Prior to setting up the initial consultation, understanding the levels of education that Ottawa orthodontists have attained can prove helpful. Potential clients want to know that they will receive the care and supervision of a professional who has prepared to provide the best correction for their teeth. The following information will ensure that you ask the right questions and know how to consider the responses given.
To that end, there are a number of levels of education a licensed practitioner has completed. A wide variety of orthodontists Ottawa will have any number of letters following their names to denote the degrees they have received from their educational background. The first level of these is the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Both these degrees represent the same level of training in dentistry, only dependent upon the particular dental school the professional attended.
Additionally, Ottawa orthodontists may have accrued a Masters of Science (MS or MSC), which suggests more general training, but as far as orthodontics goes, does not, in most cases, effect the level of service provided. That said, the MS does add value to the practitioner but is not necessary to receiving high-quality care.
Licensed orthodontists will have completed an orthodontic residence after graduation from dental school. Accredited programs typically last two or three years, and can differ in the level of attendance and length required by the program. One question clients may want to ask, therefore, is the type of program – whether it was a full-time, university course schedule, or a part-time commitment. Full-time programs are more desirable.
After completing an orthodontic residence, Ottawa orthodontists are required to pass two exams in order to become certified in orthodontics. These are the written examination and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Together, they ensure that the practitioner is capable of performing all of the functions necessary. These functions range from conducting proper client-service provider relationships, to administering proper care for the wide variety of ailments clients could possibly want an orthodontist to help with.
Some cosmetic orthodontists will have their DDS or DMD but not the certification requisite to perform orthodontic procedures. These dentists will be able to place veneers on teeth, whiten, and in general improve the quality of their clients’ smile, but will lack the ability to restructure the jaw or tooth structure with braces, headgear, or any of the apparatuses that cause permanent changes.
Orthodontists are skeptical that recipients of cosmetic dentistry receive the full benefits of treatment. They have provided evidence, for example, that veneers, placed and replaced over time, can cause permanent damage to tooth structure. However, many clients do not rule out this possibility because of the level of commitment orthodontists Ottawa require (usually 2-3 years, and more financial backing).
If at a different stage in the process of orthodontic treatment, there are a number of other articles on this site designed to provide useful information to potential clients, such as What Questions to Ask and What to Expect of your Ottowa Orthodontist (more information useful to know before setting up the initial consultation). Prior to the initial consultation itself, What to Expect of Your Ottawa Orthodontist, in addition to How Ottawa Orthodontists Correct Your Dental Problems may help, as well.
