Your first visit

What it costs, and how long it takes

Nothing. The initial consult is free and there is no obligation to start treatment.

The visit itself takes about an hour.

What to bring

Your insurance card, if you have dental coverage. A list of any medications. If you have had orthodontic treatment before, any records you have from it.

For a child, one parent or guardian should attend.

What happens at the visit

Records. Digital photographs of your teeth and face, a digital scan of your teeth, and the X-rays your case needs. The scan takes a few minutes.

Examination. Dr. Cen examines your teeth, your bite, your jaw joints, and your breathing pattern.

Discussion. Dr. Cen explains what she found, using your own images rather than diagrams. You will see what is happening in your mouth and why it matters.

Options. Where more than one approach would work, you get both, with the trade-offs. Where there is a clear clinical answer, you get that.

Timing. For a child, this includes whether to start now or wait. Waiting is frequently the right answer.

Cost. The full fee in writing, what your insurance is expected to cover, and the monthly payment options.

What you leave with

A diagnosis, a recommendation, a timeline, and a price.

You are not asked to decide at the appointment.

If you decide to go ahead

The next appointment is the fitting. For braces that is placement of the brackets and first wire, around an hour to ninety minutes. For aligners it is attachment placement and your first trays.

Booking a virtual consult instead

You can have the first conversation with Dr. Cen remotely. It covers the same ground, but the examination and scan still need one in-office visit before treatment can start.

Ask when you call whether a remote consult is available.