Who actually put your braces on?

Message

#16 Post by **Lisa65** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:24 pm

Britlaw, at present all clinical work in the UK has to be done by the dentist or orthodontist.

But in September 2007 new courses started which allow dental nurses to undertake further training to become "orthodontic therapists". Once qualified they will be able to do much of the routine work such as changing wires, fitting bands and brackets etc under the supervision of a specialist orthodontist in a High Street or hospital practice.

Maybe now orthodontics is getting more popular over here, there just aren't enough orthodontists to handle all the clinical stuff.

#17 Post by **holly0841** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:24 pm

My Ortho did it herself with assistant handing her all the equipment, etc... then another assistant showed me how to brush, care for them etc...

#18 Post by **Nervous** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:44 pm

The assistants at the place I go to do almost all of the work. The Orthodontist just comes in every once and a while to check. She has a lot of patients.

#19 Post by **Britlaw** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:23 am

Thanks Lisa, I didnt know that. I guessed that only dentists/orthos only were allowed to do the work in the UK, as that would explain why its so expensive over here! but I didnt know about the changes you describe. Can only be a good thing if it increases accessibility and hopefully at the same time decreases the cost.

#20 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:44 am

When I had my braces placed, the assistant prepped my teeth and then the ortho placed all of my upper brackets then he left and she cured them. Then some time passed and he told her to start the lowers and after she placed a couple of them, he finished the rest of them. She cured them, placed the archwires and he checked everything and then I was good to go.

When I got my braces 27 years ago, the ortho primarily did everything. He placed the braces, fitted the archwires and placed the ligs. All I remember the assistants doing then was handing things to the ortho, removing old ligs and archwires and bending the wires per the ortho.

It's amazing how things have changed!

#21 Post by **Spanner** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:15 am

Like Lisa pointed out my ortho does everything because he has to by law.

The practise I go to is quite large. There are 3 orthos working there and my ortho is the boss.

There are a lot of assistants who have various different jobs and some seem more qualified than others but none of them are ever "hands on".

Another good thing about my orthos is that they have a policy that no-ones treatment (bar surgery) will exceed Â£2800.

#22 Post by **Buffy** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:00 am

I'm in Ireland, but being treated in Northern Ireland.

My ortho did all the work himself - his assistant mixed up the stuff (etchant, etc) and handed him brackets and ligs and such, but he placed everything.

He knew I was online researching braces for ages before I got them, so he explained everything he was doing as he did it too, which was nice.

#23 Post by **lilblackdress** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:53 pm

When I was initially braced both the ortho and the assistant did the prep work, but the ortho placed my brackets on my teeth and the assistant placed my archwires in the brackets and added the ligs.

When I go in for adjustments, I've had both the ortho and the assistants get involved - it just depends on what needs to be done. If my adjustment is just a change in ligs and archwire, then the assistant usually handles that and the ortho double-checks her to work to make sure it's been done correctly. If the adjustment is a bit more complicated, then the ortho will do that himself.

I've had just as much chair time with the ortho as I've had with the assistants, which is something I like.

#24 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:11 am

My bonding was the assistant prepping my teeth and placing brackets. The ortho came by and checked all the brackets again and cleaned up around the brackets a bit more. Then the assistant cured the bonding and the ortho picked out the wires and the assistant put the ligs. My adjustments consisted of the assistant taking off my old ligs and wire, then the ortho coming by to check my teeth and bite. He would then instruct the assistant what to do or finish off the work himself. My ortho is the only doctor in his practice with 10 girls or so who are assistants. It's a busy office, but he always has time to answer my questions or come check if any work he didn't place was done correctly before I leave my appointment.

#25 Post by **Faerydust** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:27 am

The ortho put the brackets on and his assistant put the wires and ligs on. I'm kind of scared of the assistant now because while she was putting the ligs on my top front teeth, the tool kept slipping and she ended up jabbing my nose. Luckily it hit the part between the nostrils, but I was afraid it would go in one!

#26 Post by **silly123** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:42 pm

Thanks Everyone! I feel better now!

#27 Post by **Malzee** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:45 pm

that was how it was for me too. Alrthough, I didn't really mind. The place I go to is wonderful and I know she wouldn't work there if she wasn't good at what she does. She was a super whiz and put those brackets on in like 1 second each, I couldn't believe it! It was over before I knew it!

I go back tomorrow to get my wire changed, I'll be interested to see how long it takes! They're amazing

#28 Post by **BallPointPen** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:18 am

I go to a big NHS dental hospital, I don't think there are any "assistants" but there are dental nurses, however all they do is hand things to the ortho, make the mixtures needed for impressions and that kind of thing. There are about 10 orthodontists at the hospital and they all work in the same room with lots of dentists chairs in it, although if like me you are lucky enough to see the senior ortho he does all his work in a private room. Nobody other than the ortho ever touches your teeth although as it is a teaching hospital occasionally a student will observe.

#29 Post by **Thathrill** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:08 am

My experience has been 50/50. My ortho put on the braces and sometimes does my adjustments or at least start them. Only my ortho performs the bends in wires and he is the only one who sets brackets. If a bracket pops off away from the office, an assistant would put another on. ligs/wires/etc are usually done by the assistants but like I said, my ortho has done some of it too.

#30 Post by **azngosu** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:01 pm

my orthodontist actually did mine.. the assistant just gets the stuff there and holds the equipment.. he does it personally for each patient.

(davis ortho - san diego)