Month: October 2018
What Is Your Oral Health Worth to You
Have you ever asked yourself what your oral health is worth to you? Even if you can’t put a dollar amount on it, I bet you’d say it’s worth a lot. Like other aspects of health, oral health is one you want to invest in, because the results you end up with do matter.
That’s why I urge people considering orthodontic treatment for themselves or their child not to choose an orthodontist’s office on price alone. When you realize how much oral health is worth to you and your family members, you begin to understand how value and quality come into the picture when it comes to orthodontic care.
Paying for Quality
Yes, it’s sometimes possible to get what seems like a great bargain, but more often than not, you get what you pay for. This is true when it comes to orthodontic care.
The difference in treatment between orthodontists can be substantial, and that difference is usually reflected in the cost of treatment. After all, all orthodontists know the value of their treatment. Orthodontists’ office can vary in many significant ways, including:
- Which treatments are provided
- The quality of the materials used
- How new (or old) the technology and equipment is
- The training and certification of assistants
- The friendliness and competence of front desk staff
- The techniques the orthodontist has trained in
- How experienced the orthodontist is
…And I could go on. Orthodontists may all have the same initials after our names and the same professional degree under our belts, but as in every profession you’ll find a wide variety of experience and skill between providers. If you want more personalized care, higher skill, and better outcomes, you should expect to pay a bit more.
Or Paying for Mistakes
I don’t want to scaremonger and I don’t want to talk negatively about any of my fellow orthodontists, but I do want to be honest. Unfortunately, sometimes by choosing the cheapest option in orthodontic care, you get what you pay for – and in this case, that can be a very bad thing.
For starters, a lower cost orthodontist may not offer you the latest treatment plans because they don’t have the latest techniques or the know-how to do so. They may use cheaper materials to save money that can end up breaking or malfunctioning, extending treatment time and requiring more office visits from you. Worst case scenario, you could complete treatment only to find years later that the treatment wasn’t done correctly, or was the wrong treatment plan to begin with, and have to go through (and pay for) orthodontic treatment all over again. These are just a few examples of what can happen when you choose an orthodontist primarily on price. In many cases these corner cutting methods are dictated by the orthodontist’s corporate employer…the doctor has little control.
Again, my purpose here is not to warn you away from orthodontists, just to encourage you to think about the quality of the care you’re getting, and understand it’s an investment. The cheapest option seem be nice in the short-term, but it may be detrimental to the experience and the outcome you receive in the long run.
Can You Put a Price on a Beautiful Smile?
Having seen the results of orthodontics first-hand in thousands of patients, I know that having a great smile is priceless. Great orthodontic treatment does more than change your teeth, it changes your life.
Numerous studies have shown that a smile is very important when it comes to other people’s perceptions of us. They may believe we are more confident, more successful, more attractive, more likely to date, more likely to get the job we’re after, and have better hygiene, than someone with an unhealthy or unattractive smile.
That doesn’t even compare to the perception we have of ourselves when we look in the mirror with a brand-new smile. Seeing a beautiful smile beaming back for the first time is an incredible moment. It’s the start of new-found self-esteem and self-confidence that changes how we interact with the world. It can change lives professionally and personally. And it’s a lifelong change.
It’s Not About Cost, It’s About Value
As Oscar Wilde said, one can know “the cost of everything and the value of nothing.” Cost is how much you pay for something. Value is what you get for what you pay. Fewer, shorter, and more pleasant visits along with shorter overall treatment time, and a better result are all things that add to the value of your treatment. If your oral health and your smile are worth something to you (and I’m guessing they are) then you owe it to yourself and to your family to work with a professional who can give you the best treatment and outcomes possible. When you start your search for an orthodontist, look beyond the fees to outcomes and experience. Remember, it’s an investment in your life and your future.
Life After Braces
The day everyone with braces awaits – the day the braces come off!
Life after braces is a great thing. You can enjoy things that were difficult during treatment (like corn on the cob and chewing gum), you don’t have to fuss with rubber bands and cleaning in between the wires and brackets, and, best of all, you can show off your new smile.
Just because the braces come off, however, that doesn’t mean treatment is over. Teeth have a good memory and if left alone, they can drift back to their original spots, undoing the progress you’ve made over treatment. This is called post-treatment relapse. It needs to be addressed in life after braces. We do that with retainers.
Retainers
Your orthodontist will most likely want you to wear a retainer after the braces come off. It is crucial, when living life after braces, to follow their instructions on how long and how often to wear your retainer, because being lax with retainers can allow the teeth to move. The longer you wear your retainer, the higher the chance that your teeth will stay in place. It’s that simple.
There are two types of retainers, removable and fixed, each with their pros and cons. Your orthodontist will make a recommendation on which is best for you based on your circumstances and their experience. You may have one or the other, or you may use both.
Removable retainers
These retainers can be taken out by the patient. They are typically made of acrylic and wire (the “classic” retainer) or clear plastic.
With today’s technology, we don’t have to take a plaster cast of the patient’s teeth and then wait a week or two for an outside lab to create it. Instead, we can use 3D scanners and printers to design and create plastic retainers in-house. This is not only very cool, but it allows us to give the patient their retainer in the same appointment as braces removal. This saves an extra appointment and lets the patient start wearing the retainer sooner.
PROS: Removable retainers can be taken out by the patient for eating, brushing, flossing, and cleaning.
CONS: Removable retainers can easily be lost, discarded accidentally, or eaten by the family dog (this happens more often than you’d think). They can be destroyed if not handled properly and may degrade with rigorous cleaning. Clear retainers are not ideal for people who grind their teeth, as the grinding causes damage.
The biggest con of all: It only works when it’s in your mouth. If you don’t adhere to the orthodontist’s treatment plan and wear it for the number of hours in the day recommended, it won’t be completely effective.
Fixed retainers
These retainers cannot be taken out by the patient. They are wires bonded to the back of two, four, or six teeth to keep them in place. They usually last a very long time but they can break (that is, the bond between the wire and the tooth can fail), in which case a trip to the orthodontist or dentist is required ASAP to prevent teeth from moving.
PROS: Fixed retainers work 24/7/365; since there’s no option of removing them, they are very effective at keeping the teeth in place. Also, because they are bonded to the back of the teeth, they are completely hidden.
CONS: It can be time-consuming to floss with fixed retainers, as the wire is typically bonded to the back of each tooth, requiring the use of a floss threader to properly floss all the teeth. Also, it’s smart to be careful about foods you eat; crunch and sticky foods can lead to the fixed retainer breaking off.
Cause for Celebration
At my practice, we have a big celebration for patients when the braces come off. The staff and patient’s family members gather around and sing a celebration song, we present some candy or other food that was off-limits during treatment plus a certificate marking the occasion, and we finish it off with cheers as the patient leaves the office. It’s a fun way to celebrate with the patient as they start a new chapter in their lives.
Though it’s a big day, it’s not the end of treatment. Remember that braces got you that beautiful smile, but it’s up to you (and your retainers) to make sure it stays that way!
Shopping For A Smile: Finding The Best Provider
What’s the best way to choose an orthodontist for treatment?
I think the best way is to get a referral from a dentist you like and trust. A referral from a friend is also a reliable source. Barring that, you can find one on your own by doing research online.
The worst way to choose a provider is to base your decision on price alone. I’ve seen many people shop around for the cheapest orthodontist, ignoring other important factors. This is not the way to do it! Remember that old saying, you get what you pay for.
When choosing an orthodontist for you or your child, here are some things to look for:
Look For: Orthodontic Care From An Orthodontist (Not A Dentist)
An orthodontist is a dentist but a dentist is not an orthodontist. This is an important distinction between the two.
While both have attended dental school, the orthodontist has gone on to complete an additional two or three years of study in the field of orthodontics. More and more dentists are offering braces and other orthodontic services to their patients, but they simply don’t have the academic training or the real-life experience that orthodontists have. With something as important as your smile, you should work with an expert.
Look For: A Practice Owned By The Provider (Not A Corporation)
When a doctor, dentist, or orthodontist owns their own practice, they have a personal interest in making sure their patients are satisfied with the treatment and care they’ve received. In my experience, I’ve noticed that they are in it for the long haul and they care greatly about their reputation and the reputation of their practice.
Alternatively, when a practice is owned by a corporation or investors, the providers within that practice don’t have the same sort of skin in the game. They may be fresh out of dental school or be primarily motivated by paying off student loan debt, rather than providing the best patient care possible. It’s also been my experience that these types of practices are more likely to have over-worked (and possibly under-trained) employees, provide treatment of lower quality, and have long wait times.
Though the fees may be lower at a practice that’s not provider-owned, you can see why that is. Bottom line, make sure to ask whether the practice you’re considering is owned by the orthodontist.
Look For: Competitive Fees (Not The Lowest)
Competitive pricing means that the fees one provider charges are within the range of what his or her competitors are charging. Fees far below those of other providers should make you stop and think. As another old saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There’s a reason the price is so low.
Unfortunately, sometimes paying less for treatment ends up costing more in the long run, especially if the patient needs treatment again in the future to correct mistakes made the first time. Yes, this happens.
I know that paying for orthodontic treatment can be a burden to many families and I don’t make this recommendation lightly. The bottom line is, it’s not possible to get the same high level of care at the lowest price. Many orthodontic practices, including mine, make it easier for families to pay by offering options like payment plans and financing so that every individual can get the high-quality care they need. If paying for treatment is a big consideration, look for a practice that has these kinds of options.
Look For: Great Experience and Reviews (Not Just Fee Schedules)
You can usually find out a lot about a potential provider from their website. Try to see how long they’ve been practicing and the range of services provided. Look for evidence that the practice cares about the training standards of their assistants and staff. See if they offer extras, like Brace Bus, care calls, and patient compliance rewards.
For the things you can’t find out from the practice’s website, read over online reviews. Here you’ll discover whether the wait times were too long, if the front desk staff was friendly or not, and whether the reviewers were happy with the treatment they received.
In short, do your homework. Even if you get a strong referral from a friend or a dentist – which I believe is the best way to find an orthodontist – it’s still smart to find out what you can online.
Finding the Right Provider for Your Family
Remember that undergoing orthodontic treatment is not just a matter of money, but of time, comfort, and convenience, too. You will likely be going to the orthodontist’s office regularly, so it’s important that you like the people and the atmosphere. Think about what’s important to your family and do your research. When your treatment is over, you’ll be glad you spent so much time choosing the right provider for your family.
First Impressions Count
Ask any orthodontist, and I bet they’ll tell you that one of the most gratifying experiences in their practice is seeing a patient smile for the first time after treatment. There’s nothing like the confidence that comes from having a great smile. For many patients, this is the first time they’ve ever been able to smile confidently and like what they see looking back at them in the mirror.
Why is a smile so important? The teeth make up such a small part of the body, but can be a big source of confidence or insecurity. This is because first impressions matter, and a person’s smile is a big part of making a first impression.
What Orthodontists Do – and What They Really Do
Yes, orthodontists “move teeth” using braces, headgear, oral appliances, and the like. We straighten teeth out and fix underbites and overbites and crossbites. Treatment may affect the facial profile, the shape of the face, and the fullness of the lips. It can also restore healthy function, for example helping people speak, chew, swallow, and even breathe correctly, when they couldn’t before.
While orthodontists make smiles pretty and restore function, I believe that what we really do is not only change people’s smiles, but also change their lives. This claim may sound a little overblown but I can explain why I believe it.
Science Shows That First Impressions Matter
We all know intuitively that first impressions matter. We may remember times we’ve been judged by someone else based on their first impressions of us, and we may even remember times we’ve done the same to someone else. Whether we mean to or not, it’s natural for people to make assumptions about other people based on their appearance, and part of a person’s appearance is their smile.
A 2012 digital study found that 29% of people who saw images of strangers reported noticing a person’s teeth first, and a little less, 24%, said that teeth was the one facial feature they remembered most after meeting someone for the first time.
These judgments go beyond first impressions and have an impact on how people judge our ability, trustworthiness, and likelihood for success. In the same study, nearly half of respondents – 45% – believed that a person with straight teeth would be more likely to get hired when competing with someone who had crooked teeth. Even more, 58%, associated straight teeth with wealth and success. And nearly three quarters, 73%, judged people with nice smiles as more trustworthy.
Similarly, whether our teeth are straight or not is a factor for many people when it comes to dating and romance. More than a third of people in the study said they wouldn’t go on a second date with someone who had crooked teeth. More than half thought that people with straight teeth would be able to get a date on appearance alone.
There are even more statistics and studies I could share that say the same thing, but I think you get the point: People judge other people based on the appearance of their teeth. That’s why an orthodontist is not “just” straightening crooked teeth or fixing bites but is really managing first impressions, too.
Smile Specialists
Now that you’ve seen how important the smile is when it comes to making a good first impression, you understand why I say that orthodontists don’t just change smiles, they change lives. Orthodontists are smile specialists who can help improve our patients’ appearance and function – not to mention make other people see them as more trustworthy, more dateable, more hireable, and more successful. Even more importantly, we can help them change how they see themselves. And that’s where change matters most.
