Your first appointment
Your first visit, and what happens in it
No referral needed. Here's what to expect when you visit us for the first time.
- No referral needed
- Specialists since 1984
- Clear quote before you start
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Not sure where to start?
If orthodontics is new to you or your child, it is completely normal to arrive with more questions than answers. Most people who walk through our door are not sure whether they need treatment at all, let alone which kind.
That is what the first consultation is for. You will get a straight assessment, a clear explanation of your options, and a written quote. Nobody is asked to commit to anything on the day.
- Do we even need treatment?
- Sometimes the answer is no, or not yet. If your child is still growing we will often review them rather than start, and we will tell you that plainly.
- How long will it take?
- It depends on how far the teeth and bite have to move. We will give you a realistic range at the consultation, not a best case.
- What will it cost?
- You leave with a written quote covering the full course of treatment, along with payment plan options and what your health fund may cover.
Three stages, start to finish
Orthodontic treatment is long, so it helps to see the whole shape of it before you begin. Every case moves through the same three stages, whether it takes six months or three years.
- One to two visits
Planning
We work out exactly where your teeth need to go before anything is fitted.
- Photographs, X-rays and a digital scan of your teeth
- A specialist assessment of your bite and jaw
- Your treatment options, with an honest recommendation
- A written quote and payment plan before you decide
- Around 6 months to 2 years
Active
Gentle, continuous pressure moves your teeth towards the position we planned.
- Braces or aligners fitted and started
- Short adjustment visits roughly every 6 to 8 weeks
- The same orthodontist at each of those visits
- Progress checked against the original plan as you go
- Ongoing
Retention
Teeth drift for life, so the last stage is the one that keeps the result.
- Custom retainers made from a final scan
- Fixed, removable, or a combination of both
- Clear instructions on how long to wear them
- Review visits, and replacements when you need them
What happens at your first visit
Allow about an hour. It is a conversation and an assessment, not a treatment appointment, and you will not have anything fitted on the day.
We listen first
What is bothering you, what you would like to change, and anything you have been told before. For children, we want to hear from them too, not only from the parent.
A specialist assessment
One of our orthodontists examines your teeth, bite and jaw, and how they are developing. This is the part a general dentist cannot do for you.
Imaging, only if it is needed
Usually a digital scan and an X-ray. The scan replaces the old putty impressions, so there is nothing to gag on and nothing to hold still for.
Your options, explained properly
What is suitable for your case, what each option involves day to day, roughly how long it takes, and what we would recommend if it were our family.
A written quote before you leave
The full fee for your course of treatment, payment plan options, and what your health fund is likely to cover. No pressure to book anything on the spot.
Worth bringing
- A referral, if your dentist gave you one. You do not need one to book.
- Any X-rays taken in the last twelve months
- Your private health fund card
- The questions you have been meaning to ask
The same team, the whole way through
Treatment runs for years, so who you see matters. At Midland Orthodontics you are cared for by the same specialist orthodontist from your first assessment to the day your braces come off, not whoever happens to be rostered on.
Our six orthodontists have been practising on The Avenue since 1984, and most of our reception and clinical team have been here long enough to know your family by name.
- Practising in Midland since
- 1984
- Practising in Midland since
- Specialist orthodontists
- Six
- Specialist orthodontists
- Referral required to book
- None
- Referral required to book
The questions we get asked most
Anything else you would like to know before you book, ring us and ask. Our reception team can answer most of it on the phone.
No. Plenty of our patients are referred by their family dentist, but you can book a consultation with us directly. If you do have a referral, bring it along with any recent X-rays.
Allow about an hour. That covers the conversation, the clinical assessment, any imaging we need, and time to go through your options without rushing.
No. The first visit is for assessing and planning. If you decide to go ahead, we book a separate appointment to fit your braces or start your aligners, so you have time to think it over first.
It is a good age for a first look. Most seven year olds do not need treatment yet, but an early assessment lets us watch how the jaw and adult teeth are coming through and step in at the right moment rather than the convenient one.
Our reception team will confirm the consultation fee when you book, so there are no surprises when you arrive. Any fees for treatment itself are set out in the written quote you take home.
Most funds with extras cover part of orthodontic treatment, though limits and waiting periods vary a lot between policies. We will show you the item numbers so you can check your own cover before committing.
Book your first visit
One appointment, a straight answer, and a written quote to take home. No referral needed.