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Your First Visit
At your free consultation, your orthodontist will perform a physical exam of your smile, and we’ll take digital X-rays and diagnostic photos. Your orthodontist will use these images to determine your orthodontic needs and create your personalized orthodontic treatment plan.
The initial exam will take about 40 minutes to complete. Once your orthodontist explains your treatment plan and answers all of your questions, your braces will be ready for placement! You can get braces or clear braces placed on your first visit.
If you choose clear aligners, your teeth will be scanned with our digital iTero scanner. With this device, we can show you what your new smile could look like at the end of treatment!
Same-Day Starts & Consults
Once you decide to transform your smile, you can get started right away with Graf Orthodontics! We’re proud to be a ‘same day orthodontist’ at each of our offices in Bossier City, Shreveport, Minden, Natchitoches, Many, and Alexandria, so you can get braces or start the aligner process the same day as your consultation.
If you choose custom clear aligners, we can take a quick digital scan using the advanced iTero scanning device at your first appointment. We’ll then send your clear aligner scan off to have your custom clear aligners fabricated!
There are a few requirements you’ll have to fulfill to be a candidate for same day braces. Here’s what you can do to prepare:
- Receive a dental cleaning within the last six months to a year.
- Come prepared with your insurance information and preferred payment method.
- Complete your free consultation with one of our experienced orthodontists, Dr. Graf, Dr. Cloud, or Dr. Digney!
Financial Info
At Graf Orthodontics, we provide excellent, top-of-the-line treatment for everyone, no matter their budget! With low down payments and low monthly plans, we’ll work with you to create a custom financing plan that makes you or your child’s new smile affordable.
The Cost of Orthodontics
On your first visit to one of our orthodontist offices in Bossier City, Shreveport, Minden, Natchitoches, Many or Alexandria, we’ll calculate your treatment costs and discuss your needs to develop your financial plan.
You can choose between 0% interest in-house financing and CareCredit outside financing. Ask us about our pay-in-full discount, family member discount, or military discount too!
Orthodontic Insurance
We accept most insurance plans and will submit your claims for you to help you receive the maximum benefit from your policy.
During your free consultation, our treatment coordinator will calculate your insurance coverage to determine your out-of-pocket treatment cost. If you’re searching for “affordable braces near me” but don’t want to compromise quality, we invite you to Graf Orthodontics.
Emergency Care
We’re proud to be an emergency orthodontist near you in Northwest Louisiana. Orthodontic emergencies are rare, but they do happen, and our team is here for you if you experience one. Our goal is to see you as soon as possible, so we can remedy the situation and continue your journey to a beautiful new smile.
Fortunately, most braces emergencies can be resolved with orthodontic wax and/or a visit to our office, including:
- Lost, cracked or broken clear aligners
- Lost or broken appliance
- Rubber band comes off your powerchain
- Archwire pops out-of-place
- Loose or broken bracket
- Soreness due to poking wires or metal pieces
If you experience one of these situations, just give us a call as soon as possible, andd we’ll schedule an emergency orthodontist appointment. We want to get you taken care of as soon as possible, because your comfort and safety are our top priorities.
Please call our office at (318) 742-9274.
If you’re calling after hours, you’ll be prompted to follow instructions to reach our team. In the meantime, we have tips to make you more comfortable until you can visit us.
Broken or Missing Appliance
If you happen to break your Spark clear aligners, retainers, or another appliance, please do not put the appliance back in your mouth. Misshapen appliances can damage your smile and shouldn’t be forced back into position. Put your broken appliance in a ziploc bag and bring it with you to your appointment, if possible.
If you lost your clear aligners or retainers, please give us a cal, andd we’ll schedule the earliest appointment with you to resolve the issue. We may advise you to wear your most recent set of clear aligners until you can receive new ones.
We will prioritize your visit to replace your appliance before your teeth regress.
Poking Wire or Metal Piece
How to fix a poking wire on braces: If your braces wire pops out of place, or you have a metal piece bothering you, grab some orthodontic wax. Orthodontic wax (also called dental wax) can be placed over the metal piece or poking wire to serve as a temporary cushion until you’re able to visit us.
If a wire pops out of place, try to push the wire back into the bracket. Use sterilized tweezers or a clean pencil eraser to push the wire back into the bracket. You can also try to clip the loose section of the wire off with a clean pair of nail clippers, then cover the end of the wire with ortho wax.
Loose or Floating Bracket
If your bracket becomes loose and detaches from your tooth entirely, try to place it in a Ziploc bag. If you can’t find the bracket, that’s okay. Just give us a call, and our team will advise you on the best plan of action moving forward.
If you have a floating bracket, and it’s still attached to your wire, be extra careful not to swallow the bracket. Take some orthodontic wax, and place it over the floating bracket to temporarily attach it back to the tooth. This way, the bracket won’t bother your cheeks, andd you’re less likely to swallow the bracket.
If you do happen to swallow your bracket, don’t panic. It happens! The swallowed bracket will likely go straight to your stomach with the rest of your food, and pass naturally. If you experience a severe stomach ache, breathing problems, or any unusual symptoms, go to the emergency room.
How long can you go with a loose bracket? While a loose bracket is not an urgent situation, it does require your orthodontist’s attention as soon as possible. In other words, you don’t need to drop everything and hightail it to our office, but you should make it a priority to see us within the week! We don’t want a loose bracket to hinder your treatment progress.
Tooth Pain or Soreness
It’s normal for you to experience some minor soreness or tooth wiggling while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment with Spark or braces. Over-the-counter pain relievers, like Tylenol, can help to alleviate the soreness.
Opt for a soft food diet during your first week of orthodontic treatment, to help minimize the soreness.
You can also gargle some salt water for relief. Mix one teaspoon of salt into eight ounces of warm water. Gargle the solution for at least 30 seconds, then spit it out and repeat until the cup is empty. Salt water mix is a safe, natural solution that helps to disinfect the mouth and ease inflammation.
