Learn!

What happens at my first visit?

This is a time for orthodontists to listen to patient concerns and to provide an orthodontic examination. The orthodontist will likely be able to indicate whether or not treatment is needed and if needed, when the best time to start treatment would be. Typical steps prior to beginning treatment include gathering orthodontic records to provide specific information to tailor a treatment plan for that patient (see orthodontic records below).

Often, this is a time when the doctor and staff discuss fees for orthodontic care, general payment options, and insurance benefits.

What is an orthodontist?     

Orthodontists are qualified dentists, who after graduating from dental school, go on to additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists.  That training lasts at least two to three academic years—sometimes more. Click here to find out about Dr. Lints education.  By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely educated experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.

Orthodontists diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities.  Orthodontists limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.  That means that orthodontic treatment is what they do, and that is all they do.  Orthodontists treat a wide variety of malocclusions (misaligned aligned teeth and/or jaws).  They regularly treat young children, teens and adults.

Selecting an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is your assurance that you have chosen an orthodontist: the dental specialist with at least two to three years of post-doctoral, advanced specialty education in orthodontics in a university-based program accredited by the American Dental Association.  Specialty education includes the study of subjects in biomedical, behavioral and basic sciences; oral biology; and biomechanics.