	North Sydney Orthodontics How do I choose a good orthodontist?
North Sydney Orthodontics Suite 3 Level 5 , 8 West Street North Sydney P 02 9954 5144 F 02 9954 5122 E email
Home Why choose us The orthodontist The practice How to find us Braces for kids Braces for teenagers Braces for adults Crooked teeth Treatment gallery All about braces FAQs Useful links Doctors Info News and special offers Community	How do you find the best orthodontist in Sydney for you and your family? This page gives some inside information on choosing the right one. Specialist or non-specialist what is the difference? Orthodontic specialists are 'dentists' who have undertaken additional full-time training for 2-3 years in a teaching hospital or university and passed examinations (either a Master of Science degree from a university or an Orthodontic Membership of a Royal College of Surgeons), to be recognized as a fully trained expert. A general dentist may have undertaken limited additional training in the use of orthodontic appliances and is allowed to perform any aspect of dentistry they feel capable of. Some dentists make convincing though unjustifiable claims of 'orthodontic expertise' through their websites and by parading somewhat dubious 'orthodontic certificates' making it difficult to tell the difference between a qualified orthodontist and a dentist. A specialist orthodontist does not perform general treatment such as fillings and extractions. If you need to know whether your dentist's claims of expertise stack up, the state dental board is the government body regulating the use of registered qualifications and may be happy help you determine bona fide qualifications. Traditional referrals Referral to a specialist for treatment has several advantages - the treatment is done by a professional who is used to doing such work regularly. The work is usually done to a high standard, and the dentist can review the work carried out and through continuing referrals indirectly ensure that the specialist continues to produce the right result. Unfortunately this function has the capacity to be distorted by excessively generous thank you gifts to the referring dentist. To be sure that you get get an unbiased referral why not ask your dentist to recommend a choice of different specialists. There are lots of reputable specialist orthodontists around and a dentist who is willing to give you a choice can be relied on to be acting in your best interest. Even specialist practices differ considerably in their character Most specialists claim to use the latest and greatest appliance methods and that their treatment method is superior to the competition. However these claims are not scientifically supportable. In skilled hands any bracket system can be used to a correct plan and get great results providing the practitioner is skilled in its use and spends the requisite chair-side time. Be wary if your orthodontist offers no choice in appliance design as this may suggest limited training or an inflexible approach to what is a very variable problem. We take pride in the high quality treatment choices offered at North Sydney Orthodontics! Orthodontic treatment typically involves many scheduled appointments over several years for appliance adjustments, and that usually means time off work or school. If convenience is an issue for you choose a practice that’s close to home, work or school. Specialist orthodontic practices vary considerably in their design from exclusive attention in a private room to an open plan arrangement where the orthodontist directs assistants in a multi-chair set up. Some patients feel uncomfortably exposed in a multi-chair clinic and the confidentiality of the procedure is likely to be compromised. If you are worried about this ask if there is a private room you can receive your treatment in. North Sydney Orthodontics treatment area is based on complete privacy with separate 'single chair' rooms. If you are looking for orthodontic treatment for your child you may like to be present during the treatment and this may not be accommodated on a busy open plan clinic. Just ask what the practice policy is. Parents are always welcome to the treatment area in North Sydney Orthodontics! In some larger orthodontic practices most of the treatment is carried out by general dentists to the plan of the orthodontist. The orthodontist only loosely supervises the dentists performing the treatment who may also be referrers to the orthodontist. Although few practices run on this basis, those that do are financially very successful owing to the payment arrangements between the orthodontist and the employed / referring dentists. This setup denies the patient the advocacy role that the general dentist should perform because neither the orthodontist nor dentist will criticize treatment if the outcome is substandard. Avoid this type of practice! © North Sydney Orthodontics 2009

North Sydney Orthodontics

How do I choose a good orthodontist?

North Sydney Orthodontics Suite 3 Level 5 , 8 West Street North Sydney P 02 9954 5144 F 02 9954 5122 E email

Home
Why choose us
The orthodontist
The practice
How to find us
Braces for kids
Braces for teenagers
Braces for adults
Crooked teeth
Treatment gallery
All about braces
FAQs
Useful links
Doctors Info
News and special offers
Community

How do you find the best orthodontist in Sydney for you and your family? This page gives some inside information on choosing the right one.

Specialist or non-specialist what is the difference?

Orthodontic specialists are 'dentists' who have undertaken additional full-time training for 2-3 years in a teaching hospital or university and passed examinations (either a Master of Science degree from a university or an Orthodontic Membership of a Royal College of Surgeons), to be recognized as a fully trained expert. A general dentist may have undertaken limited additional training in the use of orthodontic appliances and is allowed to perform any aspect of dentistry they feel capable of. Some dentists make convincing though unjustifiable claims of 'orthodontic expertise' through their websites and by parading somewhat dubious 'orthodontic certificates' making it difficult to tell the difference between a qualified orthodontist and a dentist. A specialist orthodontist does not perform general treatment such as fillings and extractions. If you need to know whether your dentist's claims of expertise stack up, the state dental board is the government body regulating the use of registered qualifications and may be happy help you determine bona fide qualifications.

Traditional referrals

Referral to a specialist for treatment has several advantages - the treatment is done by a professional who is used to doing such work regularly. The work is usually done to a high standard, and the dentist can review the work carried out and through continuing referrals indirectly ensure that the specialist continues to produce the right result. Unfortunately this function has the capacity to be distorted by excessively generous thank you gifts to the referring dentist. To be sure that you get get an unbiased referral why not ask your dentist to recommend a choice of different specialists. There are lots of reputable specialist orthodontists around and a dentist who is willing to give you a choice can be relied on to be acting in your best interest.

Even specialist practices differ considerably in their character

Most specialists claim to use the latest and greatest appliance methods and that their treatment method is superior to the competition. However these claims are not scientifically supportable. In skilled hands any bracket system can be used to a correct plan and get great results providing the practitioner is skilled in its use and spends the requisite chair-side time. Be wary if your orthodontist offers no choice in appliance design as this may suggest limited training or an inflexible approach to what is a very variable problem. We take pride in the high quality treatment choices offered at North Sydney Orthodontics!

Orthodontic treatment typically involves many scheduled appointments over several years for appliance adjustments, and that usually means time off work or school. If convenience is an issue for you choose a practice that’s close to home, work or school.

Specialist orthodontic practices vary considerably in their design from exclusive attention in a private room to an open plan arrangement where the orthodontist directs assistants in a multi-chair set up. Some patients feel uncomfortably exposed in a multi-chair clinic and the confidentiality of the procedure is likely to be compromised. If you are worried about this ask if there is a private room you can receive your treatment in. North Sydney Orthodontics treatment area is based on complete privacy with separate 'single chair' rooms.

If you are looking for orthodontic treatment for your child you may like to be present during the treatment and this may not be accommodated on a busy open plan clinic. Just ask what the practice policy is. Parents are always welcome to the treatment area in North Sydney Orthodontics!

In some larger orthodontic practices most of the treatment is carried out by general dentists to the plan of the orthodontist. The orthodontist only loosely supervises the dentists performing the treatment who may also be referrers to the orthodontist. Although few practices run on this basis, those that do are financially very successful owing to the payment arrangements between the orthodontist and the employed / referring dentists. This setup denies the patient the advocacy role that the general dentist should perform because neither the orthodontist nor dentist will criticize treatment if the outcome is substandard. Avoid this type of practice!