Okay, I’m a little biased because I think we have the best orthodontist, but if I were a patient searching for “the best orthodontist near me,” this is what you should be looking for.
What is an orthodontist?
First, we need to make sure you know what an orthodontist is. An orthodontist is a dentist who undergoes further training, typically three years, to specialize in moving teeth.
An orthodontist only moves teeth. They typically do not do anything other than work on patients with braces or Invisalign (clear aligners).
An orthodontist has gone to University for a minimum of ten years.
How to find the best orthodontist?
There are a few easy tricks to ensure you find the best person to help with your orthodontic needs. Here are my top 3 ways to ensure you find the best orthodontist.
1. Make sure you find an orthodontist
This may seem like an obvious point, but most people do not realize that the doctor treating them is not an orthodontist but a dentist trying to use Invisalign to straighten teeth.
If your “orthodontist” also fills cavities, performs cleanings, and performs extractions, then there is a good chance she is a dentist and not an orthodontist.
Ask her if she only treats orthodontic patients and has undergone extra schooling to specialize in orthodontics. This question is straightforward to ensure you are dealing with a specialized orthodontist.
2. Ask the orthodontist how long they have been practicing
Like any doctor we choose, we want to make sure they have some experience. This is not to say that every experienced orthodontist is good and every inexperienced orthodontist is bad, but it’s nice to know how long they have been practicing.
It is also interesting to know how long they have been practicing at that office. In some offices, the orthodontists switch every few months.
I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories about patients who went through three, four, five, or more orthodontists during treatment. If you switch that many, it can be difficult to finish the treatment properly.
3. Check the practice reviews
This may be the best indicator of how well a practice is run. When the office is run properly, the patients tend to be happy with their results and leave good reviews.
Check for positive and negative reviews. If the reviews are poor and discuss how they did not like their experience, this is probably not an office you want to visit.
If the office has glowing reviews, you can be confident you will have a good experience there as well.
If we are near you, come see us!
When searching for an “orthodontist near me,” make sure to find an actual orthodontist with whom they have experience and whose reviews are good.
If you follow those 3 steps, you will likely have a good experience.
Good luck on your orthodontic journey! If you’d like to come in for a complimentary orthodontic consultation, come see us now at one of our locations!
