When it comes to orthodontic treatment, all providers are not created equal.
The fact is- just like in any field- some orthodontists are better than others. Fortunately, there are some questions you can ask a potential provider to help you make an informed decision about who is the best orthodontist to provide your treatment.
Remember when you get ready to choose a provider that experience, training, technique and creativity are factors that differentiate some orthodontists from others.
Take Dr. Yan Razdolsky, for example. He has worked for years to create innovative treatments for patients of all ages. He has given lectures to orthodontists from throughout the world since he became an orthodontist in the late 1980s. Each year, he hosts a sold out seminar for dentists and dental professionals to share information on the latest orthodontic techniques and trends. In the 1990s, he held five patents on orthodontic techniques.
Today, he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and he belongs to a variety of local and international professional dental and orthodontic organizations.
As a patient of Dr. Razdolsky, you are in good hands. But you should never feel bashful about asking him- or any orthodontist you see- about his credentials. This is part of how you make an informed decision regarding your treatment, because it helps instill confidence that you’ve selected the best provider to give you the smile you’ve always wanted.
“Our website is a good marketing tool for us, and I share information about my education and training on the site because I know it’s helpful to parents when they’re seeking an orthodontist to treat their children,” says Dr. Razdolsky, a Buffalo Grove SureSmile specialist. “We also include information about our team, because these are people with whom you’ll have a relationship over the next couple of years as your treatment plan is implemented.”
We’re often asked by people in the community how to choose an orthodontist. Following are a few suggestions:
- Ask about their credentials, training, whether they are board certified, etc. All of these factors speak to the orthodontist’s expertise.
- Ask to see before and after photos of patients with malocclusions similar to what you’ve been diagnosed with so you can see the orthodontist’s results.
- Ask yourself if you like the orthodontist and his/her staff. This might seem silly or shallow, but it’s not, Dr. Razdolsky says. Your treatment will last a couple of years, on average. You’re going to be seeing a lot of these people, so you need to feel as though you have a good rapport with them.
- Don’t be married to one form of treatment. Just because you hear a lot about Invisalign, for example, doesn’t mean that’s the best treatment option for your particular needs. When you’re at a consultation and the orthodontist recommends a specific treatment path, ask for the reasoning behind that choice.
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember when it comes to quality orthodontic treatment, it’s not the braces; it’s the orthodontist.
The appliances will only get you so far, says Dr. Razdolsky, who offers orthodontic treatment for adults and children. You must have a qualified, creative professional using those appliances properly to achieve the ideal tooth movements necessary to create a proper alignment and bite relationship.
“That is how you will get the smile you can be proud of,” he says.
