Updated: 2/5/2020
It’s difficult to make the right choice when choosing someone you’ll have to depend on for over a year of your life. So, as in other areas, it’s tricky to know if you’re about to choose the “right” orthodontist or not. However, there are certain tips you can employ to better educate yourself on the options you have and make a more informed choice. And, since you’ll be seeing this person monthly for quite a while, you better make sure they’re your best option!
Ask for Recommendations
Chances are you know plenty of family and friends who have taken their kids through the process of braces (or who have gone through it themselves). Ask around for recommendations on the best orthodontists in your area, and you are sure to get some good advice. This is an important strategy to use because you’ll hear first-hand testimonies, both the good and the bad, from people you know that worked with their doctors for sometimes two years or more. Now’s the time to get the scoop on the orthodontists in your community!
Use the Free Consultations
Most orthodontists will offer a free (or cheap) consultation that will allow them to check out the patient and make recommendations on services and procedures. This is a great tool for you as a patient because you can use it as a type of “interview.” See how the doctor treats you and your child, and pay attention to how his staff treats patients as well. Check out the facilities, and be sensitive to any doctors that seem to be suggesting procedures you know are not necessary. You can then compare these consultations with different offices against each other and make a better decision.
Think About Price
Even if you have orthodontist insurance, this usually covers only a fraction of the cost of braces. Ask doctors to be frank about costs with you, and compare prices across different practices. At times you will notice higher-quality orthodontists will charge more, but more expensive doesn’t always translate to better services. Some orthodontists will offer in-house financing, which can be more flexible than bank loans. Make the decision that is most reasonable for your finances.
Consider Location
Since orthodontist visits can be as often as once a month, you’ll want to make location an important consideration on your list of pros and cons. While there may be better doctors farther out from your community, you’ll have to decide if it’s worth the time spent and the cost of gas to make longer trips to visit them. Sometimes orthodontists will offer local discounts, so you may want to ask about that when speaking with offices closer to your home.
Be True to Your Feelings
How did you feel when you were seeing that orthodontist for a consultation? Did they make you feel at ease, or did you feel that the doctor was in a hurry? Was their staff polite, or unavailable? Were the facilities clean and inviting, or did they appear to be neglected? Even if you can’t articulate the reasons for it, listen to any hesitations you may have felt when visiting a doctor. If you don’t feel 100% about it, then they are not the orthodontist for you.
Whether it’s an orthodontist in Halifax, London, or a tiny town in Idaho, there are always high quality doctors in any community. By doing your research and asking the important questions, you’ll seek out the right doctor for you and your family.
Guest Writer
Victoria Ramos studied business and now blogs about developments in the field, as well as her other interests. She loves shopping, socializing, hosting parties, decorating, and writing. For more information on orthodontists in Halifax, visit Jensen Orthodontics at their website.
I love when you suggested to check the costs of hiring an orthodontist when you are looking for one. My wife and I have been talking about finding an orthodontist to help us because my daughter’s teeth are very crooked, and we have been told that they could chip if we don’t do anything about it. I will be sure to look at their costs before we choose to get an orthodontist to straighten her teeth.
Thanks for suggesting to find a dentist near you. My brother moved to a new neighborhood and he needs to find a family dentist. I will recommend him to talk to his neighbors to find a dentist near him.
I like how you said that you should ask around for recommendations on the best orthodontist in your area. My son needs to see one and I just wanted some tips on trying to find a good one. I’ll keep this in mind while I search for orthodontists.
So glad we could help you!
I like how you mentioned that when choosing an orthodontist, you should ask for recommendations from your friends and family who have taken their kids through the process of braces. My daughter needs braces, and we need to find her a good orthodontist so she can start the process. I will definitely keep all of your great tips in mind when choosing the perfect orthodontist for my daughter.
Nice Article! Make sure that your doctor is a university trained orthodontist. If your orthodontist is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics then your orthodontist has gone the extra step to demonstrate his/her commitment to excellence.
My daughter needs to get braces for her overbite and I need to choose an orthodontist in our local area but I am not sure where to start, so I appreciate the tips you provide. My favorite part of this article is when you say to get free consultations with potential orthodontists because this way I can meet these doctors and ask them questions before hiring them. I will make sure to ask about their experience as well as their pricing. Plus, the interview will give me a chance to see how the doctor treats my daughter and me and if they will be easy to work with.
I really appreciate your tip to ask yourself if you want a convenient route to your house. My wife and I have been thinking of getting a new house, and we are concerned that we won’t be able to find a dentist that is next to our house since we live in a rural area. I will be sure to tell my wife that we should try and find a dentist office that is close to save us gas on the route!
I like your advice to ask your neighbors for advice on what orthodontist to choose and to expect to hear both good and bad reviews. My wife and I recently moved into a new neighborhood, and we have been trying to find a dentist that we can take our young daughter to. I will be sure to ask around for a dentist office who is known to help calm down kids while at their appointment!
Thanks for elaborating on ways you can find the right orthodontist; there are so many options it can be overwhelming. In my opinion, one of the best things you can do is to ask your friends and family about past orthodontists that they have used. You can learn a lot more about a doctor and how they work from past clients than any other way.
My son needs braces so we wanted to find a good orthodontics and wanted to look up a few more tips. I really appreciated the tip about asking for recommendations. I agree that asking friends, and family for recommendations on the best orthodontists is a great idea.
I remember when I had my first experience in an orthodontist office and how concerned my parents were that they had made the right choice in choosing an orthodontist who was fair in price and service. I’m glad that you talked about the importance of utilizing free consultation options as means for “interviewing” the orthodontist before signing up to receive treatment. Thank you for your tips on how to choose a great orthodontist.
I really like your advice to find a children’s orthodontist who is located close to you since you will be seeing them at least once a month. My husband and I are looking for the perfect children’s orthodontist to send our son to now that he is ready for braces. Since we’ll be seeing them so often, we’ll be sure to find a specialist that is located near us.
I agree that you want to find an orthodontist that is located close by. It would be good to do this because, as you say, you would save money on gas. My sister’s daughter needs braces, so when they look for someone to help they’ll have to find someone nearby.
My daughter is getting to the point where she needs to get braces. I have no idea how to look for an orthodontist or how to choose one. You mentioned how most orthodontists offer a free or cheap consultation that will allow them to check out the patient and make their recommendations. I had never thought about using that as a way to decide if I want that orthodontist or not. Thanks for the great advice.
Great article. Very well written! I would also add to ask if the orthodontist you are considering to hire has office hours that can accommodate before or after school or work commitment.
These tips were really helpful in understanding how to choose an orthodontist. My child is needing braces so me and my husband are looking into what would be best for us. Neither of us have had braces, so we don’t know a lot about orthodontists. I am really taking your advice about asking for recommendations and learning about the options in my community.
I had no idea that a lot of Orthodontists offer free consultations for you to check out their services. That is a great way to see if their service will meet your needs. I’ll have to go into a few offices before I choice one to be my orthodontist to see how they do things.
My son just started high school. He has a few crooked teeth, so we’re looking for options to get that fixed. I never knew how important it is to choose an orthodontist that is close to home to ensure you shorten your trips as much as possible. I’ll remember this info moving forward.
Glad it was helpful! It’s not something I really thought of either before. It’s a great factor to consider.
Asking people you know for a good recommendation for an orthodontist seems smart. It would make sense to ask someone if you know that they or their kid has recently gotten braces. My son needs braces so we’ll have to start our search for an orthodontist by asking around.