Prior to agreeing to have orthodontic treatment at the school, please be aware of the following conditions:

1. Most scheduling of cases for active treatment begins in the summer of each year, with additional acceptances throughout the year as needed. You will be told of your or your child's acceptance following the screening examination.
2. Once accepted into the Orthodontic Program, patients must be seen at regular 4-6 week intervals. Minimal flexibility is possible in arranging appointments. If this seems to be a problem, be sure to discuss it at the screening appointment. Fees are reduced in the graduate clinic, since it is a teaching program, and the patient/parent should be aware that they will need to make allowances for some minor inconveniences. All treatment is done by our highly qualified residents (we have approximately 250 applicants each year and only accept 7) and each case is treated under the direct supervision of one of our outstanding faculty members. Each faculty member is generally only in the clinic one day per week; therefore, the patients must be seen at the specific day that faculty member is present. Appointments are generally 1 hour duration (some may be longer and some shorter).
3. When you agree to receive orthodontic treatment at UTHealth School of Dentistry, you enter into a contract which commits the Department of Orthodontics to providing the proposed treatment and commits you to pay the total fee before treatment is scheduled.
4. We do also accept cases for Invisalign. Many patients are not suitable for this type of treatment, but the same screening process applies.
5. Fees for orthodontic treatment include one set of retainers given at the conclusion of treatment, but do not include the cost of any additional dental treatment such as extraction, additional appliances, restorations or periodontal treatment.
6. Complete patient cooperation is essential during orthodontic treatment. Undesirable patient cooperation with hygiene or elastic wear and/or failure to keep regular appointments can produce poor treatment results and is grounds for dismissal from the clinic. Since our residents are supervised and graded by our faculty with each patient's treatment, excellent patient cooperation and attention to appointments assures quality treatment results for our patients and a wonderful educational experience for our resident doctors.

Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, we recommend that a child's first dental visit be scheduled by his/her 1st birthday. Don't be alarmed if your very young child should cry. Tears provide a healthy avenue of expression for a child when moving toward an unknown, so please don't be disturbed or embarrassed. Once a child becomes familiar with the new dental surroundings, the fear will subside.

No matter what age the first visit occurs, it is very important to make the first visit as positive and enjoyable for the child as possible. We believe in friendly courtesy and we make every effort to make your child's visit pleasant and comfortable. We want your child to enjoy getting to know our dentists and staff and be comfortable at all times. A pleasant, comfortable first visit builds trust and helps put the child at ease during future dental visits. Children should be encouraged to discuss any fears or anxiety they feel.

Parents are very important in making the first visit positive and enjoyable for their children. You should not make a big deal out of the visit and refrain from using any words that could cause unnecessary fear, such as "needle" or "drill." We are experienced in dealing with children's anxiety and can explain treatment procedures in a positive and pleasant manner to avoid any anxious or negative feelings toward dentistry.

No matter what the child's age, the initial visit is a "get acquainted" visit. We will record your child's dental and medical history. The treating dentist will give your child a complete oral exam, which will include a careful visual evaluation of the teeth and oral tissues, and diagnostic images if necessary for complete diagnosis. We will also clean your child's teeth and apply topical fluoride. If, however, X-rays, cleaning or fluoride are not easily accepted, we will defer these to a later appointment rather than creating an unpleasant memory. We will discuss our findings with you and also review the importance of maintaining a good dental oral health program for your child to ensure a healthy and beautiful smile for life.

For information or appointments at any of UTHealth Pediatric Dentistry's locations, visit the "Our Clinics" section.

Please be sure to complete each of the following forms prior to your child's initial visit:

Patient Registration Form (English)
Patient Registration Form (Spanish)