At the first visit with Dr. Mansell, diagnostic records are made to determine the best course of treatment. Complete diagnostic records typically include a medical and dental history, clinical examination, photos of the patient’s face and teeth, and X-rays. This information is used to develop a custom treatment plan for each patient. After Dr. Mansell has evaluated your records, we discuss your treatment with you in detail, including the cost for your particular case. If your preference is to begin right away, we make every effort to start your treatment that same day.

If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available. 

Professional care is provided to you, our patient, and not to an insurance company. Thus, the insurance company is responsible to the patient and the patient is responsible to the doctor. We will help in every way we can in filing your claim and handling insurance questions from our office on your behalf.

Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time is from one to two years. In children, actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping treatment time on schedule.

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, entails limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.