By Dr. Jeff Beyer

The initial consultation is a very important part of the overall treatment process. Scheduling this appointment is simple. Either give us a call at either of our locations, send us an email, or fill out the form and one of our staff will contact you during our regular office hours. Many of our patients are referred from their general dentist, but keep in mind that no referral is necessary (even from insurance) in order to have a consultation.

We view the initial consultation as possibly the most important visit of the whole treatment. It is here where we gather the information needed to start the entire patient care process. We allow almost an hour for this visit, and do not charge the patient or insurance. Why?  Orthodontic treatment is a significant investment with results that last a lifetime, and we want our prospective patients to have plenty of time to get to know us, express their desires and concerns about treatment, and have plenty of time to have all of their questions answered.

Here is a behind-­the-­scenes look at a one of our typical initial consultations. Keep in mind that we schedule these appointments during our “off-peak” hours (typically between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.), so that the doctor and staff have ample one-on-one time with the patient and family.

1. We ask for some personal information. By obtaining your demographic and medical/dental history, the doctor is able to begin to understand your concerns and assess any treatment needs. We will also ask for your insurance information so that we can contact your insurance company and verify any orthodontic benefits you may have. If we’re able to get this info ahead of the consultation (via our online forms or fax/e­mail), it can save some time at the appointment and allow us to get a head start on your evaluation.
   
   
2. Exam, X-­Rays and photographs. Before meeting with Dr. Beyer, we will take a digital panoramic x-ray, digital photos of the inside of the mouth and face, and some measurements of crowding, spacing, and bite. These will help Dr. Beyer to make an accurate assessment of the overall orthodontic condition. Keep in mind ALL of our records are digital which means far less radiation than traditional x-rays, and all of this information and can be e­mailed directly to you and your dentist at the push of a button.
   
   
3. Meeting with Dr. Beyer. ­After reviewing the records, Dr. Beyer will meet with you in a private consultation area where the records will be visible on a large computer screen for everyone present to view. He will offer a thorough diagnosis and present treatment options. In rare or particularly difficult cases, additional records or referrals to other specialists may be necessary before settling on a final treatment plan. Part of this process is also addressing concerns you or your dentist have, and incorporating those into the treatment plan.
   
   
4. Treatment Coordinator meeting. This is an opportunity to meet our Treatment Coordinator, who will spend some time going over the overall process of how treatment/appointments work in our office, the different types of braces, colors, Invisalign, etc. She will also present fees for treatment, insurance benefits, our multiple payment plan options, and address any other questions/concerns you may have.
   
   
5. Put the plan into action. We are typically able to go from the initial consultation to starting treatment in one week or less, which puts you on the road your new smile faster than most offices. By not using spacers, bands, and other out­-of-­date bulky and uncomfortable appliances, one 60-minute visit to start your treatment is all you need!
   
   

For those patients who are not quite ready for treatment, we will place you on a recall schedule at specific intervals to monitor growth and development and/or dental work as you progress to the ideal time to begin orthodontic treatment.

Schedule a new patient consultation today. There is no referral is necessary.

Commonwealth Orthodontics Chesterfield: 1 (804) 739-6600
Commonwealth Orthodontics Colonial Heights: 1 (804) 520-7292
If it’s after normal business hours, or you simply prefer to reach out via email, please send us a note at: commonwealthorthodontics@gmail.com

By Dr. Jeff Beyer

As much as I’ve worked hard to innovate my orthodontic practice to maximize patients’ health and comfort, there is one area that’s always been a somewhat unpleasant experience for patients — and that’s making impressions of the teeth and bite. You know this as the “goop”, that icky substance we place in your mouth to create impressions of your teeth that act as the mold for braces, retainers, Invisalign and mouth guards. Even though we have more than 10 flavors available, it can still test your gag reflex and research has shown it’s one of the top reasons folks dread going to the orthodontist.

New innovations in software technology and 3D printing are rapidly being integrated into all aspects of dentistry, and I am proud to say that we have taken a huge step in eliminating the “goop” here at Commonwealth Orthodontics.We now an iTero Intraoral 3D Scanner in our offices. This is the third generation of this model and it incorporates the latest and greatest technology that is available today.

Here is how it works: Patients sit comfortably in a chair while one of my technicians or I simply wave a wand over and around their teeth and gums, capturing images at 6,000 frames per second. On the adjacent screen, detailed 3D renderings of your mouth are displayed, giving me everything I need to to perfectly fit orthodontic appliances to your unique bite.

This third generation iTero Scanner isn’t just more cutting edge and comfortable – it’s much faster, too. We are able to do a complete scan in less than seven minutes. Plus, we have a digital image that is stored forever (no more plaster!!), so we can send that to any orthodontic or dental lab in the world in a matter of seconds, and have appliances made with much shorter turnaround times. And here is one more REALLY cool benefit: the scanner looks into the future, with the ability to virtually “show” the proposed treatment outcome!

Needless to say, we are beyond excited to have this technology in our office and available to our patients. If you have been considering having treatment and been putting it off, ask to see the iTero Scanner during your next appointment, or set up an appointment to be scanned to see how your smile can be improved. The next generation of orthodontics is upon us, and we are proud to be one of the first practices in the area that is going “GOOP-FREE”!!!
 

By Dr. Jeff Beyer

Shouldn’t the perfect wedding day come with the perfect smile? It’s a question that a number of brides fret over: “Should I get braces before or after my wedding? And then what if I have to wear braces for my wedding…?!”

While a wedding day doesn’t last forever, the pictures do. And with the great lengths that brides and grooms take to be at their best for their big day, it makes sense that correcting tooth alignment and bite problems with an orthodontist could come up sometime after “I will” but before “I do.” It’s a topic I speak about with a number of patients, and I thought I’d share three things to consider to help you make your decision easier.

1. If possible, consider Invisalign: Invisalign has become increasingly popular with brides because of their nearly invisible design, ability to be removed at any time, and also because these appliances improve a patient’s smile in a relatively short period of time. As an Invisalign Preferred Provider for more than 15 years, I’ve found this to be a great solution for a number of patients who are planning their weddings. Best of all, the average treatment time with Invisalign is 9-12 months in our office, which is actually less than the average engagement time!

2. Can I remove my braces for my big day? I get this question a lot from patients who are anticipating their upcoming nuptials, but aren’t due to have their braces removed until well after the ceremony: “Can you take my braces off?” There are a number of individual factors to talk through before reaching a decision. Whether a patient requests to have all of her brackets removed or just those in front, we need to carefully assess the risk. Removing braces for an extended period (3 weeks or more) can cause some of the progress that has been accomplished to relapse. However, removing some or all of the braces can be done for short periods of time. In cases where this is manageable, patients should wear a retainer whenever possible during this short window of time. Keep in mind that removing some or all of the braces and then having to reapply new ones will incur additional costs. Many times with patients who are wearing clear braces, simply removing the wire is sufficient as the high quality ceramic braces we use are practically invisible anyway. There are also many brides who are just fine smiling with their braces on during wedding photography, knowing they will have that perfect smile to look forward to.

3. Have the photographer remove the braces: A photographer’s willingness and ability to effectively remove braces from your wedding photography using Photoshop or other editing software can widely range. If this is your plan, ask for work samples and references that clearly demonstrate the photographer’s ability to make this happen to your liking.

The issue of brides and braces comes up a lot more than you might imagine. It’s a great privilege to make a couple’s special day even brighter by helping patients achieve the perfect smile. Be sure to ask as soon as you get the ring — or even sooner — to make sure you are aware of all of your options.