Minneapolis Orthodontist Shares Tips For Selecting A Professional
January 2, 2009- ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – Many parents will make straight teeth for their children a New Year’s resolution this year.
It’s important for parents and would-be patients to know how to select the best professional for the job, said Minneapolis Orthodontist Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth.
Knowing the types of questions to ask can go a long way toward finding the right orthodontist for the job.
“This isn’t a decision that should be entered into lightly,” Eisenhuth said. “As with any profession, there are differing personalities, levels of expertise and experience, so you want to choose wisely. This is someone who will be part of your life for the next several months or even years.”
Board Certification
One way to help ensure optimum results throughout orthodontic treatment is to select an orthodontist who has gone through the rigorous process of obtaining certification through The American Board of Orthodontics, said Eisenhuth, a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
The ABO is the only certifying board recognized by the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association.
To be eligible for board certification, orthodontists must have completed an orthodontics graduate program that is accredited by the American Dental Association and have gone through the ABO’s voluntary examination process, according to the ABO Web site. (http://www.americanboardortho.com/public/ )
The certification process requires orthodontists to pass a written test that covers pertinent orthodontic information, the site stated. Once orthodontists have passed this test, they are eligible to present cases of patients they have treated, which undergo an evaluation during a clinical examination by expert board examiners.
Orthodontists must be re-examined routinely to maintain their certification, Eisenhuth said.
Potential patients can verify whether an orthodontist is a Diplomate by entering the orthodontist’s name in the ABO Diplomate search on its Web site: www.americanboardortho.com .
Orthodontist vs. Dentist
It seems that everywhere you turn, more general and cosmetic dentists are incorporating orthodontics into their practices, so it’s a good idea to learn a bit about the differences in education when determining whether to select an orthodontist or other dental professional when getting braces, Eisenhuth said.
Dentists and orthodontists all graduate from dental school, but it’s what happens after graduation that separates the professions. An orthodontist is a specialist in that field. Being accepted into an orthodontic residency is a highly competitive process and only the top dental school graduates are accepted.
“Orthodontics is a demanding field,” Eisenhuth said. “There is a great deal of physics involved when straightening teeth and the science is very advanced.”
Eisenhuth compared going to a general dentist for braces to going to a general practitioner for a heart transplant.
“Everyone has received a great deal of training and is highly accomplished,” she said. “But when it comes to a specialized field, many people want to entrust their treatment to someone trained specifically in that field.”
It is important for people researching dentists and orthodontists to understand the experience, training and expertise of the professional that will provide the service, Eisenhuth said.
It also is important to note that if there are problems getting the teeth straightened, over time, the patient can run into root absorption issues. This is a condition where the root begins to disappear. An orthodontist has the training needed to prevent this from happening.
Questions to Ask
“You absolutely have the right to ask a professional to prove to you why you should select them to perform your procedure,” Eisenhuth said.
These are some topics she suggested patients ask about during a consultation:
- Length of prescribed treatment time. When providing treatment for other patients, how often was the treatment time table exceeded?
- Referrals of past patients and patient testimonials. Are there patients you can contact and ask about their treatment experience?
- Qualifications. Have they completed a residency and are they board certified?
- Before and after photos. Can you see photographic examples of results they have obtained from treatments similar to the type that you require?
- Fees. Are there hidden fees, or does the cost outlined include everything from diagnostic records to retention checks?
- Life after braces. Does the treatment plan continue for a period of time after the braces are removed to ensure the teeth remain straight?
Comfort
Especially with children and young teens, it is “extremely beneficial for the patient to be comfortable and excited about the treatment and the level of comfort they have with their orthodontist,” Eisenhuth said. “This makes the overall treatment much easier because the patient is liable to be more compliant.”
When patients like their orthodontist and are enthusiastic about their appointments, that can result in shorter treatment time in many cases because the patients tend to take better care of their braces and follow their treatment regimen.
“We really play to the kids and they love our office,” Eisenhuth said. “We have incentives in place to encourage them to practice good oral hygiene, take care of their appliances and even arrive at their appointments on time.”
Eisenhuth said it is important to have a nurturing environment that is supportive of the child during treatment.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about the Minneapolis, MN orthodontics practice of Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth or you would like to schedule a consultation with her, please call: (651) 406-8100 or visit her Web site: www.doctorjennifer.com.
About Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth
Dr. Eisenhuth attended the University of Minnesota Dental School and graduated in the top of her class. She earned the Minnesota Association of Orthodontic Achievement Award and several academic achievement awards. She entered her orthodontic residency at the University of Minnesota and earned a certificate in orthodontics and a Master of Science degree.
Dr. Eisenhuth is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
She takes pride in caring for the orthodontic needs of residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis, and their surrounding regions, including Apple Valley and Eagan, Minnesota.
Her office is located at 3340 Sherman Court, Eagan, Minn., 55121.
© 2009 Sinai Dental Practice Marketing and Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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