Does your ortho do this?

[rmcs]

As I've posted before, my orthodontist does some pretty questionable things... but is it usual for them to pretty much tell you to take care of yourself?

For example when my wire is poking out the back and I call, they tell me to just cut it myself. This one is somewhat understandable as it's easily done(although sometimes I need help so I don't cut my cheek open like the first time I tried.)

Another example is when brackets fall off they won't make appointments to fix them. With the bottom two they told me to just cut the wires and wait until the next appointment(it was a month later.) and another time the bracket on my canine tooth popped off and they wouldn't even make an appointment. I just had to wait until the one I had scheduled.

Another time I had a thing tied from my canine to the molars to help pull the canine backward and the tie broke so I called about it and was told to just take a rubber band and tie it myself.

[smylex]

Is this the actual orthodontist telling you this over the phone, or is it one of their assistants? My recommendation would be to get the names of whoever is telling you this, then go in and demand to see the ortho and let them know how you're being treated.

I'm sorry, but this is just poor customer relations to me - I should know, I had to deal with it from my previous dentist. This is why she isn't my dentist anymore.

[rmcs]

It's both actually. Or one or the other at separate times, you know what I mean?

[Denise]

That's insanity. My orthodontist's office has always been excellent at getting me in, sometimes the very same day, to fix a "pokey" wire, and once I had a bracket that popped off over a long weekend when I was out of town camping, and that following Monday they got me in first thing in the morning to glue it back on. I'm sorry you're receiving such terrible service. That really is unacceptable.

[Jammy]

Considering the money that it costs for braces I would be demanding that they fix anything that was even slightly wrong.

[ksmoguy]

At my ortho they have times set aside each day to take care of the problems you mentioned. Sometimes the spots fill up but they will get you in to fix it. If its a bracket that came off and you are close to your next apt. they will ask you to wait.

[Carrie]

I agree with the amount of money involved and the time/effort you put into it they shouldn't be so lazy.

[Phantom Muse]

Oh dear... I LOVE the ortho's assistants at mine and my daughter's offices (different orthos), but sometimes I get a little different opinion from them (about what I see as a pressing need) than I eventually get from the ortho, so in those instances, I ask to speak with the ortho - even if he needs to call me back later in the day. If anything, my unease is laid to rest that way.

I'd be polite about your request, but then insist if you were feeling nervous or ignored. There is no reason to leave you to your own devices. In the long run, that may actually make the ortho's job more difficult.

Good luck!

[Sunny]

rmcs some of the issues you list, like brackets coming off will not affect your treatment and can be left to your next appointment. Also with trimming the wire ... as long as you've indicated that you can do this safely yourself, then it's fine for the patient to do it, but many patients can't cut the wire and need to come in for a few mins for an assistant to do this for them.

With regard to the 'thing' tied to your canine to pull it back ... I doubt that most practices would consider that ok, for the patient to tie something to it themself, as you are not trained in this skill ... and it is a skill.

Please tell your ortho you're feeling let down buy the amount of support. Please don't bring up the cost of treatment or how much you've paid, as this isn't the issue, as another patient will pay the same and never need to come in for an unscheduled appointment. Instead this is about the support you have the right to expect during your treatment.

I suggest, if possible, that next time something happens (not a bracket coming off though), you call into your ortho's office and ask for it to be fixed.

Good luck!

[MCOMarkhamOrthodontist]

There are definitely some procedures that you must see your orthodontist for. We actually provide all of our patients with a distal end cutter, to clip any wires that may be poking them. Like the ones we use in our office, the end of the wire will stay in the cutter, instead of flying into the mouth. We give them to our patients for comfort reasons.

One thing to note about busy orthodontic offices is that, as mentioned above, they run on very specific schedules to stay on time. They may be only certain designated time slots available for various procedures.

Using an elastic to attach to your teeth from a molar to the canine is not unreasonable. In fact, we instruct out patients to do this sometimes instead of tying something on there so that they can improve their oral hygiene and have a more consistent force with something that is changed daily.

The amount of money being paid for treatment may seem like a lot, but keep in mind that orthodontic treatments generally span 2 years plus time in retainers. Practices rely on a volume of patients to stay in business as the overhead is extremely high.

Keep in mind that there are many ways to complete orthodontic treatment and various styles of practice. Most people are concerned with the types of brackets and wires and don't put enough thought into issues such as office environment and customer service. Good luck!

[rmcs]

Thanks for the replies! I wasn't sure if it was normal practice or not. I guess I am also frustrated because a lot of things I was told specifically at my consultation are apparently not true and I've been denied service for these things.

It's okay now though, I have one more appointment with this ortho until I move away. I'll be sure to ask lots of questions and pay attention to things when I try to find a new one. I have one picked out, but I know this time to not rush into it!