The Importance of Seeking a Second Opinion from an Orthodontist

Insurance coverage for orthodontic care depends on your specific dental provider and whether they cover braces or clear aligner treatment. As for a second opinion for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment, that also depends on your insurance provider, and whether you’ll be using a PPO plan, health savings account, flexible spending account, or another kind of plan.

If you’re planning on using your insurance for your orthodontic care, find out directly from your provider about whether they will cover consultations and diagnosis from more than one orthodontist.

However, initial consultations are often complementary, to give you a chance to meet the orthodontist and learn more about your dental condition before committing to treatment. When you schedule an appointment, ask beforehand whether the visit comes at no charge to you, and what documents (eg, insurance info) you’ll need to provide in order to come in for a visit.

While orthodontists may work in a general dentist’s office, you’ll likely save money and receive more experienced, efficient care at a dedicated orthodontics office.

This is because orthodontists in a general dentistry practice are likely only there a few days a week, making them less available for emergency care. If you have an orthodontic emergency and the doctor isn’t working that day, you will likely have to wait until they are back in the office to be seen. A part-time orthodontist will also likely have a lower patient volume, making them less experienced with the various methods of care.

In addition, a general dentist office uses their equipment for a variety of treatments and services, so are less likely to have dedicated orthodontic equipment, such as an iTero digital scanner for predictive modeling.

Finally, continuity of care can be a problem for orthodontic patients at a general dentist’s office: if the only orthodontist leaves the practice during your 2-4 years of treatment, you’ll need to go elsewhere to finish your care, which can disrupt or slow down the process.

For these reasons, seek an orthodontist in a free-standing orthodontic facility, with state-of-the-art orthodontic equipment, and a team of expert, proven orthodontists.

You may not be an orthodontic expert, but you know what a professional office should look like! When visiting the office for your initial consultation, keep a lookout for signs that the office is clean and up-to-date with equipment and instruments.

A professional, hygienic orthodontic office should look like this:

If you’re planning on straightening your teeth with Invisalign removable clear aligners, then be sure to find the most experienced Invisalign provider in your area. Invisalign ranks orthodontists on their Invisalign experience and volume of patients treated with this method. Highly ranked Invisalign providers are not only the most experienced with this complex treatment appliance, but they also receive discounted prices on lab production costs, which saves their patients money.

To find the highest-ranked Invisalign providers in your area, you can use Invisalign’s Find a Doctor tool.

At the end of the day, where you choose to go for smile care is up to you. But with knowledge, patience, and curiosity, you can feel great about the orthodontic provider you select for your braces or Invisalign treatment!