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What to Expect
During your first visit, you will be introduced to a Treatment Coordinator who will give you a brief tour of the office, then escort you to the consultation room. There we will do the following:
Facial and Intraoral Photography
Before meeting with Dr. Minars, our assistant will take photos. These photos will be displayed on the screen, so that Dr. Minars can show you a close-up view of your orthodontic needs.
Clinical Exam
The Treatment Coordinator will brief Dr. Minars on all the information she has received from the patient including the photos to help the doctor determine the best treatment to meet the orthodontic needs of the patient. Once the doctor has been briefed, he will go to the new patient exam room and will make a clinical examination of the patient.
Financial Consultation
After the preliminary treatment plan has been thoroughly discussed and all questions regarding treatment have been answered, the patient and parents will meet with the Treatment Coordinator to discuss their orthodontic investment and financial options, including insurance coverage. The patient will be given a form explaining our flexible payment options and how we will submit all of their insurance filings for them. On more difficult or unusual cases, Dr. Minars will not be able to discuss finances until full diagnostic records have been taken.
After the finances have been reviewed you will be given the option to take records now (approx. 30 minutes) or reschedule. You will be saving a visit if you choose to take records now!
The most common question is "When can I get my braces?" Typically, appliances are placed at your second visit, if full records were taken at your initial visit. If records are taken at your second appointment, braces are typically placed at your next appointment.
Orthodontic Records
Cephalogram
The Cephalogram details the patient's dental occlusion (bite) and the relationship between the occlusion and their skeletal structure. It is a full skull x-ray of a patient's profile. Digitally tracing the Cephalogram, Dr. Minars will create a Cephalometric tracing in which he makes different measurements, both linear and angular, to determine the position of the jaws and teeth. He can then determine the appropriate orthodontic treatment plan that will result in the most attractive and functional facial harmony.
Panoramic X-Rays
The panoramic x-ray is a single x-ray that details all of a patient's teeth and their relationship to each other. This is an important image that will help Dr. Minars determine the appropriate treatment required.
Impressions of the Teeth
Plaster casts from impressions create a lasting record that is not only beneficial in determining and providing the appropriate treatment but also a tremendous before and after tool that dramatically reminds patients of the progress they've made toward the desired end result.
When taking orthodontic records, we have a special room in our office for each individual x-ray. Lead aprons are placed on the patient to minimize x-ray radiation. In fact, the amount of x-ray radiation is negligible. The orthodontic records are reviewed by the doctor prior to the start of treatment to ensure that the best treatment plan is determined for each patient.
Facial and Intraoral Photography
We fully document, through digital photography, each new patient's pre-treatment facial and intraoral condition in three views and teeth in five views.
During your initial visit and exam, photographs will be taken of your teeth and face and placed on a computer for the patient and family member to see during the exam. During the initial visit, we thoroughly document a patient's occlusion (bite), overall dental condition, and the relationship between their teeth and their skeletal structure. With this information, a temporary orthodontic treatment plan will be formulated. In order to get a proper diagnosis, full diagnostic records must be taken and reviewed so that Dr. Minars has a comprehensive understanding of your child's orthodontic problems.
Diagnostic records consist of:
- An x-ray of the patient's head (cephalogram)
- An x-ray of the patient's jaws and teeth (panorex)
- Facial photographs and intraoral photographs
- Impressions of the teeth. These orthodontic records are used to document the diagnosis and plan the orthodontic treatment needed for each patient
Office Tour
Office Entrance
The office is located at 4410 Sheridan Street, in the Emerald Hills Medical Square.
Reception Area
This area is where we welcome our patients and family members.
Touchscreen Check-in
The computerized check-in lets us know that the patient has arrived. It also displays the purpose of the visit, so that we can be prepared.
On-Deck
Coming soon...
Consultation Area
The consultation room is where the initial examination occurs. The initial examination includes a comprehensive oral examination, taking and reviewing patient photographs, reviewing treatment estimates and financial options. The large screen monitor is used so that the patient and/or parents fully understand the patient's malocclusion and the treatment that needs to be completed to achieve the desired result.
Brushing Station
Oral hygiene is of utmost importance in our office. Through proper oral hygiene, patients can enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Treatment Area
The clinic is an "open bay" concept. The open bay provides a warm atmosphere and children are less afraid than the traditional dental setting where they are escorted to an enclosure all by themselves. We have music, conversation, and fun. Computers in the clinical bay are a part of our office wide information management system. We can display charts, radiographs, photographs, treatment plan, and any information necessary as needed for the visit. Our treatment area is designed for efficiency and easy interaction between patients and staff.
Diagnostic Records Area
The Diagnostic Records area is where the necessary x-rays and impressions of the teeth are taken. Once the x-rays are completed, anyone who has accompanied a new patient to the records exam is welcome to observe and ask questions. To ensure that patients receive the lowest possible exposure to x-ray radiation, we use state-of-the-art x-ray instrumentation and capture images on the highest speed x-ray film available. To further minimize exposure, we also cover each patient with a lead apron.
Sterilization
We maintain the highest degree of sterilization throughout our clinic. Our extensive sterilization process ensures that every instrument is sterile. We also continually upgrade our procedures as better techniques and equipment become available. All hand pieces and instruments are sterilized either by heat treatment or chemical treatment, depending on the manufacturers' recommendations. We take great pride that all of our sterilization processes and procedures exceed professional and regulatory guidelines.
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