Initial Consultation: This is the first step to getting that smile you have always dreamed of.
This appointment will take between 30-60min. At this appointment someone from the Design team will take some photos and x-rays after which you will have the chance to meet Dr Wong in person. He will sit down with you and chat with you to really get an understanding of who you are and what you feel your orthodontic problems are. You will have a chance to ask questions, get answers and get comfortable with the whole process.
Dr Wong will complete a comprehensive exam and present all his findings with you in language that you can easily understand. Working with you, he will then discuss potential treatment options to address these issues and together the treatment plan is developed. You will also have a chance to chat with the treatment coordinator. Their role is to help navigate you through the administrative and financial side of orthodontic treatment which is often confusing and intimidating.
The initial consultation is something we pride ourselves in doing well. I mean really, this is the first opportunity for us to meet. Everything will be explained in terms that you can easily understand. We will take the time to answer any questions that you may have so that at the end of the appointment you will feel not just comfortable but excited about your orthodontic journey.
Oral Hygiene: Having the teeth, gums and supporting bone all healthy is the foundation of having good oral health.
Oral hygiene and good home care is a critical component to achieving this. We know cleaning around braces can certainly be difficult and time consuming, but our team will try to teach you tips and tricks to maybe make this process a bit easier. We will give you an evaluation of how you have been doing and if needed suggestions on how to make things better at each of your visits to the clinic.
Regular check ups and hygiene appointments are another critical part in maintaining good oral home care and should be booked directly with your Family Dentist’s office especially when going through orthodontic treatment.
Frequently asked questions.
At Design Orthodontics, we are here to answer all your questions regarding our services. Some of the more common questions, with answers, can be found here.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends bringing in your child for an orthodontic examination no later than age seven. This is because certain issues benefit from early treatment and would minimize or eliminate future problems. In addition, certain procedures are coordinated with growth; for that reason we want to be able to see patients younger so that we don’t miss these important windows of treatment. Not every child requires early treatment or treatment at all. Should your child require orthodontic care in the future, we will place them into our recare system and monitor growth and development of both their teeth and facial structures at no additional charge until which time treatment is necessary.
In certain cases there is an absolute need to extract teeth due to the level of crowding that is present. Each case is individual with many factors that are involved in the decision to extract or not extract teeth. We explore all these options with you at the time of your exam and consult and discuss in detail the benefits of each one. Not every patient will require or have extraction recommended.
In the same way that no person is too old for a confident, beautiful smile, no person is too old to get braces. The largest growing population of people getting braces are those older than 30. Treatment of adults is different than treatment of youths and adolescents and dental work such as crowns, bridges, implants, missing teeth, etc. will need to be considered in the overall orthodontic plan. There are many orthodontic treatments open to adults and the experienced professionals at Design Orthodontics are always open to discussing suitable options for any person interested.
In today’s orthodontic world there are several aesthetic options available.
- We offer clear ceramic braces that make wearing braces much less noticeable.
- We use the Incognito® system by 3M which allows us the ability to place custom brackets on the back of your teeth so that they are hidden from view.
- We also treat our patients with Invisalign® which is a series of clear retainers that slowly reposition your teeth as you switch from aligner to aligner.
There are many alternatives to the conventional metal brackets and we present the options best suited for you during our consultation.
Getting braces doesn’t hurt at all—the procedure involves gluing brackets to the surface of your teeth. What patients typically find uncomfortable is the 24-hour period after the braces and wires are placed. This occurs because the teeth are starting to move into alignment may begin to feel loose or sore. Typically, this lasts for a week and during this period, short-term anti-inflammatory drugs and a soft food diet can ease discomfort. Some patients report discomfort from brackets or wires rubbing against their cheeks and lips and so we provide each patient with special orthodontic putty to use as a barrier.
Everybody responds to treatment differently and the vast majority of people have no problems with orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontists are dentists that in addition to dental school have completed 2-3 years of post-dental school training strictly in the field of orthodontics. With more experience and training in orthodontics, we are able to treat cases with a variety of techniques as well as take on the most complicated orthodontic problems not commonly handled in general practices. Specialists in Canada are required to pass a series of examinations held by the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC). All treatment will be personally overseen by Dr. Wong, a Certified Specialist in Orthodontics.
Because each case brings with it a separate set of complexities, without an examination and orthodontic records it is difficult to give an accurate time of treatment. Typical orthodontic cases average between 18-24 months.
Ready for your first visit? Register now to get started.
Save time at the office and fill out your registration and health history information online. Take a few minutes to fill out the confidential form and your information will be sent to our office with secure encryption. We will already have your information when you arrive for your first appointment.