» Read This Before Ordering Orthodontic Treatment Online

Read This Before Ordering Orthodontic Treatment Online

By admin 08/25/2018
These days you can do almost anything with the click of a button. Order school supplies. Get a ride across town. Watch your favorite movie. Order food delivery. It seems like every day there’s a newer and easier way to do almost everything. We’ve been programmed to accept that anything can be ordered online and delivered right to your front door. However, at Eckels Orthodontics, there is one thing that we believe has no easy replacement: orthodontic treatment. There is no match for trained, experienced professionals when it comes to your dental health.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) agrees. They recently issued a Consumer Alert listing key questions to ask about direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies. You can download a print-friendly version here.

The issue is that many direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies do not involve the in-person evaluation and/or in-person supervision of your treatment we provide at Eckels Orthodontics This type of supervision is important because there is more to creating a healthy, beautiful smile than moving the visible portions of your teeth. If not done correctly any dental work can lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changes to your facial profile, and other issues. An orthodontist like Dr. Eckels has many tools in his arsenal to help create your beautiful smile – Invisalign, for example, is just one of them. It’s important to have a fully qualified and certified orthodontist involved when making any changes to your teeth.

The Top 10 Questions To Ask

The AAO advises that when researching orthodontic treatment (including treatment models from direct-to-consumer companies like SmileDirectClub, Candid Co., Smilelove, SnapCorrect, Orthly, etc), you should consider many key questions, some of which include:
1. As part of your treatment, are comprehensive diagnostic records like x-rays taken before your treatment?
2. As part of your treatment fee, do you receive any in-person visits to a dentist’s or orthodontist’s office during your treatment?
3. Is only one treatment type offered (such as invisible aligners or a certain appliance)?
4. What are the possible risks (financial, health, etc.) associated with your orthodontic treatment?
5. Who is responsible for detecting any issues that may occur during your orthodontic treatment? Is it you? If it is a doctor not associated with your treatment, who pays for those check-ups?
6. If an emergency arises, does the company have a dentist or orthodontist in your area that you can see in-person? If not, who would cover the costs associated with seeing a dentist or orthodontist in your area?
7. If you are injured or have another dispute involving your orthodontic treatment, how is it handled (litigation, arbitration, etc.) and what rights do you have?
8. Does the treatment model comply with the dental laws in your state? To check your state’s dental laws, click https://www.aaoinfo.org/state-laws-and-regulations. Information for your state dental board can be found at https://www.aaoinfo.org/aao/state-dental-board-info.
Where You Receive Your Health Care Is A Very Important Personal Decision

Remember that orthodontic treatment is not a product or device – it is a professional, medical service. Dr. Eckels earned his dental degrees (DDS) at West Virginia University and went on to fulfil post-graduate residencies in Orthodontics. He has 26 years of experience practicing as a specialist in orthodontics and has been selected “Best Orthodontist” by Parkersburg News and Sentinel Readers Choice for 8 years running! He is committed to helping your teen achieve the smile they’ve always wanted in the fastest route possible.

Before making any decision about orthodontic treatment, consider doing some research and having a complimentary in-person consultation at Eckels Orthodontics. Our always friendly team is excited to meet you! Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation at any of our 3 convenient office locations.

Click below to schedule a complimentary consultation! No pressure. Just answers!

2010 Garfield Ave., Suite 1

Parkersburg, WV 26101

401 Colegate Dr.

Marietta, OH 45750

314 Claylick Rd

Ripley, WV 25271
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- 2010 Garfield Ave., Suite 1
- Parkersburg, WV 26101
- P | (304) 699-0720
- 401 Colegate Dr.
- Marietta, OH 45750
- P | (740) 538-0446
- 314 Claylick Road
- Ripley, WV 25271
- P | (304) 916-7708

Read This Before Ordering Orthodontic Treatment Online

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