Guide
What to check before an orthodontic consultation
An orthodontic consultation is closer to a negotiation before signing. Bring four things: diagnostic records, the reasoning behind the duration, the cost structure, and transfer terms.
Decide what you want first
Is it protrusion that bothers you, the crookedness itself, or discomfort when you chew? Put what you want changed into one sentence before you go. A clear goal makes it much easier to judge whether a proposal actually matches it.
A few photographs help — front and profile when smiling, and a close-up showing the teeth. The conversation gets concrete much faster.
Four things to establish at the consultation
For records, ask whether a lateral cephalometric X-ray and a scan are taken. For duration, ask what treatment goal that "eighteen months" assumes. For cost, ask whether the total includes monthly adjustments and retainers. For transfer, ask what the refund percentages are by stage if you move.
Get all four answers in writing and two or three consultations become genuinely comparable side by side.
The last check before signing
Make sure the treatment plan states the expected duration, the appliance type, whether extractions are involved, and the total cost with what it covers. Extraction versus non-extraction is the biggest fork in the plan, so it matters that the reasoning is explained.
Ask, too, whether the dentist doing your monthly adjustments is the one who consulted with you. For a clinic you will attend for years, knowing who you will actually be seeing each month is only reasonable.
FAQ
Frequently asked
How long does an orthodontic consultation take?
Usually 30 minutes to an hour including imaging and examination. Many clinics book the full diagnostic work-up as a separate appointment.
Do I pay the diagnostic fee even if I do not go ahead?
Usually yes — it is charged for the diagnostic work itself. Ask before booking how much it is and whether it is deducted from the total if you proceed.
When is extraction versus non-extraction decided?
After the full diagnostic work-up. It turns on how much space is lacking, the degree of protrusion, and the profile you are aiming at. Being shown the reasoning in the records is a sign of a good consultation.
Is a clinic quoting a shorter duration better?
No. Different goals take different time. Eighteen months to align the teeth and thirty months to correct the bite are not comparable numbers. Match the goal before comparing the duration.
How do I compare total costs?
Total = diagnostic fee + appliance + (monthly adjustment × expected visits) + retainers. Put both inclusive and per-visit clinics through the same formula and the real burden becomes comparable.
I am a student and can only attend during holidays — is that workable?
Adjustments run every four to eight weeks, so ask whether that fits your travel plans, and what widening the interval does to the overall duration.
May I record the consultation?
It goes more smoothly if you ask permission first. Requesting a written treatment plan is the more reliable route anyway.
What if two clinics propose different plans?
That is common. Where extraction or duration differs, ask each clinic what they make of the other plan, and compare the reasoning. A third consultation is a fair way to find your bearings.
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