What tests are performed on patients during their initial orthodontic appointment?

The success of orthodontic treatment depends on flawless diagnosis and planning during the initial session. At the first appointment, the specialist orthodontist first performs a detailed intraoral and extraoral clinical examination of the patient. The alignment of the teeth, the closure relationship of the jaws, the condition of the temporomandibular joint, and facial symmetry are examined. Then, radiographic images essential for diagnosis are taken; these are usually panoramic X-rays showing all the teeth and jawbones, and cephalometric X-rays used to measure the position of the skull bones relative to the facial profile. In complex skeletal cases where deemed necessary, 3D dental tomography (CBCT) may also be requested. Finally, high-resolution intraoral and profile photographs are taken to record the patient’s initial condition and monitor the progress of treatment, and exact models of the teeth are created using digital scanners or alginate impression materials.