What Happened to my Orthodontist? (We Answer)

Last Updated on April 21, 2024 by Gio Greenard

Good quality and bespoke treatment need uniformity to it. Changing exerts during treatment is detrimental to the patient. One frequent complaint of patients of corporate orthodontist offices is that their expert just disappears. Patients may go through many different orthodontists during a typical two-year treatment. In this post, we’ll take you through why using an independent ortho is key to successful treatment. What happened to my orthodontist? Let’s find out.

Orthodontists Don’t Own Their Practices

The good memories of one expert per health issue are long gone. Not since the ’70s has this occurred. Why? The answer is difficult and easy. It is a fact that orthodontists don’t own their practices. Below are the reasons why.

New Orthodontists Are Debt-Ridden

Orthodontists are underpaid and over-educated. Orthodontic education is expensive, requiring at least 10 years of schooling after high school. This consists of 4 years of college plus 4 years of dental school plus 2 more for an ortho residency. This makes the average new graduate indebted to themselves by hundreds of thousands of dollars upon graduation.

And that’s not all. Setting up a practice costs tens if not hundreds of thousands in overhead fees alone. New graduates don’t feel comfortable starting or buying their own practices because they can barely afford rent on top. It makes no sense financially to take out loans just so you can be your own boss with crippling debt looming right around the corner.

New Orthodontists Work For Others Before Opening Their Own Practice

Aspiring orthodontists should know that “corporate dentistry” has recognized many recent graduates’ situations and capitalized on them. These companies set up shop and hire new doctors to provide care while they manage all business aspects from within a centralized office space. Something which allows them to maximize their revenue potential by maximizing patient acquisition costs at minimal cost maintaining profitable growth year after year.

Many aspiring orthodontists would do well just knowing how some organizations are using this unique opportunity as a way for young practitioners who cannot afford their own practice yet not miss out on any work.

Orthodontists can be found in almost every healthcare speciality from primary care doctors’ offices all the way through pediatric dentistry. However, most fall under one umbrella: general practice. This includes oral surgeons and periodontist specialists alike. It also means dental school graduates have their choice between working with someone else until enough money comes together so they can finally open their own office, which is a risky venture in any case.

Common Issues with Corporate Offices

Doctors who work for corporations are intelligent and trained orthodontists. However, they may have disadvantages compared to those in self-owned practices. Depending on the company, there can be some issues you could run into:

The hiring of newer, less experienced doctors
Control over treatment provided
A change in orthodontists mid-treatment
You may incur a longer treatment process
The original treatment plan may be changed

Why Go Private?

The best care is provided in privately owned practices where the doctor/owner has invested his or her time, treating patients every day. The reason for this? Doctors can better evaluate what medicine works and how to combat diseases because they are there with you throughout your treatment plan. Private care is not just like an assembly line passing through a revolving door of faces that don’t know any more about you than their name on a chart somewhere.

Conclusion

Everyone wants nice teeth. Visiting an independent expert will help you understand what you can do to achieve a perfect smile without the stress of changing treatment or providers. You can get this with Dr. Panucci and all at Beach Braces. They have the experience and dedication to give you and your child the best possible service. If you have any further questions you can contact us by clicking here.

Dr Patricia Panucci

Dr Patti Panucci attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry for four years, where she graduated with a DMD degree (May 2000) among the Top 10 in her class. Following that, she headed west to Los Angeles to complete her three-year residency at one of the top-ranked orthodontic programs in the country – the University of Southern California.

Along with her certificate in orthodontics, Dr. Panucci earned a master’s degree in craniofacial biology. During those three years, she fell in love with Southern California beach life and decided that this was where her future lay.