How Do You Find a Desirable Orthodontist?

There are 4 popular ways to find an orthodontist.  The most popular is still to ask your general dentist for a recommendation.  The general dentist gets feedback from earlier referrals and has an idea of how happy patients have been with an orthodontist, and sees the quality of treatment when the patients return for dental checkups, and is in a position to judge that quality. 

 

The second most popular way to find an orthodontist is to do an Internet search for “orthodontist” in your town or zipcode, and to look on Page One for directory listings that have lots of favorable reviews of  an orthodontist.

 

The third most frequently used method for finding an orthodontist is to ask your nearby personal contacts (friends, neighbors, workmates, relatives) who they have used and how happy are they with that choice.

 

A fourth way to find an orthodontist is to ask you dental PPO insurance company for a list of providers in your area, and then to compare that list to the reviews findable on the Internet in option 2.

 

©2011  James E. Eckhart, D.D.S.,  Inc.

www.eckhartorthodontics.com

1101 N. Sepulveda Blvd,  Suite 202, 

Manhattan Beach,  Ca.  90266  (310) 546-4724

21210 Anza Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 540-5911  

 

 

Selecting an Orthodontist Part 3- How Many Opinions Should You Get?

One school of thought says that you should get at least two opinions.   The theory is that you choose after considering different points of view, and you are better off because of being allowed to weigh options.  The weak part of this approach is that many times a person who is confronted with choices will not choose anything because they are confused.  Lacking in-depth knowledge of dentistry can make a person uncertain of their ability to choose wisely.  They do not have enough education or experience to know what to believe or how to choose, so they do nothing and they might as well not have gotten any opinions.

 

During consultations with patients who have had prior opinions, when the patients are invited to disclose what the differing opinions were, the immediate orthodontist can explain the thinking behind each point of view, and should state that each opinion has merit, and that the orthodontist responsible for each opinion could in all likelihood succeed with their approach, so that the patient is justified in selecting whichever plan appeals the most, and the important point is to start with some treatment.

 

©2011  James E. Eckhart, D.D.S.,  Inc.

www.eckhartorthodontics.com

1101 N. Sepulveda Blvd,  Suite 202, 

Manhattan Beach,  Ca.  90266  (310) 546-4724

21210 Anza Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 540-5911  

 

 

Selecting an Orthodontist Part 2: When Should An Adolescent Be Taken to an Orthodontist?

The last thing a teenager wants is to find out at age 16 that they need braces. Their self image is often shaky during this transition from child to adult, and the thought of Senior pictures with braces on has prompted many moans and questions regarding why they were not started earlier. Your general dentist  may overlook impacted upper cuspids which are frequent causes of these delayed referrals and the dentist should be suspicious whenever the upper cuspids are not present or palpable in the mouth by age 10-13.

 

In general, bring your child for orthodontic screening any time after age 7.  The orthodontist will not mind even if nothing is necessary to do now.  A typical age for beginning orthodontic treatment is 11 or 12. ©2011  James E. Eckhart, D.D.S.,  Inc. 1101 N. Sepulveda Blvd,  Suite 202,  Manhattan Beach,  Ca.  90266  (310) 546-4724 21210 Anza Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 540-5911   www.eckhartorthodontics.com