Ive had it, ill just live with the gaps

Message

#1 Post by **JesseJames** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:40 am

Ill keep this short
When i got my braces on, they said a year, 15 months tops.
In december, they said by May at the latest.
Ive been getting antsy because theyre still making me wait 6-8 weeks just to have my powerchain changed.
Today i went in and asked if maybe we could shorten the time between appointments, they told me no, youre a teenager so just deal with the time it takes ( IM 23! i told them this 4 times and the still referred to me as a teenager) then they said well maybe by august if you're lucky.
Then when they wanted to rebook me for my next appointment in 7 weeks i told them i couldnt, i was going on a trip so could i go in the week before. They said no, how about the week after. I told them im going away for at least 2 weeks so they decided that i can go 10 weeks between appointments now.
This is just stupid, im wasting the best years of my life in these stupid things and they arent willing to help me out at all. I cant, and havent felt and tightness anytime they change the powerchain. My gaps are just as big as they were in december.
I think im calling and having them taken off before my trip, im done, ive had it. I dont care, i'll live with gaps. I could care less if its only a few months longer, i dont want to wait anymore. Yes its a bad attitude but its not about to change, i went in trying to find a ray of hope and they basically told me to f*** off
I wish i never got these things to be honest

#2 Post by mg » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:48 am

Tell them EXACTLY what you stated here.

Do you still have your TPA??

#3 Post by **JesseJames** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:08 am

i tried too. They have their place set up like an assembly line with about 8 chairs together for people to be worked on. They get you in and out extremely fast so i actually brought in my mom with me to stop them and make them talk. They still rushed her to the point she couldnt get a word in. Everytime she said "Youre not listening, he is 23" They'd reply with "If he was in his 20's this would be even harder"
It made NO sense, we both felt like we were talking to a brick wall. And when i said i wanted them off soon, they said no there will be to much bone loss, just wait it out and they will be off eventually. I dont think going from 6 weeks to 4 would make my teeth fall out, but i guess ill never find out.

And no, they took the TPA out in October. Thats when they decided to start closing the gaps.

#4 Post by **diande** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:17 am

i see my ortho every 4 weeks (+ 2 days or so) and this is how it's been done from the first adjustment till now. it has never made a difference or been a problem.

i have also requested a later date of about 6 weeks because i was out of the country.

it's clear that your ortho's office isnt strong on customer service...maybe you should write a letter...and get a second opinion. if you've come this far, don't give up now. when the gaps are closed and your bite is great (after the ortho thing is sorted out) you will have no regrets that you got them i think.

#5 Post by **JesseJames** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:33 am

i admit i am debating on calling up another ortho and seeing if they will take me on. Im sure some of them can see that people want these off ASAP and dont want to spend "the best years of their lives" with braces.

Despite how this post looks, im actually a very even tempered person. This is only the second time in my life ive sworn in front of a parent lol
It actually took all my willpower to not scream at the assistance when they kept interrupting me and telling me to wait the 6-8 weeks. Maybe i should have yelled though, then maybe they'd have granted me my wish

#6 Post by mg » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:36 am

Wow. It is truly disappointing regarding the reception you AND YOUR MOM received. And that they clearly are not listening to you - your age, for one. Also, the minor requests and information you, in my humble opinion, are entitled to.

As Diande suggests, can you take this to a higher authority? Or, another OD altogether?? Your so close........

(I've more suggestions if you want 'em.)

#7 Post by **fluffybottom** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:44 am

If my orthodontist couldn't keep track of my age (maybe not down to the year but at least have a general idea of my age range -- teenager, 20s, 30s, etc), I would have to assume that they are out of touch with my file. What else are they not remembering? Do they have me confused with another patient? I would have utterly no faith that they will be able to get my teeth where they need to be.

I don't think you should give up on braces but I also don't think you should stick with an office that treats you so dismissively. Next time you go, ask them where you can lodge a complaint (I know most doctor's office have something up on the wall saying where you can file a complaint; I assume it would be the same for dentists/orthodontists). Then file a complaint against them and find a new orthodontist!

#8 Post by **skyhawk** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:49 am

Go to another ortho. You're already braced, don't give up on the treatment, just give up on the individual performing your treatment.

The guy I signed on with (and will be bracing me next month) is super. I've never felt rushed in my consultations with him, and the support staff in the office are all really nice.

#9 Post by **kjw1214** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:58 pm

This sounds like a frustrating position, but I too would look into another orthodonist. Sounds like they are in too big of a hurry to really worry about what their patients need, and no doctor should be like that. You paid the guy, he should listen, and i think sometimes we forget we have rights as patients, remember those. Good luck, I hope all turns out well for you.

P.S. I was getting really ticked off about my mouth too, right now, I am partially braced and we are only moving ONE tooth, and that ONE tooth into a gap is taking EXTREMELY long, and ticking me off, so I may be going with your position pretty soon!

#10 Post by **acd** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:13 pm

Have you finished paying yet? If you still owe them you could at least withhold payment--that will get their attention.

#11 Post by **BoSox2008** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:38 pm

JEEZ! I would be stern and write a letter to your ortho telling him/her exactly what you want. You want to be done more quickly than an average teenage patient because you DO care about having braces. Tell them that you need them to listen to your concerns and answer your questions, and that if they do not cooperate you will not pay them another dime.

You are a customer - you deserve to be treated like one! If you went to a restaurant and ordered chicken but the waiter brought you steak and refused to bring chicken instead, you would be pissed!!

I'd give the ortho an ultimatum. A letter works best. If you're all done paying, ask for a refund or threaten to sue... I'm sure you aren't the first displeased patient from the sounds of things.

If your only concern/problem now is spaces and not bite problems you could consider paying the extra money and getting invisilign. Best of luck!

#12 Post by **JesseJames** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:59 pm

Thanks for the support everyone! I was afraid after i first posted that i'd get a lot of people telling me i was childish or behaving irrationally.
The letter sounds like a good idea, maybe if it is spelled out in front of them like that they will get the hint.
Whats funny is i actually had planned to inquire about invisalign today, but from their treatment of me, and the fact that the ortho was only with me for under 30 seconds, to just see what it looked like when i bit down, i didnt have a chance.
I will be the first to admit i have a baby face and could easily pass for a teenager, that doesn't bother me. But when i tell them 4 times im 23 and they still call me a teen, it makes me angry.
The one thing i know for sure i am doing tomorrow is calling and having my adjustment moved to the day before (A 5 week weight instead of

i leave for my trip. If they say no, i'm telling them good bye for good and going somewhere else.
It's a shame too, because when i started here i LOVED to go for adjustments, it sounds stupid but the people were great at first and it was an enjoyable experience. For the past 5 or 6 months though i get a different assistant every time who just doesnt seem to care. The one today tried to talk to my mom about snow interrupting her travel plans more then my teeth, unbelievable!

#13 Post by **DireWire** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:13 pm

This is incredible and unacceptable. I'd do the following:

1. Make sure you don't pay a single penny any longer. I hope you didn't pay in advance.

2. Insist on an appointment with the owner to tell him where they need to improve. Be direct.but calm.

3. Dress up for the occassion' it makes a difference.

4. Focus on the two or three key points. Do not get distracted.

5. It often works to ask kindly but firmly until you get a satisfying answer how they suggest to achieve the objective. ('and what do you propose to do to catch up on the slipping timings?' Or 'what do you propose to do to ensure that I get timely appointments on a schedule that works for both of us'). Make sure you focus on the one or two aspects that you really want to correct

6. Know your position. Where can you complain? Can you stop paying? Who are relevant authorities?

I know this is not easy, but I can tell you they simply wouldn't do that to me.

Good luck

DireWire

#14 Post by **xostephie** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:19 pm

Definitely get a second opinion! I'm in braces for the second time, and my first orthodontist sounds EXACTLY like yours. Seriously, I was 18 when i got my braces on, and he refused to answer questions, etc. It was pulling teeth just to get 10 minutes for him to speak to me. He kept telling me it took time-after 18 months he had hardly done anything to my teeth. After I demanded a refund, I started with my new orthodontist-they actually have an office like what you've described-but my ortho always takes the time to speak to me if i have questions, and in only two months there's already a huge change in my mouth. It really couldn't hurt to have a second consult, especially since they tend to be free, right?

#15 Post by **BallPointPen** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:19 pm

Hey my ortho asked me if I cared about the last few little gaps, having had 4 years in braces (aged 17-21) I told him I didn't care at all and they are coming off in 2 weeks. I agree with you about losing the best years of your life to braces, it sucks.

If you want them off then get them off, people won't notice little gaps.

Metal Mouth Message Board

Ive had it, ill just live with the gaps

Ive had it, ill just live with the gaps

:(