Metal Mouth Message Board

I've been readin so many posts about people's experiences with their orthodontist and the assistante etc...

I was just wondering if anyone else out there had everything done by the ortho only? My orthodontist works alone so he's the one doing every single thing...there are no assistants or anyone else like that...so I was just wondering if anyone else was in the same situation? Or am I the only?

Hey Flora, I think you have it best. I'd kill to have all of my time with the ortho!

Honestly, I don't like the dental assistants at my orthos office. They can't do anything right when I go in for an adjustment, they often hurt me and apoligize while changing the ligs. The ortho however is very experienced and knows what he's doing.

ah ok. i'm glad i'm not the only one...my ortho has a receptionist too and things like that but i was just surprised that so many here had their braces touched by an assisant and all...

My ortho hardly does any work.. the assistant does most of it

In my orthos office he has about 7 chairs lined up and most of them are full when I am there. He walks around and supervises and they try to keep you with the same assistant most of the time.

My orthodontist has probably twenty assistants (not all at the same time, of course), and they usually end up doing the 'easy' jobs such as lig changing, etc. However, my ortho always puts on and removes the brackets and checks the work every time before/after the assistant does what he has instructed. Luckily, he trains all of them himself and doesn't let them work on patients until he's positive that they know what they're doing, so they are all pretty experienced!

My ortho normally will come in and check whats going on, and he does all the surgery himself. He will usually come in, take a look, tell the assistant what/how to do something, makes sure I don't have any questions, and then leaves. Thats fine with me though, because the assistant knows what shes doing (or...I'm pretty sure, atleast).

i'm a little surprised to learn that so much of the work is done by the assistants...i don't know if i would be able to cope with that lol. i'm already weary of doctors so having an assistant do any type of work would stress me out i think lol

I was in the beginning for the most part worked on by the assitants and the ortho would come over and quickly check me and I would leave.

But now because of my impacted canines and my complicatedness my ortho always does the work on me himself. I guess he doesn't trust anyone else to do what he wants. I guess its pretty nice! It makes me feel more special i guess. But I then of course have much more pain!

-Hannah





Top braces: 4/28/04
Bottom braces: 11/16/05
Next Adjustment was supposed to be 1/11/06 but now has been rescheduled for 1/21/06

At my office the assistants do the work which doesn't really bother me because they are all really good at what they do. My ortho spends a good amount of time with me when he does his checks.
I can't complain since the service is good and everyone is very personable and they never hurt me while doing their adjustment.

Don't worry! My ortho is also the only person who touches my teeth. He has an assistant who works at the reception and also helps him clean around the office (oh, and she mixed the awful, awful gunk for taking my impressions), but he does all the tooth-related work. Right down to simple lig changes. It helps that he's got a great attitude and sense of humour, so I never feel like i'm wasting his time or anything. Which I guess I shouldn't worry about anyway!

So far, which is only one appointment in the chair, it appears as if there are two and sometimes three assistants. They seem to be with it. One is young, one is probably late 30's. So far, so good, but a little too early to tell yet.

BlueeyedManda wrote:At my office the assistants do the work which doesn't really bother me because they are all really good at what they do. My ortho spends a good amount of time with me when he does his checks.
I can't complain since the service is good and everyone is very personable and they never hurt me while doing their adjustment.

I am putting ditto marks on this post. I have no complaints so far about the care I am getting. If I ever have a emergency or problem they usually get me in that day, and they are always on time with my appointments. (SUCH a difference from my doctor's office where she is always behind and I spend more time waiting...either in the waiting room or the examining room. Grrr.)

My ortho does all the work, the assistant just passes her ligs and stuff! I have a vague memory of this being mentioned before and it seemed that this was typical of orthodontists in the U.K. If anyone knows any different though do feel free to put me right!