First Visit
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Initial Complimentary Exam During your New Patient Examination the most important thing you will do is meet Dr. Kattner. This is your opportunity to measure his professionalism, expertise and personality against your expectations. Orthodontics is a long-term relationship and confidence in your orthodontist cannot be underestimated. After a comprehensive examination, Dr. Kattner will carefully explain his findings along with any treatment recommendations he may have. Diagnostic records are typically part of the new patient process and can often be completed this same day. You will also have an opportunity to meet with our Treatment Coordinator who will answer your questions about appliance options, appointments, food restrictions, insurance benefits and financial policies. For your convenience, you may download and print the patient information forms here. Please fill out form and bring to your first visit. What Options Do I Have With My Braces? We offer both traditional metal and clear braces. While metal braces are certainly more durable, many of our adult patients choose a clear cosmetic appliance for their upper anterior teeth. We also have a few patients that want to add a little glamour to their treatment and opt for gold colored braces (at a slightly higher fee). They all work well and the choice is yours. Fun colors can be added to your braces and these colors can be changed at each appointment. If it seems like kids "want" braces nowadays this ability to decorate their smiles just may be the reason why! What About Invisalign? Dr. Kattner is a certified orthodontic provider of Invisalign. This newer technology allows simple orthodontic cases to be treated using a series of clear aligners rather than braces or retainers. Its not for everyone and sometimes the necessary treatment might include both braces and aligners but if cosmetics is really important let’s discuss if Invisalign would be right for you! Care for Your Braces & Teeth Follow the Rules About Eating Habits! Repeated episodes of broken brackets and loose bands (and bent or missing wires) is a sure way to make your orthodontic treatment last longer than it should. While that means you need to temporarily give up some of your favorite treats you will quickly return to your familiar diet complete with a set of beautifully straight and healthy teeth. Follow Dr. Kattner’s Prescribed Treatment Plan! Our best patients are great at keeping their scheduled appointments and if they do miss an appointment they are quick to call back and reschedule their necessary adjustments. Equally important is your personal contribution to the success of treatment: that means following the prescribed recommendations for headgear, elastics and retainer wear. By enthusiastically following the accurate placement and time requirements for these "at home" appliances you will be surprised to see how quickly your treatment progresses! Brushing and Flossing! Nothing we do during your time with our office will be more critical to the success of your orthodontic treatment than your personal home care and hygiene. Brushing should be done after every meal and before bedtime. It is important to brush thoroughly and carefully - concentrating on getting all tooth surfaces clean in and around the brackets and bands. Special emphasis should be placed in two areas: under the wires and at the margin where your tooth meets your gum tissue. We find these are the areas most commonly missed and the places where we find most damage to tooth enamel. Few things are more disappointing than to remove the braces only to uncover areas of decalcification. Flossing is equally important and we provide specialized threaders to make flossing easier. Daily flossing is important to clean those areas that your toothbrush cannot reach. Personalized brushing and flossing instructions will be shared by our clinical staff during the appointment that your braces are placed and your home hygiene will be evaluated and encouraged at every appointment in our office! See Your Dentist for Regular Checkups! We like to think of your general dentist as the quarterback of the dental team. Seeing your dentist for a checkup and a prophylaxis every six months (or more) will be an important part of your care and one that we don’t want you to skip. Eating Habits and Orthodontics A careful orthodontic patient can probably enjoy almost any food and do no damage to his or her braces. However, these types of food may cause trouble, as may other similar foods. Use common sense or, if you are in doubt, ask us about a particular food you enjoy eating. Avoid Eating...
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