Is your orthodontist willing to talk about your teeth?

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#1 Post by **goodteethby2013** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:14 pm

I’m curious about your relationship with your orthodontist. I enjoy reading the boards on this website, and like everyone else, comparing notes with others in braces. I feel like a lot of the questions I have, and that others post about too, are things that our orthodontists should be willing to discuss with us. I personally have been very disappointed with my orthodontist’s general lack of communication. While the specifics of my case were discussed in the initial consultation, I usually have questions about what is going on with treatment at each visit. Like most of us, I’m curious about the specifics of my treatment, how my progress is going, what the next steps are, etc. As a partner in the treatment, I think it’s important to understand what’s going on. Not to mention that I’m paying good money for this, and would like to understand it. I wonder if he is just used to dealing with teenagers who don’t care, but to me that is no excuse. My orthodontist came highly recommended by my general dentist and prosthodontist, and is technically excellent, but lacks communication skills.
My question is: is it unreasonable for a patient to ask questions about progress and next steps at each visit?

Thanks.

#2 Post by **acidcookie** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:54 pm

"My question is: is it unreasonable for a patient to ask questions about progress and next steps at each visit?"
Short answer, god no!

Admittedly, I have to prod a little when I ask my orthodontist how things are going and what's the next step or what are my teeth doing, or what do they need to do to fix treatment. And I didn't really do it until the last 7-8 months of this year, when the steps they were taking didn't make obvious sense at the time. But once explained, they made perfect sense.

Bottom line, it's your mouth and your money involved and you have the right to know what to expect. If nothing else, open communication helps them do their job better to help the process along. The office I go to has commented that I've been a great patient throughout the treatment so I'm pretty sure they're not annoyed with my questions

#3 Post by **sadpanda** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:43 pm

Of course it's not unreasonable. I noticed the ortho doesn't volunteer any information. He looks at my teeth and then talks to the assistant in ortho code and then that's it. I want to ask questions and I know it's my right to ask them, but I get a lot of anxiety about it even though my ortho is very friendly and not that intimidating, so I don't really know what's going on.

#4 Post by **VA5** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:53 pm

This subject was posted about very recently and seems to be a big issue w/a lot of us (some of us are lucky though and have really really helpful orthos).

I too don't get a lot of input and when I ask my ortho, it seems like I've offended her by asking at all.. as if I were questioning her knowledge. She doesn't get mad or anything, but I can just tell. And if I didn't ask, I'd get no input at all.. just some simple orders to the assistant, and then that's it. I want as much technical information as possible. I look in my mouth every day, for quite a long time.. wondering what improvements I can see, and what to look for, etc. I probably shouldn't be like that b/c I won't see things overnight, however it's hard not to and it is my mouth and I have to deal w/these horrid things in my mouth everyday, all day.

I think the best thing I can tell somebody new to braces, is to be upfront before signing anything and tell the ortho, I'm going to want really good progress notes every time I come in.. if you can explain to me what has happened since my last visit, and what you are doing at this visit, and what you're hoping to see at my next visit, I'd appreciate it. I feel like it's almost too late for me..

#5 Post by **revontuli** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:47 pm

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who was hoping to get a bit more information about what's going on. For my recent adjustment I decided to write down my questions for my ortho, and all I could come up with was, "What did you just do?" and "What are you doing next?" lol! The answers were more vague than I'd hoped.

#6 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:02 am

Unfortunately communication skills were never a prerequisite for becoming and orthodontist. Acceptance to programs basically took top students who did very well on written board exams.

Good interpersonal skills and communication are things that you should notice during an initial consultation. Also knowledgeable staff should be able to answer many of your questions also. When my clinical team work with our patients, I don't want them to simply "follow my orders". I want them to understand why I have asked for certain things, so that they can then, in turn explain to our patients.

Whenever possible, we provide an update to our patients. However, there are some questions, such as "how much longer", that may be difficult to answer, because there are so many variables, including patient compliance with elastics, appliances, etc.

As suggested above, it is best to set forth your desire to have information passed on to you at each visit before you begin treatment. If it is something that you feel cannot be accomplished, you may have to look elsewhere, but in consideration of the orthodontist's technical skill also.

#7 Post by **sarz** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:39 am

Wow! Can't believe a real orthodontist is listening to us in our quest for more communication. It's so good to see that!!! I understand that all orthodontists and specialist registrars in orthodontistry are employed based on their clinical skills and high grades in examinations and accept that without these we would not be receiving the excellent care that we get.
However, maybe this discussion will highlight to you all, the need to spend a little extra time explaining treatment plans and options to your patients. (with consideration of the level of information and technical spec that is needed in each individual case ).
After all the patient is the central focus in personal centred planning. This helps to form a partnership in which the patient will understand the importance of compliency! Keep up the fantastic work that you all do! Thanks.

#8 Post by **jambo532** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 6:20 pm

I'm just shocked that an ortho wouldn't inform you. Isn't that their job? To help us through this process of braces? I ask my ortho all sorts of questions. We love to just sit and chat after my adjustments. He tells me exactly what he is doing to my teeth, and why he is doing it.
www.allbraced.blogspot.com

#9 Post by **VA5** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:12 am

I am pretty sure most orthos can communicate the information just fine... if they are smart enough to pass their boards, etc. in this country they have to speak a decent amount of english. Beyond that, it's their willingness to talk to the patient that I believe is some of our issue. My orth is fully capable to tell me what is going on, and answer my questions in a detailed way. But, my ortho is not one who likes to expound on anything that is being done... I believe I aggravate my ortho when I start to ask questions, in fact. But my ortho isn't quiet or not personable... quite the opposite! So, it's sometimes hard to gauge whether you'll have one that is receptive to a lot of questions.

What's also hard is that I think most of us didn't realize how may questions and concerns we would end up having before we got the braces on. It was only afterwards when things weren't going well, or too slowly, or just whatever.. that all these questions sprouted up. If it were as smooth sailing as I really thought it'd be, I wouldn't be on this board as much as I am.

#10 Post by **Star** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:39 am

I feel very lucky to have found a great ortho that is also very good with communicating with his patients and even gives out his personal cell number for us to call if we have any concerns. I actually never get a chance to ask any questions because right before I do, he's already explaining to me what he has done and what the goals of that step will be and what course he will be taking at my next adjustment. He's the cream of the crop!!! My son and I love our ortho.

#11 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:43 pm

Glad to hear that there are some excellent communicating orthodontists taking care of the people on this thread. I have to, however, completely disagree that the ability to do well in academic courses makes someone able to communicate with others. There are a lot of extremely intelligent people who are not able to express themselves well.

That being said, one of the issues in busy orthodontic offices is time. Most offices have very busy schedules, and the doctor time is accounted for... to the minute. Therefore, if you have extra questions, it may not be an unwilingness to discuss, but rather that there has not been time alotted. My suggestion is that you let your orthodontist know ahead of time that there is something that needs to be discussed at a regular appointment, or to set up a separate visit.

Hope this helps!

#12 Post by **sarz** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 12:49 pm

I have an excellent communicating Orthodontist. It only took two years 6 months of Orthodontic treatment, 3 lefort 1 Osteotomies and for me to write to ask for some information about my treatment.
The fun and games of it all!!!

#13 Post by **Lynette** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:10 pm

I find my ortho communicates well. He always lets me know what is happening and what he is going to do next adjustment.

#14 Post by **VA5** » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:24 pm

See that's the thing... I don't expect my ortho to elaborate on things. I just want a simple "this is what I think happened since last visit. and this is what I hope to accomplish with this visit." I don't think that really takes that much time, or communication skill.

#15 Post by **rolo** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:44 am

As someone who works in healthcare (although not dentistry) there is variation in how much patients want to know, some like me want lots of information others don't, sometimes this is hard to gauge, so maybe they are just not used to people wanting information...although it is good practice in medicine, at least, to give patients an opportunity to ask questions at each appointment and from a business point of view, in harder economic times its essential to have a good repution.