Choosing an orthodontist for your teenager, your child, yourself and your family can feel overwhelming. It’s a big investment – you want an excellent result and a great experience throughout treatment.
What should you look for in an orthodontist? What kinds of questions should you ask? How do you make your final decision?
Keep reading to discover important things to consider when choosing an orthodontic office.
Skill Level of the Orthodontist
One of the most central components of choosing the right provider is the skill level of the orthodontist. Ultimately, you want a great result to your orthodontic treatment. You want to finish on-time and keep your beautiful smile for life. It’s critical that you feel a strong sense of trust and confidence in your orthodontist to get the result you want.
Think about the orthodontist’s skill level both overall, but also specific to the treatment that you need. For example, if your child needs early intervention treatment – does your orthodontist have experience with this? If you want Invisalign instead of braces – does your orthodontist routinely treat patients with Invisalign?
Ask your orthodontist about their experience and treatment philosophies. How many years has s/he been out of school? How many cases has s/he treated? Ask to see examples of finished cases.
Alongside of the skill level, ask about whether the office is updated with the technology they use for orthodontic cases. Do they have digital scanning and x-rays in their office? Are they a technology focused practice? Do they offer accelerated orthodontics?
The “Feel” of the Office
Unlike many other medical treatments that may only take a few visits, with orthodontics you’ll be coming to the office often for a year or more. You want to make sure it’s a place you feel comfortable and enjoy going.
Does the team make you feel welcome? Do they answer all your questions? Do you feel confident in their skill level?
Think about the office itself – is it a place you find soothing and enjoyable to visit? Is it convenient for you to come to appointments? Does the office have amenities that you appreciate? Is there enough space to accommodate their patient flow?
It may not seem like something important, but feeling relaxed in the orthodontic office you choose is something you’ll welcome over the course of treatment.
Referrals and Recommendations
A personal recommendation can be a powerful motivator to choose one orthodontic office over another. If you have multiple referrals to an office from others, it can be a good sign that you’ll have a positive experience as well.
At the same time, every person and family is different – sometimes you may have a different experience than others. It’s important to follow your intuition and do your own research to make the right decision for you.
Online reviews can also be helpful to check while making your decision. However, since orthodontics is a significant investment and time commitment, don’t let that be your only deciding factor when choosing the right office. Combine that research with other information such as visiting the office personally and assessing for yourself.
Make the Best Choice for Your Family
Above all, when selecting an orthodontist, follow your gut. If something doesn’t feel right to you, keep looking until you find a place you feel confident and comfortable. Make sure you have the utmost trust in the doctor to deliver a great result. Also, choose a place you enjoy visiting with a team that makes you feel welcome and cared for.
We know picking the best orthodontic office is a big task. Because of that, all of our consultations are complimentary so you can experience our practice and meet our team.
Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation before school starts! The ADA recommends children 1st see an orthodontist at age 7. We treat patients of all ages including young children, preteens, teenagers and even lots of adults!
Boschken Orthodontics has 2 convenient locations in San Jose and Los Altos for patients in the South Bay and the Peninsula. Patients come from many nearby cities including Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Redwood City, Portola Valley, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, and all areas of San Jose.
