We love new patients! Thank you for choosing us for your orthodontic care. We can't wait to meet you. Please see details below about your first visit to our office. And always feel free to call us if you have any questions. See you soon!
At DiFranco Orthodontics, we understand that your first orthodontic visit is more than just a consultation—it’s the start of a journey toward a healthier, more confident smile. From the moment you walk into our orthodontic office in Park Ridge, IL, you’ll find a welcoming team dedicated to making your experience comfortable, informative, and personalized.
We know visiting the orthodontist for the first time can bring a mix of excitement and uncertainty. That’s why we take the time to ensure every patient—whether a child, teen, or adult—understands what to expect and leaves feeling empowered about their next steps.
Your first visit begins with a warm greeting from our front-desk team. We’ll guide you through a simple check-in process and introduce you to our office so you can feel right at home.
Our staff takes pride in getting to know every patient personally—because at DiFranco Orthodontics, you’re never just another appointment on the schedule.
Before we begin, we’ll review your health and dental history forms to ensure our doctors have a comprehensive understanding of your oral health background. Our team is always happy to answer questions about insurance, payment options, or appointment scheduling.
At this appointment, you’ll meet one of our experienced orthodontists—Dr. Paul DiFranco, Dr. Omar Souman, or Dr. Jessica Hedger—who will perform a detailed clinical examination. Each doctor brings years of specialized training in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics and uses a patient-first approach that emphasizes comfort, communication, and trust.
During your consultation, your doctor will:
Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of your oral health and the available treatment options.
Your first appointment may include digital X-rays, photographs, or 3-D scans using advanced orthodontic imaging. These tools enable our team to visualize exactly how your teeth and jaw fit together, allowing us to design a treatment plan that’s both precise and efficient.
Unlike traditional impressions, our digital scanning technology is fast, comfortable, and mess-free. This advanced dental technology supports accurate diagnosis and ensures the aligners or braces we design will fit perfectly.
Once we’ve gathered all necessary information, your orthodontist will explain the treatment recommendations that best fit your goals and lifestyle. Depending on your needs, this might include:
You’ll receive a personalized overview of each approach, including estimated treatment time, visit frequency, and total cost. Our treatment coordinator will also review insurance coverage and financing options so you can make an informed, stress-free decision.
At DiFranco Orthodontics, we believe education comes before commitment. You’ll never feel pressured to start treatment before you’re ready.
Instead, we’ll provide clear recommendations and answer every question so you leave confident about your next step—whether that’s beginning right away or monitoring your child’s growth until the time is right.
We’ll send you home with all the information you need to review your plan, including written estimates, treatment options, and follow-up instructions.
Our office is designed with comfort and care in mind. Parents are welcome to accompany their children during consultations, and adults appreciate our professional, relaxed atmosphere. We take pride in keeping every visit on time, efficient, and stress-free.
Our patients often tell us they chose DiFranco Orthodontics because of our combination of advanced care and genuine compassion. From the first visit onward, we’re committed to creating a positive experience and results that last a lifetime.
If you’re ready to start your orthodontic journey, schedule your complimentary smile assessment and first visit today. We’re conveniently located at 401 W. Talcott Rd., Park Ridge, IL 60068, proudly serving Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Harwood Heights, Rosemont, and the Northwest Chicago area.
Call or text (847) 318-7711 to schedule your first appointment with DiFranco Orthodontics, or request your visit online. We look forward to welcoming you to our orthodontic family and helping you take the first step toward a confident, healthy smile.
I have been coming to Difranco Orthodontics for over a decade and have nothing but amazing things to say about everyone who works there! The front desk is welcoming, kind, and always in a positive mood. Dr Paul is an expert at what he does, and as I have gotten to know the new Doctors I can adequately say they are equally as talented at what they do. Their office fosters a warm and welcoming atmosphere while providing top notch service and expertise. I have never written a Google review before. The fact I’m doing this speaks volume to how satisfied I am with their services.
Our family continues to appreciate the DiFranco team for their professional and thoughtful care. From the first day of braces, to the final new smile reveal, we always receive great service.
I have just completed my Ortho treatment. I’m elated with my new smile! Drs DiFranco and McGrady are great along with their fabulous team. Thank you all!
We are new patient with Dr Paul DiFranco. So far, we have a good experience with the entire staff, especially Marlen who took time to explain things to be followed after attaching the motion appliance. My child feels at ease with her care. She patiently assisted my child putting on those dental rubber bands and thoroughly went over on how to maintain good oral hygiene going forward. The facility is a huge dental practice with orthodontics and plenty of dental hygienists. Patients come and go. I can tell that they have helped thousands of patients to achieve those beautiful smile. My only hope is for them to offer more flexibility in clinic hours in the near future, particularly after school and evening hours. This would be less cumbersome for the parents to pick up kids from school for let say 10:30 AM appointment and then drop them off back to school right after visit.
We are new patients to DeFranco's and have had a wonderful experience so far, everyone is friendly and approachable and Marien made my daughters first orthodontic experience so much easier!
Marlen was helping my 10 year old daughter with a new expender. The whole procedure went very smoothly. Marlen was very gentle and was able to answer all my questions. I was really satissifed with her service.
My daughter had her braces put on today and was impressed by the professionalism and care that was shown. Sophia was a gem and explained everything we needed to know about her new braces. This is my second child that has gotten braces at DiFranco, we love the quality of care!
So far so good! From my first initial visit, I felt welcomed by all. The place is very nice and have some top of the line technology, which made this process so fast. No out of office shenanigans to wait on. I went with braces because it will work better with my life style. It sucks that I do not know everyone’s name, but I like to thank each and everyone of them for making me feel at easy with choosing DiFranco Orthodontics. From the Financial advisor, the front desk staff, Christina, whom walked me through the entire process. I talked so much, I was surprise that she didn’t run when she saw me. She has so much patience. Lol!!! Sophia took great care of me and kept me entertained the entire time she put on my had wear. Last but not least, the man, my new best friend, is very knowledgeable at what he does. Now I can wait to see the magic everyone raves about. This is now my new family for at least 18 months. Shorter would be ideal, but I’m in good hands if it takes longer. Thank you all so much for joining me on my new journey. :)
Jun 16, 2015 took me in on time and said i was doing a great job with my brushing and wearing my rubber bands all the time like i should and that by the next visit my space that was open and the rubber bands to close it will be complete closed by my next visit July,6th,2015 give me new wire and told me my space was close and i did a good job wearing the rubberbands and with them and gave me more rubberbands to wear for space
I have been searching for an orthodontist for my daughter. I had already met with two others, but when we met Dr. DiFranco, I knew we found the perfect match. The staff were very friendly and informative. Most importantly, Dr. DiFranco took the time to explain the proposed treatment plan in great detail. I am happy that my daughter will be in good hands!