An orthodontist is a dental specialist who diagnoses and treats crooked teeth and misaligned bites. People who have crooked, overlapping, twisted, or gapped teeth may wish to visit an orthodontist for cosmetic reasons, or they may be referred to one by their regular dentist because how well your teeth fit together can have a big impact on your overall oral health.
Common orthodontic treatments include braces and retainers. Nowadays, there are less visible solutions such as clear aligners too. Treatments can take up to two years and longer, but the benefits can last a lifetime. Successful orthodontic treatment can make it easier to clean your teeth, chew, speak, and smile. It also reduces your risk of oral health conditions such as cavities and gum disease.
Now that you know the benefits you can decide whether orthodontics is for you. If you decide it is, this guide will help you find a great orthodontist near you.
Why choosing well matters
Orthodontists are specialists who would have received two or three years of additional training after they finished dental school. However, you can still benefit from looking for the best among them.
The main reason you are seeing them is obviously to use their experience and expertise to help fix your specific problem. A good orthodontist should be able to diagnose this and develop a treatment plan quickly.
However, there are other aspects to consider. Ideally, you want someone who can advise you on different options and communicate their reasons for that advice well. They should have a helpful, professional attitude, and they will make sure that everything is fit correctly so that you are still able to speak, chew, and clean properly while undergoing treatment.
How to find a good orthodontist near you
If you are in a small area, for example, if you are looking for a local dentist in Burwood, NSW, word-of-mouth recommendation is likely to be the best place to start. This is because there are probably not too many options and smaller practices may not have much online presence or many reviews.
In larger cities where things are more competitive, check the reviews online. Reviews are most trustworthy if they are on an independent third-party website. Focus on the big picture, and lend more weight to reviews where the author had a problem similar to yours.
Once you have narrowed down your search to ones with favourable reviews, try to find out what treatments and technologies they are using. Like treatments in any medical field, orthodontic treatments evolve over time and become more effective and less disruptive to the patients’ lives. You will want to find someone who keeps up to date with the latest treatments.
Then, it is consultation time. Pay attention to how well they communicate and answer your questions. Of course, you will have to consider the budget too. Orthodontic treatment is not usually offered on public health plans. Maintaining good dental health before, during, and after your orthodontic treatment will help make sure that it is successful and produces an outcome that you can smile about.
