When it comes to your oral health, it is important to seek professional help from a qualified orthodontist. Crooked or misaligned teeth can cause several problems, including difficulty chewing, speech impediments, and even headaches.
An orthodontist can assess your needs and develop a treatment plan to straighten your teeth and improve your oral health.
Orthodontists are specialized dentists who correct problems related to teeth alignment and bite. These experts primarily use tools like braces, Invisalign, and retainers to sort your issues. Hence, while their job may sound simple, it is pretty technical.
In the state of Washington, according to the BLS, in 2022, roughly 90 orthodontists were operating within this area. However, if you narrow the number further, the Smokey Point area has even fewer orthodontists. But this makes your work easier since you have a small pool to choose from.
So how do you decide? What do you need to consider when choosing an orthodontist? Read below to find out:
The Cost of Treatment
As eager as you may be to get your teeth fixed, you must know the cost of aligning your teeth. While there is no standard pricing, and the total cost depends on the extent of work required on your teeth, having a general idea can help you pick a suitable orthodontist.
Prices vary from state to state; if you’re getting your treatment done in Smokey Point in Washington, understand that dental tools like braces can range between thousands of dollars before insurance.
This is not cheap, so before you can commit to the process, look into availing Experienced orthodontic services in Smokey Point that offer a consultation to help you understand what you may need to undergo.
When you have an overview of the orthodontic treatments you need, it becomes easier to contact your insurance and find out if you’re covered. Likewise, you’re better positioned to budget for your treatment out of your pocket.
Education and Experience
When choosing an orthodontist, it is important to focus on their education and experience. Orthodontists must complete a rigorous training program that includes four years of dental school and two to three years of orthodontic residency.
This training program gives them the knowledge and skills they need to diagnose and treat a variety of orthodontic problems.
In addition to their education, it is also important to consider the orthodontist’s experience. You want to choose an orthodontist who has a lot of experience working with patients of all ages and with a variety of orthodontic problems.
This will ensure that they can provide you with the best possible care.
Communicates Transparently
Not everyone is familiar with what an orthodontist does. Superficially, you may know that these experts correct misaligned teeth, but that’s not all an orthodontist does.
This is why when you’re choosing an orthodontist for yourself, pick someone willing to explain terms like “crowded teeth,” “overbites”, and “underbites,” your orthodontist should tell you what these are, how these differ from braces and in what circumstances should you use a retainer.
A good orthodontist clarifies any ambiguity before proceeding.
While they cannot tell you the exact cost of your treatment, they can guide you on areas where you will be charged, and, if there is extra work required on your teeth, how much would it push your total bill? Never opt for any treatment until you know what you’re getting.
For instance, if you get Invisalign, you may need to wear retainers for the rest of your life; this information must be conveyed to you before you get Invisalign.
Convenience
Once your treatment starts, you must see your orthodontist according to the prescribed timeline. This means, unlike dental cleaning, you will not be limited to seeing your dental expert once every six months.
Depending on the type of treatment option you choose, your orthodontist will inform you about your next visit. If you go for traditional braces, you will need to see your orthodontist every four to eight weeks.
During your visit, they will determine whether your teeth are progressing as they should and if your wires are tightening.
But if you go for Invisalign, you must see your orthodontist every four to six weeks to determine if you need new aligners. Considering how often you need to see your orthodontist, you can’t ignore your convenience.
If your dental expert is too far away, there’s a high chance you will miss the appointment since traffic can get in the way. Likewise, if you’re working through the week and have a traditional office job, you need an orthodontist willing to accommodate you and possibly stay after five.
Reviews
If you want a complete, unbiased overview of your orthodontist, you should start reading reviews. Comments posted by other patients can give you an idea of how good your orthodontist is.
Pay attention to reviews that give you details on professionalism, work ethic, demeanor, and expertise.
Furthermore, if a patient provides specific information like the orthodontist of your choosing takes their time to calm patients down, perhaps they’re great with children, or they don’t rush through the treatment, take these into account.
If your orthodontist has a rating system, look at their average rating and how satisfied other patients are with them. You can start your research by looking up orthodontists on the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) or asking your friends and family to recommend a professional.
Final Thoughts
Don’t take chances when it comes to your teeth. After all, a smile is the first thing anyone notices about you, so you need to be on top of your oral health and have the perfect teeth, and only an orthodontist can help you achieve that.
However, picking the right orthodontist for the job requires some work. Understand that your relationship with your orthodontist is long, so you cannot select the first expert you see without due diligence.
Don’t stop looking until you’re happy with their credentials, such as their experience, education, reviews, and location.