Yeah at my orthodontist, the assistants pretty much do 90% of the technical work too, including intially putting the brackets on. The orthondist himself only checks at the end of each adjustment to see if everythings all right, I only see him for like two minutes each time I have an appointment.
I kind of feel better reading this, as at least I know its common practice. At first I was a bit disappointed about having the assistants do all the work, having paid all that cash and thinking my teeth would be in the hands of a qualified orthodontist. But the assistants seem to know what they're doing and I havn't had any problems, so its all good I guess.
Please give me your opinion! (911)
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Figuratively speaking your teeth are in the hands of a qualified orthodontist. As most everybody here has attested to the ortho sees you when you come in to decide on what will be done on that visit, the assistant does what he asks, and then he comes back at the end to make sure it all is correct. As someone else posted, the ortho from the beginning has mapped out your course of treatment, and a competent staff should have no issues with doing the "grunt" work properly. I know my ortho runs a tight ship with his staff and is meticulous about how things are done. His staff is excellent, and he is readily available should they need his help. I cannot imagine the cost of treatment if he alone did all the work. It would be atronomical! I am glad to hear that things are going well for you and that the ortho's staff that you chose is doing a good job.saycheeese wrote:Yeah at my orthodontist, the assistants pretty much do 90% of the technical work too, including intially putting the brackets on. The orthondist himself only checks at the end of each adjustment to see if everythings all right, I only see him for like two minutes each time I have an appointment.
I kind of feel better reading this, as at least I know its common practice. At first I was a bit disappointed about having the assistants do all the work, having paid all that cash and thinking my teeth would be in the hands of a qualified orthodontist. But the assistants seem to know what they're doing and I havn't had any problems, so its all good I guess.
I will say that if I went to my regular dentist for a filling or a root canal or something and he passed me off to his assistant, then I would RUN FOR THE DOOR!!!!
for myself... in the start the ortho saw me.. evaluated my case.. then the techs came in took the molds and everything the ortho looked it over.. and told me this and that and a few teeth had to be hauled out here, and there.. and bam here we go.. ( long story short lol ) when it came to the actual process of placing the brackets on.. it was the my orthodontist ( doing all the work ) and the tech telling me not to get my teeth wet or we would have to redo it all .... ( i found it best to heed the warning )
but after that was all said and done i noticed as well that it was the techs doing all the work with the ortho just "evaluating" things and telling the tech this and that, and i want this and that, and it was done.. at first i was kinda uneasy that the ortho wasn't doing this herself.. but i found that her staff is pretty smart and very good people person's.. they even wanna talk to you but i find it hard to talk when your mouth is wide open.. and you have the "otter wiskers" sticking out your mouth as i have wire ties not elastic ligatures.. but all in all.. to the question.. yes its very normal.. worry not anyone with this question..
but after that was all said and done i noticed as well that it was the techs doing all the work with the ortho just "evaluating" things and telling the tech this and that, and i want this and that, and it was done.. at first i was kinda uneasy that the ortho wasn't doing this herself.. but i found that her staff is pretty smart and very good people person's.. they even wanna talk to you but i find it hard to talk when your mouth is wide open.. and you have the "otter wiskers" sticking out your mouth as i have wire ties not elastic ligatures.. but all in all.. to the question.. yes its very normal.. worry not anyone with this question..
My ortho does all the work herself, her assistant just hands her things she asks for.
I believe that here in the UK, that assistants are not allowed to do any work themselves, only an orthodontist or a dentist (dentists are allowed to do orthdontic work but I'd rather go to an orthodontist) but that there is a change of regulation happening with more advanced courses for orthodontic nurses so they will be able to do more hands-on work, and that it is thought this may lead to orthodontic work being more affordable like it is in the US. Which must be a good thing!
That said, my ortho is very particular and wouldn't like even another ortho doing any work on her patients. I'm 'allowed' to go to someone else to have an archwire clipped if I'm in pain but even for that, I'm encouraged to wait and see her if I can stand it. She looked very nervous when I told her about going to see an orthodontist when I was in another country and my bracket popped off, but relieved he had just clipped the wire (so it wasn't sticking out in my mouth) and not replaced the bracket. (incidentally, he told me he wouldn't rebond the bracket because he didn't know which position it should be according to my orthodontist's plan for me).
I believe that here in the UK, that assistants are not allowed to do any work themselves, only an orthodontist or a dentist (dentists are allowed to do orthdontic work but I'd rather go to an orthodontist) but that there is a change of regulation happening with more advanced courses for orthodontic nurses so they will be able to do more hands-on work, and that it is thought this may lead to orthodontic work being more affordable like it is in the US. Which must be a good thing!
That said, my ortho is very particular and wouldn't like even another ortho doing any work on her patients. I'm 'allowed' to go to someone else to have an archwire clipped if I'm in pain but even for that, I'm encouraged to wait and see her if I can stand it. She looked very nervous when I told her about going to see an orthodontist when I was in another country and my bracket popped off, but relieved he had just clipped the wire (so it wasn't sticking out in my mouth) and not replaced the bracket. (incidentally, he told me he wouldn't rebond the bracket because he didn't know which position it should be according to my orthodontist's plan for me).