What to Expect at Your First Orthodontic Consultation

The first orthodontic consultation is something many people put off. They are not sure what to expect, do not want to feel pressured, or are worried the news will not be what they are hoping for. Some have been thinking about it for years.

Here is the reality: the first appointment is just an assessment. Nothing is decided, nothing is started, and nothing is committed to. You walk out knowing more than when you walked in — and that information is yours to do with as you choose.

This is a step-by-step account of what actually happens when you visit us at Claremont Orthodontics for the first time.

Before you arrive

What to bring

You do not need to bring much. If you have recent dental X-rays, those are useful — they give us a head start on understanding your dental history. If you have a referral letter from your dentist, bring that too. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian needs to be present at the consultation.

If you are an adult coming in on your own, that is completely fine.

What to think about beforehand

It helps to have a loose sense of what prompted you to book the appointment. Is it the appearance of your teeth? A bite problem your dentist mentioned? A concern about a child’s development? You do not need a clinical understanding of your situation — that is our job — but knowing what you are hoping to understand or address helps us focus the conversation.

Step 1: Welcome and initial discussion

When you arrive at our practice at 7/355 Stirling Highway, you will be welcomed by our reception team. The first part of the appointment is a conversation — Dr Denize or one of our team will ask what brought you in, what concerns you have, and what you are hoping orthodontic treatment might do for you.

This is not a formality. It genuinely shapes how we approach the examination. A patient who is concerned about the appearance of a single rotated tooth has different priorities from a patient whose dentist has referred them because of a significant bite problem. We want to understand your perspective, not just your teeth.

Step 2: Clinical examination

This is the hands-on part. We examine your teeth, your bite, your jaw, and your gums.

Teeth and alignment

We look at each tooth individually — its position, angle, and relationship to its neighbours. We check for crowding, spacing, rotations, and any teeth that appear to be in the wrong position or have not erupted as expected.

Bite assessment

We assess how your upper and lower teeth come together when you bite. We are looking at:

• Overjet — how far the upper front teeth protrude in front of the lower
• Overbite — how much the upper front teeth overlap the lower vertically
• Crossbite — whether any lower teeth sit outside the upper teeth when biting
• Open bite — whether there are any gaps between upper and lower teeth when biting
• Midlines — whether the centreline of the upper and lower teeth are aligned

A bite assessment tells us whether the issue is purely about tooth position or whether there is a jaw relationship component that needs to be addressed.

Jaw and facial examination

We also look at the face and jaw from the outside — the proportions, the profile, the symmetry. In growing patients, this tells us a great deal about what the face is doing and what it is likely to do. In adults, it informs treatment planning and helps us anticipate the aesthetic impact of different approaches.

Gum and periodontal assessment

Healthy gums and supporting bone are a precondition for safe orthodontic treatment. We check for signs of gum disease — redness, recession, swelling — and ask about your general dental health history. If we see anything that suggests active gum disease, we will be direct about the need to address that before any orthodontic treatment begins.

Step 3: Diagnostic records

After the clinical examination, we take diagnostic records. These give us the complete picture that clinical examination alone cannot provide.

Digital scans

We use an intraoral scanner to take a three-dimensional digital model of your teeth. This replaces the traditional putty impressions that patients often found uncomfortable. The scanner moves across your teeth and builds a precise 3D model in real time. It takes a few minutes and is entirely comfortable.

The digital model allows us to measure tooth positions precisely, visualise the bite from any angle, and plan tooth movements with accuracy.

X-rays

We typically take two types of X-ray at an initial consultation:

Panoramic X-ray: A full-mouth view showing all teeth — including roots, developing teeth in children, unerupted wisdom teeth, and the bone supporting each tooth. This single image tells us an enormous amount about the overall state of the dentition.

Cephalometric X-ray: A standardised side-profile image of the skull. This shows the relationship of the jaws to each other, the angle of the teeth relative to the bone, and the overall facial structure. It is essential for planning treatment that involves bite correction or significant jaw relationship changes.

Clinical photographs

We take standardised photographs of the face (front and side) and of the teeth (front, side, and upper and lower arches). These form part of the diagnostic record and serve as a baseline for tracking progress throughout treatment.

Step 4: Records analysis

Dr Denize reviews the records — the scans, the X-rays, the photographs — in combination with the clinical examination findings. This is where the diagnostic picture comes together.

This analysis may happen during the same appointment or, for more complex cases, at a follow-up appointment where we present a detailed treatment plan. For most patients, we are able to discuss our findings at the same visit.

Step 5: Discussion of findings

This is arguably the most important part of the appointment, and we take it seriously.

We will explain:

• What we found: A plain-language description of the orthodontic issues — what they are, why they have occurred, and what they mean for your dental health and function.
• What we recommend and why: The treatment approach best suited to your case. If multiple options are appropriate, we discuss the trade-offs — timeline, aesthetics, compliance requirements, cost.
• What we do not recommend and why: If certain treatment options are not suitable for your case, we explain that honestly.
• What happens without treatment: If your concerns are primarily cosmetic, we will explain the functional considerations too. If there are genuine health reasons to treat, we will be clear about that.
• Realistic timelines: Not a best-case scenario — what the expected treatment duration is for your case, and why.
• What treatment involves day-to-day: What wearing braces or aligners actually looks and feels like, what you can and cannot eat, what cleaning is like, how appointments work.
• Cost: A written quote covering all aspects of treatment, including retainers and follow-up care.

We encourage questions throughout this discussion. No question is too basic. You are making a significant decision, and you deserve to understand the reasoning behind every recommendation we make.

Step 6: Asking your questions

Before you leave, we make sure you have had the chance to ask whatever is on your mind. Common questions we hear at first consultations:

• “How noticeable will this be at work?”
• “Can I get aligners instead of braces, or is my case not suitable?”
• “My teenager is asking about braces — is now the right time?”
• “I had braces as a teenager and my teeth have shifted. Can they be fixed again?”
• “I have a crown — does that affect treatment?”

We will answer all of these honestly. If there is something we do not know yet — perhaps we need to review the X-rays in more detail — we will tell you that and follow up.

What happens after the consultation

At the end of the appointment, you will have:

• A clear understanding of your orthodontic situation
• A recommendation (or recommendations) for treatment
• A written quote covering the cost of treatment
• Information about payment plan options

What you do with that is up to you. Some patients decide on the spot — they have been thinking about it for a long time and the consultation confirmed what they wanted to do. Others take weeks or months to decide, discuss the options with their partner, or speak to their general dentist. We do not follow up with pressure calls.

When you are ready to proceed, you contact us and we book the next appointment.

If you decide not to proceed — for any reason — that is completely fine. You leave the consultation better informed than when you arrived, and that information belongs to you.

Booking your consultation at Claremont Orthodontics

Our Claremont practice at 7/355 Stirling Highway sees new patients from across Perth’s western suburbs — Nedlands, Cottesloe, Dalkeith, Subiaco, Mosman Park, Swanbourne, Peppermint Grove, and beyond. Whether you are an adult who has been thinking about orthodontic treatment for years, a parent with questions about a child’s development, or someone referred by their dentist, the first step is the same — a thorough, no-pressure assessment.

Start with our free 3-minute assessment at claremontorthodontics.com.au/assessment to get a sense of whether treatment is likely to be relevant for you. Or call us directly on (08) 6288 7188 to book.

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Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.