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The Short Version
You will be greeted, you will hand over a bit of paperwork, and then we take a set of diagnostic records: photographs, a 3D scan of your teeth, and X rays. Dr. Sharma examines your bite in person, reviews everything with you, explains what she sees in plain language, and lays out your options. Our treatment coordinator then goes through the cost, checks your insurance, and puts the number in writing. You go home and think about it. That is the entire visit.
The Records, and What Each One Actually Reveals
This is the part most people expect to be routine and forgettable. It is actually the part that decides everything, because an orthodontic plan is only as good as the picture it is built on. Here is what we take and why each one earns its place.
A panoramic X ray
One wide image capturing your whole mouth at once: every tooth, both jaws, and the roots below the gum line. It answers questions a visual exam simply cannot. In a child, it shows the permanent teeth still waiting in the bone, so we can see where they are heading before they arrive. In an adult, it shows jaw and bone health, and reveals anything missing, impacted, or hiding underneath old dental work.
A lateral cephalometric X ray
A side profile image, chin to crown, and this is the one worth pausing on. It measures the relationship between your upper jaw, lower jaw, teeth, and facial profile, which is how we tell the difference between teeth that are simply crooked and a bite where the jaws themselves do not line up. Those two problems can look identical in the mirror and need completely different treatment.
A small detail that tells you a lot. There is a good chance this will be the first cephalometric X ray anyone has ever taken of you, because general dentists do not routinely take them. This image is specific to how orthodontists diagnose. It is not a comment on your dentist, who is doing a different job well. It is simply a marker of what specialist diagnosis involves, and it is worth knowing that a treatment plan built without one is working from less information.
A 3D digital scan
A small wand passes over your teeth and builds an exact digital model in a few minutes. No trays of putty, no gagging, no waiting for a mold to set. That model is what your aligners or brackets are planned against, and it is why we can often make you a replacement retainer years later without taking new impressions.
Photographs
A few images inside the mouth and a few of your face and profile. They record exactly where you started, they let Dr. Sharma study your smile and profile outside the chair, and at the end of treatment they are the before picture almost everyone asks to see.
Next Steps: Diagnostic Records & Custom Treatment Plan
If treatment is recommended, we’ll schedule diagnostic records, including:
- 3D digital models
- Orthodontic photos
- Advanced X-rays
Dr. Sharma will personally review everything and design a custom plan just for you or your child. We’ll walk you through every detail before starting treatment.
Regular Check-Ups & Adjustments
You’ll visit us every 6–8 weeks for quick progress checks and brace adjustments. Success depends on:
- Keeping appointments
- Following instructions
- Excellent oral hygiene
- Regular dentist visits
That’s why you are an important part of our team. After braces come off, retainers are crucial to lock in your stunning new smile!
How Long Will Treatment Take?
Treatment typically lasts 6–30 months, depending on:
- Age (early treatment often works faster for kids!)
- Severity of the case
- Cooperation with instructions
- Amount of tooth movement needed
Dental Care During Orthodontic Treatment
Before starting, your family dentist should:
- Treat any cavities
- Ensure healthy gums and bone
We work hand-in-hand with your dentist and may coordinate tooth extractions if needed. Keep up with cleanings and check-ups every 6 months!
Ready for Your or
Your Child’s Perfect Smile?
Don’t wait! the right timing can make all the difference!
Schedule your free consultation with the Dr Sharma your trusted orthodontist in Newark, CA today.
Call or text 510-796-1793 now and discover why families trust us for
pediatric orthodontics, braces for kids, and life-changing smiles.
Schedule your free consultation with the Dr Sharma your trusted orthodontist in Newark, CA today.
Call or text 510-796-1793 now and discover why families trust us for
pediatric orthodontics, braces for kids, and life-changing smiles.
The Conversation That Follows
With the records in front of her, Dr. Sharma examines how your upper and lower teeth actually meet, checks your jaw movement, and looks at gum health and any existing dental work. Then she walks you through what she found and what she recommends, in language built for a person rather than a chart. This is the moment to ask everything: what is causing the problem, what happens if you do nothing, why one option over another, how long it will take. Bring a written list if it helps. Nobody has ever annoyed us with too many questions.
Depending on what she sees, the options might be braces, clear ceramic braces, Invisalign, or for a younger child, guiding growth with something like a palatal expander. Where more than one option would genuinely work, we say so and let you choose.
Sometimes the Right Answer Is to Wait
This deserves saying plainly, because it is the part that surprises parents. A great many children who come in do not need treatment yet. Their jaws are still growing and the sensible plan is to watch, not to start. When that is the case we will tell you, we will keep an eye on their growth at no charge, and we will let you know when the timing is actually right. Starting a child too early adds months and cost without adding benefit. Honest timing is part of the job, and a practice that recommends treatment for every child who walks in is telling you something.
What to Bring
- Your dental insurance information. This is the one that changes your number, so it matters most.
- Any recent dental X rays, if your dentist has taken them. It can save us repeating one.
- A short medical and dental history, including any medications. Some medications affect how teeth move, so this is not a formality.
- Your completed registration forms, from our new patient page, which saves you filling them in at the desk.
- Your questions. Written down, ideally.
The Money Conversation, Before You Decide
You will not leave wondering what it costs. Before you go, we verify your specific plan, confirm whether Dr. Sharma is in network with it, and hand you a written estimate with your insurance and financing already applied. Being in network matters more than most people realize, because it means we have agreed to a negotiated rate with your insurer, so your coverage applies to a number that is already discounted.
Worth one phone call before you even come in. Networks and plans change constantly. Call or text us at 510 796 1793 and we will check your specific plan in advance, so your estimate is ready the moment you arrive. There is no charge and no commitment. Our insurance page lists the carriers we work with, and our cost guideexplains how the numbers come together, including our 0 percent payment plans.
If You Are Bringing a Child
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by around age 7. Not to start braces, but because by then enough permanent teeth and jaw growth are in place to spot anything developing while it is still easy to guide. Most 7 year olds who visit us need nothing at all. Our early evaluation page explains what that visit is really for.
For the child, the visit is genuinely easy: some pictures, a wand that tickles a bit, and a look in the mouth. Nothing sharp, nothing that hurts, no needles. Telling them beforehand that today is only a look, and that nothing gets put on their teeth, removes almost all the nerves. Older children and teenagers can see their own 3D scan on the screen, which most of them find far more interesting than they expect.
If treatment is recommended, most cases run somewhere between 6 and 30 months. The range is wide because it depends on three things: how complex your case is, your age, since a growing jaw can be worked with rather than around, and which treatment you choose. What you will get at your visit is an estimate for your case specifically, not an average, and Dr. Sharma will tell you what could make it shorter or longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the first visit really free?
Yes. The examination, the records, and the written estimate are complimentary, with no obligation to start treatment.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
No. Your dentist may suggest you see an orthodontist, but you do not need a referral and can book directly with us whenever you are ready.
Will I get braces on the first visit?
The first visit is diagnostic. We examine, take records, explain your options, and give you the cost. Based on schedule we may even be able to start braces on the same day.
How long does the first visit take?
About 45 minutes, including the records, the exam, the discussion with Dr. Sharma, and the financial conversation.
Does anything at the first visit hurt?
No. Photographs, a digital scan, X rays, and a visual examination. There are no needles and nothing sharp. It is comfortable for adults and easy for children.
What if I am told I do not need treatment yet?
Then that is what we will tell you, and we will monitor growth at no charge until the timing is right. We would rather have you back at the right moment than start you at the wrong one.
Keep Reading ...
Ready to book? Start on our new patient page. Curious what treatment itself involves? Compare braces and Invisalign, or see what a case costs and how our payment planswork. Bringing in a child? Read about children and braces. Want to know who will be treating you? Meet Dr. Sharma, or read our guide to choosing an orthodontist.
Sources: American Association of Orthodontists, what to expect at your first orthodontic appointment and patient FAQs (aaoinfo.org). AAO guidance on first evaluation by age 7. Descriptions of panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiography reflect standard orthodontic diagnostic practice. Timelines are general ranges, not a quote for your case.