Your First Visit

We are always excited to meet new patients and make them feel like a part of our family. Before committing to orthodontic care, it’s essential you understand your treatment options. It’s just as essential you find a practice where you trust the doctor and staff, and know you’ll receive exemplary support at every step of your treatment.

Your first visit to our office is not only a thorough look into your or your child’s orthodontic needs — it’s really a moment where you can get to know and trust our team.

At your initial consultation, you’ll meet our team and Dr. Johnson and get a full tour the office. Then we’ll take initial X-rays and photos, and Dr. Johnson will perform a thorough orthodontic exam. We’ll discuss the doctor’s findings and treatment recommendations with you, and provide the information you need to make a knowledgeable decision about your smile. For patients who live out of town, we offer same-day start treatments, saving an additional trip to the office.

Digital Patient Forms

To save time at your first appointment with us, please take moment to fill out our new patient paperwork prior to visiting our office. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Financial Info

The cost of your orthodontic treatment may vary, depending on your individual needs and treatment plan. Dr. Johnson and his staff will discuss the cost of your treatment and each of your available payment plan options with you, so you are able to make the best choice for yourself and your smile. We will work with you to create a payment plan that fits your budget, and you will know what to expect before beginning treatment.

Your smile is yours forever, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to receive the best orthodontic care whenever you need it. Our office team is always available to file your insurance claims and paperwork for you if you have insurance that covers any portion of your orthodontic treatment. For your convenience, we also accept cash, check, and most major credit cards for payments.

Emergency Care

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If there’s a loose piece you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.

If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, and replace it in the tube on the back tooth.

After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt chewing.

Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. An alternative (better tasting) mouthwash is the Healthy Gums Rinse by The Natural Dentist. If you need a more significant rinse to help heal open sores, try the 1/2 Liquid Benedryl and 1/2 Liquid Mallox. Mix 1/2 and 1/2 in those little plastic cups that come with oral medications. Swish and let this solution coat those sores. Spit out any extra and try not to rinse for a good 10-15min. This solution several times a day helps those sores heal quicker!

Placing Orabase on the affected area may also help relieve discomfort; Orabase can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!

Loose Bracket

If your braces are missing a bracket, don’t worry. They will keep working as anticipated until Dr. Johnson has the chance to replace it.

In case a bracket becomes loose or breaks, keep it in its place. You can cover it with wax for comfort if needed. If the bracket completely breaks off, simply remove it and leave it be. Once you have made sure you are comfortable, please call our office and we will schedule you for a repair appointment.

Loose Wire

Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring.

If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn’t help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp, place wax on it. Please contact our office if you have any issues trying to remedy the issue at home, and, once we have made sure you are comfortable, we will schedule you for a repair appointment.

Retainer Instructions

Congratulations on reaching the final stage of your orthodontic journey at Cornerstone Orthodontics! Now that your braces are off or you’ve completed your clear aligner treatment, it’s time to focus on preserving your new, beautiful smile. That’s where retainers come in.

Retainers play a crucial role in maintaining the results achieved during your orthodontic treatment. They ensure your teeth stay in their new positions, helping you retain the straight, attractive smile you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Remember, wearing your retainer as instructed is just as important as the active phase of your treatment. It’s the key to long-lasting results and a confident smile for years to come. At Cornerstone Orthodontics, we’re committed to guiding you through every step of your orthodontic journey, even after the braces come off. Let’s keep that beautiful smile in place!

• Wear your retainer(s) day and night for at least 1 month, depending on Dr. Johnson’s recommendation, then switch to night wear only.
• Take your retainer out when eating, and always put it back in its case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
• Clean the retainer thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing.
• When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case. Pets love to chew on them!
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to it faster.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat yours with care. If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or you believe it needs adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust it yourself.
• Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
• Retainer replacements are expensive, but with proper care they will last for years!
• Remove your retainer when you go swimming.
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.