3 Things to Consider When Choosing an Orthodontist

Are you looking for an orthodontist in your town to help you get that straight teeth and health smile you've been dreaming of? Here are a few important things to consider when choosing a new orthodontist to work with:

Availability

It's not enough to know that a prospective orthodontist has available patient slots on their roster. Just because an orthodontist is comfortable taking you on as a patient doesn't mean that they aren't already busy with a lot of other patients. And if they are already working with a lot of patients, you may find that it takes weeks to get an appointment after requesting one.

So make sure that the orthodontist you choose to work with can see you within just a couple of days of requesting and appointment. And make sure that they don't have any long-term vacations or work responsibilities at other facilities that would impact your ability to get the orthodontic care you'll need during the coming year. Just ask for a copy of their schedule and get an estimate of how long appointment scheduling takes in their office at any given time.

Location

It's also important to really consider where any prospective orthodontists you consider working with are located. While it might seem like anywhere in town will do, when it comes time to scheduling and making appointments, you'll likely find the process a lot more convenient if your orthodontist is located near the stores and businesses you frequent so you can easily run errands and shop before and after appointments.

Otherwise, you may end up having to go out of your way to make your orthodontist appointments and then head across town to take care of any other business you might have that day. Mark the locations you tend to frequent on a local map and then use the map as a guide when choosing an orthodontist to work with so you can make sure they'll be located conveniently near the locations you've marked on your map.

Referrals

You may end up dealing with various dental issues as you age, some of which your chosen orthodontist may not be able to help you with. So you should consider your access to referrals when deciding which orthodontist you want to start seeing. If you end up in need of specialty services or you find yourself fighting serious gum disease at some point in the future, will your orthodontist have a vast network they can use to find a suitable service provider for you or will you have to find a new service provider yourself?

Your orthodontist should have a working relationship with other professionals in the dental industry so that if you do have a need for specialty care, they can help refer you to the providers who could best meet your needs and expectations based on your dental history and your preferred care techniques and practices.