Off Braces Today ! some What unpleased and dissatisfied.

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#1 Post by **Mahder123** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:17 pm

I just got unbraced after 3years. I was not 100% happy with the decsion to take them off but my Ortho said he will correct the remaining issues with a retainer. I feel like his new assistant (ortho) during my follow up visit 2 months ago did something wrong to make my teeth shift into the wrong direction. A hole like gap was created on the top left side and the overbite on my left got bigger. My Ortho said trying to close that gap will make the rest shift aswell.

I nicely told them that my teeth shifted (made an emergency apt) and they still brought the new Orthodontist to fix the problem that day when I had called and asked to be seen by my Orthodontist.

On the 3rd visit, I specificaly requested one of his good assitances or the doctor himself and I ended up with a completely different person.
I wish I was a bit aggresive but I am naturally shy and did not want to fuss all the time.

I am not sure how he picks and chooses whom he treats but i always end up with others than him during my aptmts and it was a task having to ask so many questions so they can call him to answer them all to me.

Overall, he did a good job: Many other Orthos insisted extracting 2 or 3 teeth but he did it with out any extraction to correct assymetrical middleine because of a missing cannine. However, this man makes himself so unavailable.

Today was my last day and I was unhappy when the new Ortho came to fit my retainers. My Ortho had to be called 4 times (atleast the new ortho asked several questions before she thought she got it right)
I am not sure how to respond to my disatisfaction if nothing moves to the desired direction in three weeks. am I being unfair here? is it normal to have such kind of Ortho treatment? I am more dissappointed by his abscence than the udesired resluts.

#2 Post by **Chris** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:08 pm

Could it be that the your ortho is readying himself to retire and hence, wants his new ortho to take on the existing cases more?

I had a similar problem. Each time I went in it seemed I was seen by the other ortho and they both seemed to do things differently. I had a talk with the Ortho I wanted to keep that I wanted him and only him to treat me and also spoke with the front desk telling them to make a note on the computer and my chart of who I wanted to be treated by. It went fine from there.

I find being treated by several orthos in a practice quite disconcerting because they all seem to undo what the other did and hence, lengthen the time of treatment.

Stay firm. Make sure before you go in that day that you WILL be seeing the ortho of your choice, if not, change the appt.

#3 Post by **Beana803** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:31 am

I don't think you are being irrational. My Ortho is very attentive. While it is true that the assistants do the majority of the grunt work, my Ortho assess my situation every time I come in. He normally doesn't do any of the work, but gives specific instruction to the assistant. Following any work being done, I have to see him so he can check me out before I leave. I think this is typical with most large offices. He is never seeing more than 5 people at a time, and is always willing to stay and answer my questions. He also always gives me a timeline, and tells me why he is making the changes. I've been in braces almost two years, and aside from the placement of the brackets and molar band, he has only literally worked on my teeth a handful of times. His assistants are all well qualified, and while some are a little rougher than others, they all do a great job.
We all know how expensive orthodonic treatment is, and it has always been my opinion that if you are not happy with something you should bring it up. This is the case with a lot of other aspects of our lives, why not braces???? Especially when we are spending so much time having them adjusted, as well as the financial investment. I am also naturally a bit shy, but if you don't speak up for yourself, no one else will. Good luck to you, and I hope everything works its way out with the retainer!

#4 Post by **Lola** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:27 am

I've had a trainee-ortho working on my teeth the last couple of times. She broke a bracket trying to open it so it had to be sanded, new bracket bonded etc by my ortho. Aside from the discomfort, it took and hour for the appointment. I understand people have to learn, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the patients.

#5 Post by **Lola** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:27 am

I've had a trainee-ortho working on my teeth the last couple of times. She broke a bracket trying to open it so it had to be sanded, new bracket bonded etc by my ortho. Aside from the discomfort, it took and hour for the appointment. I understand people have to learn, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the patients.

#6 Post by **Jay Tea** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:07 am

yes i've had the trainee ortho some times and he is too slow and i don't get a chance to speak to my ortho. i end up being in the chair double the time it's so annoying

#7 Post by **PuppySmiles** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:50 pm

Lola wrote:I've had a trainee-ortho working on my teeth the last couple of times. She broke a bracket trying to open it so it had to be sanded, new bracket bonded etc by my ortho. Aside from the discomfort, it took and hour for the appointment. I understand people have to learn, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the patients.

Oh, boy. Isn't that what orthodontic schools are for? If we're paying full price, I believe we ought to get the expertise we're paying for.

On the other hand, if you're one of the lucky ones who has found a reduced price by going to a school to have yours done, that would be okay.

#8 Post by **drstraight** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:15 pm

Your orthodontist should examine you initially, give his instructions to his chairside assistant and then examine you again after they have completed his requests. And depending upon the state, certain things can or cannot be performed by the chairside assistant (i.e. in most states it is illegal for chairsides to actually cement brackets onto teeth). The state dental laws in many states require the orthdontist's assistants to be certified by the state through a state approved examination or to have gone through an assistant program at a college or vo-tech school.
If you have doubts about the qualifications of the people treating you, it is up to you to ask them about their schooling or education. They should have a certificate or license from the state and that should be readily available (if not displayed) in the office.

#9 Post by **AMiles** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:08 am

I often don't see my orthodontist. I've had him since I was 6 but I just moved back to canada and started having him treat me again. In a year of working with him, I have seen him exactly twice. Once on my first meeting to set up how long they would need to finish braces and then when we requested to meet with him because we felt something was wrong in my treatment (we were right).

I know how much it sucks when you get a new person. Usually I see one of the women and one of two ortho's come check. On my last visit a man I had never met before came and did the check and told the assistance what to do. He didn't introduce himself, didn't tell me his name and just said open - close.

It's very annoying.

#10 Post by **kirjax** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:00 pm

Well my ortho up and left in the middle of my treatment and I didn't know. When I went in I had one ortho and just thought that perhaps she was sick or on vacation. But the next time I went in she wasn't there again so I said, "where is Dr. R" and the assistant was like, "she moved" but Dr. so and so is taking over and he's really good. Kinda was like, "What" but then I thought, "well what can I do!"

#11 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:40 pm

Are you guys talking about Doctors when you say Orthodontist? Or the Ortho Assistant? The assistant is not a doctor and is working under the direction and supervision of the Orthodontist. So if you've got a new assistant working on you, maybe you could ask that someone observes while they work on you or just ask for a specific assistant.

If it is a practice where there are multiple doctors, again, like someone mentioned already, just ask to make sure that doctor will be available to see you at your appointment.

#12 Post by **kirjax** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:58 pm

My ORTHO (doctor) up and left the practice. Most ortho's are considered doctors while the assistants are just that, assistants

#13 Post by **Delag** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:46 pm

kirjax wrote:Well my ortho up and left in the middle of my treatment and I didn't know. When I went in I had one ortho and just thought that perhaps she was sick or on vacation. But the next time I went in she wasn't there again so I said, "where is Dr. R" and the assistant was like, "she moved" but Dr. so and so is taking over and he's really good. Kinda was like, "What" but then I thought, "well what can I do!"

Yikes! My ortho is selling his practice and has already moved his family (about a 12 hour drive away). He is closing ALL his cases personaly before he goes. Right now he is in town every other week to see clients and to make sure the new doctor is really up to snuff. He is even reviewing all the new guys cases. I knew I had a good doctor, I am really glad he is a good guy as well. I am keeping my fingers crossed the new guy is good or I will have to start my ortho search all over again for my kids.

#14 Post by **Clairey Fairey** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:12 am

I think that if your concerned, your actual ortho some come speak to you. Our teeth are a big deal to us and I think they need to think about that sometimes, we're not there for the fun of it, wouldn't fork out all that money if it wasn't very important to us, therefore if you have concerns, the ortho should see you and put your mind at rest.

Maybe it works different in the US but in the UK you are always seen by the same ortho you are paying for.