Call: (03) 9212 0217 | Unit 2/31 Clyde Rd, Berwick VIC 3806
Call: (03) 9212 0217 | Unit 2/31 Clyde Rd, Berwick VIC 3806
Congratulations on taking the first step towards a confident smile. If you’re new to orthodontics, what comes next can feel a little unknown. Here’s a simple guide to help you understand what to expect, from your first appointment through to commencing treatment.
Before your first appointment, it’s normal to feel unsure of what to expect. Your first appointment is about understanding what’s going on and how we can help. We want you to feel comfortable and at ease, knowing you are in safe hands.
Our friendly reception staff will coordinate your appointment and ensure all forms are completed. They will answer any questions you have and provide you with the information you need to make your first appointment easy.
Our Treatment Coordinator is the first person you will meet when you start your orthodontic journey. As our orthodontist’s "right-hand person", they explain treatment options and plans making everything easy to understand.
Our Specialist Orthodontists, Dr Theresia Sudjalim or Dr Andrea Phatouros, take the time to listen to you and your concerns before even looking inside your mouth. Using the latest technology, they develop a personalised treatment plan.
During your initial consultation, other members of our team step in to assist with taking photos or X-rays. If you start treatment, they’ll also be the ones to give you at-home care advice, see you in your check-in appointments and help in an orthodontic emergency.
Our Specialist Orthodontist will talk to you about your medical and dental history. Many health factors affect orthodontics – it’s not just about teeth. It’s important to get an overall picture before we make any recommendations.
We will gain a better understanding of your bone structure, bite and oral health through the latest in orthodontic imaging technology.
The types of images we use:
This includes:
With all of this information, the Orthodontist and Treatment Coordinator will present you with our recommended treatment options. Your personalised orthodontic treatment plan will outline options and pricing with an indication of how long the treatment will take.
If multiple options are available, our Specialist Orthodontists explain the pros and cons so you have all the information you need to make a decision.
No. You don’t need a referral for an orthodontic consultation. If you have a referral from a dentist, please share it with us, even if it is addressed to another orthodontist as it will have important information but otherwise, your decision to seek orthodontic treatment is your own.
Flexible payment plans are available for full treatments. The team will present the options, allowing you to choose which is better for you.
Most Australian health funds include orthodontics under extras or general dental cover.
Check your level of cover with your private health insurer, along with any waiting periods and limits on how much you can claim. We don’t have a preferred health fund or direct health insurance partnerships.
No. If our Specialist Orthodontist recommends starting treatment sooner rather than later, you should make your decision within a couple of weeks so we can arrange appropriate bookings. But overall, you have time to consider the options and costs.
At Berwick Orthodontics we specialise in treating patients who struggle with sensory overload. We have two separate treatment rooms where we usually hold these initial consultations. Having space from the main clinic environment means we can control the sound and lighting with fewer people in the room. Please tell us if this is a concern and we will ensure we are doing our best to meet your needs.
An orthodontic clinical exam is less painful than visiting the dentist. In this initial appointment we are simply seeing how your teeth fit within your mouth and how they work together when you bite or chew. We notice things like plaque buildup or areas of decay, but in this appointment, we’re not using invasive procedures to treat these issues. We simply factor them in as a part of your overall oral health, which may also guide treatment recommendations.
We will review X-rays that have been taken in the last 6 months – if you haven’t had any accidents since then that have impacted your teeth or jaw, and haven’t grown new teeth or lost any. Unfortunately, we often find X-ray image quality or positioning isn’t up to our standards. In that case, we may recommend taking new X-rays during the appointment, which we will gladly bulk-bill where possible.
Book an initial consultation to talk about your orthodontic concerns and how we can help.
