Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 I love my Orthodontist/OS combo. But, if I were starting all over again, I would have asked my Orthodontist who is the OS he wants me to see and then try to seem him before any braces were put on. And then get the full story on exactly how much this is going to cost me. My OS is wonderful, but his admin staff are horrible. My biggest issue with them is lack of communication with me. Anything that I need to know about the surgery, from an administrative aspect, I had to ask them about myself, or find out on my own. For example, I found out last week, at 2 weeks pre-op, that my surgeon was " out of network " (Because I called them to ask if there was anything I needed to pay outside of what the insurance was covering, otherwise I would have seen the bill this afternoon with no communication from them), and I'm still scraping to come up with the money I am going to owe him. The admin staff's attitude was that that's how they work with *all* insurance, and they were actually really suprised when I got upset with them for not telling me sooner. Knowing all of this up front would have been a lot better for me. -Jen > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with (I have > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need surgery). I want > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone have any > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist prior to > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as many > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery sound so > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that too? > Thanks for the input!!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 I love my Orthodontist/OS combo. But, if I were starting all over again, I would have asked my Orthodontist who is the OS he wants me to see and then try to seem him before any braces were put on. And then get the full story on exactly how much this is going to cost me. My OS is wonderful, but his admin staff are horrible. My biggest issue with them is lack of communication with me. Anything that I need to know about the surgery, from an administrative aspect, I had to ask them about myself, or find out on my own. For example, I found out last week, at 2 weeks pre-op, that my surgeon was " out of network " (Because I called them to ask if there was anything I needed to pay outside of what the insurance was covering, otherwise I would have seen the bill this afternoon with no communication from them), and I'm still scraping to come up with the money I am going to owe him. The admin staff's attitude was that that's how they work with *all* insurance, and they were actually really suprised when I got upset with them for not telling me sooner. Knowing all of this up front would have been a lot better for me. -Jen > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with (I have > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need surgery). I want > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone have any > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist prior to > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as many > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery sound so > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that too? > Thanks for the input!!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Hey Holly, I'm in the same situation that you're in right now, I'm trying to decide on an orthodontist. I have an open bite/cross bite and one orthodontist said that he would put me in self-ligating braces for a while to see if I could avoid the surgery. Have any of your doctors recommended self-ligating braces for your treatment? I had never heard of them up until a few weeks ago so I was wondering. Also, what exactly is your bite problem and the treatment plan needed to correct it? It can be nerve-racking because, for me, I keep on wondering what I'll look like in the end if I pick the wrong orthodontist. > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with (I have > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need surgery). I want > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone have any > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist prior to > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as many > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery sound so > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that too? > Thanks for the input!!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Hey Holly, I'm in the same situation that you're in right now, I'm trying to decide on an orthodontist. I have an open bite/cross bite and one orthodontist said that he would put me in self-ligating braces for a while to see if I could avoid the surgery. Have any of your doctors recommended self-ligating braces for your treatment? I had never heard of them up until a few weeks ago so I was wondering. Also, what exactly is your bite problem and the treatment plan needed to correct it? It can be nerve-racking because, for me, I keep on wondering what I'll look like in the end if I pick the wrong orthodontist. > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with (I have > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need surgery). I want > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone have any > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist prior to > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as many > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery sound so > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that too? > Thanks for the input!!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Both my ortho and my surgeon indeed did make it sound simple, and it is, for them, especially compared to the way it used to be, even ten years ago. My surgeon, in particular, though, wanted to be sure that I understood that any procedure that requires general anesthesia is indeed a big operation, and that there was no pressure on me to go with it. He and my ortho both believed that it would give me the best long-term result, and so far, at least, they've been absolutely on- target. my main post-op problem was just that I was sooooo weary for soooo long. Surgery, anesthesia and the steroids, as well as the challenges of getting good nutrition while you're wired or banded, or just recovering from jaw surgery all sort of " sock it to " your body. But for me, it was eminently doable, at least in part because I " only " needed lower work. I was spared most of the problems that some folks have in that first week or two, thank heaven. Cammie > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with (I have > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need surgery). I want > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone have any > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist prior to > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as many > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery sound so > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that too? > Thanks for the input!!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Both my ortho and my surgeon indeed did make it sound simple, and it is, for them, especially compared to the way it used to be, even ten years ago. My surgeon, in particular, though, wanted to be sure that I understood that any procedure that requires general anesthesia is indeed a big operation, and that there was no pressure on me to go with it. He and my ortho both believed that it would give me the best long-term result, and so far, at least, they've been absolutely on- target. my main post-op problem was just that I was sooooo weary for soooo long. Surgery, anesthesia and the steroids, as well as the challenges of getting good nutrition while you're wired or banded, or just recovering from jaw surgery all sort of " sock it to " your body. But for me, it was eminently doable, at least in part because I " only " needed lower work. I was spared most of the problems that some folks have in that first week or two, thank heaven. Cammie > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with (I have > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need surgery). I want > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone have any > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist prior to > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as many > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery sound so > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that too? > Thanks for the input!!! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Yes, I have heard of them. I have known some folks who adored them, swore that the treatment with them was quicker (how in the world could one ever know?) and that they were pain-free. At present there is someone on site two who is having a real time with them. She says the ortho just put a heavier wire in, and the little trap doors on the brackets don't close, and that they're cutting her mouth to bits, in the presence of an ortho and staff who aren't sympathetic. This is the first time I've heard that. My own ortho, when I asked about them long after my treatment was over, said that he'd looked into them, and concluded that they were designed essentially to save the ortho on chair time. (They have those little doors that snap open to remove the arch wire, then snap closed over the replacement wire, which, in theory, means that he doesn't have to have anybody spend all that time doing individual o- rings or ties. But my guy found that kids generally WANT the colored o-rings. And I know that sometimes he uses wire ties to get the leverage just as he wants it. He also said that he feels that he has more control with the individual brackets and wires. The speed braces have brackets that are a bit smaller, I think. Ask your ortho to give you a list of pros and cons, and explain to you what they are and whether he recommends them or not. I'd want my docs to be working with the tools they find most successful, myself. Oh, and if there's a possibility that you'll relocate during treatment, you might want to consider the idea that it can be hard, at least in some areas, to find an ortho who uses them. My guy said he'd just been contacted by a patient who'd recently moved to this area, and had talked with quite a few orthos who wouldn't work with them, but insisted on removing the self-ligating ones and replacing them with the traditional brackets and wires... Cammie > > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with > (I have > > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need > surgery). I want > > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone > have any > > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist > prior to > > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as > many > > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery > sound so > > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that > too? > > Thanks for the input!!! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Yes, I have heard of them. I have known some folks who adored them, swore that the treatment with them was quicker (how in the world could one ever know?) and that they were pain-free. At present there is someone on site two who is having a real time with them. She says the ortho just put a heavier wire in, and the little trap doors on the brackets don't close, and that they're cutting her mouth to bits, in the presence of an ortho and staff who aren't sympathetic. This is the first time I've heard that. My own ortho, when I asked about them long after my treatment was over, said that he'd looked into them, and concluded that they were designed essentially to save the ortho on chair time. (They have those little doors that snap open to remove the arch wire, then snap closed over the replacement wire, which, in theory, means that he doesn't have to have anybody spend all that time doing individual o- rings or ties. But my guy found that kids generally WANT the colored o-rings. And I know that sometimes he uses wire ties to get the leverage just as he wants it. He also said that he feels that he has more control with the individual brackets and wires. The speed braces have brackets that are a bit smaller, I think. Ask your ortho to give you a list of pros and cons, and explain to you what they are and whether he recommends them or not. I'd want my docs to be working with the tools they find most successful, myself. Oh, and if there's a possibility that you'll relocate during treatment, you might want to consider the idea that it can be hard, at least in some areas, to find an ortho who uses them. My guy said he'd just been contacted by a patient who'd recently moved to this area, and had talked with quite a few orthos who wouldn't work with them, but insisted on removing the self-ligating ones and replacing them with the traditional brackets and wires... Cammie > > I am in my final stages of deciding which orthodontist to go with > (I have > > seen 4 for consultations and all four say that I will need > surgery). I want > > to be sure to ask all questions that I possibly can. Does anyone > have any > > questions that they wished they had have asked their orthodontist > prior to > > having the braces put on? Any suggestions? I want to avoid as > many > > surprises " as possible. I have learned a lot from this site, the > > orthodontist that I think I am going to choose makes the surgery > sound so > > simple and like it is no big deal. Does anyone else's do that > too? > > Thanks for the input!!! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Hey Cammie or anyone else, who on this site now has self-ligating braces? You mentioned that someone on the site has them and is having quite a hard time with them. I'd like to know of any problems because I'm probably going to get them myself. -nate -- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , ceast36532 <no_reply@y...> wrote: > Yes, I have heard of them. I have known some folks who adored them, > swore that the treatment with them was quicker (how in the world > could one ever know?) and that they were pain-free. > > At present there is someone on site two who is having a real time > with them. She says the ortho just put a heavier wire in, and the > little trap doors on the brackets don't close, and that they're > cutting her mouth to bits, in the presence of an ortho and staff who > aren't sympathetic. This is the first time I've heard that. > > My own ortho, when I asked about them long after my treatment was > over, said that he'd looked into them, and concluded that they were > designed essentially to save the ortho on chair time. (They have > those little doors that snap open to remove the arch wire, then snap > closed over the replacement wire, which, in theory, means that he > doesn't have to have anybody spend all that time doing individual o- > rings or ties. > > But my guy found that kids generally WANT the colored o-rings. And I > know that sometimes he uses wire ties to get the leverage just as he > wants it. He also said that he feels that he has more control with > the individual brackets and wires. > > The speed braces have brackets that are a bit smaller, I think. > > Ask your ortho to give you a list of pros and cons, and explain to > you what they are and whether he recommends them or not. I'd want my > docs to be working with the tools they find most successful, myself. > > Oh, and if there's a possibility that you'll relocate during > treatment, you might want to consider the idea that it can be hard, > at least in some areas, to find an ortho who uses them. My guy said > he'd just been contacted by a patient who'd recently moved to this > area, and had talked with quite a few orthos who wouldn't work with > them, but insisted on removing the self-ligating ones and replacing > them with the traditional brackets and wires... > > Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Hey Cammie or anyone else, who on this site now has self-ligating braces? You mentioned that someone on the site has them and is having quite a hard time with them. I'd like to know of any problems because I'm probably going to get them myself. -nate -- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , ceast36532 <no_reply@y...> wrote: > Yes, I have heard of them. I have known some folks who adored them, > swore that the treatment with them was quicker (how in the world > could one ever know?) and that they were pain-free. > > At present there is someone on site two who is having a real time > with them. She says the ortho just put a heavier wire in, and the > little trap doors on the brackets don't close, and that they're > cutting her mouth to bits, in the presence of an ortho and staff who > aren't sympathetic. This is the first time I've heard that. > > My own ortho, when I asked about them long after my treatment was > over, said that he'd looked into them, and concluded that they were > designed essentially to save the ortho on chair time. (They have > those little doors that snap open to remove the arch wire, then snap > closed over the replacement wire, which, in theory, means that he > doesn't have to have anybody spend all that time doing individual o- > rings or ties. > > But my guy found that kids generally WANT the colored o-rings. And I > know that sometimes he uses wire ties to get the leverage just as he > wants it. He also said that he feels that he has more control with > the individual brackets and wires. > > The speed braces have brackets that are a bit smaller, I think. > > Ask your ortho to give you a list of pros and cons, and explain to > you what they are and whether he recommends them or not. I'd want my > docs to be working with the tools they find most successful, myself. > > Oh, and if there's a possibility that you'll relocate during > treatment, you might want to consider the idea that it can be hard, > at least in some areas, to find an ortho who uses them. My guy said > he'd just been contacted by a patient who'd recently moved to this > area, and had talked with quite a few orthos who wouldn't work with > them, but insisted on removing the self-ligating ones and replacing > them with the traditional brackets and wires... > > Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 " You mentioned that someone on the site has them and is > having quite a hard time with them. " Nope. Read again. Someone on site 2. Go read there... Not hard to find the link at all, but I confess, I am weary of looking up and posting the link. Even a Google search will offer you both. Don't mean to scold, but hey, I gave you (i think) a really accurate description of assorted encounters, and spent some time doing so. Do a little looking on your own! OK. Now I will be told that this is a support site, and I am unsupportive. I am not. But ask the guys you're paying, or do some reading around on the net. Or better yet, both. I'm no pro! And my advice comes free! C. > > Yes, I have heard of them. I have known some folks who adored them, > > swore that the treatment with them was quicker (how in the world > > could one ever know?) and that they were pain-free. > > > > At present there is someone on site two who is having a real time > > with them. She says the ortho just put a heavier wire in, and the > > little trap doors on the brackets don't close, and that they're > > cutting her mouth to bits, in the presence of an ortho and staff > who > > aren't sympathetic. This is the first time I've heard that. > > > > My own ortho, when I asked about them long after my treatment was > > over, said that he'd looked into them, and concluded that they were > > designed essentially to save the ortho on chair time. (They have > > those little doors that snap open to remove the arch wire, then > snap > > closed over the replacement wire, which, in theory, means that he > > doesn't have to have anybody spend all that time doing individual o- > > rings or ties. > > > > But my guy found that kids generally WANT the colored o-rings. And > I > > know that sometimes he uses wire ties to get the leverage just as > he > > wants it. He also said that he feels that he has more control with > > the individual brackets and wires. > > > > The speed braces have brackets that are a bit smaller, I think. > > > > Ask your ortho to give you a list of pros and cons, and explain to > > you what they are and whether he recommends them or not. I'd want > my > > docs to be working with the tools they find most successful, myself. > > > > Oh, and if there's a possibility that you'll relocate during > > treatment, you might want to consider the idea that it can be hard, > > at least in some areas, to find an ortho who uses them. My guy > said > > he'd just been contacted by a patient who'd recently moved to this > > area, and had talked with quite a few orthos who wouldn't work with > > them, but insisted on removing the self-ligating ones and replacing > > them with the traditional brackets and wires... > > > > Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 " You mentioned that someone on the site has them and is > having quite a hard time with them. " Nope. Read again. Someone on site 2. Go read there... Not hard to find the link at all, but I confess, I am weary of looking up and posting the link. Even a Google search will offer you both. Don't mean to scold, but hey, I gave you (i think) a really accurate description of assorted encounters, and spent some time doing so. Do a little looking on your own! OK. Now I will be told that this is a support site, and I am unsupportive. I am not. But ask the guys you're paying, or do some reading around on the net. Or better yet, both. I'm no pro! And my advice comes free! C. > > Yes, I have heard of them. I have known some folks who adored them, > > swore that the treatment with them was quicker (how in the world > > could one ever know?) and that they were pain-free. > > > > At present there is someone on site two who is having a real time > > with them. She says the ortho just put a heavier wire in, and the > > little trap doors on the brackets don't close, and that they're > > cutting her mouth to bits, in the presence of an ortho and staff > who > > aren't sympathetic. This is the first time I've heard that. > > > > My own ortho, when I asked about them long after my treatment was > > over, said that he'd looked into them, and concluded that they were > > designed essentially to save the ortho on chair time. (They have > > those little doors that snap open to remove the arch wire, then > snap > > closed over the replacement wire, which, in theory, means that he > > doesn't have to have anybody spend all that time doing individual o- > > rings or ties. > > > > But my guy found that kids generally WANT the colored o-rings. And > I > > know that sometimes he uses wire ties to get the leverage just as > he > > wants it. He also said that he feels that he has more control with > > the individual brackets and wires. > > > > The speed braces have brackets that are a bit smaller, I think. > > > > Ask your ortho to give you a list of pros and cons, and explain to > > you what they are and whether he recommends them or not. I'd want > my > > docs to be working with the tools they find most successful, myself. > > > > Oh, and if there's a possibility that you'll relocate during > > treatment, you might want to consider the idea that it can be hard, > > at least in some areas, to find an ortho who uses them. My guy > said > > he'd just been contacted by a patient who'd recently moved to this > > area, and had talked with quite a few orthos who wouldn't work with > > them, but insisted on removing the self-ligating ones and replacing > > them with the traditional brackets and wires... > > > > Cammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 I'm pretty sure I have what you call " self-ligating " braces. They're pretty much the same as regular braces except that the brackets are a little smaller and instead of rubber bands to hold the wire in place there's a little metal clasp that locks the wire into the bracket. I've had absolutely no problems with them (except that one time the Dr. forgot to close one of the locks, doh!). The forces are extremely gentle and can feel my teeth get tender several times through the six week period between new wires (definitely still bearable to chew.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 I'm pretty sure I have what you call " self-ligating " braces. They're pretty much the same as regular braces except that the brackets are a little smaller and instead of rubber bands to hold the wire in place there's a little metal clasp that locks the wire into the bracket. I've had absolutely no problems with them (except that one time the Dr. forgot to close one of the locks, doh!). The forces are extremely gentle and can feel my teeth get tender several times through the six week period between new wires (definitely still bearable to chew.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Sounds like the self-ligating ones to me. Glad they're treating you gently! Cammie > I'm pretty sure I have what you call " self-ligating " braces. They're pretty much the > same as regular braces except that the brackets are a little smaller and instead of > rubber bands to hold the wire in place there's a little metal clasp that locks the wire > into the bracket. I've had absolutely no problems with them (except that one time the > Dr. forgot to close one of the locks, doh!). The forces are extremely gentle and can > feel my teeth get tender several times through the six week period between new wires > (definitely still bearable to chew.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Sounds like the self-ligating ones to me. Glad they're treating you gently! Cammie > I'm pretty sure I have what you call " self-ligating " braces. They're pretty much the > same as regular braces except that the brackets are a little smaller and instead of > rubber bands to hold the wire in place there's a little metal clasp that locks the wire > into the bracket. I've had absolutely no problems with them (except that one time the > Dr. forgot to close one of the locks, doh!). The forces are extremely gentle and can > feel my teeth get tender several times through the six week period between new wires > (definitely still bearable to chew.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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