Our Location
(843) 903-3300
(843) 896-6550
Think of the time after your consultation as an activation sprint. If you want to know what happens after your orthodontic consultation, the next steps at Seabreeze Orthodontics in Myrtle Beach move from talking with Dr. Juan to action with a clear plan.
Before you leave, you book your first two appointments, review insurance and payments, and pick up a starter kit with comfort wax and cleaning tools. You head out with first-week instructions that fit your routine and a simple checklist for aligner wear or braces care, so progress begins right away.
What Happens After Your Orthodontic Consultation, Step By Step
You do not need a long manual to understand the next moves. You need a short list that respects your time, your routine, and your goals. This is how we make progress feel doable right away.
Confirm Records With Purpose
Records are not busywork. They are the map that guides every adjustment. We capture digital photos, panoramic and cephalometric X-rays, and a quick 3D scan. This means there are no goopy impressions. You can breathe through your nose and watch the images build right on the screen.
What we measure matters because it drives decisions:
- How crowded areas will open up and in what order
- Whether rotations or vertical changes will benefit more from braces or aligners
- The earliest visit at which you should see a visible change
Helpful prep:
- Send recent dental X-rays from your dentist if you have them
- Share current medications and allergies
- Bring any old retainers or mouthguards for reference
Time well spent here saves you extra visits later and gives you realistic milestones from the start.
Choose the Appliance That Fits Your Life
Treatment works when it fits your day. You and Dr. Juan compare braces and clear aligners based on predictability, comfort, and what you can stick with.
A quick, honest comparison between braces and Invisalign:
- Braces: Consistent by design. Great for rotations and bite corrections. Colors keep younger patients engaged. No lost trays, fewer decisions during the day.
- Clear aligners: Flexible and low profile. You remove them to eat and brush. They reward routine, 20 to 22 hours of daily wear. Small tooth-colored attachments may be placed to guide movement.
Lifestyle filters that make the choice easier:
- Hands-on schedule with lots of snacking or coffee breaks, braces may keep things simpler.
- Structured routine with confidence in wearing trays, aligners can be a strong match.
- For sports or marching band, aligners can be convenient, and braces work great with a fitted mouthguard.
You get a recommendation and the reason. You make the final call with eyes open.
Make Numbers And Scheduling Make Sense
Clarity reduces stress. Your orthodontic treatment coordinator verifies orthodontic insurance benefits, applies them to your plan, and builds a payment schedule that feels comfortable. You leave with your start visit and your first follow-up already booked.
What we lock in before you go:
- Insurance details and orthodontic lifetime maximums
- Monthly payments that fit your budget, with automatic drafts if you want them
- Two appointments on your calendar that do not collide with work or school
Add the visits to your phone with alerts. If you use an HSA or FSA, note the renewal date so you can plan larger payments at the right time.
Start The Same Day You Want
If the records are complete and you are ready, we can start immediately. Families who commute from Carolina Forest appreciate saving a trip and gaining early progress.
If you start with braces:
- We clean and condition teeth, then place brackets precisely
- A wire goes in, secured with small elastics or clips
- You get a compact care kit with wax, a travel brush, and a clear food list
- Expect tenderness for a day or two. Soft foods and cool water help
If you start with clear aligners:
- You try in the first tray to confirm a snug fit
- We place any needed attachments, tiny and tooth colored
- You leave with your first sets, a simple switch calendar, and a case that actually fits in a pocket
- We cover wear time, quick cleaning, and how to seat trays fully
This is a working appointment. You walk out knowing what to do that night.
Your First Week Without The Guessing
Small habits make the first week smoother.
For braces:
- Brush after meals with a focus on the gumline
- Use wax early where something rubs; do not wait
- Keep a short list of foods to skip; sticky and very crunchy foods can wait
For aligners:
- Wear 20 to 22 hours daily, set alarms if that helps
- Seat trays fully, chewies or a firm bite for a count of five across both sides
- Rinse after coffee or tea before trays go back in, so they stay clear
Two quick photos help you track progress. Take one on day one and one on day seven. The difference may be subtle, and it keeps motivation high.
Follow-Ups That Lead to Progress
Every visit has a job to do.
Braces visits, usually every 6 to 10 weeks:
- Progress wires when the tooth position allows
- Adjust elastics to target bite correction
- Reposition a bracket if precision calls for a change
Aligner check-ins, usually every 8 to 12 weeks:
- Confirm trays are tracking, no gaps between plastic and tooth edges
- Update your next switch dates and issue more aligners
- Scan for refinements if we want extra detail near the finish
Staying In Touch Without Any Runaround
Life happens. You get a question, or a wire feels pokey during class picture week. You can call us with any questions. Quick examples of when to reach out:
- A bracket feels loose, or the wire slips
- An aligner is not seating fully after two days
- You run low on elastics or need more wax
Many fixes are fast. When you need a chair, we do our best to see you quickly. You get back to your routine, whether that is a morning on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk or a school pickup run across town.
How We Keep Treatment On Track Between Visits
Clear expectations support steady results.
For braces:
- Brush two times daily for two minutes, thread floss under the wire, or use a water flosser
- Wear elastics exactly as prescribed; consistent wear beats perfect wear once in a while
- Avoid hard, sticky foods that can bend a wire and set you back
For aligners:
- Keep trays in a case when they are not in your mouth
- Do not wrap them in a napkin at lunch; that is how they vanish
- Swap to the next tray on the calendar, not early and not late
Short setbacks are normal. Tell us early, and we’ll help you correct course before it affects the timeline.
Set Your Start Date In Myrtle Beach
We keep the next step simple. Book your consultation today to get started. You will meet with Dr. Juan at your first appointment at Seabreeze Orthodontics. Visits are conveniently in Myrtle Beach.