When you’re growing up, getting braces seems like a rite of passage. As it turns out, those years of braces created a straight smile that says a lot about your status in life. It makes sense that you’d want to do the same for your children.
The only complication with that plan is finding an orthodontic office that is a good fit for your child’s needs. Read on for some helpful tips to help you find the best orthodontic treatment in your area.
1. Are They Certified to Provide Orthodontic Treatment?
Not all offices that provide dental care are certified to provide orthodontic treatment. In order for someone to call themselves an orthodontist, they need to go through an additional two or three years of training after they complete dental school. This means that all orthodontists are dentists, but few dentists are orthodontists.
Ideally, you want orthodontic work performed by someone who is affiliated with the American Board of Orthodontics or the American Association of Orthodontists. Most orthodontists who have those affiliations list them on their websites. If they don’t, call the office to verify before booking your appointment.
2. Experience and Personality Matter
If you have a few candidates in mind, book some consultations to narrow down your candidates. One of the biggest things you’ll want to ask about is how much experience they have in orthodontics.
For example, if your child has a particularly complicated situation, ask them if they have experience dealing with that issue. Can they help you learn more about it?
Consultations like this will also give you a good idea about their bedside manner. Are they a comforting presence, especially around your children? What steps do they take to make sure their patients feel safe and supported while they have braces?
3. What Kind of Technology Do They Use?
Technology is constantly evolving. We can’t go a single year without a brand new edition of a smartphone, so it should come as no surprise that dental care technology is evolving, too.
Keep an eye out during your consultation to see if the office utilizes modern technology. Not only is modern technology a sign of an orthodontist who stays up to date on their training, but it also shows that they care about their patients. New technology helps make orthodontic treatment more accessible to people of different income levels.
On top of that, newer technologies accomplish the same task in shorter amounts of time with less discomfort. You can’t argue with progress like that.
Are You Looking for an Orthodontic Office?
Whether you’re looking for an orthodontic office for your children or for yourself, it’s important that you take the time to find the best one in your area. After all, braces are an expensive investment, and you don’t want any surprises along the way. You’ll be so happy you did your research when you get the results you wanted!
Taking care of your family’s health is a difficult task. You’re bound to have tons of questions as your family grows. Look through the rest of our blog for all of the information you need to make informed health decisions and much more!