Further Considerations on Your Orthodontist Selection

This is the third installment in my series on critical questions to consider when choosing an Orthodontist.

Does the doctor keep up with the latest advances in technology, to provide the best possible treatment and patient comfort?

Be sure to ask if the doctor takes regular continuing education courses and inquire if the latest in orthodontic technology is incorporated into the doctor’s office. For example, there are braces that are easy to clean and uses less force than others, making them significantly more comfortable over the treatment time. Find out if the doctor use 3-D X-rays that provide information that regular 2-D X-rays do not? You should know if the doctor use 3-D intra-oral scanning instead of messy impressions that cause some patients with a strong gag reflex to vomit? A Orthodontist on the cutting edge should also be able to do 3-D simulations where necessary (for complex cases).

Having orthodontic treatment can be a life changing experience. Many of our patient’s lives have been transformed completely, as a result of the increased confidence they have to either participate more at work or in school. That confidence comes from not being afraid to open their mouths because their teeth are aligned and they now have a great smile. They also have healthier bites and proper jaw joint function to keep their chewing and speech in great shape for the rest of their lives.

But selecting the right practitioner was their critical first step. Remember to choose only a trained and qualified professional. Ask for and insist to see credentials and ensure that you will be comfortable with the doctor and his/her team. Your questions should be welcomed and responded to in a timely manner, and your comfort should be of paramount importance. Technology is also changing rapidly, so make sure your doctor is keeping up with the latest standards.

Note: The author, Dr Anna Law, is in private practice of orthodontics in Kingston, Jamaica. She was trained at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Ma (Graduated #1 in class, Summa Cum Laude -First Class Honors and Class Valedictorian). She specialized in Orthodontics and Dento-facial Orthopedics at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, where she also completed her MSD focusing on bone density research. Her research was published in Journal of the American Dental Association. Dr Law has been in practice for over 20 years and has thousands of finished cases which qualify her as an expert in comprehensive treatment, one and two phase treatment, extraction and non-extraction treatment, cases requiring orthognathic surgery, functional orthodontics, AO (Accelerated Orthodontics), Clear Aligners including Invisalign, lingual braces, and multiple bracket systems including, Roncone, Damon and other self ligating systems. Dr Law also treats patients with TMD (Temporo Mandibular Joint Dysfunction) and provides Sleep Apnea appliances for those diagnosed by their treating physician. She also provides weight loss services (jaw wiring) for the severely obese patients under guidance of their physician and nutritionist. Dr Law is also a stickler for proper diagnosis and uses 3-D imaging and scanning for all patients.

This blog is for information purposes only and designed for patients in Jamaica to understand treatment modality and treatments available to them. This is not a venue for debate of different types of treatment. Dr Law cannot diagnose cases from comments to this blog nor can she select treatment plans for readers. The opinions expressed here are protected by copyright laws and can only be used with written permission from the author.