Free Orthodontic Consultation in Shelby Township, MI
New patients get a free consultation with Dr. Fredal. It includes a free CBCT scan (a 3D X-ray) and an iTero digital scan. You also get the exact treatment cost in writing. Second opinions are free too.
*For new patients only. Patients transferring from another orthodontist: $250 consultation fee, credited toward treatment if they start here. Comfort visits for patients in treatment at Fredal Orthodontics are free during patient care hours.
What the Free Consultation Covers, for Braces or Invisalign
Included in the free consultation
- Dr. Fredal’s personal review He reviews your complete records with you himself.
- iTero digital scan The iTero Lumina scans your teeth in 3D, in place of impression material.
- Clinical photographs Photos are taken of your teeth and face.
- 3D CBCT scan One is taken at every new-patient consultation, on the practice’s i-CAT FLX V17. A USB copy of the scan costs $450, including data processing.
- TMD screening Your bite, jaw joints and jaw muscles are screened for TMD. TMD (temporomandibular disorder) means problems with the jaw joints and jaw muscles.
- Airway screening Airway screening is part of every comprehensive orthodontic consultation. Dr. Fredal uses the CBCT scan to check your upper airway in 3D. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are looked for when visible. Your nasal airway, tongue posture and mouth-breathing patterns are checked too. Your history is reviewed for signs such as habitual mouth breathing, snoring and restless or disrupted sleep. The screening is not meant to diagnose sleep apnea. If concerning symptoms or structural findings turn up, you are referred to an ENT (an ear, nose and throat doctor outside the practice), typically Dr. Thottam, for further evaluation. When tongue posture, oral habits or functional concerns are present, you may also be referred to a local myofunctional therapist (a therapist for the muscles of the mouth and face).
Why the full records matter
Every treatment plan is built from a 3D CBCT scan and an iTero digital scan. This way, your care is designed around your face, your bite and long-term stability.
The two scans are merged into one fully digital workflow, for braces and for Invisalign. With them, Dr. Fredal looks at more than the crowns of your teeth (the parts you can see). He also checks their roots, the bone around them, your skeletal relationships (how your jaws relate to each other), your airway and your facial structures.
What to Expect at Your First Orthodontist Visit
-
1
Welcome & Intake
You check in digitally. -
2
Digital Records
A 3D CBCT scan, an iTero digital scan and clinical photographs are taken. -
3
Doctor Evaluation & Treatment Plan
Dr. Fredal reviews your complete records with you. He then gives you his treatment recommendation. -
4
Written Pricing
You receive the exact treatment cost in writing.
Your Records Are Reviewed by a Specialist Orthodontist
Dr. Thomas Fredal Jr.
Dr. Fredal sees you himself at every consultation. He has an MSD, a master’s degree. He earned it in his specialty training. That training was in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. He has treated more than 2,000 orthodontic cases. That count covers his orthodontic training and his clinical practice. Read the full bioFredal Orthodontics is a private, single-doctor practice. Dr. Fredal personally plans and supervises every patient’s treatment. His specialist training shapes every part of how he diagnoses and plans a patient’s treatment. He evaluates the whole patient rather than focusing only on straightening the teeth.
He looks at facial balance, skeletal relationships, growth and the bite. He also checks where the front teeth sit and how much of them shows, plus lip support and the smile arc (the curve of the upper teeth when you smile). The airway, periodontal support (the gums and bone around the teeth), root position and long-term stability are part of it too.
What You Leave With
- Dr. Fredal’s treatment recommendation He gives it after he reviews your complete records with you.
- A treatment-time estimate for your case Dr. Fredal gives you one after he completes the diagnostic evaluation. Many comprehensive orthodontic cases are completed in about 12 to 18 months.
- The exact treatment cost, in writing At the visit, you can also talk about your orthodontic needs. You can ask about treatment options, timelines and ways to pay.
- Did your dentist or a dental specialist refer you? They get your digital records and imaging when requested.
When Dr. Fredal Waits Before Starting Treatment
In Dr. Fredal’s view, one of the biggest mistakes in orthodontic treatment is starting before the timing is right. He carefully evaluates growth, dental development, skeletal relationships and the goals of treatment. From these, he decides when treatment should begin, not only how to treat. Sometimes he recommends against treatment.
At an adult braces consultation, no deposit or commitment is required to receive your treatment plan.
If You Have TMD Symptoms
If you have active or concerning TMD symptoms, orthodontic treatment waits. It does not start until a qualified specialist outside the practice has evaluated and cleared you. One example is an orofacial pain specialist (a dentist who treats pain in the jaw and face).
Another is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (a surgeon of the mouth, jaws and face). Dr. Abigail Schmidt, DDS, MS, is another. So is the TMD and orofacial pain service at the University of Michigan.
Braces and Invisalign are not recommended or presented as a treatment or cure for TMD. Once you are cleared, orthodontic treatment may go ahead when it is independently indicated. That means it is needed for reasons other than TMD. Fredal Orthodontics does not promise that TMD symptoms will improve.
What to Bring & How to Prepare
- Photo ID Bring a photo ID. The practice asks for one at the new-patient consultation.
- New patient forms You can complete them on the practice website, through Ortho 2 Edge.
- Insurance card The practice takes your insurance card when you book.
- Parking and entrance The office is at 7827 25 Mile Road, Shelby Township, Michigan 48316. It is at the northwest corner of 25 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue. Park in any available space in the lot next to the building. The entrance is on the southwest side of the building. Parking on site is free. The entrance, parking and restroom are wheelchair accessible.
Insurance & Financing
Fredal Orthodontics is in network with Delta Dental PPO. A PPO (preferred provider organization) is a type of dental plan with its own network of providers. For the other PPO dental plans it accepts, the practice is out of network but files your claims for you as a courtesy.
The team helps you understand your orthodontic benefits. It also gives you a clear estimate of your out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins. You receive your benefits verification in writing.
The practice offers 0% in-house financing and accepts HSA/FSA. An HSA or FSA (health savings account or flexible spending account) holds money you set aside for health costs.
Insurance & financing detailsSecond Opinions and Transfer Cases
Transfer Patients Welcome
The transfer consultation is for patients in treatment with another orthodontist who want to switch. Its fee is $250. The fee is credited toward treatment if you start with Fredal Orthodontics.
Second Opinion Consultations
The second-opinion consultation is for patients in treatment elsewhere who want only an opinion on that treatment, not a transfer. There is no charge for it.
If you have not started treatment elsewhere, the new-patient consultation is free. If you are comparing orthodontists, Dr. Fredal’s advice is to base the choice on diagnosis, treatment planning and who will personally oversee your care.
If You Are Worried About Affordability
0% In-House Financing and Community Discounts
Fredal Orthodontics offers flexible 0% in-house financing with no credit check. A down payment is required: $750 for comprehensive braces or Invisalign, and $500 for Phase 1 (early) treatment. Comprehensive treatment is full treatment, as opposed to an early phase.
For comprehensive braces or Invisalign, payment plans run from 12 to 30 months. Monthly payments on the in-house plan start as low as $179. Payment amounts vary based on treatment costs, down payment and financing terms.
The practice’s goal is to make treatment as affordable and accessible as possible. It will work with you to find a financial option that fits your budget.
The practice also offers a $250 community discount. It is for military service members and veterans, teachers and school staff, first responders, healthcare workers, and students. Each additional child in your family who starts treatment also qualifies. The discount comes off your out-of-pocket portion, which is the amount you pay after insurance. You need ID proof to claim it.
Common Questions
Free Consultation FAQ
Is the orthodontic consultation free?
Is the 3D CBCT scan free for everyone?
How do I schedule a consultation?
When should my child have a first orthodontic evaluation?
Can I come back for a second consultation before I decide?
How much do braces and Invisalign cost at Fredal Orthodontics?
Ready to Book?
Community discounts are applied on your financial agreement. One $250 community discount may be applied per patient. If you pay in full, you get a discount: 5% by cash, check or ACH bank transfer, or 3% by credit card.
*For new patients only. Patients transferring from another orthodontist: $250 consultation fee, credited toward treatment if they start here.
It may be combined with an eligible community discount. Both discounts come off your out-of-pocket portion. The $100 referral account credit is separate and may be combined when applicable.
Want to learn more before scheduling? Browse braces options, Invisalign clear aligners, or the bite problems the practice treats. You can also read patient reviews on Google. Parents looking into treatment for a child can start at children’s orthodontics.