Free Orthodontic Consultation in Jacksonville, FL
The new-patient comprehensive exam at Bold Bite Orthodontics includes a digital intraoral scan, clinical photographs, a low-dose 3D CT scan included, a full treatment-plan presentation with Dr. Greenberg or Dr. Cao personally, and a written pricing estimate handed to the family at the end of the visit. Consultations are free for patients of all ages. Families leave with the diagnosis, the recommended plan, the written cost, and — when the right answer is to wait — a growth-observation recall rather than a start date.
What “Free” Actually Covers at Bold Bite
Not every “free consultation” in Jacksonville covers the same things. At Bold Bite, the line between what is free and what is paid is drawn on paper before any pricing is discussed.
Every consultation at Bold Bite Orthodontics includes a clinical exam, imaging, treatment-plan preview, and a written estimate.
Included at No Cost to the Patient:
Not Every “Free Consultation” is the Same
Some offices advertise a “free consultation” that is actually a coordinator tour plus a brief hallway conversation with the orthodontist. Bold Bite runs the full diagnostic workup at the first visit — exam, digital scan, photos, low-dose CBCT for minors, doctor-led treatment-plan review, and a written estimate — so families compare plans against actual records rather than a sales pitch.
Comfort and Emergency Visits
Bold Bite does not charge orthodontic emergency-visit fees for its own patients. Loose brackets, displaced wires, lost aligner attachments, and retainer issues are handled at no extra cost during the treatment plan. That policy is tied to the practice’s no-pressure posture at the consultation: starting treatment should never feel like the start of a billing relationship.
Why the Doctor’s Live Exam Matters
Dr. Greenberg performs the diagnosis after a live, in-person examination. Subtle bite, jaw-alignment, and soft-tissue mechanics that determine the right treatment cannot be measured from photographs or scans alone. The exam is what makes the consultation diagnostic, not just descriptive.
What Happens at Your Free Consultation
The full visit runs about one hour from welcome to checkout. Every family leaves with a written plan, written pricing, and a clear answer to the question they came in with — with zero pressure to commit on the day of the visit.
The consultation at Bold Bite Orthodontics runs about an hour, with a written plan in hand by the time the visit ends.
Welcome & Intake
Families are greeted at the front desk. Digital intake forms are finalized, insurance is confirmed, and photo ID is matched to the chart. The beverage bar is open and kids are welcome to bring a fidget toy or pick one from the caddy.
Digital Records
The clinical team captures a full digital intraoral scan (no goopy impressions), clinical photographs, and a complimentary low-dose CBCT scan. The scan takes under 30 seconds and pulls up on the operatory screen for the doctor to review with the family.
Doctor Exam
Dr. Greenberg or Dr. Cao performs the intra-oral exam personally, walks through the scan on-screen, and evaluates bite relationships, growth patterns, and airway anatomy. Parents are invited to sit chairside.
Treatment Plan Review
The doctor presents the diagnosis, every appropriate option (including the option to do nothing right now), estimated treatment time, and expected outcomes. Families ask anything. If the clinically right answer is to wait and monitor growth, the doctor will say so directly rather than recommend treatment.
Written Pricing
The treatment coordinator hands over a written treatment-plan estimate, verifies orthodontic benefits with the family’s insurance, and walks through monthly payment options, Cherry, CareCredit, and in-house 0% APR financing. Same-day starts are available when the plan is straightforward, but there is never a push to decide on the day of the visit.
The Exam Is Performed by a Specialist Orthodontist
At many orthodontic offices in Jacksonville, a treatment coordinator presents the “plan” and the orthodontist briefly confirms it. At Bold Bite, the specialist orthodontist performs the intra-oral exam, reviews every scan on-screen, and presents the plan directly to the family — every visit, no exceptions.
Dr. Martin Greenberg, DMD, MS
Dr. Greenberg earned his DMD from Boston University School of Dental Medicine (graduated Cum Laude), practiced general dentistry for eight-plus years, then earned his MS in Orthodontics and a Research Fellowship from Jacksonville University. He holds a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics from a CODA-accredited residency and is Board Eligible through the American Board of Orthodontics. His clinical style is conservative and evidence-first: roughly 75% of pediatric referrals are placed on growth-observation recall rather than starting immediate treatment.
Dr. Trang Cao, DMD, CAGS. Board-Certified Orthodontist
Dr. Cao earned her DMD from Boston University School of Dental Medicine (graduated Summa Cum Laude — the highest academic honor at graduation, awarded to a small percentage of students for top grades across all four years of dental school), then earned her Orthodontist Specialty Certificate and CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study) from Jacksonville University. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics — a distinction held by fewer than half of practicing orthodontists in the US — with 15-plus years of clinical experience. Dr. Cao is fluent in Vietnamese and is available for Vietnamese-language consultations on request.
Every Family Leaves with a Treatment Plan and Clear Fees
Bold Bite puts everything in writing. Families walk out with a treatment-plan summary, a written pricing estimate, and a clear sense of what the next step is — whether that next step is starting treatment, booking a growth-observation recall, or simply going home to think about it.
Bold Bite Never Pressures Families to Start Treatment
Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Cao both came out of general dentistry before specializing in orthodontics, and that background shaped a practice that measures success by long-term dental health rather than how many cases start in a given month. The consultation is a decision the family makes on their own timeline.
When Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Cao Recommend Against Treatment
Bold Bite’s philosophy is highly conservative. Of the hundreds of pediatric referrals Bold Bite receives each year, roughly 75% are placed on complimentary growth-observation recall rather than starting immediate treatment. Early intervention is recommended only when not intervening would create larger problems later. Dr. Greenberg was trained by Dr. Peter Buschang — anthropologist and craniofacial growth expert — and carries that evidence-first, restraint-first posture into every new-patient consultation. Treatment has also been declined for teens and adults whose teeth, jaws, and bite forces were already naturally well-aligned.
What to Bring & How to Prepare
What to bring to a free consultation at Bold Bite Orthodontics: a short, scannable checklist. A referral is not required. The full appointment runs about an hour. Completing these steps before arrival lets Bold Bite focus every minute on the patient.
Insurance & Financing
Bold Bite Orthodontics accepts all PPO orthodontic insurance plans. The practice files the insurance claim directly with each insurer as a courtesy, so patients only pay their estimated out-of-pocket portion at each visit. Bold Bite verifies eligible orthodontic benefits before pricing is presented, so the written estimate reflects the actual patient portion.
Flexible payment plans start at $150/month. $189.99 down with Cherry, $0 down with CareCredit, or 0% interest through In-House 0% APR when preferred.
Insurance verification is required before treatment. Patients should complete the insurance paperwork Bold Bite sends after scheduling and stay in close contact with the front desk so eligible orthodontic benefits are verified ahead of the consultation. The treatment agreement cannot be signed without a completed insurance verification on file. It is part of the contract.
Vietnamese-Language Consultation
Dr. Trang Cao is fluent in Vietnamese and regularly sees Vietnamese-speaking families from across the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach service area. Vietnamese-language consultations are available on request — mention the preference when booking and the scheduling team will route the visit to Dr. Cao.
Multilingual Care
Bold Bite serves families across the Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach service areas, and the team supports consultations in multiple languages. Mention the family’s preference when booking so the visit is routed appropriately.
Kid-Friendly Office
The office is designed with families in mind: an open beverage bar, a fidget-toy caddy for nervous kiddos, and parents chairside for every exam. Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Cao’s own philosophy — “we treat your kids like we treat our own” — shapes everything from the chair setup to how long the doctor spends on each case.
Estimate a Monthly Payment
Families that want a ballpark before the visit can use the payment calculator to see estimated monthly ranges for each treatment type.
The Right Age for a Child’s First Orthodontic Visit
Parents often bring children in at age 7 expecting to start expanders or Phase I braces that day. At Bold Bite, most of those visits end with a recommendation to monitor growth rather than start immediate treatment — and those recall visits remain complimentary.
Bold Bite Supports AAO Age 7 Screening, and Treats It as Screening, Not a Start Date
Bold Bite supports the AAO recommendation that every child be screened around age 7, but considers age 7 often too early to start treatment. When a child is able to sit still for a CBCT scan and digital impression, the first visit is used to establish a clean diagnostic baseline. Early intervention is typically recommended no earlier than age 8 or 9, and only when indicated. For comprehensive treatment, Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Cao typically prefer age 12 for most girls and age 13 for most boys — when facial growth and dental eruption support a more precise and shorter course of treatment.
Second Opinions and Transfer Cases
Transfer Patients Welcome
Bold Bite Orthodontics offers second-opinion consultations but does not currently accept transfer-in mid-treatment cases. For families who started braces at another practice and need the appliances removed after a relocation or prior-office closure, the practice offers a scheduled braces-removal appointment — $400 per arch for removal only, or $500 per arch with a same-day 3D-printed Essix retainer included. Appointment required — walk-ins are not accepted. Call (904) 595-6869 to schedule.
Second Opinion Consultations
Families who have been evaluated elsewhere are welcome to bring their treatment plan, estimate, and any records for a fresh specialist review at Bold Bite. The goal of a second opinion is clarity, not conversion.
The doctor is equally comfortable confirming that the other plan is appropriate.
If a Family Is Worried About Affordability
The Bold Bite Response When Cost Is the Barrier
Families rarely tell Bold Bite they cannot afford treatment outright — they ask about options. The practice offers creative solutions for families who need a tailored payment path, including morning-only appointments during non-peak hours and in-house 0% APR financing that stretches the monthly payment rather than raising the total cost. Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Cao’s philosophy is simple: if a family wants to be a patient at Bold Bite and is a good clinical fit, the office finds a way to make the plan work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the orthodontic consultation really free?
Is the 3D CT scan really free for everyone?
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
Can treatment start the same day as the consultation?
Is a Vietnamese-language consultation available?
What is the right age for a child’s first orthodontic visit?
Can I ask treatment questions by email or phone after the consultation?
How much do braces and Invisalign cost at Bold Bite?
Ready to Book?
Book the new-patient consultation online or by phone. The visit includes a full exam, digital records, a complimentary low-dose 3D CT scan for patients under 18, a doctor-led treatment-plan review, and a written pricing estimate — all at no charge and no obligation. Community discounts available at the time of start: No stacking. Patient receives whichever single discount is highest.