Orthodontic work, such as braces, can help you get the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. Finding the right orthodontist can be a difficult task, however. It can be hard to know where to start or what to look for. Let’s take a look at a few tips to find a great orthodontist near you. You can also take a look at questions to ask an orthodontist, so you can get the information you need.
How to Choose an Orthodontist: 9 Tips to Find a Great Orthodontist
1. Ask About Experience
Orthodontists go through special training that allows them to perform procedures to straighten the teeth and jaw. All orthodontists have gone through dental training, though not all dentists have gone through orthodontic training. To find a good orthodontist with the right experience, you might ask the orthodontist about their expertise and education, or check with the American Board of Orthodontists.
2. Look for an Orthodontists Office Nearby
Orthodontic treatments usually require more office visits than other dental procedures, such as regular cleaning. Since you’ll be visiting your orthodontist more often to adjust your braces or aligners, it’s important that your orthodontist is conveniently located. Driving hours out of your way for every visit can make planning difficult.
3. Check for Convenient Hours
It’s also important that your orthodontist has office hours that work for you. Pulling your child out of school for each visit or taking a day off work might not be feasible for you. Look for an office that has hours that will help make planning easier.
4. Works with Children and Adults
If you are looking for an orthodontist for yourself, be sure that they have experience working with adults. An orthodontist who works mostly with children might not be a good fit for an adult. On the other hand, an orthodontist that doesn’t have experience with children might not be right for your kids. If you or your children have dental anxiety or special needs, you might also look for a professional who has experience with this.
5. Provides Payment Plans
Orthodontic work is valuable, but it can also be expensive. Ask your orthodontist about payment plans and interest rates beforehand. This will give you some payment flexibility and it will prevent you from paying more than you should.
6. Provides Affordable Consultations
If there are several orthodontists nearby that might work with your schedule, a consultation can help you choose between them. Look for low-cost or free consultations, so you can get your questions answered without racking up a lot of extra costs.
7. Answers Your Questions
When you have a consultation, your orthodontist should be able to answer your questions thoroughly and clearly. If your orthodontist can’t give you good estimates about the price of care, how many visits you might need, or what type of care is best for you, consider scheduling a consultation somewhere else to compare.
8. Is Safe and Clean
Safety and cleanliness are essential for all dental and orthodontic care. The orthodontist’s office, instruments, waiting room, and exam room should all be clean and well maintained.
9. Low Wait Times
If you are waiting for a long time before your appointment, or you notice that the waiting room is particularly full, the office might be booking too many appointments too quickly. Though late arrivals and other incidents can cause scheduling problems from time to time, the office shouldn’t consistently have long wait times.
What Questions Should You Ask Your Las Vegas Orthodontist?
Once you’ve scheduled a consultation, a few questions can help you find a good orthodontist in Las Vegas and help you better understand the treatment you need. Take a look at this list, so you can be prepared at your consultation.
Do you accept my insurance?
If you have dental insurance, this can help you reduce the costs of your treatment substantially. Make sure your orthodontist accepts your dental insurance.
How much will the treatment cost?
It’s important to understand the cost of the treatment before it’s performed. You should know what you will pay out of pocket, what your insurance plan will cover and if there are any special payment arrangements that will need to be made ahead of time.
What are your hours?
To make sure your visits fit with your schedule, it’s helpful to know and write down the office’s hours. If the office has some appointment times available outside of regular work or school hours, this can make planning easier.
Do you have experience with similar patients?
If you or your child has dental anxiety, special needs, or you have a particularly challenging dental situation, it’s helpful to know if your orthodontist has experience in working with similar patients.
What treatment is best for me? What are my options?
If you are visiting an orthodontist to straighten your teeth, you should know about the options available to you, such as braces, transparent aligners, and more. Once your orthodontist takes a look at your teeth, they will be able to tell you which treatments will be best for you.
How long will my treatment take? How many visits will be required?
Everybody is a bit different, so you want to ask your orthodontist about how long the treatment will be for you, and how many visits you can expect.
Will there be any discomfort?
Even if there won’t be much pain involved in the treatment, there may be discomfort. During your consultation, ask your orthodontist how much discomfort is normal and what you can expect to experience during and after the procedure.
Should I avoid specific foods after the treatment?
Finding out what foods you may need to avoid after seeing the orthodontist is very important. Some patients will need to avoid specific things, such as chewing gum. Make sure you get a full list of what you should avoid and for how long.
Will I need to change the way I brush my teeth?
Some treatments will require you to change the way you brush your teeth. If this is the case, you will need to know how to alter your brushing technique.
Will my speech change?
Braces can sometimes affect peoples’ ability to speak clearly and succinctly. Ask your orthodontist if there are any preventative measures you can take or if there is anything you can do after the procedure to minimize speech difficulties.
Now that you know how to choose an orthodontist and what questions to ask, the next step is to schedule a consultation. Don’t be afraid to consult with multiple orthodontists if you’re unsure, and use a notepad to write down critical information, such as costs and treatment timelines. With the right information, you can find a great orthodontist that you enjoy seeing.
