Choosing an Orthodontic Specialist for either your or your child’s braces or Invisalign treatment is not an easy task. There are many great Orthodontists and each one is different. The purpose of this article is to present important factors to consider and some questions to ask when choosing the best or right Orthodontist for you and your family.
Hours
Does the orthodontist have before school, lunchtime, and after school/evening appointments? Are weekend appointments offered? It is expected that some appointments need to happen during business/school hours, but for many families where both parents work, having these extended hours is very useful.
Availability
Is the office open full time or does the orthodontist only work there a few days a month? This is an important consideration for when there are emergencies.
Types of Braces
Does the orthodontist use traditional braces with colours or self-ligating braces? How frequent are the appointments if the colour ties need to be changed? Can colours still be put on the self-ligating braces if your child really wants colours?
Experience and Quality
Does the Orthodontist have sufficient experience? For example, for Invisalign treatment each provider is given a provider level status based on his or her experience.
Technology
Does the orthodontist have the latest technology? For example, are impressions still taken of the teeth (old) or are the teeth scanned instead (new)? Are digital x-rays being taken?
Who does the chair side work?
In orthodontic offices the Orthodontist either does the majority of the chair side work him/herself or delegates it to hygienests and assistants. In either case the Orthodontist oversees the treatment, but for some patients, they prefer if the Orthodontist is more hands-on.
Staff
Is the staff knowledgeable and friendly? Do they provide great customer service?
Price
Are the fees for orthodontic treatment reasonable? Orthodontic treatment is definitely a financial commitment for a lot of families, so are there flexible payment plans?
Analyzing the variables above can help you and your family assess the value of the orthodontic treatment. If you would like us to answer all these questions for you, feel free to contact our Vaughan office to schedule a free consultation.
