Kenilworth Orthodontist Focuses on Efficiency and Science
Dear Dr. Stosich,
I recently took my daughter to her dentist and he raised some concerns about her orthodontic treatment. He thinks the end result of her treatment may not be the smile the orthodontist said she’d have. Now I’m confused and concerned we are paying for orthodontic treatment that may have just be corrected later.
Sincerely,
Kathy W.
Dentists are great at what they do, but often do not understand all of the intricacies that go into perfecting a smile through orthodontic treatment. When a dentist inserts himself into treatment without understanding the goals of the orthodontist, and without speaking to the orthodontist first, it can lead to confusion and frustration for the patients and parents.This has happened in my practice before, and it is concerning. I love discussing orthodontics and am always happy to discuss a patient’s treatment plan in detail with the patient, his or her family, and even their dentist, if asked.I work incredibly hard to carefully plan out treatment for each patient I treat, and I ensure that every treatment plan is individualized to meet each patient’s goals. My 3D care plans are backed up by careful scientific measurements to ensure a beautiful, stable and effective bite when treatment is finished.
If any patient, parent or dentist has concerns about the goals of treatment, or how the treatment plan is carried out, my door is always open to discuss those concerns and to explain in detail how I came to the conclusions I reached. My 3D care plan can show how care will develop throughout the treatment, and show the end goal, so that going into treatment, everyone involved has a clear understanding of what to expect.
My advice to you is to discuss any concerns you have with your orthodontist. He or she will most likely be happy to address them, and will probably also be willing to discuss the treatment with your child’s dentist so he can be on board with the plan, as well. To learn more about the differences between dentist and orthodontist see this post: The Difference Between an Orthodontist and a Dentist
Sincerely,
Dr. S.
| Dentist | Orthodontist | |
| Four Years of Dental School | Yes | Yes |
| ADA Accredited Orthodontic Specialty Residency | No | Yes |
| Teeth Alignment and Bite Correction | No | Yes |
| General Dentistry Treatments such as Fillings, Check-ups and Tooth Extraction | Yes | No |
| Dental Braces, Retainers and Invisalign | No | Yes |
| Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments such as Veneers, Bleaching | Yes | No |
