Your first visit to The Orthodontic Gallery takes about an hour. Dr. Wakas Abdulrazzaq examines your teeth, bite, and jaw, we take digital images and a 3D scan, and you leave with a written treatment plan and the cost of it. There is no charge and no referral needed.
Your first visit is about understanding your smile. You will leave with clear answers and no pressure. It is a diagnosis and a conversation, and a fair number of people walk out being told they do not need treatment yet, or at all. You cannot make a good decision about two years of your life on a guess, so the point of the first hour is to replace the guessing with an actual answer.
Before You Arrive
Bring three things if you have them: a list of any medications, any dental insurance information you have, and any recent X-rays your general dentist has taken. If you do not have them, come anyway. We can take our own imaging, and the front desk can request records later.
Parents of younger children often find it easier to do this at home than in a lobby with a restless seven-year-old.
What Happens During the Hour
The records
That means digital photographs, X-rays, and a 3D scan taken with the Medit i900 scanner. The scanner is a small wand that passes over your teeth and builds a model on screen. There is no tray of impression putty and nothing to gag on, which is the part most patients are relieved to hear.
The examination
Dr. Abdulrazzaq then looks at how your teeth fit together, how your jaws relate to each other, how much room there is, and how everything moves. Crowding is only one part of it. Bite depth, midline, airway posture, tooth eruption, and jaw growth all change what treatment should look like and when it should start.
The explanation
Dr. Wakas takes the time to walk you through your scan. You see your own scan on the screen, and Dr. Abdulrazzaq walks you through what he is looking at and why it matters. If there are two reasonable ways to treat your case, you hear both, along with which one he would choose and the reason.
The numbers
Before you leave, you get the treatment plan in writing with the cost attached to it. You also get the payment options: traditional braces start at $500 down, in-house plans carry no interest, and we accept CareCredit along with HSA and FSA funds. Because every fee is based on your examination, we give you an exact written fee at the visit.
Bringing a Child for a First Check
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by about age seven. That surprises parents, because most seven-year-olds obviously are not getting braces. The reason is that a few problems, such as crossbites, severe crowding, and a narrow upper jaw, are much easier to correct while the jaw is still growing.
For most children this visit ends with a note in the chart and a recheck in a year. We would rather see your child four times for free and start at the right moment than start early because you were already in the chair. There is more on early treatment for children.
After the Visit
If you decide to move forward, we can usually schedule the start appointment within a couple of weeks. If you want to think about it, take the written plan with you and compare it to anything else you are considering. We will not call you repeatedly. If the answer is not yet, we will put you on a recall schedule and check again when it makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your First Visit
Can you go straight to an orthodontist, or do you need a dentist referral?
You can go straight to an orthodontist. No referral is required to be seen at The Orthodontic Gallery. Many patients come referred by their general dentist, and many simply call us directly.
How long does an orthodontic consultation take?
Plan for about an hour, including imaging, the examination, and the treatment discussion. A recheck visit for a growing child is much shorter, usually 15 to 20 minutes.
Will I get braces at the first appointment?
No. The first visit is for records, diagnosis, and planning. Braces or clear aligners are placed at a separate appointment, usually scheduled a week or two later.
What should I bring to my first orthodontic visit?
Any current medications, any dental insurance information you have, and recent dental X-rays if your general dentist has them. Bring the insurance details and we will walk through what they may cover. Nothing else is required.
Book Your Free Consultation
Call 813-867-0414 or request a visit online. We are at 10061 Beach Verbena Drive in Riverview, with evening and Saturday appointments available. Directions and current hours are on our contact page, and the questions patients ask most often are answered on our orthodontic FAQ.