Your first visit

What the appointment covers

Four things happen, in this order. Each one exists because the next one depends on it.

1. Assessment

   A clinical examination of the teeth, the bite, the jaw joints, the facial proportions and — where it is relevant to the complaint — the nose and airway. This is also the part of the visit where you describe the problem in your own words, which is often the most useful information in the room.

2. Records and imaging

   Photographs, a digital scan of the teeth and, where the examination raises a question that only imaging can answer, a radiograph or a CBCT. Imaging is taken because a decision depends on it, not as a routine part of every consultation.

3. Diagnosis

   A specific description of what is happening and why, separated from the label. “Crowding” and “jaw pain” are symptoms; the diagnosis is the mechanism behind them, because that is what determines which treatments can work.

4. Treatment planning

   The options, including the option of doing nothing, with what each one involves, what it cannot do, the risks, and an estimate of time. You are given time to consider it; nothing is decided in the chair.

How long it takes

Allow around an hour. A straightforward assessment can be shorter; a case involving the jaw joint, the airway or a previous course of treatment usually takes the full hour, because the history matters as much as the examination.

What to bring

• Any previous orthodontic records, radiographs or scans you have, including from another clinic or another country.
• A list of medicines you take, and any relevant medical conditions.
• Details of previous dental treatment, particularly extractions, implants, root treatments or jaw surgery.
• If a physician, ENT surgeon or sleep specialist has already seen you, their letter or report.
• For a child: a parent or guardian, and the school and activity schedule if appliance timing is likely to be discussed.

None of this is essential. Bringing it simply avoids repeating investigations that have already been done.

Medical and dental history

You will be asked about general health, medication, allergies, breathing and sleep, and about habits such as clenching or grinding. These are not formalities: several of them change what treatment is appropriate, and one of them — untreated gum disease — has to be dealt with before orthodontic treatment can safely begin.

What happens after the consultation

Where a plan is agreed, an appointment is made to begin. Where the problem sits partly outside orthodontics — an ENT question, a sleep study, a restorative issue — the referral is made first, because starting orthodontic treatment before that is answered can commit you to the wrong plan.

You are also entitled to take the plan elsewhere for a second opinion. That is a normal part of making a decision about a long treatment, and it is easier to do with written records, which is what you are given.

Where to come

Manhal Medical Center, Al Safa 1, Dubai. Al Safa 1 sits between Al Wasl Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, a few minutes from Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim and Al Wasl, and a short drive from Downtown Dubai, Business Bay and DIFC. Patients also travel in from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.

Frequently asked questions

Page last reviewed: 2026-09-10. This page is general health information about orthodontic care and is not a diagnosis, a treatment plan, or a substitute for an in-person clinical examination. Suitability for any treatment described here can only be established after a consultation, clinical assessment and the appropriate records. If you have symptoms that concern you, seek advice from a qualified clinician.