Your First Visit to Dietrich & Kelso Orthodontics: What to Expect

Welcome to Dietrich & Kelso Orthodontics! We’re excited to help you take the first step toward improved oral health, but we know you may be feeling a little nervous about the treatment process, especially if you aren’t sure what to expect. We’re here to make this experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible for you, and that begins with your complimentary consultation. This initial appointment is one of the most important ones you’ll have with us! Let’s take a look at what you can expect from your first visit with our expert team. 

What’s included in your orthodontic evaluation?

When you arrive at one of our conveniently located offices, you’ll be welcomed by our front desk team. After giving you a brief tour of the office, we’ll collect your diagnostic records. These will usually include a series of digital photographs and x-rays, which help us get a better idea of what’s happening with your teeth, facial features, and jaw relationship. It also allows us to determine the position of your erupted and unerupted teeth.

Once we’ve collected the images we need, you’ll be introduced to one of our board-certified doctors! They are experienced orthodontists with many years of education and training in diagnosing and correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. You’ll receive a brief and painless oral examination after describing the concerns you have with your smile. Your orthodontist will use all of the information collected to make their initial diagnosis and create a customized treatment plan for you. 

We want you to understand every aspect of your diagnosis and treatment plan, so we’ll never rush you through this first visit! You can expect to spend about an hour with us, leaving plenty of time to perform the exam, discuss your diagnosis, and answer any questions you may have. We’ll also cover several important topics, including: 

• if treatment is needed immediately or if waiting is recommended
• the treatment options we offer
• an estimate of how long we expect treatment to take
• the total investment required for your new smile
• any payment, financing, and insurance options available to you

Your smile is as unique as you are! You won’t find any cookie-cutter treatment here at Dietrich & Kelso Orthodontics. We’ll provide you with a treatment plan that’s built around your specific needs, lifestyle, and goals. This approach helps ensure a rewarding smile journey with highly personalized results you’ll love! 

Investing in a healthier and happier smile

Once you’ve decided on a treatment plan with your doctor, we’ll go over the financial particulars of treatment. Every patient has different needs and responds to treatment in their own way, so there’s no “one size fits all” answer for how much treatment will cost. Your fee will be based on the difficulty of your case, the expected treatment time, and the orthodontic appliances required. We are always transparent about the costs associated with orthodontic care, and will make sure you understand everything included in your plan before moving forward.

We believe everyone deserves a healthy smile! Our treatment coordinator will present you with the treatment total and outline the payment options available to you. This includes no-interest in-office financing if needed! We also offer CareCredit and Springstone financing options with a $0 down payment and low monthly payments to make treatment more affordable. They also tend to come with a lower interest rate than traditional loans. Some are even interest-free if you qualify! These choices help you achieve a beautiful smile without breaking the bank. 

Our practice also accepts most major credit cards and insurance plans. If you have insurance that will be covering any portion of your orthodontic treatment, our office staff is always available to help you with insurance claims, questions,  and paperwork. 

The next steps in your orthodontic journey

Once your consultation is complete, you’re one step closer to achieving the smile you’ve always wanted! We’ll schedule an appointment for your doctor to place your new orthodontic appliance. This appointment generally takes about an hour, and our team will be available to you during this time to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. They’ll also walk you through caring for your teeth and your appliance during the treatment process, and answer any questions you have at this point. 

Depending on the type of appliance you have, we’ll want to see you for follow-up visits every 8-10 weeks or so. During these appointments, your orthodontist will assess the progress you’re making and ensure things are proceeding according to the treatment plan. If you’re wearing braces, we’ll make any necessary adjustments. Your doctor may choose to change the wire out at this time as well.  

These visits are an essential part of your treatment plan. We do our best to schedule them for a day and time convenient for you, but we also understand that things can come up unexpectedly! If you can’t make your appointment or will be running late for any reason, we simply ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can reschedule you. This allows our office to continue running smoothly and keeps your treatment plan on track! 

Your best smile is waiting for you at Dietrich & Kelso Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment goes beyond straightening your teeth. It can improve your oral health, transform your smile, and boost your self-confidence, too! If you haven’t already scheduled your first visit, there’s never been a better time to get started. Get in touch with us today to set up a FREE consultation with our South Lakeland, North Lakeland, Bartow, Brandon, Riverview, or Winter Haven office!