Your First Orthodontic Visit in Hershey, PA
Reviewed by Dr. Susan Korch, DMD, MS
You do not need a referral from your dentist to see an orthodontist. Anyone can book a consultation directly. At Korch Orthodontics, the first exam is free, takes about an hour, and includes a full examination with digital imaging. You leave with a diagnosis, your options, a timeline, and a written fee, with no obligation to start.
Booking a first orthodontic appointment is the part most people put off longest, usually because they are not sure what they are agreeing to.
So, plainly: you are agreeing to an hour, a conversation, and a straight answer. Nothing is decided at this visit, nothing is charged, and if you do not need treatment, we will tell you.
Do I Need a Referral From My Dentist?
No. You can book directly with us, and many of our patients do. Children, teenagers and adults are all welcome to make their own appointment.
Orthodontists are specialists, but not the kind you need permission to see. Your dentist may well suggest an orthodontic opinion, and we are glad when they do, but their referral is not required for you to be examined or treated.
One genuine exception, worth knowing before you book. It is not clinical, it is insurance. Some plans, particularly HMO-style dental plans, require a referral from your primary dentist for orthodontic treatment to be covered. That has no bearing on whether we can see you, only on whether your plan will contribute. If you are unsure which kind of plan you have, bring your insurance details, and we will check it for you.
If your dentist did refer you, tell us. We record it and keep them updated throughout your treatment because your dentist continues to look after everything we do not.
What Happens at the Consultation
We review your dental and medical history. This shapes the plan, and it tells us who else is involved in your care.
A full examination. Digital X-rays, photographs and a clinical exam, so the assessment is based on what is happening below the surface as well as above it. Tooth roots, jaw position and unerupted teeth all matter and none of them are visible from the front.
A diagnosis in plain language. What is actually going on, shown to you on your own images rather than described in the abstract.
Your options, with the trade-offs. Braces or clear aligners, what each would involve in your case, and roughly how long. What you want matters here as much as what we recommend.
The money, in writing. Your total fee, what it includes, what your insurance is likely to contribute, and the monthly options. See financing and our guide to costs.
We can often complete your 3D digital scan the same day, so if you decide to go ahead you are not making a separate trip. No impressions, no trays, no gagging.
How to Prepare
Not much is needed:
- Your completed new patient forms, if you have had a chance. See patient forms.
- Your insurance details, so we can verify your benefits while you are here.
- Any recent X-rays from your dentist, if you have them. Not essential, and we can take our own.
- What is bothering you. Even “I have never liked my smile in photographs” is useful. It is your goal, not ours, that the plan is built around.
Allow about an hour.
On timing: we open at 8 AM Monday through Wednesday and on Friday, with Thursday a short day from 9 AM to 1 PM. Longer appointments, including first exams, are usually scheduled in the morning; shorter checks are often available after school. Tell us what works and we will do our best to fit it.
If You Decide to Start
Your start appointment is longer, typically 60 to 90 minutes, and is when your appliance is placed. Dr. Korch does this herself and will talk you through what to expect in the days after.
From there, most patients are seen every several weeks, though remote monitoring means fewer of those visits need to be in person. For families driving in from Harrisburg or Lebanon, that is often the difference that makes treatment practical.
Keep Seeing Your Dentist
This one matters. Orthodontic visits do not replace dental check-ups.
We watch how your teeth are moving; your dentist watches whether they are healthy. Keep your normal six-monthly cleanings and exams throughout treatment, which is when teeth are hardest to keep clean and most need the attention.
Your dental visits earn points on your Korch Kash card. Bring your signed certificate to your next appointment and we will add them.
What Your Treatment Fee Covers
- Full diagnostic records, including 3D X-rays, digital scans and growth studies
- All active treatment, including appliances, adjustments and regular visits
- Your appliances, built to last for the duration of treatment
- One set of retainers when treatment finishes
Replacement appliances and additional retainers are charged separately, if something is lost, broken through misuse, or a further set is wanted. We would rather say so now than surprise you later.
Book Your Free Consultation
An hour will tell you what is going on and what it would take to fix. Nothing more is committed.
Korch Orthodontics · 357 West Governor Road, Hershey, PA 17033 · (717) 533-7400
Frequently Asked Questions
Patients visiting us for the first time often have questions about what to expect, how to prepare, and how orthodontic care works overall. Below are answers to the top questions patients in Hershey and surrounding areas ask before their first orthodontic visit, so you can feel confident and prepared before you arrive.
Is the first visit really free?
Yes. The examination, the imaging and the consultation are all included at no charge, and there is no obligation to start treatment. A free first exam is standard among orthodontists in this area, so it is worth comparing what is actually in the appointment rather than just the price of it.
Can I start treatment the same day?
Often, yes. If treatment is appropriate and you are ready, we can usually complete the digital scan during your first visit and begin from there. There is no pressure to decide on the day, and taking the plan home to think about is entirely normal.
How long does the first appointment take?
About an hour. That covers the examination, the images, the discussion of your options, and the financial conversation. We would rather take the hour than send you away with half an answer.
Can I bring my child and myself to the same appointment?
Yes, and it is a sensible use of a trip. Tell us when you book so we set aside enough time for both examinations.
Can I have Botox® for jaw tension alongside orthodontic treatment?
Yes, for adult patients. The two work together rather than against each other, since relaxing an overactive jaw muscle removes a force that competes with treatment. See Botox® for jaw tension.
