Most people think of orthodontic treatment as being expensive.  The typical costs for braces or Invisalign treatment for the average teenager is anywhere from $5000 to $7000 depending on where you live and the complexity of the treatment.  Clearly that’s nothing to laugh at!  To most people, that’s a lot of money.  However, when you consider that the average treatment time is anywhere from 18 to 24 months, it really brings the value into the proper perspective relative to other areas of dentistry.

For example, the cost for a single crown or a porcelain veneer is likely in excess of $1000.  The same is true for a root canal on just one tooth.  These procedures typically take just a few hours from start to finish to complete.  Consider that orthodontic treatment takes several appointments of anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes every 8 weeks over the course of 18 to 24 months, and it becomes clear that the costs for orthodontic treatment are actually quite reasonable.  Add in the fact that most orthodontists offer no-interest financing and it becomes even more of a bargain.

One way that people try to cut the costs of orthodontic treatment is to seek care through a non-specialist or through a clinic.  Non-specialists are usually general dentists who offer orthodontic treatment as an adjunct to their other routine dental services.  Unfortunately, most general dentists have very little advanced training in orthodontics, so they clearly lack the experience that most certified orthodontists have.  They may have taken a few weekend courses on orthodontic treatment, but they really are not truly equipped to take on most orthodontic cases.    Typically their main focus is simply to “straighten the teeth”.  All orthodontists are required to have at least two years of advanced training and many have had at least three years.  Orthodontists are highly trained specialists that not only have the ability to straighten teeth; they understand the importance of providing good function and long-term stability for every patient they treat.

The other avenue that people may choose to reduce orthodontic costs is to go to a dental clinic.  There is one prominent dental clinic in California that provides dental services and some specialty services such as orthodontic treatment.  Their fee for orthodontic treatment is often less than $5000, so it’s much more affordable to many people.  Unfortunately, what people don’t realize is that there may be an orthodontist on staff in the office only one day a week (and often only one or two days a month) and this orthodontist is frequently fresh out of school.  These young orthodontists often use these dental clinics as a stepping stone to their next orthodontic practice, so there tends to be a high turnover of specialists in these clinics.  That leads to discontinuity in patient care which in turn leads to extended treatment times and poor results.  How do I know this?  I see it regularly in my own practice.  The influx of people who start their orthodontic treatment in these clinics and transfer to my practice (and I’m sure to other well-qualified orthodontists) is astounding!

What we see is people who are very dissatisfied with their orthodontic treatment and they want to see that it’s done right.  Their complaints range from ridiculously long waits in the reception room to continuous modifications in the treatment plan due to changes in the orthodontists (one leaves and a new one takes over).

Orthodontic treatment is something that should not be taken lightly.  It is a very long process that should be entrusted to an expert who can complete the treatment in a timely fashion to the highest level of competency.  Also, since it is a long process, it is essential that the patient feels comfortable throughout the entire experience with the individuals providing the treatment.  There is really nothing worse than entrusting your child to the care of someone who really doesn’t have the qualifications necessary to complete your child’s treatment to the highest standards.  No one wants to find out after two years that the treatment results are compromised and you truly “got what you paid for”.

By Gary Reichhold, DDS

The post Orthodontic Treatment – “You get what you pay for” appeared first on Mount Diablo Orthodontics- Dr. Reichhold & Dr. Vargas.

So why are patients still being told that they can’t use Invisalign and must instead wear full braces for their entire treatment?  The most likely reason is that many orthodontists simply lack experience with Invisalign.  Invisalign was developed in the late 1990’s and was not readily available and in use until the early 2000’s.  Thus there are thousands of orthodontists out there with many years of experience using braces, but Invisalign is still relatively new to many of them.  Due to this lack of experience with Invisalign, many orthodontists believe full braces are easier to use and better for the patient in the long run.

The reality is that this simply is not true.  Teeth can be moved effectively with either braces or Invisalign aligners.  The main difference is that braces can both “push” and “pull” teeth by means of the archwires that run through them.  This is because the braces are firmly attached to the teeth.  Invisalign aligners on the other hand can “push” teeth quite effectively, but since they are removable appliances, there isn’t the ability to “pull” teeth into their desired positions.  This can create some limitations with Invisalign when there are more complex tooth movements involved.

However, orthodontists have the ability to mix and match when it comes to the more difficult cases.  Braces can certainly be placed on some teeth for a relatively short period of time to achieve the more difficult movements, and then the patient can be switched over to Invisalign to complete their treatment.  We do this routinely in our practice and we have found that our patients are happier to wear braces on a few teeth for a few months and Invisalign aligners the rest of the time, as opposed to wearing braces for the full period of treatment.

Finally, it’s important to note that Invisalign may not be for everyone.  It is an orthodontic treatment modality that is compliance driven and obviously the aligners must be worn consistently as instructed by the orthodontist to achieve the desired results.  Therefore, the only patients that should not be treated with Invisalign are those who question their ability to wear the aligners 20 to 22 hours every day.

Remember, if you are interested in orthodontic treatment and you’re motivated to get that great smile that you’ve always wanted, Invisalign may very well be an option for you.  Simply click on the link below to find a well-qualified orthodontist with experience using Invisalign near you!

By Gary Reichhold, DDS

http://www.invisalign.com/

The post Have you been told you are not a candidate for Invisalign? appeared first on Mount Diablo Orthodontics- Dr. Reichhold & Dr. Vargas.

Win an iPad mini!!!

We are looking to expand our

Facebook Family and

we need your help!

*Our goal is to have 1000+ fans by May 31^st

We have 230 raving fans and we can’t wait to have you join our Facebook Family too. Best of all, one lucky Facebook fan wins an iPad mini!

Entering the contest is simple. Go to our Facebook page by scanning the QR code below. You also can use one of our office iPads at your next visit and go to our Facebook page to “like us”. Please let us know in person or via e-mail that you are a fan and we will enter your name in the drawing.

We will be selecting the winner

on June 1^st!

The post Facebook Contest for Reichhold Orthodontics in Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Clayton area appeared first on Mount Diablo Orthodontics- Dr. Reichhold & Dr. Vargas.