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You did it! You’ve made an appointment for yourself or for your child at Hester Morris Orthodontics. This will be your very first visit. The complementary consultation is a very important appointment for you and for us, our new potential patient; you may be wondering what to expect when you come into our office for the very first time. So here are some things you need to know, along with the highlights of that first visit.

1. Health history forms.

Just like a visit to any healthcare office, all new patients are asked to complete a health history form. This can be done in the office on your first visit or even can be done online before your appointment. These forms ask for general information about our new patient and any medical information about visits to our office. We must have all the necessary information so our team can provide the best orthodontic treatment for you or your child. When you arrive for your first visit, our friendly staff will be ready to greet you and give you a tour of our office. We want to ensure that you know who we are and what we can do for you; you can even ask any questions before we start the examination. During your first visit, we can discuss the various treatment options, costs, and insurance coverage. We pride ourselves on providing orthodontic services tailored to each patient's individual needs.

2. Nice to meet you!

Our fantastic front desk team greets every patient who comes through the doors of Hester Morris Orthodontics. No need to feel awkward about being new. Just let our friendly scheduling coordinators know who you are, and they’ll be glad to show you how to sign in for your appointment. They’ll most likely be on the lookout for you and welcome you into the office by your name when you arrive! Once you have let the front desk know that you’re here, they’ll invite you to have a seat in our lobby. Feel free to take advantage of the complementary coffee, cookies, and Wi-Fi, but we promise you won’t be waiting for long!

3. You’ll get x-rays.

Your consultation appointment for braces or Invisalign begins with dental x-rays of your teeth and jaw alignment. These are at no cost to you and are so very helpful for us to see not just what’s going on on the outside but to be able to see the roots of your teeth that you cannot see. Our treatment coordinator assistant will also photograph your teeth with a camera. They will take pictures of your teeth from all angles. This gives us a close-up look for us to discuss your smile concerns and will be useful to the doctor for recommending treatment.

4. Digital scans.

Years ago, patients had to endure messy goopy impressions to get a good placement of how their teeth look, but thanks to our iTero digital scanners, the process has been made quick and easy, with no mess at all! The scanner will quickly take images of your teeth and can even project before and after simulations of your smile. Pretty cool!

5. You’ll meet with a treatment coordinator.

Once all of your records have been taken, you will sit down and review the findings with one of our treatment coordinators. These ladies are here to answer all of your questions about braces or Invisalign and can explain the process to you in detail. They assist the doctor with note-taking his recommendations for improving your smile and will make sure you understand the plan of action!

6. You’ll meet our doctors.

Usually, at this point in the consultation appointment, one of our doctors will come in to meet with you and review all of his findings. We have two doctors in our practice, Dr. Hester and Dr. Morris. They will briefly examine your teeth and bite and recommend how to straighten your teeth best, align your jaw, and give you the beautiful smile you want. If the doctor recommends Invisalign, they will specify the specific details of the number of stages of aligners you will need and give an overview of how the process works. If the orthodontist recommends braces, they will explain how the process moves your teeth and give you a treatment time estimate for having to wear them. Meeting an orthodontist and having a personalized, detailed treatment plan laid out for you is something that only happens inside the orthodontic office. This is a step that is skipped by direct-to-consumer products. You can be assured that your smile’s individual needs will be addressed at Hester Morris Orthodontics.

7. Presentation of fees for braces or Invisalign.

Once your treatment plan has been laid out, discussed, and confirmed by the doctor, our treatment coordinator gets back to work working with you on the payment arrangements. Fees are presented based on whether the doctor recommends Invisalign or braces, the length of that treatment, and the complexity of the recommended treatment. In our practice, we do not require the entire treatment fee to be paid upfront. Instead, most people choose to make monthly payments. We do offer discounts for our military and our teachers. Visit our financial page for more information about how payments work. Choosing to get braces or Invisalign is a big decision and a great investment, but we believe the end result is worth it!

8. The choice is yours.

Once you’ve had all your questions answered, have met the doctor, received your treatment plan, and know the cost involved, you have all the information you need to make the best decision for you and your smile. Patients can start their treatment on the same day as their consultation. Still, there is never any pressure for you to do so. Sometimes, patients will choose to go home to talk about it with a family member or make financial arrangements, which is OK. When you’re ready to start the journey to see your beautiful smile, you call us, and we’ll schedule you to get started.

Our office is a warm and welcoming place, and our team will make you feel like part of the family from the moment you step in. Every patient gets a tour of our office with a staff member and learns more about our treatments and specialties. Our team can answer any questions you may have, so don't be afraid to ask. What other questions do you have about beginning treatment and Invisalign or braces? Be sure to leave them in the comments. Are you interested in setting up your first complimentary consultation appointment with us? Click here or call—our office at 229-245-1800.

It’s the start of another year!

 

A new year is a beautiful time to change your life or start something new that you’ve been putting off.

 

You may, like many people, be considering goals and resolutions for the new year. For some, this can include changes in their smile, and they look to their local dentist or orthodontist in Valdosta to help give them a smile they’ve always wanted.

 

The new year is a great time to start the journey to a new and improved smile!

 

Here are three reasons why we think starting orthodontics in the new year is a great way to improve your smile:

 

1. Improving your smile is a surefire way to boost your confidence!

 

It’s a fact that many Americans feel self-conscious about their smiles. What you think about your smile and teeth can affect your overall self-confidence.

 

But you can let go of those inhibitions and boost your confidence when you begin orthodontic treatment. Invisalign or dental braces are both options that work to align your teeth, creating a more even, pleasing-looking smile; we believe when you feel good about yourself, it reflects in how you present yourself. 

 

This is the greatest goal for us as orthodontists! We love to see your confidence rise and your smile become the beautiful result you always wanted.

 

2. Starting in the new year gives you an easy timetable to follow for your braces or Invisalign treatment.

 

It just makes sense to start treatment at the beginning of the new year.

 

Not only are most people more energized at the beginning of a new year to start on their goals and resolutions, but it can also be an easy way to determine how long your treatment time could take.

 

Average orthodontic treatment in our Valdosta. Georgia office is 12 months to 24 months. Every patient is different. Dr. Hester and Dr. Morris create a personalized treatment plan for you based on your unique needs and smile goals. This determines your overall treatment time.

 

Beginning your smile journey at the start of a new calendar year can often help you better idealize when you might complete your treatment, as well as help you remember when you started treatment.

 

3. The sooner you begin, the closer you are to the smile you’ve always wanted! 

 

Now is always the best time to begin orthodontic treatment, and at the start of a new year, why would you want to procrastinate or put it off?

 

 Many people are looking at their budgets and planning financially for the year in January, so go ahead and include planning for braces or your Invisalign treatment.

 

At Hester Morris Orthodontics, our treatment coordinating team works with each and every patient to help them achieve their smile goals by offering flexible payment options that can fit almost every budget.

 

Additionally, the initial consult is always at no cost to you. This is because we believe it’s essential for every patient to get the complete picture of how their smile could be improved with braces or Invisalign, and this information will help you make the best decision for your smile!

 

By planning to start now, you are practicing good self-care instead of putting yourself on the back burner!

 

Are you looking to start braces or Invisalign in 2023? You can make an appointment in our Valdosta, Georgia office by clicking on the link here or calling us at 229-245-1800.

 

Happy new year! May this coming year bring you fulfillment and be full of smiles!

Getting Braces As An Adult???

Braces for adults. For many, those two things don’t seem to go together. Maybe you had braces as a teenager and forgot to wear your retainer, causing your teeth to shift. Even if you’ve never had orthodontic treatment, many adults realize they can benefit from it.

Read on if you’re thinking about getting braces or possibly Invisalign is right for you.

1. You’re not too old for braces or Invisalign.

Let us assure you that having Invisalign or braces is not just kid stuff! In fact, at Hester & Morris Orthodontics, we even have patients that are in their 70s.

In fact, as we age, our teeth tend to shift, and one of the biggest reasons we see adults in our practice is not necessarily for straight teeth but more often due to the change in how their teeth fit together. When your bite is not right, this can cause headaches and TMJ symptoms. We may not be able to relieve your stress from a hectic job, but aligning your teeth can surely relieve some of the stress you put on your teeth and jaws.

2. Treatment for adults is not as long as you might think!

More than ever, our treatment options offer ease of wear and the convenience of low treatment times. Over the years of increased technology, orthodontists have learned how to shift the teeth faster with significantly less discomfort. And because of additions like our iTero digital scanner, doctors Hester and Morris can treatment plan your smile from every angle. The results of this mean you spend less time in braces or Invisalign.

3. Adult braces don’t necessarily mean braces.

We have multiple treatment options at Hester Morris Orthodontics, including those for our adults. In addition to regular metal braces, we offer ceramic braces for a more disguised look and offer Invisalign treatment. Invisalign is a great option because it moves your teeth like traditional braces however, because they involve a series of clear removable plastic aligners, they go very well with a busy adult lifestyle.

4. You won’t spend all your time in an orthodontist's chair.

Long gone are the days when patients came once a month to see the orthodontist and have their braces tightened. With our advanced treatment methods and the latest technology, we can give you a great smile more quickly and comfortably. You’ll have fewer appointments with us; we even offer virtual options to help along the Invisalign process.

5. Having orthodontic treatment as an adult doesn't have to mean being extremely expensive.

The Hester and Morris team strives to make orthodontic treatment affordable for our patients. We accept dental insurance, which can greatly reduce your cost out-of-pocket. Many dental plans will cover orthodontics for adults. In addition to insurance, we offer in-house financing that can be flexible to help fill your monthly budgetary needs. We will happily review this information with you at your initial complimentary consultation with our office.

If you’re considering a small makeover or just a tuneup with Invisalign or braces, give us a call or email us to schedule a free consultation. Dr. Hester and Dr. Morris look forward to helping you decide which treatment option is right for you.

 

December is here, the lights are on the tree, and the gifts are underneath it. If you’re looking for the right thing for your child or teenager, may we share with you why Invisalign makes the ultimate Christmas gift!

They probably already want them!

Unlike the case years ago, braces and Invisalign are very popular amongst teenagers today. We have people who come into our office because their child wants braces or Invisalign treatment. Teenagers see their friends with Invisalign, and they see how easy and convenient it is, making them more self-aware of their smile. The benefits of an improved smile, thanks to Invisalign and Hester Morris Orthodontics, will last long after that latest video game or must-have sneakers are out of fashion.

They probably already need them!

It’s just a fact. Most people need orthodontic treatment due to misaligned teeth and jaws. And since many orthodontic patients tend to be in middle and early high school, your teen will likely need orthodontic treatment, so why not include that as an awesome Christmas gift? 

It helps your child realize the investment you’re making in their smile! 

As much as we love them, sometimes our kids can forget that things just don’t magically appear, but instead, they require hard work and investment. When you give Invisalign or braces as a gift, instead of an expectation, they may have more appreciation for it and therefore take better care of their smile along the way. Plus, you get to be creative and how to tell your child, who really really wants Invisalign, that they’re going to get to come in and be seen by our doctors and team to start the small journey they’ve always wanted!

So give yourself a little credit, mom, and dad! Yes, the cost of Invisalign treatment and braces can be an investment on your part, but if you count it in at Christmas, we think it makes a great gift! The ultimate gift!

If you're interested in scheduling your surprise gift appointment for your loved one, request it here!