You’ve been dealing with crooked teeth for years and, at last, you’re finally going to do something about it. In particular, you’re going to find yourself a reputable orthodontist. The question is: how do you find local orthodontists that know what they’re doing?
It’s as simple as following the steps below.
Ask Your Acquaintances
You can start your search by asking your acquaintances. Odds are, there’s someone in your life who has either utilized the services of an orthodontist or who knows someone who has utilized the services of an orthodontist. If this person had a good experience, he or she could give you a referral to a reputable orthodontist in the area.
Ask your sister, your brother, your cousins, your friends, and anyone else that’s in your life. Someone has to have a recommendation for you.
Search on Google
If you want to find all of the orthodontists in your area, you should search on Google. This is as simple as typing “orthodontists near me” into the search box. This keyword should deliver a long list of orthodontists in your general proximity.
Once you have this list, you should go through it, reading reviews from past patients and taking note of star ratings. You should then use these reviews and ratings to find orthodontists who meet your standards.
We recommend focusing on orthodontists with a minimum of 4 out of 5 stars. Write a few candidates down on a piece of paper and follow the steps below.
Assess Locations
Next, you’re going to want to assess the locations of the orthodontists you’ve written down. This way, you can determine whether the drive is worthwhile.
You’re going to be visiting your orthodontist every few months. As such, you don’t want him or her to be too far away from you. Generally speaking, it’s wise to keep it within a 30-minute drive.
Click on the Maps link on Google to see how long the drive will be. This will not only provide you with an estimated time but will also give you the most viable routes to the orthodontist’s office.
Determine Experience
Though it isn’t always the case, generally speaking, a more experienced orthodontist is going to provide a better service overall. Not only will he or she have a greater grasp on applying orthodontic techniques but on catering to the patient’s emotional and psychological needs as well.
For this reason, before choosing an orthodontist, you need to determine how experienced he or she is. At a minimum, your chosen orthodontist should have 2 years of real-world experience. This is generally adequate time to hone necessary skills and fine-tune operational processes.
Inquire About Education
As you might expect, orthodontists need to be licensed in order to perform work professionally. In particular, they need to have graduated from dental school and obtained a certificate in the field of Orthodontics.
Before choosing an orthodontist, make sure to see proof of this education. Any reputable orthodontist will be happy to show it to you. If you find that an orthodontist is hesitant to show you these materials, you need to find a different one.
Explore the Office Environment
If you’re like a lot of people, you’re intimidated by the thought of dental work. That’s understandable. After all, having someone poke through your mouth isn’t necessarily the most comfortable of experiences.
For this reason, when choosing an orthodontist, you need to get a feel for his or her office environment. Some orthodontists take patient comfort more seriously than do others. As such, they’ll go out of their way to create a safe and relaxing environment for their patients.
There are two ways to explore the environment in an orthodontist’s office. One way is to visit the office prior to scheduling an appointment. The other way is to call the office and speak with the receptionist.
You might even consider asking to speak with the orthodontist first. After all, that’s the person you’re going to be in close contact with. You want to be sure that you can remain comfortable throughout your visits.
Ask About Types of Treatment
There are several different types of orthodontic treatment available. Whereas some orthodontists will provide all of these treatments, other orthodontists will provide only a selection of them. As such, before choosing an orthodontist, you need to make sure that he or she provides the treatment you want.
For instance, one orthodontist might only work with traditional metal braces. Others might work with both metal and ceramic. Some might even offer Invisalign braces.
It’s also important to determine whether the orthodontist will serve your age group. Some orthodontists cater to patients of all ages. Others specialize, catering only to children, or only to adolescents, or only to adults.
Figure Out the Cost
Finally, you’re going to want to figure out the costs. Orthodontic costs can vary wildly based on a number of factors. Not only do different orthodontists charge different rates for different services but for different orthodontic appliances as well.
There’s also the issue of insurance. If your dental insurance covers orthodontic work, you might be better off going to one orthodontist over another. This is because some orthodontists might not belong to your dental insurance network.
Note, in any case, you’re probably going to be paying thousands of dollars for orthodontic treatment. So, compare your options and try to get the best deal possible.
If You’re Searching for Local Orthodontists in Bozeman . . .
If you’re searching for local orthodontists in Bozeman, you needn’t look any further. Dr. Fred Schwendemen has you covered.
Regardless of the nature of your teeth, our office has a treatment for you. We offer both metal and ceramic braces and serve both adults and adolescents.
Contact us now to schedule your initial appointment!