Terminal Park Dental
4-1559 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3Y3
General dental practice. Invisalign and clear-aligner consultations are available.
Preparing for the first visit
What to expect at an Invisalign consultation in Nanaimo
A useful consultation should be able to recommend Invisalign, another treatment, observation or referral with equal honesty.
Diagnosis before applianceThis page supports informed questions. It cannot examine you or determine treatment suitability.
The plain answer
The consultation is a diagnostic visit, not a sales demonstration for clear aligners.
Expect discussion of goals and history, an examination of teeth, gums and bite, and a decision about which records are appropriate. A scan or smile simulation may be included, but it should not replace explanation of the diagnosis and alternatives.
Before accepting treatment, understand who will approve the plan, how often monitoring occurs, what attachments or enamel reduction may be needed, what the fee includes and what happens if the original aligner series does not finish the case.
Participating Nanaimo offices
Invisalign and clear-aligner consultations in two parts of Nanaimo
This website remains a regional educational resource. Both offices offer Invisalign and clear-aligner consultations. Choose the location that is most convenient for you.
Eagle Point Dental
1-6304 Dover Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9V 1S4
General dental practice. Invisalign and clear-aligner consultations are available.
What matters
Key points before you act
Use these as a decision filter at a real consultation.
Examination
Health, bite, movement requirements and patient goals should all be assessed.
Records
Photos, scans and selected imaging answer different planning questions.
Decision
The result may be Invisalign, braces, another aligner, monitoring or specialist referral.
The sequence of a strong consultation
The visit usually begins with the patient’s concerns, previous orthodontic history and oral-health status. The provider then examines alignment, bite, gum condition and function before deciding whether more records are needed.
Only after those steps should the conversation move to appliance, timeline and fee. A consultation that begins with financing before diagnosis may be efficient for sales but weak for informed consent.
Information to bring and disclose
Help the provider by sharing:
No single photograph, scan or symptom can answer every one of those questions. The treating provider should explain which records are needed, what each record shows and how the findings change the plan.
- previous braces, aligners, retainers and any known root or gum problems;
- planned crowns, implants, extractions or periodontal treatment;
- medications and health conditions that affect bone or healing;
- work, school, sport, travel and meal routines relevant to wear;
- the difference between your functional and appearance goals.
Candidacy is more than mild, moderate or severe
A case can look mild in the front and still contain difficult root movement, bite correction or periodontal limitations. Conversely, a visually complex case may be treatable with aligners when carefully planned and monitored.
Ask the provider to explain the hardest movement and the main risk. That answer is more informative than a generic claim that Invisalign treats almost everyone.
The appropriate option can change after an examination. Use this comparison to prepare questions, not to self-prescribe treatment.
Comparing consultations fairly
Use the same questions at each office. Confirm provider credentials, treatment objective, records, included refinement phases, lost-tray policy, monitoring, emergency access, retainers and financing terms.
Do not compare a comprehensive plan with a limited cosmetic plan as though they are the same service. Ask each provider to state what is intentionally excluded or left unchanged.
- Bring your current retainer and previous records if available.
- Write down the exact aligner system proposed.
- Do not feel pressured to decide before receiving the plan and scope in writing.
Questions to take to a consultation
- What is the diagnosis, including the bite?
- Is Invisalign the preferred option, one reasonable option or a compromise?
- Who designs and approves the plan?
- What are the expected attachments, IPR, elastics, monitoring and refinements?
- What is included in the fee through retention?
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Will I receive aligners at the consultation?
Usually not. Examination, records, planning, consent and manufacturing occur before appliance delivery.
Is a free consultation less complete?
Price does not determine quality. Evaluate whether the visit produces a real diagnosis, alternatives, written scope and accountability.
Can I seek a specialist opinion without a referral?
Many orthodontic offices accept direct requests. Confirm the office’s process and use the BCCOHP registry to verify specialty registration.
Primary references
Sources used for this guide
External sources can change. Verify current regulatory and product information at the linked publisher.
- What to expect at a first orthodontic appointment ↗American Association of Orthodontists
- How Invisalign treatment works ↗Align Technology
- Search the BCCOHP public registry ↗British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals
- Dentist licences and recognized specialties in British Columbia ↗British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals