Please help - need advice on Orthodontist not performing
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:44 am
I was referred to my orthodonist by my maxo surgoen. Upon the initial consult back in November 2005 the ortho seemed competent and experienced with lower jaw advancement and he had worked closely with my maxo surgeon for about 20 years - it seemed like a no brainer.
I had the xrays, mold, etc done and I was scheduled to have my metal braces applied on January 17, 2006. Upon arriving at my appointment I learn that my ortho had one of his vertebrae broken in an accident. They assured me that he would be back soon and they had one of the assistants put on the braces, with a young "fill in" ortho walking around supervising in case the assistants had a questions. I had the braces applied and requested to sit with the fill in ortho to ask him some additional questions about the braces and my specific situation.
I'm having lower jaw advancement due to a overbite and tmj issues. The fill in ortho looks like he is in his late 30's and had no clue about my procedure. He looked like a deer in headlights and told me he would review my file with the hurt ortho and get back to me. He never got back to me, however I did receive a letter in the mail stating that my ortho will be retiring and the new ortho will be taking over the practice. I called the office and they assured me that the original ortho would still work in the mornings for another year or so. 6 weeks later I show up for the 1st adjustment and my original ortho is there (he must be in his late 60's and on crutches) along with the new ortho and neither one of them adjust me, it's the assistant again. The original ortho asked how I was and I told him that I was having my two lower front bicuspids removed in 1 week - so he told me to see him a few days afterwards. After the adjustment I went home and upon looking at my teeth there are about 6 bands that are half on, so I put them on myself with one of those hook tools.
Last week I had my two bucuspids removed by the maxo and everything went fine except the maxo was surprised that the ortho left the brackets on the teeth that were supposed to get extracted - he had to "jimmy it" with his tools to take them off!
So, I show up this morning for the power chains or whatever it is that the ortho needs to apply to close these two gaping holes in my mouth and as I walk in the receptionist tells me that my ortho is not coming in today and that she has no way of telling when he is coming in and not coming in. No apology for not contacting me prior and she re-scheduled me for tommorow "hoping" that he would be in!!!! It's a 1 hour drive for me in traffic!!!!
Here is my concern:
Since my ortho is retiring and hurt - it's obvious he is not at the top of his game and the new ortho looks like and sounds like he is just out of his internship. I'm only 2 months into this journey and I am seriously considering going to another ortho. (my maxo had originally referred 2 different ones to me and I chose the wrong one apperantly)
Question:
Should I change ortho's?
Is this a good idea now that the process has started?
If I do will they come after me for full payment for the braces? I was quoted $6,000 and so far I have only paid about $1,800.00 - I'm on a payment plan - does anyone know if I can just walk and not pay the remander that is due?
sorry for the long post - needed to vent...
thanks for any suggestions.
I had the xrays, mold, etc done and I was scheduled to have my metal braces applied on January 17, 2006. Upon arriving at my appointment I learn that my ortho had one of his vertebrae broken in an accident. They assured me that he would be back soon and they had one of the assistants put on the braces, with a young "fill in" ortho walking around supervising in case the assistants had a questions. I had the braces applied and requested to sit with the fill in ortho to ask him some additional questions about the braces and my specific situation.
I'm having lower jaw advancement due to a overbite and tmj issues. The fill in ortho looks like he is in his late 30's and had no clue about my procedure. He looked like a deer in headlights and told me he would review my file with the hurt ortho and get back to me. He never got back to me, however I did receive a letter in the mail stating that my ortho will be retiring and the new ortho will be taking over the practice. I called the office and they assured me that the original ortho would still work in the mornings for another year or so. 6 weeks later I show up for the 1st adjustment and my original ortho is there (he must be in his late 60's and on crutches) along with the new ortho and neither one of them adjust me, it's the assistant again. The original ortho asked how I was and I told him that I was having my two lower front bicuspids removed in 1 week - so he told me to see him a few days afterwards. After the adjustment I went home and upon looking at my teeth there are about 6 bands that are half on, so I put them on myself with one of those hook tools.
Last week I had my two bucuspids removed by the maxo and everything went fine except the maxo was surprised that the ortho left the brackets on the teeth that were supposed to get extracted - he had to "jimmy it" with his tools to take them off!
So, I show up this morning for the power chains or whatever it is that the ortho needs to apply to close these two gaping holes in my mouth and as I walk in the receptionist tells me that my ortho is not coming in today and that she has no way of telling when he is coming in and not coming in. No apology for not contacting me prior and she re-scheduled me for tommorow "hoping" that he would be in!!!! It's a 1 hour drive for me in traffic!!!!
Here is my concern:
Since my ortho is retiring and hurt - it's obvious he is not at the top of his game and the new ortho looks like and sounds like he is just out of his internship. I'm only 2 months into this journey and I am seriously considering going to another ortho. (my maxo had originally referred 2 different ones to me and I chose the wrong one apperantly)
Question:
Should I change ortho's?
Is this a good idea now that the process has started?
If I do will they come after me for full payment for the braces? I was quoted $6,000 and so far I have only paid about $1,800.00 - I'm on a payment plan - does anyone know if I can just walk and not pay the remander that is due?
sorry for the long post - needed to vent...
thanks for any suggestions.