may be placed one week prior to the placement of orthodontic bands.

Adjustment Appointments Once the braces are in place, you will typically be seen every 6-10 weeks for an adjustment and to monitor treatment progress, depending on your specific needs. Patients are seen by appointment only unless an emergency arises. At these appointments, a number of different procedures might be done in order to assure the continued progress of your treatment. This includes the placement of new wires, the use of rubber bands, and the review of home care instructions. Periodic x-rays will be taken to assess proper tooth movement and monitor tooth and bone health. These appointments take approximately 20 minutes.

It is important that you will keep all your appointments, follow instructions carefully, eat nutritiously and practice good oral hygiene. A failure to come to your appointment regularly may result in longer treatment or even damage to your teeth and gingival tissue. Also it is very important to maintain your regular 6 monthly visits with your general dentist.

Debonding AppointmentThis is the step that you’ve been waiting for! Upon successful completion of your treatment your braces will be removed, adhesive left on teeth will be cleaned, and a thorough scale and polish will be carried out. Bonded retainers may be fitted behind your front teeth and impressions will be taken for your removable retainers. This visit will take approximately 1 hour.

Retainer Delivery This is the final phase of your treatment. Retainers will be custom made to ensure your teeth will remain in their corrected position while your bones and gums adapt to the change. There are several different types of retainers (fixed or removable) and we will decide which type of retainers will be used depending on your individual needs.

We routinely use the clear 'invisible' retainers and we place bonded retainers on the lower teeth and on the upper teeth when the bite allows it. You will be given specific instructions by your orthodontist on how much the retainers need to be worn and how to clean your retainers. All the time and effort may be wasted if you do not wear your retainers properly. The teeth can move back to their pre-treatment positions very quickly. Your treatment fee includes 12 months of retention supervision. We advise all our patients to wear their retainers one or two nights a week indefinitely to maintain their beautiful smile.

On this final appointment, we will also take a set of post-treatment records to document the improvements made.

Follow-up Visits Your retainers will be periodically checked in our clinic (every 3-4 months) for one year after your orthodontic treatment is completed to make sure that your teeth stay in their perfect position. After you are discharged, you should regularly check your retainer with your dentist at your routine dental checks. It is likely you will need professional tooth cleaning around your bonded retainer as part of your oral hygiene maintenance. If you require additional attention to your retainers you may call our clinic.

Appointment Policies
Fitting Orthodontics into Your Schedule
We understand that orthodontic treatment can interfere with important obligations that you have during the day, including work and school. We have tried to design treatment methods in order to minimize our appointment times and intervals between visits to allow fewer conflicts with your schedule.

Our Approach to Minimizing Conflicts
During your orthodontic care, there will be different types of appointments that are needed. Depending on which type of appointment is needed, a different appointment length will be required. The majority of your appointments can be scheduled at times which are more convenient to your busy schedule, after work or after school. However, every patient will have a few longer appointment times, which include putting the braces on and taking them off. We generally schedule these infrequent longer appointment times in the morning. This allows us to offer the majority of your appointments at the most popular times.

Our schedule is carefully crafted to allow our patients the time needed to continually progress with treatment. In fairness to other patients, we need you to arrive on time for your appointment. We want to have adequate time during each appointment to do the necessary procedures and to answer questions about your treatment progress. In the rare circumstance that you would arrive late, we may find it necessary to reschedule your appointment in order to give you the time that you deserve for your appointment.

At Smiles Orthodontics, we utilize state-of-the-art technology and treatment methods that straighten teeth efficiently and require fewer visits to our office. We are committed to providing you with the best orthodontic service and to making your treatment as convenient as possible.

Rescheduling Appointments We ask at least 24 hours notice to reschedule an appointment, as we set aside time to accommodate your specific needs. Our goal is to continually progress with your treatment. Missed appointments or numerous appointment changes will inevitably result in an extension of your treatment time.

For missed appointments or late cancellations without 24 hours notice, we reserve the right to charge a fee.