teeth straightening

Welcome to Your OrthoFX Journey!

To get started on your plan for treatment, we need great photos. This is a very important step in your care, and we appreciate that you are following these instructions to capture complete, clear photos of your face and teeth.

We love to see you smile!

Face & Head Photos

We recommend asking a friend to help you with three photos of your face and head to make sure the camera is angled perfectly straight

Here’s some tips to help us see your face and jaw structure:

If you have long hair, pull it back from your face and ears (such as in a ponytail).

Stand or sit in a comfortable position in front of a blank wall in a well-lit area.

Ask your friend to stand or sit so that they will be able to hold the phone camera level with your face. They should be about 2 feet away, and hold the phone level.

Face & Head Photos

We recommend asking a friend to help you with three photos of your face and head to make sure the camera is angled perfectly straight

Here’s some tips to help us see your face and jaw structure:

If you have long hair, pull it back from your face and ears (such as in a ponytail).

Stand or sit in a comfortable position in front of a blank wall in a well-lit area.

Ask your friend to stand or sit so that they will be able to hold the phone camera level with your face. They should be about 2 feet away, and hold the phone level.

straighten your teeth

Face with Natural Smile

The purpose of this photo is to capture your face and natural smile.

How to Take:

  • Look straight into the camera. Your head should be level, and not tilted in any direction.
  • Smile naturally. Not too big or forced…your NATURAL smile with curved lips and a few teeth. (Maybe have your friend give you some good news to get a nice smile?)
  • After taking the picture, check to make sure it looks like our example. Good job!

Face with Mouth Closed

This one is similar to the last photo, except your mouth is closed.

How to Take:

  • Look straight into the camera. Your head should be level, and not tilted in any direction.
  • Put your lips together, but keep them relaxed.
  • After taking the picture, check to make sure it looks like our example.

Right Profile with Mouth Closed

Now turn sideways to the left, so that the camera can capture your profile. Be sure your face is not angled, the camera should be looking directly at the right side of your face!

How to Take:

  • Look straight ahead. Your head should be level, and not tilted in any direction.
  • Put your lips together, but keep them relaxed.
  • After taking the picture, check to make sure it looks like our example. Last head shot, congrats!

Teeth Photos with Cheek Retractor

Now we need 5 views of your teeth. These are selfies so your friend can leave (or stay unless that would be weird).

To help our clinical team see all of your teeth, you will need to use the cheek retractor we sent you. Fit it into the sides of your mouth as pictured below. You should be looking like you’re giving the biggest smile you’ve ever given!

To get your phone camera ready:

  • Use selfie mode.
  • Turn on the flash.

Tips for getting the best photo:

  • Stand in front of your bathroom mirror to help you see what you are doing.
  • As you take each photo, tap your teeth on the screen to help the camera focus. No blurry teeth please!

Teeth Photos with Cheek Retractor

Now we need 5 views of your teeth. These are selfies so your friend can leave (or stay unless that would be weird).

To help our clinical team see all of your teeth, you will need to use the cheek retractor we sent you. Fit it into the sides of your mouth as pictured below. You should be looking like you’re giving the biggest smile you’ve ever given!

To get your phone camera ready:

  • Use selfie mode.
  • Turn on the flash.
  • Tips for getting the best photo:
  •  Stand in front of your bathroom mirror to help you see what you are doing
  • As you take each photo, tap your teeth on the screen to help the camera focus. No blurry teeth please!

Front Bite

How to Take:

  • For the front view of your bite: hold your phone upright, and position the camera straight and level directly in front of your teeth.
  •  Even though the retractor makes it a little harder, close your teeth together and bite down. This should be your natural bite, like when you chew. 
  • You can use the handle on your check retractors to pull your lower lip down so we can see your lower teeth completely.

  • Take the picture in focus, and close enough so that teeth fill 90% of the screen width.

How NOT to take:

Teeth should be biting down

How NOT to take:

Mouth needs to be more open

Upper Teeth

How to Take:

  • For the view of your upper teeth, continue to hold your phone upright with the camera in front of your teeth.

  • Open your mouth wide. If your upper lip is overlapping your teeth, be sure to pull it back.

  • Lean your head back slightly. Tilt the camera back as needed to help us see all of your upper teeth – from front to back!

  • Take the picture in focus, and close enough so that teeth fill 90% of the screen width.

Lower Teeth

How to Take:

  • For the view of your lower teeth, flip the phone upside down and hold the camera in front of your teeth.

  • Open your mouth wide. If your lower lip is overlapping your teeth, be sure to pull it back. You can even pull the handle of the check retractor down if that helps.
  • Pull back your tongue also, please!

  • Lean your head forward slightly. Tilt the camera as needed to help us see all of your lower teeth – from front to back!
  • Take the picture in focus, and close enough so that teeth fill 90% of the screen width.

How NOT to take:

Tongue should be pulled away from teeth

How NOT to take:

Blurry photo, back teeth hidden

Right Bite

How to Take:

  • For the right view of your bite, turn the phone sideways parallel to your teeth so that the camera is near your right ear.

  • Bite down with your teeth together (show us the natural position of your teeth when you bite down to chew).

  • Use the handle on your check retractors to pull your right cheek back a little further, so we can see all of the way to the back.

  • Take the picture in focus, and close enough so that teeth fill 90% of the screen width.

Left Bite

How to Take:

  • For the left view of your bite, turn the phone sideways parallel to your teeth so that the camera is near your left ear.

  • Bite down with your teeth together (show us the natural position of your teeth when you bite down to chew).
  • Use the handle on your check retractors to pull your left cheek back a little further, so we can see all of the way to the back.

  • Take the picture in focus, and close enough so that teeth fill 90% of the screen width.

How NOT to take:

Teeth should be biting down