What Would You Do?

[JillD]

Warning: a long post.

My orthodontist office is run by three doctors: a father and two daughters. When I went in for my consultation, two sisters saw me together. The older sister talked a lot with lots of medical terms and the younger one translated it for me to understand. When I finally started my treatment, I saw only the younger sister 99%of the time. I wasn't asked which doctor I wanted to see, but she gave me the impression that she knows what she is doing, so I never thought less of her than her sister. But there were two things that bothered me.

I had four teeth (and three wisdom teeth) extraction for my overjet problem. Their office uses the method to move canines into the extraction gaps before they retract the front teeth. But my doctor didn't want to do anything about one canine and a gap on my lower jaw because she wasn't sure which direction she wanted to move it yet and she wanted to see what happens on my upper teeth first. Has anyone had a similar experience and did it turn out the right thing to do? BTW this canine is one of my most crooked teeth and it has moved on its own toward the extraction gap somewhat.

Another thing that bothered me is that she had her assistant put powerchains only on my upper teeth when I went in in December (my one year point since braces). She told me that she wanted to see if she needed to push back my upper teeth only (because my bottom teeth might be in the right position already) instead of aligning my upper and bottom teeth together by using elastics. I was uneasy enough about this to post a question on this forum. Anyway it could be a psychological thing, but I didn't see anything happening on my teeth (specifically the gaps).

Just a day before I went in for another adjustment, I browsed my doctor's office's website and found out my doctor started to work as an orthodontist in 2010, which means she had only about one year experience when she put the braces on my teeth. On the other hand, her older sister had 10 years of experience. Anyway I went in yesterday, and somehow the assistant called the older sister after she removed my powerchains maybe because the younger sister (my doctor) wasn't in sight. While the older sister was having me open/close my mouth routine, the younger sister came over. The older sister said that I needed elastics and the younger sister said definitely. So I have the new powerchains and elastics now and what a change in a day. I can clearly see that the gaps on my upper teeth are closing.

This incident makes me wonder if I wasted one month while I had only powerchains? Does my doctor (younger sister) not have a good judgement due to her lack of experience? Or would the older sister have tried this method first, too? How about one of my bottom teeth that my doctor didn't want to do anything about yet? Is it a good judgement? Should I ask to see the older sister from now on? How can I do that without offending the younger sister? Am I making an issue where there isn't nay really?

Any advice?

[Dee17]

As far as feeling that you've wasted a whole month with the powerchains instead of having elastic, I would say let it go. There really isn't anything to be done about that. It's done and over. Regarding wanting to see the older sister and not the younger, I would definitely speak to someone in that office if this is your desire. You can simply explain that you'd prefer to be dealing with someone with more experience and that you didn't realize the younger sister had only one year of experience. I believe that it is always within your right to ask to see whomever you prefer. Whether or not they will acquiesce to your request, who knows? You will have to decide what course of action you are going to pursue if they deny your request.

[JillD]

I don't think anybody is interested in my story but I thought I am going to update anyway.

It seems that my doctors' office has an unspoken rule that the younger sister starts a treatment and then the older sister takes over after the treatment is a year or so. When I went in for my adjustment yesterday, the younger sister was right there but she didn't approach me. The older sister spoke to me as if she had been treating me all this time using the word "we." Maybe they feel that when they treat a patient in the early stage, a less experienced doctor can handle it but once the patient needs detailed adjustments, more experienced doctor should handle it. I don't know if they are right on this, but I feel relieved.

[missblu3]

I have a similar situation at my dentist's office - run by a mother and her two sons. The mother had been doing my dental work for a few years, and then all of a sudden, one of the sons was always doing my treatments. So far, it's been a positive, pain-free experience.

Happy to hear that your fears seem to have been alleviated!

[Dee17]

Did they explain this policy at the beginning, before you started your treatment?

[JillD]

Did they explain this policy at the beginning, before you started your treatment?

No, they didn't.

[Dee17]

Are you serious? Man, I'd be hopping mad about something like that if it happened to me. Are you going to have any further discussions with whoever is in charge there about this? 'Course, maybe there's no point?? Unless you're going to try to switch to a different orthodontist, you'll probably just have to put up with the arrangement. But I'd be VERY careful about any future arrangements you make with this office so you don't find yourself getting caught with your pants down again. Just my take on the situation.

[Ciara]

Are you serious? Man, I'd be hopping mad about something like that if it happened to me. Are you going to have any further discussions with whoever is in charge there about this? 'Course, maybe there's no point?? Unless you're going to try to switch to a different orthodontist, you'll probably just have to put up with the arrangement. But I'd be VERY careful about any future arrangements you make with this office so you don't find yourself getting caught with your pants down again. Just my take on the situation.

Totally agree! I can't believe they didn't tell you this was their policy either. I'd check and double check everything from here in.

[Tobilei]

Are you serious? Man, I'd be hopping mad about something like that if it happened to me. Are you going to have any further discussions with whoever is in charge there about this? 'Course, maybe there's no point?? Unless you're going to try to switch to a different orthodontist, you'll probably just have to put up with the arrangement. But I'd be VERY careful about any future arrangements you make with this office so you don't find yourself getting caught with your pants down again. Just my take on the situation.

Totally agree! I can't believe they didn't tell you this was their policy either. I'd check and double check everything from here in.

Me three! (and I'm interested, just missed your post first time around for some reason )

[Undecided]

I guess everyone has to start somewhere - otherwise no one would become an experienced orthodontist! If patients were given the choice, how many would opt for the doctor with only one year's experience? It sounds as though the practice handles it by transferring complicated cases to the more experienced orthodontist, which sounds reasonable.

It can't be fun being the guinea pig, though! I realise that the above is easy for me to write, not being in your position myself. I hope it all works out for you.

[JillD]

I don't really know if it is their policy or not. I am just guessing it is.

I didn't have any confidence problem with the younger sister until I checked their website and found out that she had only two year of experience at that point. She always gave me the impression that she knew what she was doing. If I hadn't found out that she were that new, I might not have had any problem with keeping seeing her. I don't know. But now that I know what I know, I am happy to see the older sister.

[Dee17]

I think for me the issue would be manner of non-disclosure. If it were me and they told me about this policy upfront, I would probably have been okay with it. But to not be told? And only discover it later? I think that sounds like a "bait and switch" technique and I would have a lot of difficulty trusting any further treatment I would receive from them.

[JillD]

Again I am not sure if it is their policy.