Metal Mouth Message Board

So I was just wondering if it's common for two orthodontists to be seeing patients at the same time in the same room?
This is what happened at my consult the other day, whilst I was in the chair, there was another patient at the other side of the room being treated by another ortho.
Now, I'm not really bothered by this, afterall, we're all there for the same reasons, but just wondering if anybody elses orthodontists are like this?

Same thing goes on at my ortho's office. The room is big enough.

My orthodontist's office has three different branches in different cities and the orthos all rotate, so they are usually spread out that way, but there have been a few appointments where two were both there seeing patients at the same time, so I don't think this is unusual.

My Orthodontist runs his own office, so he's the only Ortho there. There is also a room for the Dentist, but all rooms are totally separate.
I am quite a personal person and wouldn't be so keen on having others in the same room as me.

When I first started looking into fixed braces (I originally longed for Invisalign) I started to Google videos on how they were fitted as I didn't know anything... I remember most of the vids were done by people in the US, and about 90% of the videos I watched had more than one Ortho/patient in the same room/area at the same time.

My ortho is the only ortho in the office, but there's one big room with about five chairs, so there are usually other people getting treated by the ortho or the assistants at the same time as me. At first I thought it was weird, especially because most of the other people in the chairs are kids, but I think it's ok now.

My ortho has about 5 chairs in his office, with another one in a smaller room with a door.

Many docs have an 'open' office with a big open room with multiple chairs.
Many adults do not like this but most (not all docs) are geared toward kids.

My office isnt open. I have walls but no doors.
Many adults have commented that they like it better.

Aren't there hipaa regulations too that apply to orthos and dentists? Privacy regulations?

drrick wrote:My office isnt open. I have walls but no doors.
Many adults have commented that they like it better.

That is how my ortho's office is, too. There is one long hallway and three rooms on each side, but no doors. It's a lot more private that way and I much prefer it.

In Australia orthos tend to have their own rooms rather than share so where I go each ortho has his own room and own assistant. Also the only person to work on me is my ortho, the assistant just hands him tools! in other countries it seems common for the assistant to do alot of the work with the ortho checking in every now and again.

Yep, the assistants do most of the work and are, in my experience, more experienced feeling with the adjustments b/c of it. Sometimes my ortho will do the adjustment and I can tell the difference in dexterity, skill, etc. It's interesting. At first I didn't like that the assitant did everything, especially the bracket placement.

The orthos do all the adjustments etc at my practice too, and the assisants just hand them the tools, oh and also the assistant took my xrays.

So far my Ortho has done everything. X-rays, photos, impressions, fitted spacers etc... He also does the adjustments too. The assistant just holds/hands the tools to him etc.

maybe it's just a usa thing?

Different countries have different rules regarding this.
Different provinces or states within countries have different rules as well.