How To Make A Braces Appointment

Clear braces are one of the first options adults and older teens ask me about when they want to straighten their teeth without making their braces the first thing people notice.

The brackets are clear or tooth-colored, but the decision to use them is still a clinical one. I need to look at your teeth, your bite, your oral health, and the type of tooth movement we need before I can tell you whether ceramic braces are a good choice for your case.

The good news is that getting that answer is easy. At Schimmel Orthodontic Associates, you can schedule an orthodontic consultation directly. You do not need a dentist referral, and there is no fee for the initial consultation or initial X-rays.

🦷 What Are Clear Ceramic Braces?

Clear ceramic braces use clear or tooth-colored brackets that are bonded to the teeth and connected by an orthodontic wire.

They work by applying controlled forces that gradually guide teeth into their planned positions.

The American Association of Orthodontists notes that ceramic braces are sometimes called clear braces. They are fixed appliances, meaning they remain attached to the teeth throughout treatment.

I usually discuss them with patients who want fixed braces but prefer a less noticeable appearance.

I don't call ceramic braces invisible. If someone is standing close to you, they can still see them. The advantage is that the brackets blend much more naturally with the teeth.

🦷 How Do I Know if Clear Braces Are Right for Me?

That answer starts with your bite.

When I evaluate a patient for clear ceramic braces, I don't just look at the teeth you see when you smile. I look at how the entire bite fits together and what needs to move to correct it.

• Crowding or spacing
• Rotated or overlapping teeth
• How the upper and lower teeth meet
• The amount and direction of tooth movement required
• Gum and overall oral health
• The patient's age and treatment goals
• Whether ceramic brackets are appropriate for the mechanics of the case

The AAO's current ceramic-braces guidance explains that ceramic braces are not appropriate for every patient or every orthodontic problem. Teeth, bite, treatment goals, lifestyle, oral health, and the movement required all matter.

🦷 Clear Braces Aren't Just for Teenagers

Many adults assume they missed their opportunity for orthodontic treatment years ago. They haven't.

The American Association of Orthodontists reported in 2026 that about 1 in 3 orthodontic patients is an adult.

AAO patient census data also estimated approximately 1.91 million adult patients were being treated by AAO members in the United States in 2024, compared with approximately 1.64 million in 2022.

🦷 How Do I Make an Appointment for Clear Braces?

Making the appointment is simple.

Call Schimmel Orthodontic Associates at (718) 548-4768 or request a consultation online. You do not need a referral from your dentist.

Schimmel Orthodontic Associates
3265 Johnson Avenue, Suite 104
Bronx, NY 10463

When you call, you can simply tell our team: “I'm interested in clear braces and would like to schedule a consultation.”

You don't need to know what kind of bite you have. You don't need to decide whether ceramic braces are definitely right for you before you come in. We'll figure that out together.

🦷 What Should I Bring to My First Orthodontic Appointment?

If you already have dental or orthodontic records, bring whatever is available.

• Previous dental or orthodontic X-rays
• A list of medications you are currently taking
• Dental or medical insurance information and required forms
• Completed patient registration forms

If you don't have previous X-rays, don't delay your appointment because of that. There is no fee for the initial X-rays needed for your consultation at our office.

I also recommend bringing your questions.

• Are clear ceramic braces appropriate for my case?
• Is the problem mainly my tooth alignment, my bite, or both?
• What do you recommend correcting?
• How long do you expect treatment to take?
• How often will I need appointments?
• What will treatment require from me at home?
• What will treatment cost?
• How will my insurance or payment plan work?

🦷 What Happens at Your First Braces Consultation?

Your first orthodontic visit is primarily an examination and treatment-planning appointment.

The initial appointment includes an orthodontic examination and a discussion of potential treatment options. There is no fee for that consultation or for initial X-rays.

A patient may come in because one front tooth looks rotated, but there may be crowding, spacing, a deep bite, an overbite, or another issue affecting how all of the teeth fit together.

By the end of the consultation, my goal is for you to understand what I see, what it means, and what I recommend doing about it.

🦷 Can I Get Clear Braces at My First Appointment?

Not automatically.

Your first appointment is about getting the diagnosis and treatment plan right.

Before braces are placed, I need to understand what we're correcting and how I want the teeth to move.

Braces are not simply brackets glued onto crooked teeth. Bracket position, wires, elastics when needed, and the sequence of tooth movement are all parts of an orthodontic treatment plan.

If clear ceramic braces are appropriate for your case, we'll explain the next steps for beginning treatment.

🦷 Do Clear Braces Require Extra Cleaning?

They require careful cleaning, just like other fixed braces.

Brackets and wires create additional areas where plaque and food can collect. Current AAO guidance recommends brushing multiple times per day, cleaning hard-to-reach areas around appliances, and flossing at least once daily.

A 2024 systematic review found that fixed orthodontic appliances create additional plaque-retention areas and identified plaque accumulation, oral bacterial changes, and other patient-specific factors as contributors to caries risk during treatment.

A separate 2026 systematic review evaluated interdental brushes in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. It found low-certainty evidence that interdental brushes may help reduce plaque and gingival inflammation compared with toothbrushing alone or flossing, although stronger research is still needed.

The goal isn't simply straight teeth. I want the teeth and gums to be healthy when the braces come off too.

🦷 Do I Need a Dentist Referral for Clear Braces?

No.

You can make an orthodontic appointment directly. Schimmel Orthodontics states that no referral is required, and current AAO patient guidance also explains that patients do not need to wait for a dentist referral before seeing an orthodontist.

Your general dentist still remains an important part of your care. Regular dental care and cleanings remain important during orthodontic treatment.

🦷 How Often Will I Need Clear Braces Appointments?

Clear braces require regular orthodontic visits so I can monitor how the teeth are moving and make adjustments as treatment progresses.

The exact schedule can vary by patient and by the stage of treatment.

• Tooth movement
• Bite changes
• Brackets and wires
• Elastics, when prescribed
• Oral hygiene
• Overall treatment progress

This is one reason convenience matters when searching for an orthodontist near you. You aren't choosing a place you're only going to visit once.

🦷 Where Can I Get Clear Braces Near Me in Riverdale, the Bronx or Yonkers?

Schimmel Orthodontics serves patients from Riverdale, the Bronx, Yonkers, Kingsbridge, Westchester, and nearby communities.

When you're searching for an orthodontist near you, convenience matters—but I wouldn't choose based on distance alone.

Look at the orthodontist's specialty training, how thoroughly your teeth and bite are evaluated, whether your treatment plan is personalized, how clearly your options are explained, and whether the office works for your schedule.

Learn more about our Riverdale orthodontic office or review what happens during your first orthodontic visit.

🦷 Ready to Talk About Clear Braces?

If clear ceramic braces are something you've been considering, come in and let me take a look.

You don't have to know what type of braces you need before you make the appointment. We'll evaluate your teeth and bite, talk about what you want to improve, and determine whether clear braces make sense for your treatment.

There is no fee for your initial orthodontic consultation or initial X-rays, and no dentist referral is required.

🦷 About Dr. Laurence Schimmel

Dr. Laurence Schimmel, DDS, is a board-certified orthodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University College of Dentistry, where he was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, and completed his Certificate in Orthodontics at Montefiore Medical Center.

Read more about Dr. Laurence Schimmel

🦷 Related Reading

• Clear Ceramic Braces
• Types of Braces
• Adult Braces
• Your First Orthodontic Visit
• Orthodontic Financing and Payment Plans
• How Much Do Adult Braces Cost in the Bronx?
• Riverdale and Bronx Orthodontist