Your First Visit to Smithtown Orthodontics
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Duane S. Shank, DDS, Board-Certified Orthodontist
The first appointment is a free consultation with Dr. Shank. He examines the teeth and the bite himself, tells you whether treatment is needed and when, explains the options, and gives you the fee in writing. It takes under an hour, there is nothing to pay, and nobody will ask you to decide anything on the day.
Before you come in
Two things help. Fill in the patient forms in advance and send them over, so we can check your insurance benefits before you arrive rather than while you sit in the chair. And bring your insurance card, plus any recent X-rays or records from your general dentist if you have them.
If you have a treatment plan from another orthodontist and you want a second opinion, bring that too. Second opinions are welcome and they are free like any other consultation.
What actually happens
You check in at reception, and someone will come and get you shortly afterwards. Then Dr. Shank conducts a thorough clinical examination and explains every part of it himself, rather than handing you off to a coordinator with a laminated sheet.
Nothing at this appointment hurts. There is no injection, no drilling, and nothing is fitted. It is a look, a conversation, and a plan.
The five questions the examination answers
The initial exam exists to answer five specific things, and you should leave knowing all of them:
- Is there a problem, and what is it?
- When is the right time to begin treatment?
- What type of treatment is indicated?
- How long will it take?
- What will it cost?
The second one is the answer parents most often do not expect. For a child of seven or eight, the honest recommendation is frequently to wait and come back in a year. That is a real answer, not a deferral.
Diagnostic records
If treatment is indicated, the next step is records. When time allows, these are taken at the same visit so you do not have to make a second trip.
Records consist of a digital scan of your teeth taken with an iTero scanner, which means no putty tray; panoramic and cephalometric X-rays with the tracings drawn from them; photographs; and, for growing patients, a growth assessment. Dr. Shank then studies all of it and determines the exact course of treatment.
Records are how a plan gets made properly rather than guessed at, and they are also the baseline you compare against two years later.
What the fee covers
One fee covers the course of treatment. It includes:
- Diagnostic records, including X-rays, the digital scan, and the growth assessment
- All appliances
- Every treatment appointment
- Emergency appointments
- One set of retainers on completion of comprehensive treatment
It does not include work done at other dental offices, replacement appliances or retainers lost or broken through misuse, or additional treatment arising from an injury sustained during treatment. If a replacement fee would apply, we tell you before it does, not on the invoice.
Paying for it
The treatment coordinator goes through fees and payment options with you during the same visit, so you leave with numbers rather than a promise to follow up.
Payment plans are run in-house with no interest, starting around $150 a month, with a down payment and schedule set with you. There is a discount for paying in full at the start and one for multiple family members in treatment. HSA and FSA funds can be applied.
On insurance: the practice accepts most dental insurance plans but is not in-network with any carrier. We say that at the consultation rather than letting you discover it later. We verify your benefit before treatment starts, bill your carrier on your behalf, and apply what they pay against your balance. If your coverage changes partway through treatment, the agreed fee still stands, so tell us straight away if it does and we will adjust the schedule.
Published Long Island price ranges are on the financing page.
Book it
Call (631) 265-3666 or request an appointment online. Ask for an 8:00 AM Monday or Thursday slot if you would rather not miss school or work.
Smithtown Orthodontics 200 E Main St. Smithtown, NY 11787 (631) 265-3666
Frequently Asked Questions
We know starting orthodontic treatment comes with a lot of questions. Below are some of the most common questions patients in Smithtown ask before their first visit with Dr. Duane Shank.
Can you go straight to an orthodontist?
Yes. You do not need a referral from a dentist to see an orthodontist, in New York or anywhere else in the United States. Many patients are referred by their general dentist and many simply call and book. Either is normal, and the consultation here is free either way. Do check whether your own insurance plan requires a referral, since a few do.
Are orthodontic consultations usually free?
Many orthodontic practices offer them at no charge, and this one does. There is no fee for the examination, no fee for Dr. Shank’s assessment, and no obligation attached to either. Records, if treatment goes ahead, are included in the treatment fee rather than billed separately.
What should I bring to my first orthodontic appointment?
Your insurance card, completed patient forms if you filled them in beforehand, any recent X-rays or records from your general dentist, and any treatment plan you have been given elsewhere if you are seeking a second opinion. A list of your questions is worth more than people expect.
Will my child get braces at the first visit?
No. The first visit is an examination and a discussion. If treatment is indicated, records are taken, sometimes at the same appointment, and appliances are fitted at a separate visit afterwards. Nobody is fitted with braces on the day they walk in for a consultation.
How long does the first appointment take?
Usually under an hour, including the examination and the conversation about options and costs. If diagnostic records are taken at the same visit, allow a little longer. You will not be waiting long to be seen; appointments here are scheduled rather than stacked.
