TLDR | Three steps to find the nearest orthodontist to me
Table of contents
- TLDR | Three steps to find the nearest orthodontist to me
- Three most importnat factors to know before orthodontic treatment
- (1) Expert orthodontist
- (2) Cost of orthodontic care
- (3) Orthodontic Treatment options
- How can I find a top orthodontist near me on Google?
- Here is a step-by-step process to identify the best orthodontists near me:
- (1) Compile a list of the orthodontists near your area.
- (2) Learn more each practice and add to your list.
- (3) Narrow your list and schedule an exam and consultation with your final choices.
- (4) Ask before you choose.
- What are the other factors that I should look at when searching for a top local orthodontist?
- What do we offer at Personalized Orthodontics in Sammamish and Bellevue
- Do I need a referral letter from my kids’ or my dentist in order to schedule an appointment with a local orthodontist?
- Do I need a referral from my dental office to schedule an appointment with a local orthodontist?
- 10 essential questions to ask at or after your orthodontic exam to identify the best orthodontist near me:
One of the common question that families ask Google is “who is the best orthodontist near me?”
Finding the right orthodontist to trust, for you or your child’s orthodontic treatment can be overwhelming.
Simply put, several factors go into receiving orthodontia with braces, aligners or Invisalign. This page aims to offer a comprehensive manual for exploring your choices for orthodontics and dental treatment.
Three most importnat factors to know before orthodontic treatment
All questions patients and parents asking google can be narrowed down into four categories:
1. Expertise of the orthodontist
2. Cost of the orthodontic care
3. Treatment options aka braces, Invisalign, lingual braces, clear aligners, and retainers
4. Orthodontic experience during the treatment
Let’s go over these three main factors to help you find the best orthodontist for you. The experience of going through orthodontic care has several aspects, and straightening the teeth is part of the process to get your most beautiful smile.
(1) Expert orthodontist
Orthodontists are dentists who have extra training in moving teeth and fixing jaw problems. They spend 3 years specializing in this.
Conversely, general dentists (DDS or DMD) receive a small amount of orthodontics training during dental program training. Orthodontics is a highly specialized and complex sub-domain of dentistry.
Various factors determine an orthodontist’s expertise. Check the online reviews, results and testimonials. Factors that affect care quality are American board certification, training, experience, and dedication to learning. The American board of orthodontics’ mission is to improve quality of orthodontic treatment.
(2) Cost of orthodontic care
The cost of orthodontic treatment varies significantly based on the complexity of treatment. Traditional braces, Invisalign, clear braces, ceramic braces, or lingual braces can cost between $2000 and $12000.
Jaw problems, such as a large gap between the top and bottom teeth while biting (also referred as an overbite) may require jaw surgery. This is an additional procedure which comes at a separate cost.
New patients often seek two to three orthodontic (often free consultations) to get a better sense of the cost range. Most dental insurance policies cover part of orthodontic care. Call your insurance company for more info on your insurance plans when looking into getting orthodontic treatment. Most orthodontic offices offer payment options to finance your care.
If you are looking for more detailed information, click here to read more on the cost of braces and aligners. Orthodontic services are different from general dental health services. Here is a guide on cost of dental services. In contrast with dental services most dental insurance benefit plans cover orthodontic cost alike.
The treatment costs for dental PPO plans (like delta dental) and in network dentists or oral surgeons are different than orthodontics. Your orthodontist doesn’t have to be in your insurance network for you to use all your dental benefits.
(3) Orthodontic Treatment options
Most orthodontic specialists offer you two appliances to choose. The best treatment plan should match your life style either with aligners or braces.
Check if they are using the state-of-the-art advance technology for modern orthodontic treatment. Whether you have a deep overbite or small underbite, fixed braces or aligners are a great option to correct parts of the problems.
See if you can get both extraction and non-extraction orthodontic treatment plans. Getting straight teeth and a nice smile may be uncomfortable during treatment. Patients should pick the appliance that feels most comfortable for them.
All appliances have pros and cons. The best appliance is the one that patient is comfortable with and matches her life style.
(4) Orthodontic experience
Two main factors that are important in orthodontic treatment are quality of orthodontic treatment and your orthodontic journey. Finding a high quality care is extremely hard since orthodontic treatment is a technical service.
You or your family overall experience through orthodontic treatment is very important. What are the office hours of a clinic? Are they using cutting-edge technology of modern orthodontics? Does the orthodontist offer excessive early treatment to kids (a great example is suggesting excessive use of expanders for kids)? How can the office help you with your busy schedule? Do they offer virtual consultations and check ups during your treatment?
Quality orthodontic care sums up in many factors.
How can I find a top orthodontist near me on Google?
It is easier to narrow down your choices if you specify your needs. Here are examples of questions most people want to know:
- orthodontist near me with free consultation
- orthodontist near me with payment plans
- orthodontist near me for metal braces
- orthodontist that do invisalign near me
- orthodontist near me that do lingual braces
- orthodontist near me for clear braces
- orthodontist near me open Saturday
- orthodontist near me that accepts blue cross blue shield
- orthodontist near me who accept medicaid
- board certified orthodontist near me
- top orthodontist near me
- Orthodontist around me that offer services around sleep breathing disorders
Here is a step-by-step process to identify the best orthodontists near me:
(1) Compile a list of the orthodontists near your area.
- Seek recommendations from your dentist, who will suggest individuals they frequently collaborate with.
- Ask for recommendations from your family and friends.
- Search for local board-certified orthodontists online. Find a qualified orthodontist near you by using the Board Certified Orthodontist Locator. Enter your town, state, or ZIP code to locate professionals in your area map.
(2) Learn more each practice and add to your list.
- Both orthodontists and general dentists can offer orthodontic treatment (braces or aligners).
- Review each orthodontist’s website near you and social media. You should be review at least three orthodontics offices. Do they provide what you’re searching for?
- Are they easy to reach? Do they seem to use the most updated technology? Do they offer braces to children? What kind of appointment will be available to you?
- There may be more pandemics in the future. It is important to evaluate how hospitals are currently managing patients. Hospitals need to prepare for unexpected situations.
- Read their reviews on social media. This step might be the most important, as it shows you other people’s real life experiences with each provider.
- Collect more information about the payment methods each orthodontic clinic offers. Are treatments at fair price and affordable?
- Check if the orthodontist near you is board certified by searching their name on the Board Certified Orthodontist Locator. It’s important for quality care.
(3) Narrow your list and schedule an exam and consultation with your final choices.
- Limiting your list to two choices is a good start. Any more providers on your list makes it harder to select one. Consider levels of experience.
- Based on what you learned going through previous steps, schedule a consultation with the three top choices.
- Many orthodontists provide free or low cost initial consultations, so schedule yours. Slight shoping around is not bad!
(4) Ask before you choose.
- After your first appointment, see if the orthodontist listens to you and if you feel comfortable with them and their team.
- The family orthodontist should be able to explain your treatment issue to you in great detail. You must have a good understanding of it after your consultation.
- Don’t hesitate to ask other questions, whether it’s about treatment (type or length) or costs. You deserve to learn about your treatment and get the best service possible.
- Make sure you are well informed and completely comfortable before you sign a treatment contract.
What are the other factors that I should look at when searching for a top local orthodontist?
You can go about this through various methods. We recommend that you start big and narrow down your needs. Look at the AAO orthodontist locator. The first question should be “am I looking for a pediatric orthodontic specialist?” or “I need a clinic that provides adult treatment with multiple appliance choices” – perhaps only aesthetic options like lingual braces.
Orthodontists are dental specialists who focus on diagnosing, preventing, and treating misaligned teeth and jaws. They can help with a variety of concerns, including:
- Crooked teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Gaps between teeth
- Assisting in sleep apnea and airway management
Both the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and the American Dental Association recommend orthodontic treatment to improve oral health. The Accessibility to fix or removable ortho appliances has been increased.
What do we offer at Personalized Orthodontics in Sammamish and Bellevue
Are you looking for an orthodontist in the eastside of Seattle, Washington? Dr. Rooz is an associate professor of orthodontics at the University of Washington.
He also serves the Bellevue, Sammamish, and Issaquah areas. He provides conventional and interdisciplinary orthodontic care mostly collaborating with Sammamish & Bellevue dentists. He sees new patients of all ages for a free checkup of a healthy smile. Our Sammamish and Bellevue office are designed to offer modern orthodontic care.
At PORTH, we provide personalized orthodontic care using advanced technology like 3D dental scans and x-rays. This helps shorten treatment time and enhance the patient’s experience.
Our orthodontic practice are located in Bellevue and Sammamish. Braces are fun theses days for all ages! Our patients are mostly from Sammamish, Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland and Redmond.
Additionally, PORTH team works with top dentists focusing on cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry and pediatric dentistry. Family dental clinics enjoy working with us because we can assist with a range of procedures.
These include root canals, dental implants, veneers, fillings, and teeth whitening. We can provide these services even while the patient is receiving orthodontic treatment. We partner with top healthcare providers to address all dental needs and provide thorough treatment to enhance oral health.
Do I need a referral letter from my kids’ or my dentist in order to schedule an appointment with a local orthodontist?
The short answer is no. Patients find their orthodontists through recommendations of friends, neighbors, local guides as well as their dentists or hygienist recommendation. Some patients prefer to wait for their dentists to send the referral some don’t. It is important to know that dentists have limited training on orthodontics.
They could miss chances to find and treat a problem early with gentler methods, especially in young children. The American Association of Orthodontists suggests that kids upto the age of 7 should visit an orthodontist. Parents or the pediatric dentist should go earlier if they notice any issues, such as missing teeth. The American Dental Association has similar recommendations for ortho treatment in kids.
Do I need a referral from my dental office to schedule an appointment with a local orthodontist?
You do not need a referral for consultation with an orthodontist. Most orthodontist will communicate with your dental office after your consultation to inform your dentist about the orthodontic treatment recommendations.
Orthodontists work with dentists to provide comprehensive dental care. Building new smile could need other dental care like a dental implant, a crown, or esthetic veneers. A healthy and perfect smile is a function of a team collaboration.
Similarly to kids and teens, for adult orthodontics, complex or hidden problems might seem trivial to a general dental practitioner, yet are a huge component of an orthodontic treatment plan.
What about dental emergencies during my orthodontic treatment? Does my insurance dental plan covers these visits?
Emergency dentist office visits are separate from your orthodontic visits. Emergency visits are often covered in your orthodontic treatment cost. You should discuss this with your dentist.
10 essential questions to ask at or after your orthodontic exam to identify the best orthodontist near me:
- How do you develop treatment plans and options?
- What do my treatment plan options entail?
- What are the pros and cons of each treatment option?
- What are the consequences if I choose to not move forward with the treatment?
- How is the treatment cost determined? What’s the breakdown of mine?
- What payment options are available to me?
- Do you accept my insurance plan especially if you have medicare plan?
- Would your clinic hours work with my schedule?
- Do you personally perform all the orthodontic work on your patients, or will some of your staff do some of the work? If so, what is their level of expertise?
- What follow-up appointments should I anticipate with my treatment?
Orthodontists can fix crooked teeth and jaw alignment, boosting confidence and making you smile more. Healthy teeth can change your outlook on life for the better.
Most orthodontists provide braces and aligner to child, teens and adults. The technology has improved and it is easier than ever to seek orthodontic care.
Get the smile of your dreams by visiting an orthodontist for a consultation!
FAQs
Here are some of common questions that we get everyday from our patients at Personalized Orthodontics.
What is a good price for braces?
Braces come with various types. The cost of orthodontic treatment also depends on the complexity of the care. We go through the cost of braces here.
What is the best orthodontic treatment for my teeth?
An orthodontist needs clinical data to give you a good idea of the best orthodontic care. We collect this information at a consultation either in-person or virtual.
How long does orthodontic treatment last?
The treatment time varies for each patient. The treatment time on average is 6 months to 2 years.
Can I get braces and Invisalign at the same time?
The short answer is yes. In some cases we use clear aligners aka Invisalign in combination with braces mostly inside braces to offer the best of both worlds.
Do I need to remove my wisdom teeth before orthodontic treatment?
No. Your dentist, orthodontist, or hygienist would monitor for this and refer you to an oral surgeon for evaluation.
What are the Bellevue orthodontics services at PORTH Bellevue clinic?
We offer various types of orthodontic services to patients of all ages in both of our clinics.