your first visit
Welcome
We would like to welcome you to the office of Drs. David Hime and Nick Salome.
The doctors and our entire staff are dedicated to providing excellence in orthodontic care.
What Do We Do To Get Started?
Before your first appointment please complete our health history form:
Your first visit to our office is your opportunity to get to know us, have questions answered, and discuss your concerns. It also gives the doctors the chance to do a comprehensive examination and recommend if or when treatment is necessary.
We use video imaging computers to help explain the problems, and we have visual aids to help you understand what orthodontic appliances look like and how they work. We also have an extensive collection of before-and-after photographs of patients with similar orthodontic problems. Our goal is to answer all your questions regarding your orthodontic treatment at this first appointment.
Before a final diagnosis and detailed treatment plan can be made, diagnostic records must be made and reviewed by the doctors. Diagnostic records consist of photographs, necessary x-rays, and plaster models of the teeth mounted on an artificial jaw simulator called an articulator. These diagnostic records allow Drs. Hime and Salome to make the "blueprint" for treatment and assure that no small details are overlooked. We frequently take these diagnostic records at the time of the initial examination appointment.
Depending on the complexity of the treatment, we may schedule a separate appointment to discuss your treatment plan in detail. Like a coach reviewing the pre-game strategy with the team, the doctors and our treatment coordinator will show you exactly what's involved in the treatment, what results can be expected, and how your active participation can help assure success.
What Happens Next?
Regularly scheduled appointments are an important part of any orthodontic treatment. We like to see our patients every 4-8 weeks, depending on the individual situation, to check your progress and make adjustments to your appliances. Regular checkups with your family dentist are also necessary every 3-6 months during your orthodontic treatment. Once the braces are removed, retainers will be made. Your retainers are designed to settle your teeth in their corrected position until your bones, gums, and muscles adjust to the change. This final treatment stage is the lifetime of beautiful smiles. Retainers are available in a multitude of colors: from clear to rainbow, and everything in between!
