This page gathers our orthodontic patient resources in one place: what to expect at your first visit, how payment works, daily care for braces and aligners, and what to do if something breaks or feels sore. Bookmark it and you’ll have quick answers between appointments.
Can’t find what you need? Call or text (732) 617-1211, or book a complimentary consultation if you’re new to TG Orthodontics.
These orthodontic patient resources are written for current patients and for families still deciding on care, so feel free to share the link with a co-parent or grandparent who helps with appointments.
What should you expect at your first visit?
Your first appointment carries no fee, and it’s designed for answers rather than pressure. Here’s how it usually flows:
- 1
A short tour of the office and a chance to meet the team - 2
An exam with Dr. Gostovich - 3
A digital panoramic x-ray and photos - 4
Digital impressions with the iTero scanner instead of messy molds - 5
Your treatment plan, explained step by step - 6
Plenty of time for your questions
Think of our orthodontic patient resources as a companion to that first conversation, not a replacement for it.
We take a team approach that includes your family dentist, so keep regular checkups on the calendar. Families can complete orthodontic forms online before the visit, which shortens time in the waiting room.
How can you pay for orthodontic treatment?
Our goal is to make cost the easy part of the decision. You’ll see your estimate and payment choices before anything begins.
- In-house plan: interest-free, with a down payment and monthly payments
- Payment methods: credit and debit cards, cash, checks, and ACH
- HSA and FSA: pre-tax health accounts can be applied to treatment
- Third-party financing: available with pre-approval
- Pre-pay discount: when treatment is paid in full by appliance delivery day
- Insurance: we file your claims for you
Want a rough monthly figure first? Our payment calculator gives an estimate in a few minutes, and the money side of our orthodontic patient resources is covered there in more detail.
How do you care for braces and aligners at home?
On placement day, our team teaches you how to brush and floss around your appliance. These braces care instructions matter, because plaque trapped around brackets can cause decalcification, which leaves permanent white marks that are not reversible.
Keep up with regular cleanings at your general dentist throughout treatment. At mealtimes, protect your brackets and wires:
- Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods
- Cut corn off the cob and meat off the bone
- Cut bagels and hard fruit into small pieces, then chew with your back teeth
- Limit soda and sugary snacks
Our simplest Invisalign care tips: remove your aligners to eat and drink, and go easy on soda and sweets. Read more about Invisalign or LightForce braces if you’re still choosing an option.
A few more Invisalign care tips: keep the case with you so aligners never end up wrapped in a napkin, and wear them as directed so each set can do its job.
Printed braces care instructions come home with you, and the video guides at the bottom of these orthodontic patient resources walk through each step.
How should you handle orthodontic emergencies?
Most orthodontic emergencies are minor and can wait for a quick call during office hours. Use this list as a guide, and contact us whenever you’re unsure.
- General soreness: normal for 3–4 days; eat soft foods, rinse with warm salt water, and take pain relievers as appropriate.
- Sore spots: cover the area with wax or apply Orabase or Orajel; irritation usually heals in 7–10 days.
- Poking wire tie: gently tuck it down with a pencil eraser.
- Loose teeth: normal while teeth are moving.
- Spacer out: give us a call.
- Rubber band soreness: expected during the first 3–4 days.
- Broken archwire: cover the end with wax or wet cotton, then call.
- Loose band or bracket: cover it with wax and call.
- Missing ties: call so we can replace them.
Keep this section of our orthodontic patient resources handy, especially during the first week after placement.
Where can you find more orthodontic patient resources?
For remote monitoring, the most useful of our orthodontic patient resources is our DentalMonitoring page. It explains how the app and ScanBox fit into treatment, and the DentalMonitoring instructions video below shows a scan from start to finish.
After you’ve followed the DentalMonitoring instructions a couple of times, scanning quickly becomes part of your weekly routine.
New families can find both online orthodontic forms, for adults and for children, on our new patient scheduling page. Fill out one form per patient.
Beyond our own orthodontic patient resources, the American Association of Orthodontists offers trustworthy guides on bite problems, timing, and treatment types.
We update our orthodontic patient resources as treatment options change. When a question isn’t covered here, the team is happy to help by phone or text.