In many cases, choosing an orthodontist is not a clear-cut task. Often there are a number of doctors to choose from in your area, and there are various skill levels, office attributes, and cost variations that may impact your decision. There are also different considerations based on whether the treatment is for yourself as an adult, or for your child. Either way, you should go prepared to your first office visit with a list of questions to ask. Each situation calls for its own specific questions, but here is a list of typical ones to get the ball rolling:
• What is your orthodontic experience?
• What types of braces are available for adults? For kids?
• Do you recommend braces or a different treatment in my case?
• What kind of braces will work best for my situation? Why?
• Is my child at the ideal age for treatment? What if we wait to pursue treatment?
• Is your treatment approach in one or two phases? What are the advantages of early treatment?
• How much discomfort should be expected? How do we treat it?
• How long will treatment last?
• What are the care requirements while wearing braces? Are there restrictions?
• Is sports participation impacted by wearing braces?
• How often are office visits necessary during treatment?
• Is follow-up care needed? What about retainers, and for how long?
• What are your fees? Are they fixed? What is covered? Are there any extra costs that might arise during treatment?
• Do you accept insurance?
Once you have gotten answers to these types of questions, you can decide whether or not that orthodontist and the suggested treatment plan is right for you. It’s important to be confident and comfortable about all aspects of orthodontic treatment, so interview multiple orthodontists in your search for the one who best fits your needs.
