What is an online pre-assessment, and what is it not?
An online pre-assessment is a general first opinion given by an orthodontist after looking at photos of your smile and teeth taken with your phone. Its purpose is to discuss in advance roughly which group your problem falls into (such as crowding, gaps or a bite problem) and what you would gain by coming in for an examination. It is a practical starting point, especially for people who find it hard to schedule an appointment because of work or school, people who live outside the city, or those who simply want an idea.
We want to be clear about the limits of this opinion from the start: An online pre-assessment is not a diagnosis. No treatment plan is drawn up from photos, and no number of aligners, treatment time or fee is given. A definitive decision is made only at a clinical examination on whether clear aligners, braces or another method is suitable for you, after the necessary X-rays and a digital intraoral scan have been evaluated. Everything said in the pre-assessment is preliminary information that may change at the examination.
What can and cannot be understood from photos?
Well-taken photos give quite a lot of information about tooth alignment; however, there are many factors inside the mouth that cannot be seen by eye or camera. The list below helps keep your expectations realistic.
What can usually be seen in photos:
- How the teeth are aligned, and noticeable crowding or gaps
- How the front teeth of the upper and lower jaws overlap (an impression of open or deep bite)
- How the midline roughly aligns with the center of the face
- How much gum shows when smiling
- Noticeable issues such as missing teeth, broken fillings or marked color differences
What cannot be assessed from photos:
- The position of the tooth roots and bone support
- Impacted or unerupted teeth
- The skeletal relationship of the jawbones to each other
- Problems such as gum disease, cavities and root inflammation
- How the jaw joint (TMJ) works and muscle tension
- How suitable the teeth are for being moved
For this reason, a problem that looks simple in a photo may turn out to be more extensive at the examination, or, conversely, a situation that looks complex may be easier to plan than expected. The choice of method is made based on X-ray and examination findings together.
How do you apply for an online pre-assessment?
- Prepare your photos. A front smile, a front view with the teeth closed, right and left side views and, if possible, views of the upper and lower jaws from above are enough. For details, see the how to take smile photos guide.
- Write a short note. In a few sentences, mention what bothers you most, your age and whether you have had orthodontic treatment before.
- Send it via WhatsApp. Send your photos and note to 0312 911 60 36. Messages are answered in order, Monday–Saturday, 09:00–20:00.
- Receive the general opinion. The reply explains the general nature of the problem, what will be looked at during the examination and, if needed, which records will be taken.
- Schedule an appointment if you wish. You can set a suitable day and time for the examination in the same conversation.
If you would like to ask yourself a few questions before applying, you can look at the self-assessment questions on the clear aligner suitability quiz page; that quiz is not a diagnostic tool either.
How is your personal data protected when you send photos?
Because photos of the mouth and teeth provide information about a health condition, they may be considered special category personal data under Turkey's Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (KVKK). We use this data only for the pre-assessment and to communicate with you. You can find how your data is processed and your rights (such as requesting information, correction or deletion) in the KVKK data protection notice. It is entirely appropriate to ask for this information before sending photos.
Important note: Do not share sensitive health data by message that is not needed for the pre-assessment. In particular, we kindly ask you not to send:
- Images of your ID card, passport or insurance card
- Medical documents such as blood tests, hospital reports or discharge summaries
- Detailed health information such as chronic illnesses, psychological diagnoses or medication lists
- Photos of body areas other than the mouth
Your general health and the medications you take are of course important; however, these are discussed in person and on record at the examination. If you do not want your whole face to be visible, you can crop the photos to show only the mouth area. For those under 18, the photos must be sent by a parent or legal guardian.
What is done at the examination after the pre-assessment?
The preliminary opinion does not replace an examination; it helps you come to the examination better prepared. At the clinic, the orthodontist examines the inside of the mouth and the gums and evaluates your bite and jaw movements. If deemed necessary, panoramic and cephalometric X-rays are requested. A three-dimensional record of your teeth is taken with the iTero digital scanner; if the Invisalign system is found suitable, a step-by-step tooth movement plan is prepared in the ClinCheck software. You can find in detail which records are taken at the examination and why in the article the first orthodontic examination and records.
At the end of the examination, the options, a possible time range and the steps of the process are explained to you. Fee information is also provided in writing after the examination and planning. If you would like to note down in advance what to ask at the examination, the orthodontic examination question list will be useful.
What is the difference between a pre-assessment and an examination?
The two steps complement each other, but they do not do the same job. Clarifying the difference helps you set the right expectations:
- Source of information: In the pre-assessment, there are only the photos you took and your short note. At the examination, the inside of the mouth is examined directly, and X-rays and a three-dimensional scan are added.
- Outcome: The pre-assessment gives a general impression. At the end of the examination, a diagnosis is made and treatment options are explained with their reasoning.
- Plan and fee: No plan, duration or fee is discussed in the pre-assessment. These are shared in writing after the examination and planning.
- Responsibility: Every decision about treatment is based on an examination in which the orthodontist sees you.
For this reason, the language used in the reply is also cautious. You may be told, for example, that there is an impression of crowding in the front teeth, that the bite of the side teeth needs to be evaluated separately at the examination, or that an X-ray would be useful. No promise is made about how long treatment will take or which method will definitely be used.
If you are writing from outside Ankara or from abroad
If you live outside Ankara, a pre-assessment lets you discuss your questions before planning the trip. Asking in advance which records can be taken on the same day when you come for the examination and how checkup appointments can be planned makes things easier for you. Clear aligner treatment also requires clinical checkups at certain intervals; remote monitoring does not replace the examination and checkups. The clinic provides services in Turkish, English, German and Russian; you can write your message in any of these languages.
Who should come directly for an examination without waiting for a pre-assessment?
Some situations are not suitable for interpretation from photos. If you are experiencing any of the following, it is better to schedule a clinical examination without waiting for messaging:
- Persistent pain or swelling in a tooth, the gums or the jaw
- A tooth that has shifted, broken or become loose after an injury
- Locking, marked shifting or pain in the jaw joint when opening the mouth
- An unexpected problem during current braces or aligner treatment
- Your child's first orthodontic checkup at around age 7
Why is treatment without an examination not recommended?
Services in which aligners are produced from photos alone or from impressions taken at home come up from time to time. Because orthodontic movement directly affects root and bone health, treatment needs to be carried out with an orthodontist's examination, X-rays and regular checkups. You can read about the possible problems of treatment without an examination in the article the risks of clear aligners ordered online. That is why our online pre-assessment is offered only as a first step; treatment is never started on the basis of photos.
If you are curious about the whole process, you can find all the steps from the examination to the retention phase on the clear aligner treatment page.