We understand that each person has different needs and expectations about orthodontics. Dr. Hovda and his staff want to understand your orthodontic needs and share with you the possibilities of creating a great smile.
After reviewing patient information, digital photographs may be taken and an orthodontic examination completed. Dr. Hovda will then discuss you or your child’s individual orthodontic needs, the best time to start treatment and provide an approximate financial estimate.
It is very important to us that you are comfortable about orthodontics and come away from the first visit with an understanding of your orthodontic needs. Together, we will determine the next steps to be taken to creating a great smile.
What’s Next and Why
An individual diagnosis and treatment plan is based upon the patient history, clinical examination and diagnostic records. This enables us to make informed decisions in determining what type of appliance will provide the best results for you or your child. We pride ourselves on our extensive pretreatment evaluation process, which provides us with the information necessary to diagnose each case thoroughly and accurately.
Treatment times vary depending upon the unique challenges of each individual case, facial growth and tooth development. Treatment typically lasts from one to two years. Once treatment is completed, retainers are worn to maintain the results.
We strongly believe orthodontics is a health service as well as a cosmetic one. The relationship between the teeth and jaw joints is the primary key to long-term health and stability of the chewing system. We believe in non-extraction treatment whenever possible. Dr. Hovda stresses early intervention to allow us to provide for proper tooth and jaw development.
We also offer many innovative options in braces, particularly for our adult patients. These options include ceramic or clear braces and self-ligating brackets. Colored rubber bands are the rage among a lot of our younger patients.
Dr. Hovda is very involved with his patients’ orthodontic care. From the original diagnosis to the placement of retainers, he sees each patient at each visit during orthodontic treatment. This type of one-on-one care is part of our office philosophy.