Last updated: April 2026
Your dentist mentioned braces. You Googled “orthodontist near me.” Now you’re staring at a “Book a Free Consultation” button and wondering what you’re actually signing up for.
Here’s the good news: a first orthodontist consultation is the easiest, lowest-stakes appointment you’ll have all year. No needles. No commitments. Just a conversation, some pictures of your smile, and a plan. At Wax Ortho, we’ve done more than 10,000 of them since 2014, and we’ve learned exactly what families want to know before they walk in.
This walks you through what to expect at your orthodontist consultation, from the second you arrive to the moment you leave with a plan in hand.
What Happens at an Orthodontist Consultation?
A free orthodontist consultation is a 45 to 60 minute visit that includes a full exam of your teeth and bite, digital photos and X-rays, a discussion of your options, and a clear cost estimate. No referral is needed — the American Association of Orthodontists confirms orthodontists can see you directly, no dentist sign-off required. You leave with a plan. You decide if and when to act.
That’s the whole thing.
Nothing gets glued to your teeth at a consult. Nothing gets impressed or molded. You won’t leave with braces or aligners. You’ll leave with clarity.
What to Bring (and What You Don’t Need)
Come as you are. Here’s the short list of what’s actually useful:
Helpful to have:
- Your insurance card, if you have dental or ortho coverage (we’ll check benefits while you’re there)
- A list of questions you want answered (write them down — things slip your mind in the moment)
- If it’s for your kid, bring the kid. Yes, even the nervous one.
- Any prior X-rays your dentist took in the last 6 months (saves us from retaking them)
You don’t need:
- A referral from your dentist
- Dental records ahead of time (we’ll pull what we need)
- Cash or a deposit
- A decision about treatment
Parents often ask if they should bring one kid or all of them. Bring whoever the consult is for. If you want to bring a sibling to watch so they’re less nervous about their own visit someday, even better. Our Linden office has an in-house coffee shop (Evers & Ollie), and siblings usually settle in with hot chocolate while we talk.
The Exam: What We’re Actually Looking For
This is where a Wax Ortho consult probably differs from what you’ve experienced at a rushed dental visit. We take our time. We explain what we’re doing. You get to ask questions while we do it.
Here’s what the exam includes:
A visual exam of the teeth, gums, and bite. I’m looking at how teeth line up, where they’re crowded, where they’re spaced, and how the upper and lower teeth meet when you close. I’ll point out what I see in plain language, not jargon.
Digital scans and photos. We use a 3D iTero scanner instead of the old gooey impression trays. It takes a few minutes and shows a live model of your teeth on screen while we work. Kids think it’s fascinating.
Panoramic X-ray. This is the wide image that shows everything — teeth roots, unerupted adult teeth, jaw alignment, and any surprises hiding under the gums. For kids, this is where we catch things a visual exam can’t see, like impacted canines or teeth coming in at odd angles.
The conversation about what I’m seeing. This is the part that gets rushed at a lot of offices. I’ll walk through the X-ray with you on the screen, point out anything notable, and explain whether it needs action now, monitoring, or nothing at all.
A fair number of kids we see at age 7 or 8 don’t need treatment yet. That’s a completely normal outcome. If your child is in “watch and wait” mode, I’ll explain what we’re watching for and when to come back. No one gets pushed into treatment they don’t need.
<a id=”treatment-cost”></a>
The Conversation About Treatment and Cost
If treatment does make sense, we talk options. That usually means comparing:
- Traditional braces (most reliable for complex cases; great for kids and teens)
- Invisalign or clear aligners (works for most teen and adult cases, plus some kids)
- Early-phase treatment with an expander (specific to growing kids with crossbites or crowding)
- Monitoring (not every child needs treatment right away)
Then we talk money. Honestly and without a dance around the subject.
Treatment at Wax Ortho typically runs $5,500 to $6,000 total, with flexible payment plans that fit a normal family budget. At Wax Ortho, braces and Invisalign are priced the same — so you don’t pick your treatment based on cost. You pick based on what’s right for your smile. We’ll verify your insurance benefits while you’re there, tell you what’s covered, and show you a monthly payment figure you can actually plan around.
Something we’ve heard often from families who came to us after trying other offices: “I didn’t know how much braces cost until I signed the contract.” That’s not how we do it. The number is on the table before you leave.
No pressure to decide that day. If you want to think about it, think about it. If you want to start that day, we can start that day. Your pace.
How Consults Differ by Age
The consult flow is the same, but what we’re looking for shifts based on age. Here’s the quick reference:
| Age Range | What We’re Looking For | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Age 7–9 | Jaw growth patterns, crossbites, severe crowding, thumb habits, when adult teeth erupt | Most kids: monitor and recheck yearly. Some: early Phase 1 treatment (expander, limited braces) |
| Age 10–13 | Adult teeth coming in, bite development, crowding severity, whether full braces or Invisalign is appropriate | Decision point: start treatment, or wait a bit longer for more adult teeth |
| Age 14–18 (teens) | Late-stage crowding, bite issues, cosmetic concerns | Braces or Invisalign Teen — usually an 18 to 24 month plan |
| Adults | Shifting teeth, relapse from previous treatment, cosmetic concerns, bite function | Invisalign (common) or braces. Treatment works at any age. |
The age 7 visit is the one parents question most. Why so young? Because the American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children be screened by an orthodontist at age 7. By that age, we can spot issues in the bite and jaw growth that are much easier to address while the child is still growing. Not every 7-year-old needs treatment — in fact, most don’t. But every 7-year-old benefits from being evaluated.
What Happens After You Leave
You leave with:
- A written treatment plan (or a “no action needed” note)
- A cost estimate, if applicable
- Insurance verification results
- Our phone number, email, and a complete breakdown of what comes next
If you’re ready to start, we can often begin the same day. If you want to sleep on it, that’s fine too. Parents sometimes come back after getting a second opinion elsewhere — we’re happy when they do. Confidence in your choice matters more than speed.
For most families, the next step is a starter appointment to place braces or take final Invisalign scans. For early-treatment cases with kids, it might be a fitting appointment for an expander. For families in “watch mode,” it’s a recheck in 6 to 12 months.
Whatever comes next, you’ll know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
No. You can book a consult directly. The American Association of Orthodontists explicitly states no referral is required to see an orthodontist. Most dentists are happy to share their notes if you ask, but they don’t need to sign off.
Is the consult really free?
At Wax Ortho, yes — including X-rays, scans, photos, exam, and treatment plan. You will not be charged for anything during the visit. Some practices charge $50 to $300 for a consult, and others offer “free consults” that don’t include imaging (which is a separate charge). Always ask what’s included before you book.
How long does a consultation take?
Plan on 45 to 60 minutes. Longer for complex cases or anxious kids who need extra time to warm up. Shorter for teens who just want the aligner quote.
Will I have to make a decision that day?
Only if you want to. Most families go home, think about it, and come back later. Some start that day. We don’t have a quota or a sales script. Your pace, your call.
Does my child need to be a certain age?
The AAO recommends first visits by age 7. Earlier than that is fine if your dentist notices something specific. Later is also fine for kids whose development has been normal. There’s no hard cutoff.
What a Free Consult Isn’t
Just so expectations are clear: a free consult is an evaluation and a plan. It’s not the start of treatment. Nothing is fixed to your teeth. You don’t walk out with aligners. That comes at a follow-up appointment, after you’ve had time to make a decision.
It’s also not a sales meeting. At least not at our offices. You’re not sitting across from someone trying to close a deal. You’re having a conversation with a specialist about your smile.
Ready to see for yourself? Book a free consult at whichever Wax Ortho location works for you — Linden, Highland, or Flushing. We’ll take care of the rest.
About the Author
Dr. Nicole Wax, DDS, MS is a board-trained orthodontic specialist and founder of Dr. Wax Orthodontics. She holds a DDS from The Ohio State University and a Master’s in Orthodontics from the University of Detroit Mercy. Since 2014, she’s served Genesee County families from offices in Linden, Highland, and Flushing. She’s a Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider, a 40 Under 40 honoree (2024), a mom of four, and a strong believer that nobody should ever feel rushed into orthodontic treatment.