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.
A patient information and registration packet will be mailed to you prior to your initial visit. Please assist us by bringing these completed forms at this first visit. If you have not received this information, please arrive 15 minutes before your appointed time. You may also download the registration forms by visiting the Forms section of our website.
The timing of your treatment is very important. You or your child may or may not be ready for treatment. If orthodontic treatment is indicated and it is the appropriate time to begin, you will be scheduled for an appointment for diagnostic records. These records consist of articulated study models, bite registrations, photographs and orthodontic x-rays. These are necessary for thorough diagnosis and treatment planning.
Broken Appointments: If for some reason you cannot make it to your appointment, please contact our office at (770) 993-6292. By doing so you allow another patient to use that time as well as reschedule your 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 in the morning.
Dr. Gray will utilize the diagnostic records to develop a treatment plan for your specific needs, keeping your goals and desires in mind.
Once the treatment plan is determined we will educate you on how we will straighten your teeth. We will review with you the results that can be expected and how your active participation can help assure success. Your financial arrangements are then made and the necessary appointments to begin your orthodontic treatment are scheduled.
Periodic visits are an important part of orthodontic treatment. Generally, we will want to see you every 4-8 weeks to check your progress and make adjustments to your braces. During this time, you will need to keep appointments, follow instructions, as well as practice good oral hygiene and proper nutrition. Also continue to visit your dentist regularly (usually every six months).
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!
Dr. Gray is often asked, “When should I bring my child for an examination?”
The simple answer is: When the permanent incisors or permanent first molar begin to erupt!
Please keep in mind that in some developing problems the teeth may look straight. This is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have a check up with an orthodontic specialist no later that age 7. Most future orthodontic concerns can readily be identified at this age and some can be intercepted. Leave it up to us to inform you. To encourage the peace of mind that comes from Dr. Gray’s professional evaluation, patients under the age of 18 are examined as a courtesy with no charge.
The treatment varies depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation and the degree of movement possible. Orthodontic treatment, both braces & Invisalign, averages 12 to 24 months but may take less time or more time, again depending on your concerns.
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 may need to remove any teeth that Dr. Gray 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.