We look forward to meeting you on your first visit to our office.
Your First Call
Our receptionist will schedule a consultation appointment. This visit is free of charge. We will gather basic information about you for our records. If you have orthodontic insurance, please provide this information so that we can verify your coverage. We accept all major insurances. Prior to your consultation, you will receive a letter confirming your appointment, as well as patient forms. Please complete these forms and bring them to your consultation.
The First Visit
At the first visit, Dr. Sundberg will have one of our Patient Care Coordinators take a Panoramic X-ray of your teeth: Our digital x-ray machine produces a digital image of all of your teeth, your jaw and parts of your skull. This image reveals a large amount of information about the health of your teeth and jaws and whether there are any complications such as extra or missing teeth. Dr. Sundberg will perform a clinical evaluation, discuss the problems he sees, possible solutions and provide a proposed treatment plan. Dr. Sundberg and the staff are always very receptive to questions so if you are not sure of something, please ask.
Our Financial Coordinator will also go over the various payment options available. You will be given an estimated treatment fee if you or your child is ready for treatment, or placed on recall for future evaluation. This appointment is 60-90 minutes long. At this time, you may set up your next step to getting braces which is the Diagnostic Records. (If the patient is a minor, a parent or responsible party must be present at this appointment).
Patient Forms
You may access the following forms to assist us with your care. Please print and fill out the following forms, then bring them to your appointment.
These forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Reader already installed on your computer, click the Adobe logo above to download.
Diagnostic Records
At this appointment, all the paperwork will be signed. (If the patient is a minor, a parent or responsible party must be present at this appointment). This is when we gather additional diagnostic information to correctly identify the problems you or your child may have. This appointment is approximately 20-40 minutes long. Below are the various diagnostic procedures that may be performed:
- Lateral Cephalometric X-ray (always done): You stand with your head very still looking forward while a special x-ray machine takes a picture of the side of your head (or your profile). Dr. Sundberg uses this to evaluate the position of your maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) in relation to each other and your skull. Dr. Sundberg also uses it to analyze the position of your teeth in the bones and how your facial features affect your profile.
- Posterior-Anterior Cephalometric X-ray (sometimes done): You stand with your head very still looking forward while a special x-ray machine takes a picture of your head from the back. This x-ray can tell Dr. Sundberg whether your facial bones are symmetrical from right to left.
- Hand-Wrist X-ray (sometimes done): This X-ray is used to evaluate the skeletal age of a patient if Dr. Sundberg thinks it may be different from the patient's chronological age. Certain bones in the fingers show different changes depending on what stage of development the patient is in. By knowing when the patient is going to grow the most, Dr. Sundberg can time orthodontic treatment to take advantage of the patient's pubertal growth spurt.
- Photographs (always done): Facial: These pictures allow Dr. Sundberg to look at the patient while making his diagnosis. Intraoral: These pictures allow Dr. Sundberg to look at your teeth in living color.
- Bite Registration (always done): This shows Dr. Sundberg how your teeth fit together in relation to each other.
- Impressions (always done): We will place a tray containing something called "alginate" in your mouth. The alginate is like putty; it allows Dr. Sundberg to build a model of your mouth so he can see exactly how your teeth come together. You will need two impressions taken, so the orthodontist can make a model of both your top and bottom jaw.
Case Presentation
Dr. Sundberg encourages both parents and the patient to be at this appointment. Dr. Sundberg will go over all the diagnostic records with you and discuss the different problems that he sees. He will answer all questions before treatment begins.
Start of Your Treatment
This appointment is when you get your appliances (braces, expander, etc.). This appointment is 60-80 minutes long. Before you leave, you will get an orthodontic care kit which includes all the tools and instructions needed to properly care for your braces. (If the patient is a minor, a parent or responsible party must be present at this appointment).
Regular Appointments
Once your braces are placed, you will then see us for regular appointments ranging from 4-10 weeks apart. Regular adjustments take 20 minutes. Certain appointments may take longer, and will need to be scheduled at specific times. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.