An orthodontist is no ordinary, friendly neighborhood dentist – though any successful doctor is expected to be friendly and if he is a Chesapeake orthodontist – he would also be from your neighborhood. An orthodontist is a specialist dentist who specializes in some particular areas of dental science. But why is finding the right orthodontist so important? This is because treatment from such a specialist usually is a long-drawn process. Therefore you have to be absolutely sure that you are in good hands as he tries his best to help your face break into a memorable smile.
In case you want to know where and how you can locate a good Chesapeake orthodontist here are some useful tips to get started with your search:
• First of all are you sure what you are looking for? Who is an orthodontist? This is a dentist who has studied beyond his mandatory dental degrees. He has completed a 2 to 3 years’ Certificate or a Masters’ degree course from an accredited orthodontist specialty college.
• Who can give you comprehensive information about well qualified orthodontists in your locality? Try the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Several orthodontists display their affiliation to this august body along with their credentials.
• The website of American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is another trusted source for finding qualified orthodontics in your area. This Board is popular with many orthodontists for getting their clinical knowledge and skills assessed and acquire a Board certification.
• When looking for a reliable and reputed Chesapeake orthodontist you could ask around your friends and neighbors. You could be lucky to find someone who is currently undergoing treatment from such a doctor. Ask whether he is comfortable with the doctor; whether all the procedures were explained well in advance and details about the fees charged by the doctor, etc.
• When you are getting prepared to wear braces, you have to remember that the procedure can be painful for many patients. This should not in any way reflect negatively on the orthodontist.
• Perhaps the quickest way to find a qualified and recommended orthodontist is to ask your family dentist who ought to know several people in this specialized field.
• If your health insurance company deals with dental insurance, they could provide you with some names of orthodontists who are empanelled with them. Though the quality of such doctors may be questionable, but it is also true that most insurance companies have a rigorous screening process to select their panel doctors.
• When selecting an orthodontist, check how many years he has practiced in this profession. The longer he has a practice record, the better are the chances of him having a host of patients who are satisfied with his work.
• Also important is to know whether the orthodontist is knowledgeable about the current trends and techniques of orthodontics. He should be thoroughly familiar with what is happening in this science, and share his expertise with his patients.