Initial Appointment

What is orthodontics?

Literally, orthodontics means "straight teeth". An orthodontist is not only trained to straighten teeth, but to evaluate and treat anomalies of the jaws, monitor growth and diagnose, liaise with dentists and other specialists and carry out the complex treatment required. An orthodontist is a dentist who has studied for three years to gain a Masters degree and restricts practice to orthodontics only.

Andrew Marriott is a registered specialist orthodontist with the Dental Council of New Zealand and a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Andrew Lush is a registered specialist orthodontist with the Dental Council of New Zealand and also has a fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

What happens at the initial appointment?

Come into the reception area and book yourself in using the computer screen at reception. There are notes explaining how to do this next to the screen. If you have any questions please ask one of the receptionists. Any family members are welcome to attend the appointment. It is important if the patient is under 16 years of age that a parent or guardian attends the initial appointment.

Once you have come into the clinic we will discuss your concerns and whether you were referred or advised to attend. We will then carry out an initial clinical assessment and advise, in general terms: the problems, possible treatment options (if any treatment is needed), timing of the treatment, costs in the short and long term, what the next step in the process is, and answer any questions you have.

What is the cost?

The cost of the initial appointment is $45.00. This covers the initial appointment, any letters and referrals to other health practitioners, and your registration. Sometimes it is necessary to take a general x-ray to check what is happening to the teeth beneath the gums and jaws where we cannot see. The cost of this x-ray is $55.00. All charges are payable on the day of the appointment by cash, cheque, credit card or eftpos.

What happens after the initial appointment?

It is important that you discuss any of the issues with family and those concerned with making decisions. If you have any further questions, please contact the staff at the clinic. In general most comprehensive (full fixed braces) treatment is not started until around the time the last baby teeth are lost (normally around the age of 12-13). However, it is important that we evaluate things earlier than this as in some cases we can carry out interceptive treatment to alleviate problems or, in some cases, prevent the need for comprehensive treatment. We place some patients on recall to monitor their dental development. We will send a recall note to remind you of the recall appointment. The cost of every recall appointment is $25.00.

Before any comprehensive treatment is started, full records are taken followed by a consultation a week or two later. The records appointment consists of photographs of the face and teeth, x-rays to get measurements of the face and skull, and moulds of the teeth. These records are thoroughly evaluated and a treatment plan is formulated and discussed with you at the consultation. The cost of the records and the consultation is $150.00. This is payable at the records appointment.

At the consultation you will be given a summary and quote. If you then decide to continue on with treatment we have payment plans for those wanting to spread payments during active treatment (when the braces are placed).