First Visit
Your first visit to our Lexington, Paris or Nicholasville orthodontic office will be a chance for us to get acquainted and to answer your questions. The initial exam can be a very helpful way for you to get a clear idea about you or your child's orthodontic needs. We offer a complimentary initial exam as a service to you. Although a referral is not required to schedule this appointment, we will work closely with your family dentist to assure comprehensive care. The objective of the first visit is to determine whether treatment is indicated and when to begin treatment.
At your first visit, Dr. Ferguson or Dr. Tipton will observe the position of your teeth and the relationship of upper and lower teeth and jaws. They will check for problems such as crowded or missing teeth, submerged primary teeth, protruding upper and lower teeth and jaws, overbite, crossbite or painful joints. They will also assess whether there is a need for interceptive orthodontics and facial orthopeadics. This information will be used to give you a preliminary idea of the problems that may be present. The doctors will also present you with possible treatment alternatives, an estimate of the treatment time, an estimate of the cost, and answer any questions you may have. If no treatment is required, we may suggest an observation recall to monitor future growth and development of your orthodontic situation. You or your child will be placed on a periodic observation basis, again at no charge per visit, until treatment is begun.
If treatment is recommended, diagnostic records may be taken then, or scheduled at a later time. These records consist of another type of an x-ray and impressions. The records appointment takes about 20-30 minutes and usually includes the following:
- Exam/Health History
- Impressions or "molds" of your teeth and bite
- Panoramic X-ray
- Digital Photos of the face and teeth
Once the records have been taken, the doctors will be able to give their final diagnosis and treatment plan. This will be presented to you at a later appointment where he will then discuss treatment alternatives, risks/benefits of treatment, and answer any questions you may have.
The next step is to begin with treatment. For most people, this will require two appointments, about one-week apart. We look forward to the opportunity to provide you and your family with the most advanced care available with the greatest efficiency possible.
