No molds, xrays OR spacers

[Rangers]

Hi - Okay - so I just called the ortho I consulted with who I really really liked. Last night they took a few digital camera photos of the inside of my mouth - she examined my bite, told me what she saw, why I have issues etc.

She said she can straighten my teeth and correct my bite but most likely my bite will never be perfect and I still might be open somewhat in front.

I just called to ask for the brands of brackets they use and I had a question about cost.

I then said if I choose the office what are the next steps - she said you just come in and we glue on your braces!

NO molds of my teeth, no xrays to look at roots of my teeth (panorex etc), no spacers!

Is this unusual?

[coconut]

Interesting....I would have thought molds and Xrays were standard procedures in devising a treatment plan.

It's not unusual to get brackets (buccal tubes) on the back teeth instead of spacers/bands.

[Zoso]

Personally, I'd be concerned that she is willing to proceed without recent X-rays to verify the health of the teeth. But have you perhaps given her your dentist's contact info and a release to see your records from him? If so, perhaps she could be relying on recent dental X-rays there for this assessment?

As to panoramic and cephalomentric X-rays, and impressions as a diagnostic, these can definitely play a role in treatment planning, but are not always necessary, and are not always collected by all orthodontists.

[Rangers]

I just called them back - i was given the wrong info. They DO take xrays before they put on the brackets. In my case they do not feel they need to take molds.

I feel better now.

[Sunny]

Phew ... that's a relief, as they need the x-rays for many reasons, and one important one is to check the condition of the roots of your teeth.

I have read about other's not having molds done, so I'm sure this is fine. It's great to see your beginning and end molds, but for people with a nasty gag reflex, having the molds done can be a nightmare.

Spacers are not used unless the ortho is using molar bands, and sometimes the bands can be put on after the brackets ... so the spacer thing wouldn't be an issue.

Hope you make a decision to start soon!

[Rangers]

Thanks Sunny!

Yes, I was a bit concerned about no xrays myself but I spoke to the assistant who was with me during the consult and she said they always take xrays before applying the brackets. If I go with that practice I'll probably ask the ortho personally why no molds - out of curiosity.

Not that I want to have molds taken - I hate having it done. I didn't use to but had one bad experience with it when the tech made the stuff too soupy and it began to go down the back of my throat, I told her to remove it and she didn't want to but then she did and i had a mouth full of gunk that took forever to get out. It was horrible.

I've had molds done two more times since then and it was a piece of cake - different product used and the girls who did it were fantastic. But I am still apprehensive after that one experiene about a year and a half ago.

This particular practice that I visited is the one I am leaning towards at this point. So far I can't think of one negative about them - they even said if I wanted to return for another consult with more questions and to arrange to see others who work there with metal and ceramic braces I could. The assistant who saw me during the consult turned to the ortho and said "Doctor if she does not like the ceramics once on, can we switch her to metal?" and the doc said SURE. I thought that was super sweet too - then again I don't know if I would want to go through the whole process of having them debonded and put back on - even if it was only on top! LOL

I was actually going to ask if they could stick a ceramic bracket on one tooth and a metal one on another - temporarily, so I could see how each looked! How bad is that!! HAHAHAHAHA - but I might just do that.

Anyway - I have two more consults next week, I don't think I will meet with anyone else after that. I met with someone last week - he is a definite no. Then the woman this past week - she is a very definite yes. Then two more next week. I probably will not meet with anyone else - and then think about it a bit (and continue to save MONEY) - - and then make my decision. For me it is a BIG decision!

Have a great weekend!

[browneyedguy]

Interesting....I would have thought molds and Xrays were standard procedures in devising a treatment plan.

It's not unusual to get brackets (buccal tubes) on the back teeth instead of spacers/bands.

Hi Meryaten!

[browneyedguy]

Personally, I'd be concerned that she is willing to proceed without recent X-rays to verify the health of the teeth. But have you perhaps given her your dentist's contact info and a release to see your records from him? If so, perhaps she could be relying on recent dental X-rays there for this assessment?

As to panoramic and cephalomentric X-rays, and impressions as a diagnostic, these can definitely play a role in treatment planning, but are not always necessary, and are not always collected by all orthodontists.

Hi Meryaten #2!!!

[Zoso]

What a very funny person.

[Rangers]

Hey could the ortho that pm'd me please email me?