It’s true that orthodontists can be expensive.
I mean, they’re specialists. They’ve finished dental school (which takes at least 5 years) and then spent another three years in post-graduate training.
So, a dentist is a bit like a GP who can treat common health complaints. Whereas, an orthodontist is like an eye specialist, or a surgeon who can tailor treatment to a specific problem.
Orthodontists can straighten teeth, but they do more than that. They get to the cause of the misalignment and correct the problem.
So orthodontic treatment can be costly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t afford it.
We’ve put together a short guide to help ensure you find an orthodontist you can afford, but who’ll still give you great results.
Choose Right
Choose an orthodontist who offers an initial consultation free of charge. You need to get to know each other and decide if you’re a good match.
You need to be able to ask questions before you commit to an ongoing health care relationship. So look for an orthodontist who offers the first appointment free to help you understand:
- your specific orthodontic issues and the treatments available
- the approximate time required for your treatment
- the cost involved, and your financial options
Your orthodontist should also give you information on living with Invisalign or braces.
Reduce Your Appointments
Look for an orthodontist that helps you get straight teeth with fewer appointments. Sounds almost unbelievable, doesn’t it?
But if your orthodontist is staying up to date with technology, they should be offering dental monitoring services.
This is a way of using your smartphone as a remote monitoring device, to help your orthodontic treatment, and to help straighten your teeth.
Dental monitoring allows you to take a video or photos of your teeth using a smartphone. These are then analysed by the dental monitoring algorithms and the results are delivered directly to your orthodontist.
So, your orthodontist can see the changes right from the photos, which means you don’t need to come into the office for a check-up unless you need new aligners. Pretty cool, huh?
Know The Risks
Straight teeth don’t just look good, they function better. They help you chew and digest your food effectively, prevent or relieve pain, and decrease bacteria (helping to prevent gum disease).
In fact, even small alignment issues can have a major impact on your dental health.
So, having crooked or misaligned teeth is a risk, whether you’re a child or an adult. You owe it to yourself and your family to prevent health problems.
Get a Tailored Plan
Your orthodontic treatment plan should be tailored to your unique needs, because no two people are the same. Your orthodontist should also be able to tailor a payment plan that fits your budget.
You should expect to make an initial deposit and regular payments, but they should be affordable. A great orthodontic practice can help you work out a plan that will work for both of you.
And that’s what you want. Someone who’ll work with you. Someone to partner with you during this journey.
That’s what we do at Gullotta Orthodontics because our dream is to make you smile!
