How to Choose an Orthodontist " 365 Dentist

Last updated on February 18, 2024

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In this article, a practicing dentist will discuss how to choose an orthodontist.

Orthodontic treatment depends on the degree of malocclusion (misalignment of teeth),

Basically, it is often a long-term process to get your ideal set of teeth,

Choosing the right dentist and doctor is very important.

If a family member is going to get braces, what kind of clinic would you refer a friend to if they consulted you?

We have seriously thought about it and put it together.

Please feel free to contact us for an individual consultation on line if you are not sure what to look for after reading the article.

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Written by Yukiko, Dentist

Graduated from Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, currently working at an orthodontic and general dentistry clinic in Tokyo

Table of Contents

Nine things to check when choosing an orthodontist
When in doubt about choosing an orthodontist, consult your dentist.
1. relevance

Nine things to check when choosing an orthodontist

system where two or more doctors are assigned to a particular medical condition

Orthodontic treatment is also staggered in terms of initial malocclusion (misalignment of teeth),

Their treatment goals are not the same either.

When the director knows and oversees all patients and the treatment plan is well shared among the doctors,

Not having a doctor-in-charge is not necessarily a bad thing.

However,It is easier to consistently pay attention to details and to develop a sense of responsibility for each patient if you have a doctor in charge.It is.

Basically, orthodontic treatment requires monthly visits to the dentist for adjustment of devices, etc.

It is better for patients to see the same doctor than to have a different doctor every month.

When choosing an orthodontist, check to see if you will have a doctor assigned to you.

Cephalogram diagnosis.

Orthodontic cephalometric diagnosis is an important diagnosis for orthodontic treatment.

I know that it is unlikely that there is a clinic specializing in orthodontics that does not have a cephalometric analysis,

I think that general dentists and others, especially those who deal only with mouthpiece orthodontics, may not be analyzing the results properly.

The first step in cephalometric diagnosis is to take radiographs called cephalographs.

Cephalographs are radiographs of the head and neck.

Distance from irradiation tube to subject

Distance from subject to film

is constant and standardized,

X-ray photographs can be taken in the same way anywhere in the world.

Reference points and reference lines are drawn on this cephalometric photograph, and the degree of departure from normal is analyzed,

Cephalometric diagnosis is the evaluation and diagnosis of malocclusionIt is.

What a diagnostic cephalogram reveals

Upper and lower jaw positioning

State of dental interlocking

Tilting of teeth

Tilt of the jaw

State of the E line

This will allow us to develop a more accurate orthodontic treatment plan,

Pre- and post-operative overlap can be used to evaluate the results of orthodontic treatment.

Certified by the Japanese Orthodontic AssociationOr Equivalent of Orthodontic Specialty

The main types of certifications, such as orthodontic certifications, include the following

Certified by the Japanese Association of Orthodontists.

This system was established in 1990 to improve the technology of orthodontic care.

To become certified by the Japanese Association of Orthodontists, training at a specialized orthodontic institution is mandatory, and it is not a qualification that can be obtained with just a few days of seminars and membership fees.

Currently, the Japanese Association of Orthodontics is considered the most authoritative orthodontic society in Japan.

The criteria for a certified physician are as follows

(1) Must be a member of the Japanese Orthodontic Association for at least 5 years

↑upThis can be cleared by anyone who pays the membership fee.

(2) After training in a university orthodontic department for at least two years, the student must specialize in orthodontics for at least three more years under the supervision of an academic advisor.

↑I think many people who did not originally specialize in orthodontics give up because of this condition, since it is difficult to do this all the way after time has passed once they have gone into clinical practice outside of orthodontics after graduating from university.

(iii) Publishing a paper in an academic journal

(4) Pass the prescribed examination.

↑Oral examination will be held by submitting a case of superficial orthodontics.

Incidentally, in order to continue to qualify as a certified physician, renewal is required every five years, and there are checks for submission of cases and compliance with the code of ethics.

The hurdle to first-time acquisition is somewhat high, but renewal seems to focus less on technical aspects and more on whether there are any violations such as advertising on the website.

Therefore, it may be a good idea to have a history of certification and sufficient clinical experience after certification, even if you have not updated it due to your busy schedule.

Note that the certification exam is limited to front side orthodontics and cannot be a career in Invisalign or other mouthpiece orthodontics or backside (lingual) orthodontics.

Japanese Society of Orthodontics certified orthodontist.

The Japanese Society of Orthodontics established this certification system in 2005 to improve and maintain advanced skills and knowledge of lingual (backside) orthodontic treatment. The criteria for certification are as follows

(1) Must have been a member of an academic society for at least three years.

(2) Submit at least 5 cases of lingual orthodontic treatment to the conference.

(iii) Have at least two (2) experiences of lectures or exhibits using lingual orthodontic treatment at orthodontic conferences in Japan or abroad.

Although the hurdle is lower than that of the Japanese Orthodontic Association, lingual orthodontics is generally considered more difficult, and obtaining this certification also requires persistent study.

Certified by the Japanese Society of Adult Orthodontics.

This certification system was introduced to improve and maintain orthodontic care techniques for post-growth orthodontics. To become a certified orthodontist, you must first have been a member of an academic society for at least five years. After that,

(1) Have completed a training program for board-certified orthodontists or have been enrolled at an orthodontic specialty medical institution recognized by the Society for at least two years and have passed the examination for eligibility to apply for board-certification.

(2) Those who are recognized as having orthodontic clinical experience equivalent to more than five years at an accredited training facility or orthodontic specialty medical institution recognized by the Society must have completed the Society's accredited program and passed the examination for eligibility to apply for certification.

Either of these items (1) or (2) is required.

This certification is easy to obtain even for doctors who did not go on to orthodontic graduate school but studied general treatment after graduation. Many doctors obtain this certification in combination with certification from the Japanese Association of Orthodontists.

Invisalign Doctor (Invisalign Certified Doctor)

Invisalign is one of the most specialized orthodontic treatments because it uses a transparent mouthpiece to move the teeth. Therefore, it requires a high level of expertise and skill.

In Invisalign

Invisalign SUPER doctor with over 50 cases

GOLD doctor for over 100 cases.

PLATINUM doctor with over 500 cases

The company is certified as a

By the way, the doctor who deals with Invisalign is sometimes called an Invisalign doctor,

The term "Invisa Doctor" is not synonymous with a certified physician.

The differences are explained in detail in the following article.

Related:Invisalign Treatment Flow

Summary of Certified Orthodontists

Having these certifications is proof that you have studied orthodontics for at least a certain period of time,

It is one indicator that we can provide good orthodontic care.

However, a certified dentist does not necessarily mean that he or she is an excellent dentist.

Some doctors, even certified doctors, produce many failed cases,

converselyThere are many dentists who are not board certified but have great skills and human qualities.Yes.

Talk to the dentist in person at the initial consultation,

Is the explanation clear and convincing?

Will you answer my questions properly?

Are they healing similar cases beautifully?

Please make sure to check the following.

Years of clinical experience in orthodontics

Longer clinical experience generally means a greater number of orthodontic cases.

The more cases they have, the more experience they have with difficult cases and the more mistakes they have made, and the more experience they have, the higher their diagnostic and decision-making abilities will be.

As for the technique of touching the inside of the mouth, etc., there is also a sense, and not all of them are applicable,

I think the length of clinical experience is one reassuring factor.

Treatment is possible with various devices and options are abundant.

A doctor who does not stick to one orthodontic treatment but offers numerous orthodontic treatment plan proposals after explaining the advantages, disadvantages, and risks is a good doctor and a good clinic.

It is also a good idea for the doctor or clinic to refer the patient to an appropriate advanced medical institution when the patient's chief complaint or concern is deemed unmanageable by the dentist's own orthodontic knowledge and skills.

Nowadays, due to the development of technology, more and more clinics are offering only mouthpiece orthodontics, which is easier to afford.

Although it may seem simple, mouthpiece orthodontics is another orthodontic treatment that requires advanced knowledge.

Some cases cannot be cured perfectly with mouthpiece orthodontics if the doctor is not familiar with it.

When starting mouthpiece orthodontics, I think it is safer to ask a doctor who can also do basic wire orthodontics and can transition to wire if the need arises.

There are also various bracket types and wire types for wire therapy.

Rather than sticking only to the old ways of doing things, it would be better to have a clinic that looks at new treatment methods and other options, and that can help you choose the best device for your case.

Thorough explanation

Whether or not the explanation is detailed is very important as a matter before choosing an orthodontist, as it establishes a trusting relationship with the dentist.

Orthodontic treatment depends on the degree of dental malpractice, but it is basically a yearly treatment plan and certainly a long term relationship including maintenance after treatment is completed.

We recommend that you undergo orthodontic treatment at a place that provides thorough explanations to ensure a long-lasting relationship.

Some clinics provide treatment consultations using tools, including samples of the actual orthodontic appliances used in orthodontic treatment, and even show simulations of how teeth will move during orthodontic treatment.

Let's also make sure that we are responding to your questions.

During treatment, there are many unexpected and unsettling situations.

In such cases, it is very important to have a doctor who is easy to ask questions to in order to continue treatment.

They explain the disadvantages and risks.

Because orthodontic treatment is also a medical procedure, there are always advantages, disadvantages, and risks associated with the process or outcome of treatment.

For example, the cost, length of treatment, and things to keep in mind during treatment differ depending on the orthodontic treatment device used.

We do not recommend that you undergo orthodontic treatment in a clinic or with a doctor who does not explain these matters thoroughly. We also recommend that you visit a clinic that has a well-prepared consent and contract for orthodontic treatment.

Description of Warranty Period

Some dentists specializing in orthodontic treatment or offering orthodontic treatment offer a warranty period in case of regression after treatment is completed.

Warranty periods are generally no more than a few years.

The conditions for such indications include whether or not the patient is wearing a retention appliance (retainer) securely and whether or not the patient comes for regular checkups.

Basically, clinics that treat patients responsibly often offer a guarantee period of free additional treatment if they come for regular checkups and retainers are properly fitted.

CT imaging available

A CT is a radiograph that provides a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of teeth, bones, and gums.

When we think of CT in dentistry, we usually think of its use for wisdom tooth extraction or implant treatment, but its capabilities can also be fully demonstrated in orthodontic treatment.

Therefore, clinics that have CT and use it for orthodontic treatment can provide more accurate diagnosis.

CT is used in orthodontic treatment as follows

(1) The amount of bone in the area where teeth are moved during orthodontic treatment.

For example, when we want to move a second molar centrally (backward), we cannot do so without sufficient bone width and depth. Conventional panoramic tomograms and cephalographs cannot give an adequate diagnosis because they are two-dimensional.

(2) Root condition can be monitored.

CT provides a three-dimensional view of the condition of the tooth root, allowing for very detailed recognition of root enlargement, curvature, adhesions, etc. This allows us to determine whether the tooth is easy to move or not.

(iii) Understanding wisdom teeth and buried teeth

By understanding the shape and position of wisdom teeth and buried teeth in three dimensions, it is possible to more accurately determine whether they should be extracted before orthodontic treatment, or whether they should be opened (cut through the gums to allow them to come out more easily).