How To Find The Right Orthodontist For You

Updated on May 3, 2021

Your warm smile is the perfect greeting you can give to a person. As the saying goes, a smile is a curve setting everything straight. But it’s inevitable for a person to have crooked and misaligned teeth, so it’s important to seek modern orthodontists to solve these issues.

Considerations For Seeing An Orthodontist

Orthodontists usually deal with the diagnosis of misaligned jaws or teeth, so you must find a good professional to receive a perfect treatment for your dental needs. Thus, you may need to do the following if you want to find the right specialist for you: 

1. Know When To Visit An Orthodontist

Orthodontists in Canada recommend children aging seven years old and below get their teeth checked up. These professionals are skilled in spotting subtle issues concerning one’s teeth, growth of the jaw, and how these issues affect a person’s bite. That’s why getting checked up at an early age is better because orthodontists can easily monitor and perform necessary corrections easily, preventing the development of more severe problems which can impact your smile and bite.

But if you’re an adult, it’s not yet too late for you to seek orthodontic treatment. Even if it’s your first time, don’t worry because you’re not alone. Many adults in Alberta seeking help from an orthodontist are increasing each year. 

If you have crooked, crowded, or over-spaced teeth which affect the way you talk, visiting Edmonton orthodontists now will help you with such problems. If you have an under or over-bite affecting how you eat or want to have a perfect smile again, then it’s time to look for an orthodontist. 

2. Ask For Recommendations

If you decided now’s the time to find an orthodontist, then the next thing you should do is ask around. Try seeking recommendations from your family or friends who have undergone treatment for their teeth problems. 

It’s a plus if you have a friend studying dentistry and much better if you have a dentist friend. Their comments and suggestions may vary based on their personal experience, but these will help you make up your mind. They may even know an orthodontist whom they know can deliver a quality service.

3. Know Its Difference From A Dentist

If you think going to a dentist is the same as going to an orthodontic, you may want to check the difference between the two. Although both are obligated to study eight years of dentistry before proceeding to dental school, an orthodontist still needs to complete another three years, at most, of residency.

Moreover, if your dental needs are more than just cleaning or extracting your teeth, orthodontics is your choice. As mentioned, you’ll need an orthodontist if you have an underbite, overbite, crowded teeth, or misaligned teeth. 

4. Look for Board-certified Orthodontists

Just like dentists, before being identified as professional orthodontists, they have to pass the board examination. Board-certified orthodontists are equipped as they’ve gone through years of preparation to practice their skills and to provide high-quality patient care, and this may differ from one country to another. 

For instance, the board certification of orthodontists is voluntary in Canada and is required to meet the standards set to be called specialists while in some countries, board certification is a requirement. Thus, you should look for a locally certified professional to ensure the specialist knows your local laws about the standard procedures.

5. Location

As mentioned, it’s best to look for a locally certified orthodontist not only for safety purposes but as well for convenience. For instance, if you have a lingual or invisible treatment to correct your teeth, you’ll need to visit the clinic every few weeks or as advised by your orthodontist. 

During these follow-up checkups, your orthodontist will have to adjust your braces to make sure everything’s perfectly in place. Thus, it’s better to look for an orthodontist near where you live, so it’ll be less hassle to travel on your part.

Conclusion

To have a perfect smile means having a set of healthy teeth. On the other hand, crooked smiles may be due to misaligned teeth, overbite, underbite, or overcrowded teeth. These problems need to be addressed and corrected by orthodontists. 

However, don’t settle for the first orthodontist you find in your street. Moreover, you’re looking for an orthodontist and not a dentist. It may be difficult to find one, but the tips mentioned above might help you. Make it even easier by asking for recommendations from your friends and family. However, you should also make sure to seek board-certified orthodontists so you’ll not compromise your safety.

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