How do you choose an orthodontist?

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#16 Post by **Spanner** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:36 am

My first consult wasn't very good. Although a very nice man he seemed anxious about how to proceed with my treatment and kept on asking for his colleagues opinions even though he had more years experience than them. I just felt a distinct lack of confidence about him.

My second consult was totally different. He made me feel very happy with his abilities.

I'd just like to say that I have a 100% deep overbite and my ortho never said that I couldn't have ceramics. I had mine fitted yesterday.

PS: Edited to add that I didn't base my choice on what brackets they offered. I didn't even get to find out what was on offer from the first ortho anyway. The first ortho was much more expensive but that didn't make any difference to me either.

#17 Post by **NYG2007** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:26 am

I am confused also. I have been to three consultations. The first one said I had two options (I have a class 3 bite. Basically "Edge to Edge" bite. My teeth are pretty straight and almost all alligned with the exception of a little crowding on the bottom. I also have a slight gap on the left side.) jaw surgery to move the top forward and top and bottom braces 18-24 months. The second consultation said I could go with the same two options, but if they were me they wouldn't do anything because my teeth are functional and my teeth look like they're fine aesthetically. The third said the only option was to go with jaw surgery and braces. He said I also could go with not doing anything also. I am confused, I think I want to do something, but I am not sure. Some days I am like nevermind. It isn't a big deal and some days I am like I think I want to do something.

#18 Post by **KatieBug** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:53 pm

Well the way I found my ortho is quite suprising, and I got really lucky. I was on the internet one night and I typed into Google, Orthodontists near Napa, CA (where I work), and up popped a website for Cooke Orthodontics. I went and had my consult and didn't even care to shop around for a price because I felt comfortable. I figure that as long as I feel comfortable and like the treatment plan, why should I shop around?

I am very happy with my ortho and the staff, perhaps a strange finding but a good one!

#19 Post by **BellBoy** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:55 pm

How do you even find orthodontists in your area? I know of once place but they're a large generic style company so I think they may be expensive.

Will some Orthos only take you if you've had a referal?

#20 Post by **BellBoy** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:56 pm

How do you even find orthodontists in your area? I know of once place but they're a large generic style company so I think they may be expensive.

Will some Orthos only take you if you've had a referal?

#21 Post by **dfac001** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:57 pm

unless u have a bad dentist.

As long as they are good dentists who care about your welfare more than making money out of you. Of course they need to make money but some dentists are just bad.I think a good dentist should be able to recommend a nice orthodontists.

#22 Post by **Devushka** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:34 pm

I found mine on the internet because invisalign providers are listed and there were 3 options. One about 8 blocks from me, one on the other side of the city and one exactly a 2 minute walk from my university. I figured that was the best bet as I could schedule my appointments around school(and work since I work at the uni as well). It may have been foolish as I never had a consult with the other 2 orthos, but I do not own a car or drive really so appointments would have been a hassle for the one far away and the website turned me off of the one that is close to my home(where as the one that I chose was very comprehensive).

#23 Post by **Lisa65** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:19 am

Bellboy, did you look at the British Orthodontic Society site?

www.bos.org.uk

There is a section where you can type in your postcode and find orthos in your area. Then just pick up the phone and ring them to ask if they take self-referrals (in general they do, if you are paying to go private). Or you can ask your dentist to recommend one.

#24 Post by **Spanner** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:41 am

That's how I found mine at www.bos.org.uk

The first one I went to was a referral from my dentist but as I wasn't satisfied I then went on the British Orthodontic Society site to find the next nearest one.

#25 Post by **kittymeow84** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:03 pm

I went to one ortho first that offered a free consult. She wanted to remove either three or four teeth (two of the three would have been my lower canines!

)

The next person I saw was just a general dentist who was very pushy and wanted to do fillings, cleaning and fill up the ridges in my molars. He didn't want to send me to his orthodontist until January 08 (this was in August 07!)

Third was an orthodontist a fair train ride from where I live but he was very nice and confident that I wouldn't need extractions. I was pretty much set with going with him but I had one more appointment with another practice.

The fourth place was a general dentist and he was very nice. He took x-rays on the spot and confirmed that I had no cavities. He sent me off to his orthodontist.

And so that's how I settled on the final orthodontist. He was in the city and much closer to get to from home. His price was the most reasonable and he also said no extractions were necessary.

#26 Post by **SolarFeline** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:43 am

Firstly, kittymeow, I LOVE YOUR AVATAR!

When I was living in Melbourne in 1996, when I was 25/26, I went to an ortho at Elwood, who said that best course of treatment was to build up my bite, and then apply "the new ceramic brackets". My gut feeling was that this was the right thing to do to give myself an optimal functional bite. Financial circumstances prevented me from going ahead with my treatment.

Fast forward to 2006 (when I had the money THIS TIME

), I went to an ortho my normal dentist recommended on Macquarie Street, Sydney. The surgery waiting room was filled with school-kids in uniforms, and I felt out of place there. He didn't recommend building up my bite. I walked out of there feeling VERY disappointed. (Great view of Hyde Park though!!) I hit the net, and ONLY contacted orthos with websites.

My ortho I finally chose said first up, "I'm going to build up your bite", and put ceramics on, as I wanted. (I had an over-bite). HOWEVER, at my last adjustment on 4 January my ortho said 'my treatment time COULD have been SHORTER if I had had METAL brackets applied'... I think this has taught me that I have to ask health-care providers in my future if what I want may NOT be the most expedient treatment option... HOWEVER, I DO think he could have told me otherwise....

TBC when I get around to my braces story and post when I have my braces off....

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How do you choose an orthodontist?

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