Free Orthodontic Consultation in Austin, TX
What “Free” Actually Covers at Limestone Hills
Limestone Hills publishes what is included at no charge, what is not, and what an average treatment fee looks like before the family ever walks in. Pricing transparency is a clinical decision, not a marketing tactic. Families decide better when they have the full picture in writing.
Included at No Cost to the Patient:
Not Every “Free Consultation” is the Same
Some Austin practices advertise a free consultation but charge $200 to $500 for the 3D CT scan, the panoramic X-ray, or the records appointment that follows. At Limestone Hills, the full diagnostic workup, the doctor exam, the treatment plan presentation, and the written pricing estimate are all included in the consultation at no cost. There is no charge for any part of the visit.
Comfort and Emergency Visits
Limestone Hills draws a clear line between comfort visits and true emergency visits. Comfort visits cover in-treatment issues like broken brackets, poking wires, loose bands, and appliance discomfort. During patient care hours, comfort and true emergency visits are complimentary for active Limestone Hills patients. External patients pay $300 for a comfort visit during patient care hours and $600 outside of those hours. True emergency visits during weekends or off-hours are $300 for active patients and $600 for external patients, subject to doctor availability.
Why the Doctor’s Live Exam Matters
Dr. Viecilli 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 an hour. Each step has a clear purpose, an honest time estimate, and the doctor present at every clinical decision. Treatment coordinators handle paperwork and pricing; Dr. Viecilli handles the diagnosis and the plan.
Welcome & Intake
Families are greeted at the front desk. The treatment coordinator confirms insurance benefits, photo ID, and the digital intake forms the family completed online before arrival. New patients are then shown the office, offered a beverage from the espresso bar, and introduced to the clinical team.
Digital Records
The clinical team captures a full digital intraoral scan with the Medit i700 scanner. No goopy impressions, no gag reflex. Patients under 18 also receive a complimentary low-dose i-CAT FLX V7 CBCT scan as part of the diagnostic workup. The scan is reviewed on-screen with the family during the doctor exam in step 3. Clinical photographs and facial records are captured later, when the patient starts treatment.
Doctor Exam
Dr. Viecilli performs the intra-oral exam, reviews the scans on a high-resolution monitor, and evaluates bite relationships, growth patterns, and airway anatomy. PhD-level biomechanics expertise shapes the diagnostic read. Findings are explained in plain language as the doctor goes. Parents and the patient are encouraged to ask questions throughout the exam.
Treatment Plan Review
Dr. Viecilli walks the family through the diagnosis, every appropriate treatment option (including the option to do nothing right now or wait for further growth), estimated timelines, and expected outcomes. Diagnostic 3D imaging stays on-screen so the family can see exactly what the doctor sees. There is no rushed summary, no sales pitch, and no pressure to start same day.
Written Pricing
The treatment coordinator provides a written treatment-plan estimate with total fee, eligible insurance benefit, expected patient portion, and monthly payment options. Limestone Hills accepts CareCredit, Cherry, HSA / FSA cards, and OrthoSync 0% in-house financing. Families are encouraged to take the written plan home, review it, and book the start appointment at their own pace.
The Exam Is Performed by a Specialist Orthodontist
Every Limestone Hills consultation is performed by Dr. Viecilli personally. No rotating associates, no remote-reviewer model, no treatment coordinator presenting a plan the doctor has not seen. One specialist, one diagnosis, one written plan.
Dr. Rodrigo Viecilli, DDS, PhD
Dr. Rodrigo F. Viecilli is the owner and sole orthodontist at Limestone Hills. PhD in Orthodontic Biomechanics from Indiana University, Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (since 2011, recertified 2020), Adjunct Associate Professor at Loma Linda University, and inventor of SmartArch™ wire technology. 25+ years, 5,000+ cases, 27+ peer-reviewed publications, 1,000+ academic citations, H-index 16. Fluent in English, Portuguese, and conversational Spanish.
Every Family Leaves with a Treatment Plan and Clear Fees
Every family leaves the consultation with the diagnosis, the recommended treatment, the alternatives, the timeline, and the exact fee in writing. Decisions are made on facts, not on a verbally quoted estimate that the family is asked to remember later.
Limestone Hills Never Pressures Families to Start Treatment
Limestone Hills does not run a sales-quota practice. Treatment is recommended only when it moves the needle for the patient. When a case does not need orthodontics, or when waiting is the better clinical choice, Dr. Viecilli says so directly.
When Dr. Viecilli Recommends Against Treatment
Some cases do not need orthodontics at all. A patient with minor, cosmetic-only crowding who is satisfied with their smile does not need braces or aligners. A severe jaw-growth issue that will not resolve with teeth-only movement belongs with an oral surgeon and orthodontist working together, not with orthodontics alone. Dr. Viecilli tells families when a case is better served by watchful waiting, by a second opinion, or by another specialty entirely. The practice does not recommend treatment that does not move the needle.
What to Bring & How to Prepare
A referral is not required. The full appointment runs about an hour. Completing these steps before arrival lets Limestone Hills focus every minute on the patient.
Insurance & Financing
Limestone Hills accepts all PPO orthodontic insurance plans and files claims directly with your insurer as a courtesy. The most common plans accepted are Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Guardian, MetLife, and United Healthcare. Limestone Hills verifies eligible orthodontic benefits before pricing is presented, so the written estimate reflects the actual patient portion.
Flexible payment plans start at $149.99/month. $189.99 down with Cherry, $0 down with CareCredit, or 0% interest through OrthoSync when preferred.
Insurance verification is required before treatment. Patients should complete the insurance paperwork Limestone Hills sends after booking 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.
Multilingual Care
Consultations can be conducted in English, Portuguese, or conversational Spanish. Dr. Viecilli is a native Portuguese speaker. Mention the family’s preference when booking so the visit is scheduled with the appropriate language support.
Kid-Friendly Office
The Limestone Hills office was designed by Dr. Viecilli for families. An open beverage bar with espresso for parents, a snack bar with stroopwafels and wafers, a custom signature fragrance, and a heated massage chair at the digital scanning station. Children are seen as soon as they are comfortable. Parents stay chairside for every exam.
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
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Limestone Hills supports that screening cadence and treats it as a screening visit, not the automatic start of treatment. Most children seen at 7 are placed on a complimentary growth-observation recall instead.
Limestone Hills Supports AAO Age 7 Screening. And Treats It as Screening, Not a Start Date
Dr. Viecilli agrees with the AAO recommendation for an orthodontic check around age 7. That does not mean most 7-year-olds need braces. It means at age 7 a specialist can spot the small set of developmental patterns that benefit from early intervention (crossbites, severe crowding, narrow palates, jaw asymmetries, airway concerns) while bones are still growing. When early intervention is warranted, the clinical reason is specific. When it is not, the child is monitored at no cost through the Limestone Hills growth-observation program until the right age. Most children evaluated at 7 are placed on monitored recall, not started in immediate treatment.
Second Opinions and Transfer Cases
Transfer Patients Welcome
Families relocating to Austin or transferring from another orthodontist are welcome at Limestone Hills. Bring records (treatment plan, X-rays, scans, payment history) and a free transfer evaluation is performed. Dr. Viecilli reviews the in-progress case, identifies remaining work, and prices the remaining treatment in writing. Transfer pricing reflects the work remaining, not a full new comprehensive fee.
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 Limestone Hills. The goal of a second opinion is clarity, not conversion.
The doctor is equally comfortable confirming that the other plan is appropriate. When a second consultation with the same doctor is requested, the fee is $150 out of pocket. Limestone Hills prioritizes quality consultation time without compromising patient care.
If a Family Is Worried About Affordability
The Limestone Hills Response When Cost Is the Barrier
Limestone Hills runs multiple price tiers and financing paths on purpose. Families are not forced into one expensive default. Treatment can start at $149 per month with $189.99 down through Cherry, $0 down through CareCredit, or 0% interest with no credit check through OrthoSync in-house financing. Community discounts apply on top: Military $500 off, Teacher / First Responder / Healthcare $300 off, Family $300 off, Student $250 off. One discount per patient, valid ID required, applied before financing. If the cost still does not work, Dr. Viecilli would rather decline the case and refer the family appropriately than start treatment the family cannot finish.