For Patients

Orthodontics Is More Than Choosing Braces

Orthodontics is about much more than choosing between braces and aligners or discussing cost.

Before recommending treatment, your specialist orthodontist may need to assess your:

• Dental and bone health
• Bite and jaw relationships
• Facial proportions
• Palatal anatomy and surrounding structures
• Growth and development
• Impacted, missing or abnormally developing teeth
• Airway, breathing or TMJ concerns where relevant

These findings can fundamentally change your treatment plan.

For example, should space be created through expansion or extractions? Is a skeletal discrepancy suitable for a non-surgical approach, or should orthognathic surgery be considered? Is an impacted tooth present? Are there anatomical or periodontal limitations that could influence treatment?

These decisions require appropriate diagnostic records, careful examination and specialist treatment planning. They cannot always be determined accurately from a quick introductory assessment.

Our Commitment to You

At Lusk Orthodontics, we promise you a thorough, individualised orthodontic assessment from the outset, so that your diagnosis, treatment options, alternatives, risks and limitations are clear before you commit to treatment.

We regularly see patients seeking second opinions or orthodontic retreatment where concerns have arisen around the original diagnosis or treatment plan. This reinforces one of our core clinical principles:

Diagnosis and treatment planning are among the most important stages of your entire orthodontic journey.

We therefore give this stage the records, specialist expertise and time it deserves. Our objective is not to rush you into treatment, but to establish a carefully considered treatment plan that both you and your orthodontist understand before treatment begins.

Your Comprehensive Orthodontic Assessment

Depending on your individual needs, your assessment may include:

• Clinical orthodontic examination
• Digital 3D scans
• Clinical and facial photographs
• Assessment of your teeth and bite
• Assessment of jaw relationships and facial balance
• Growth and development assessment in younger patients
• Airway and breathing considerations where relevant
• TMJ assessment where appropriate
• X-rays where clinically indicated
• Additional imaging, including CBCT, when specifically required

Once your records have been reviewed, you will have a dedicated consultation with Dr Erfan Salloum, Specialist Orthodontist, Founder and Clinical Director of Lusk Orthodontics. 

Dedicated Time With Your Specialist Orthodontist

At Lusk Orthodontics, your specialist consultation will not be rushed.

Every patient is given the time to understand their diagnosis, discuss the findings and ask questions.

Dr Salloum is one of only a small number of orthodontists in Ireland certified by the European Board of Orthodontists and a multiple award-winning specialist orthodontist, recognised for his clinical work.

His training also includes a distinctive level of expertise in lingual orthodontics (braces fitted behind the teeth). He is the only orthodontist in Ireland to have successfully completed the assessment requirements of both the European and World Societies of Lingual Orthodontics, achieving Titular and Active Membership respectively.

His clinical experience spans routine orthodontics through to the surgical and non-surgical management of complex bite and skeletal problems, including cases requiring advanced orthodontic biomechanics, skeletal expansion, multidisciplinary care and orthognathic surgery.

He also has a particular clinical interest in treating patients whose orthodontic concerns exist alongside airway, breathing or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, where these factors may need to be considered as part of the wider treatment plan. 

Depending on the complexity of your case, approximately 30–45 minutes is allocated to discuss your diagnosis, treatment objectives, available options and alternatives, expected treatment time, relevant risks and limitations, fees and any need for collaboration with other dental or medical specialists. 

There is no pressure to make a treatment decision on the day.

Our aim is simple: you should leave your consultation understanding what the problem is, why it matters, what your options are and why a particular approach has been recommended for you.

Children and Teenagers

Not every child who sees an orthodontist needs treatment straight away. If you are unsure whether your child needs orthodontic treatment or is at the right stage to begin, we are happy to offer a complimentary assessment to check their readiness for treatment.

Sometimes the right recommendation is to monitor dental development and jaw growth until the appropriate time. In other cases, early intervention may be beneficial.

A comprehensive assessment allows us to distinguish between the two.

Where relevant, we also consider mouth breathing, nasal breathing, sleep-related concerns, oral habits and facial growth as part of the wider orthodontic assessment. Where appropriate, we may recommend assessment by another healthcare professional. 

If treatment is not currently indicated, we will explain why and advise you when your child should be reviewed again.

The standard records and consultation appointment fees fee is €200.

Adult Orthodontics

Adult orthodontics can involve considerably more than straightening teeth.

Existing restorations, missing teeth, periodontal health, previous orthodontic treatment, skeletal discrepancies and jaw relationships can all influence what is realistically achievable.

Some adults also seek orthodontic treatment alongside TMJ symptoms, bite concerns, nasal breathing difficulties or airway-related problems.

We consider these factors within the wider orthodontic diagnosis rather than simply selecting an appliance.

Orthodontic treatment is not presented as a cure for TMJ disorders, obstructive sleep apnoea or other medical airway conditions. Where appropriate, treatment planning may involve collaboration with restorative dentists, periodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ENT specialists, sleep physicians or other healthcare professionals. 

The standard records and consultation appointment fee for routine adult orthodontic cases fee is €200.

Your Consultation Fee Goes Towards Treatment

If you decide to proceed with orthodontic treatment at Lusk Orthodontics, your consultation fee is credited towards your overall treatment fee.

Your consultation is therefore not an additional cost on top of treatment. It forms part of the diagnostic and treatment-planning process that begins your orthodontic journey. 

Complex and Multidisciplinary Consultation

For more complex cases requiring advanced assessment and treatment planning, the consultation fee is €300.

This may apply to cases involving:

• Surgical orthodontics
• Airway-related concerns
• Skeletal expansion
• TMJ-related problems
• Complex multidisciplinary treatment planning

If treatment proceeds, the fee is typically deducted from the overall treatment cost.

Advanced Imaging and CBCT Scan

Low-Dose 3D Imaging for Complex Cases

In selected cases, we may recommend a low-dose 3D CBCT scan to assess the teeth, jaws, airway, and surrounding structures in greater detail.

CBCT imaging is particularly useful for:

• Impacted teeth
• Skeletal expansion treatments such as MARPE, BARME, and DOME
• Surgical orthodontic treatment planning
• Airway assessment (to assess nasal septum, adenoids, nasal turbinates, maxillary sinus)
• Complex multidisciplinary cases

A CBCT scan with reporting carries an additional fee of €150-€300 depending on the field of view.

This fee is separate from orthodontic treatment fees and is not deducted from the total treatment cost.

Your Visit to Lusk Orthodontics

Before your appointment, our team will send medical history and consent forms for completion in advance to help make your visit as smooth and efficient as possible.

Our clinic is located in Lusk Village Quarter in North Dublin and offers:

• Convenient free parking nearby
• Easy road access
• Nearby train connections
• Selected Saturday and evening appointments
• A calm and modern boutique clinic environment

Click here to start your orthodontic journey.