Last Updated on August 10, 2026 by Dr. Adam Veit
Your First Orthodontist Visit
Your first visit is an exam and a conversation. We look at your teeth, your bite and how your jaws fit together, take the records we need, and then explain what we see in plain language. By the time you leave you will know whether treatment is needed, what the options are, roughly how long it would take, and what it costs.
Choosing orthodontic treatment is a big decision, and we respect the reasons that brought you here. Nobody is going to rush you, and nothing gets decided in a hurry.
What Happens
- We say hello properly. You meet the team, and we go through your dental and medical history together. If we have not received your forms already, this is where we fill them in.
- The exam. Dr. Adam Veit examines your teeth, gums, bite and jaw movement, and looks at how the upper and lower teeth meet.
- Records. Photographs, X-rays and a digital scan of the teeth, as needed. These are what turn an opinion into a plan, and they take only a few minutes.
- The explanation. We show you what we found, on your own images, and tell you whether anything actually needs doing. Sometimes the honest answer is “not yet.”
- Options. If treatment makes sense, we go through the realistic choices, what each involves, and roughly how long each would take.
- The money conversation. The fee, what your insurance is likely to cover, and the monthly payment options. The consultation itself is complimentary for new patients, and we would rather have the money conversation openly at the start than leave you guessing.
Bring your questions. Ask all of them. This visit exists so that you can make a decision with real information, and there is no such thing as a question we mind answering.
What to Bring
- Your insurance card, if you have orthodontic coverage
- A list of any medications
- Any recent dental X-rays, if your dentist has taken them
- The questions you have been meaning to ask
- A parent or guardian, if the patient is under 18
How Long It Takes
Plan for about an hour. Most of that is the exam, the records and the conversation afterwards, and the pace is set by how much you want to talk through rather than by a clock.
If you are bringing a child, they are welcome to sit with you throughout, and you are welcome to be with them.
Start From Home, If You Prefer
Bright Orthodontics also offers a virtual consultation through SmileSnap. Use the SmileSnap option on this site, submit a few photos of your smile, and Dr. Veit will review them and send you initial feedback. It does not replace the in-person exam, but it is a convenient way to find out whether a visit is worth your time before you book one.
Questions Worth Asking Us
Families often tell us afterwards that they wished they had asked something. So here are the ones worth asking any orthodontist, including us.
- What exactly is the problem, and what happens if we do nothing?
- Is more than one approach reasonable here, and why do you prefer this one?
- How long will treatment take, and what would make it take longer?
- How often will we be coming in?
- What does the total fee cover, and what is not included?
- What do we need to do at home for this to work?
Request an appointment at our Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon or Berlin office. Fees, insurance and payment plans are explained in detail on our orthodontic financing page.
Book Your First Visit
Come in, get a straight answer, and leave knowing where you stand.
Request an appointment at Bright Orthodontics in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon or Berlin. If your child is around seven, read early orthodontic treatment first. To understand the treatment itself, start with about braces.
Reviewed by Dr. Adam J. Veit, DDS, MS, a board-certified orthodontist and the treating doctor at all four Bright Orthodontics offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before your visit, you may have a few questions about what to expect. Here are helpful answers to guide you.
Is the first visit free?
Yes. Consultations are complimentary for new patients at all four of our offices. You pay nothing to find out where you stand, and nothing is decided in the room unless you want it to be.
Will braces go on at the first appointment?
Almost never, and that is deliberate. The first visit is for diagnosis and for you to decide. Once you have chosen, placing braces is its own longer appointment, usually booked a short time later.
Do you clean teeth before putting braces on?
We prepare the tooth surfaces before bonding, but that is not the same as a dental cleaning. Keep seeing your regular dentist every six months during treatment. Cleanings matter more while you are in braces, not less.
How soon after the first visit does treatment usually start?
That depends on you. Some families decide in the room and start within weeks. Others take time to think, or wait for the right point in a school year. Growing children are sometimes asked to wait deliberately, so we can start at the moment that gives the best result.
What if we are not ready to start yet?
Then you do not start. There is no pressure and no expiry on the conversation. If timing is the issue we will tell you when to come back, and if nothing needs doing at all we will say so plainly.