Choosing an Orthodontist

mcballer

Hi.Im looking into getting my teeth straightened and Im wondering how people go about choosing and orthodontist?How do you know what they are like before forking out for a pricey consultation? Im looking northside dublin or kildare, as they suit me location wise best.Has anyone gone to <snip> in Clontarf or <snip> in the <snip>?Or <snip>in lucan or <snip> in maynooth or <snip> in Naas? I just dont know how to pick one without it being totally random. A recommendation would be a great help. Thanks so much for any advice

Lolaa

Hi mcballer

Im in the same situation - im looking to get braces on my teeth - but dont know where to even begin with dentists, orthodontists, dublin, northern ireland, abroad???

Im on the north side of dublin also so any recommendations would be great. . .

bobby77

Most people go with the recommendation given to them by their family dentist, you can usually trust him or her to point you in the right direction. But if you don't have a family dentist choosing an orthodontist can be difficult. Take a look at the OSI website to find the orthodontists that operarte in your area. http://www.orthodontics.ie/ and always shop around.
I'll resist the tempatation to recommend my own practice but of the people you mentioned I know <snip>.He is very professional and has a good way with patients. I'm sure he would look after you!

mcballer

Cheers for the reply. Dont have a trusted family dentist as such, that Id trust for a recommendation. Have looked up the OSI thats where ive got all the info from. Or are you <snip> yourself ;-) heehee.

Yes, its difficult to decide based on names. The <snip> seem quite competitive on price. But for some reason I was leaning towards a female ortho. Just as my sis had a bad experience with a male ortho basically calling her vain for wanting braces to fix a minor cosmetic problem with her teeth!I also had a bad experience with a male cosmetic dentist-not being very sympathetic to the fact it may have taken alot for a 30yr old to go about getting their teeth straightened. Im probably being silly and there is plenty of male ortho's that would be as helpful.....

bobby77

thats seems harsh of him! I think you're entitled to be as vain as you want when you're paying for it! It's ortho, its cosmetic.
I'm afraid I don't know any female orthos' personally who work in dublin. I have a friend in Greystones and a friend out in Navan- both very charming ladies but a bit out from dublin. There is a lady at my practice but she is going on maternity leave and won't be back for three months at least.
Honestly, <snip> will look after you, he's a good sort and has a great modern practice.

mcballer

Might give yer man <snip> a whirl so....see how i get on!Only actual recommendation I have for anyone as yet.Cheers!

Lolaa

Hey, im in the same situation - i dont have a family dentist and im really just going by the name of the ortho coz i cant find anyone who would reccommend someone - but you mention <snip>?
If you cant mention anyone elses name could you PM me with details,

Cheers

flowertree

My hubby got his braces done for our wedding with a female ortho in Booterstown.I can email you her name if you want.She did a great job and is really pleasant.

digzy

I know <snip> personally. Real nice guy. Very professional and really knows his sport:D

day dreamer

Hi there McBaller,

dont have much to add but agree with the above recommendations. I have no doubt a male orthodontist would be every bit as sympathetic as a female one.

Wherever you go I am sure you will have no regrets

dang

Hi,

I want to get braces but find it so expensive here, I've been quoted €4100 compared to £1800 in Northern Ireland for the same treatment. I have gone to one orthodontists in Northern Ireland but before I make my decision on who to go with I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for other Orthodontists in Northern Ireland I could try, preferably somewhere around Newry or Banbridge area.

Thanks

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Just be sure whoever you go to that its a proper orthodontist and not a general dentist who does some braces. Although the treatment may seem the same its not the braces that matter its who does them, An orthodontist will usually have a masters or above degree in orthodontics and be on the specialist register of whatever jurisdiction they are in. Knowing a little about prices in the North I would doubt 1800 sterling if for a specialist orthodontist, if it is its very cheap.

WithCheesePlease

So did anyone go any further and have anything to report back? Any feedback on who you went with, how you found them and their treatment, price, etc.??

ennis81

I got braces last year, another few months to go but very pleased so far and delighted I took the plunge...even though its been expensive!!!

My orthodontic story so far.....
My eye tooth on the left side never came down properly when I was a teenager due to a narrow upper jaw so it was always kinda stuck up in my gum. When I was 16 my mam took me to see a horrible ortho who told me I'd need braces for 4 yrs he was a horrible man so I told my parents my teeth didnt bother me and i wouldn't bother getting the braces......
Fast forward to Aug 2009 I had just turned 28...teeth were seriously bothering me by now so I decided to do something about it....went for FREE consultaion Aug 2009 and was told I was suitable for Invisalign at cost of €4500, this dentist gave me the serious runaround....hanging around for 6 months messing with xrays and moulds and cancelled appointments (I have since found out this man was a cosmetic dentist and not an orthodontist BIG DIFFERENCE)...he then tells me i am in fact unsuitable for invisalign and he is refering me to his "friend" a completely different orthodontist around 20 miles away!!!! I was very unimpressed with this as new ortho told me i would have to pay €120 for consulation and get xrays and moulds done again as he wanted to do his own.

Decided I would go elsewhere and after a couple of letters managed to get €350 back from first ortho for moulds and xrays which he took as they were of no use to me since he couldn't do my treatment.

Then I had another FREE consultation with another Orthodontist, THIS consultation was a complete joke...this fella said 4 yrs complete metal train tracks plus HEAD BRACE at night....tried to force me into treatment by showing me a load of pictures of people with awful teeth....left his surgery nearly crying....and seriously thinking of giving up on the whole braces thing.

So I went to see my own regular dentist who I have gone to for years.. he had made a recommendation to me and told me the consultation cost would be €50..I was suspicious of "orthodontists" at this stage

Anyway went to my consultation with Ortho who my own dentist recommended and FINALLY SUCCESS....within 3 weeks had ceramic on my top and couple of weeks later got metal on bottom....Payment plan worked out and on my way to staight beauiful teeth. My ortho is fab...he made me feel at ease, said my teeth would be completed in 12-18 months and has used a jaw extender to widen my narrow jaw instead of a head brace.....he is also a REGISTERED ORTHODONTIST!!!!!!!!

Basically my advise to anyone considering getting braces is to only go for consultations with registered orthos...do not bother with the "dentists" offering free consultations as I have since discovered most of these people have only done wkend courses and are not properly skilled in alligning teeth properly...be aware that invisalign, the inman alligner and 6 month braces are only really suitable for people with minor problems..fixed braces are best for overall results.
Try and find orthdontist close to home/work as brackets on teeth can pop off and need to be fixed as soon as possible.

I found it very difficult to find the correct person to fix my teeth...it was quite confusing actually and it seems quite alot of cowboys out there.

I am very happy with the way my treatment is going and it has been worth it, if any wants the name of my orthodontist please PM me...hope my advise helps somebody avoid what i encountered :D

btkm8unsl0w5r4

ennis81 glad you got sorted and I agree with your points, getting the correct person for the job is critical and I think by the sound of it your onto a winner. Best of luck and enjoy you new smile.

day dreamer

Ennis

glad to hear that things are going well, you have done a lot of research and this will stand to you. I wish every patient did the same, they would get better results and better value in the long run

best of luck

res ipsa

Has the policy of "no names" changed, or does it not apply to orthodontists?

ennis81

Well I obviously (like everyone else wanting straight teeth) wanted them done quickly, at reasonable cost and was horrified at the thought of wearing traditonal braces!!

But seeing as it was costing me €4K.. I thought I should spend the money wisely and get it done properly not quickly.....Yes I could have had straight teeth in 6 months or a year with invisalign but would still have had a narrow jaw and was still at risk of them moving again in the future.
As for actually wearing train tracks at my age 29....I hated them for about a week and then I didn't even care anymore..most people barely notice and the time flys by and at the end of it all I'll be a very happy camper

I really hope people considering treatment here take some of my advice as if I had listened to my own dentists first recommendation and not gone for my "FREE" consultations with the first 2 ortho's then my treatment would probably have been finished by now....but hey you live and learn eh.

I live in North Dublin and if anyone wants to know the name of my ortho give me a mail

Big_G

res ipsa wrote: »

Has the policy of "no names" changed, or does it not apply to orthodontists?

Res, quite right, it hasn't changed which is why the mods don't like necro posting (dragging up old threads from before the change in rules) because then we have to go back and edit out anything that is not in keeping with the current revision of the forum charter.


And there's a few people posting in here who should bloody well know better.

toetoe101

hi just wondering if you could pass on the details of your orthodontist as I've a lot of trouble finding a decent one

toetoe101

ennis81 wrote: »

Well I obviously (like everyone else wanting straight teeth) wanted them done quickly, at reasonable cost and was horrified at the thought of wearing traditonal braces!!

But seeing as it was costing me €4K.. I thought I should spend the money wisely and get it done properly not quickly.....Yes I could have had straight teeth in 6 months or a year with invisalign but would still have had a narrow jaw and was still at risk of them moving again in the future.
As for actually wearing train tracks at my age 29....I hated them for about a week and then I didn't even care anymore..most people barely notice and the time flys by and at the end of it all I'll be a very happy camper

I really hope people considering treatment here take some of my advice as if I had listened to my own dentists first recommendation and not gone for my "FREE" consultations with the first 2 ortho's then my treatment would probably have been finished by now....but hey you live and learn eh.

I live in North Dublin and if anyone wants to know the name of my ortho give me a mail

hi just wondering if you could pass on the details of your orthodontist as I've a lot of trouble finding a decent one