A first check
A first check is a short visit for a child who is growing into their adult teeth, usually around age seven. The doctor looks at how the teeth and jaws are coming in, and it is for parents who want to know whether to wait, watch or plan.
Services
What happens
Usually one visit, sometimes two.
Step 1: Parent and child come in
A parent stays with the child. Forms are on our patient portal beforehand.
Step 2: A look and a talk
The doctor looks at the teeth, the bite and the jaw, and asks what you have noticed. Photos or X-rays are taken only if she needs them.
Step 3: The doctor explains
You hear whether to wait, watch or plan, and what each would mean in plain words.
Step 4: You decide the next step
That may be a visit in a year, a plan, or a word with your own dentist.
Services
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
Nothing is started and nothing is numbed at a first check. A parent can stay beside the chair, and a child can ask to stop and rest.
If you wait
Many children are simply watched for a year or more before any treatment. If the doctor sees something to plan, she explains it, and you can ask what waiting would change.
Risks and after-care
A first check involves no treatment, so there is little to recover from. If the doctor later suggests an appliance, its risks and care are explained then, before it is placed.
How it is billed
A first check is billed as an orthodontic exam. We tell you what it costs before the visit if you ask, and your plan decides whether it pays.
How fees work
Questions about a first check
What age is right for a first check?
Around age seven is common, because the first permanent molars and front teeth are usually in by then. The doctor tells you whether your child needs to be seen sooner or later.
Does a first check mean braces?
No. Most first checks end with the doctor suggesting a visit in a year, or none. If a plan is needed, she explains it before anything starts.
Should my child’s dentist send a note?
It helps, and so do recent X-rays, but neither is required. We can ask your dentist for them with your permission.
Can I stay with my child?
Yes. Parents are welcome in the room for the whole visit.
Care from Dr. Salwa Zaytoun, orthodontist
Her orthodontic residency and board are listed under Credentials.