10. Tips to Find the Best Orthodontist in Melbourne
Finding the best orthodontist in Melbourne can be a time-consuming task. There are so many options to choose from, and it can be difficult to know where to start. However, there are a few key things to look for that can help you narrow down your search.
1- Check if the orthodontist is a registered specialist orthodontist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). You can do this by searching for their name on the AHPRA website.
Patients should be aware many clinicians claim to be specialists in orthodontics ; Some of their websites will use terms such as "Specialist" "Orthodontist" "Experts" etc to create a false impression that they are being treated by a specialist orthodontist or some type of an expert in Orthodontics. The only way to ensure you are getting treated by a specialist orthodontist is to check their AHPRA registration status.
2- Now once you have confirmed you are seeing a Specialist Orthodontist check if they have any additional qualifications post-graduation specialization. There are three main additional qualifications /Accreditations a specialist orthodontist can follow to further enhance and demonstrate their skill level.
- Member of Australian Orthodontic Board (AOB) Accreditation
- Member of American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Accreditation
- MORTH/MRACDS(ORTH)
Specialist orthodontists have to go through further assessments and examinations to get accredited by these organizations. A part of the assessment is to submit their treated cases for evaluation and best practices. This ensures the specialist has a high standard of treatment in terms of planning, execution, and orthodontic knowledge. The best Orthodontists have any one or all of these accreditations.
3. Look for an orthodontist who is a member of the Australian Society of Orthodontists(ASO). ASO requires its members to maintain high standards of ethics and practice, so you can be assured you're getting the best possible care. Members are required to complete ongoing continuous professional development (CPD) and conferences to keep them up to date. You can search for an ASO orthodontist by simply clicking here.
4. Best orthodontists contribute towards research in advancements of orthodontics and are well published in orthodontic journals, such as Australian Orthodontic Journals, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, European orthodontic journal, etc. These journals are supported by their country's peak orthodontic bodies, eg the Australian orthodontic journal is the official journal of the Australian Society of Orthodontists.
Patients should take note it takes a lot of effort to be published in an orthodontic research journal. An orthodontist has to present something interesting, innovative, and complex which adds value to the current orthodontic knowledge. Once an article is submitted it goes to the editorial board and peer review process and several questions are asked to the author. The orthodontist is required to satisfy all the queries raised by the peer-review process. At this stage, more than 90% of articles will be declined and only 10% are considered worthy to be approved and published. It takes approximately 12-24 months of hard work to get an article published in an orthodontic journal. Some of the prestigious orthodontic journals are
- The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (Official journal of American Society of Orthodontists)
- Australian Orthodontic Journal (Offical Journal of Australian Society of Orthodontists)
- British Orthodontic Journal ( Official journal of British Orthodontic Society)
- The Angle Orthodontist
- Japanese Orthodontic Journal
- European Orthodontic Journal
If an orthodontist is well-published, it's a clear indication he or she is the best in their field and accepted by their peers. Thus only a handful of specialist orthodontists are well published and in our opinion, they are the best orthodontists. To find out if an orthodontist has any publications you can find these details on their website's profiles or you can simply search their names on Medline or PubMed databases.
5. The Best orthodontists are ethical and unbiased in selecting treatment appliances/ devices. As the orthodontic devices market is highly incentivized in Australia (The more you sell more discounts and incentives, recognition you will receive from the product company). Good orthodontists always put their patient's needs first and select orthodontic appliances based on treatment goal objectives.
6. The finest orthodontists have excellent communication and listening skills. They should be able to clearly explain the treatment options available and listen to your concerns and provide expert treatment options. A good orthodontist should be able to answer any question related to orthodontics.
7. The best orthodontists offer a wide range of services, including early interceptive treatments, braces, clear aligners, Invisalign, lingual braces, orthognathic jaw surgery, TADS, Bone plates, Rapid maxillary expansions, TADS-based expansion etc. They work closely with patients to provide the most suitable treatment options for them.
8. The top orthodontists are friendly and professional, so you feel comfortable working with them throughout your treatment. They understand their patient's aesthetic and functional requirements and try their best to make your experience as positive as possible.
9. The leading Orthodontists are technologically advanced they utilize the best tools and software to provide the best care to their patients. Tools such as digital scanners, in-practice Xrays, imaging, cephalometric software, and 3d printers, etc. The technology enhances the treatment predictability and patient experience.
10. Finally, the best Orthodontists are not present on social media, they don't need to as they are busy taking care of their patients and contributing to the advancement of orthodontics. We highly recommend not looking on social media to find the best orthodontists.
If you keep these qualities in mind, you can be sure to find the finest orthodontists in Melbourne., be sure to choose one who meets most of these criteria.
references
https://www.aso.org.au/australasian-orthodontic-board
