8 Things You Must Know Before Choosing Your Family’s Orthodontist
We create beautiful smiles by providing the finest orthodontic experience for people of all ages.
1.
An orthodontist is a dentist, who after graduating from dental school, completes additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists. This specialized training lasts at least 2-3 academic years, and sometimes longer. By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are specifically educated experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws. Orthodontists limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. This means that orthodontic treatment is what they do, and all they do. Selecting an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is your assurance that you have chosen an orthodontist: the dental specialist with at least 2-3 years of advanced specialty education in orthodontics in a university-based program accredited by the American Dental Association.(1)
(1) American Association of Orthodontists website - www.braces.org
2.
You enjoy many additional benefits and added peace of mind when you entrust your family’s orthodontic care to only a qualified orthodontic specialist. In some instances today, general dentists are performing orthodontic procedures that may better be left to an orthodontic specialist who has the experience and comprehensive orthodontic training to ensure favorable results.
3.
Did you know that legislation has been introduced in parts of the United States preventing dentists from conveying to the public that they are dental specialists if they have not completed the education for that dental specialty as defined by the American Dental Association? In some areas of the country, it has become common for general dentists to claim they are proficient at orthodontic procedures.
4.
At the time of their initial orthodontic evaluation, many children are not ready for orthodontic treatment. If your child does not require orthodontic treatment at the time of your initial visit, Dr. Cuozzo prefers to put them on recall and wait until the appropriate time to start. This enables patients to spend less time in treatment at a lower cost.
5.
Dr. Cuozzo is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He continued his education after dental school and received his certificate of specialty in orthodontics from Penn University. Dr. Cuozzo is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), which is the only orthodontic board recognized by the American Dental Association. Dr. Cuozzo has been chosen 10 times as a top orthodontist in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.
6.
To seek treatment from an orthodontic specialist, you do not need to be referred by a general dentist. In fact, 45 percent of patients that are treated by Dr. Cuozzo were not referred by a general dentist, but rather sought out his treatment based on his reputation for dedicated personal care.
7.
Orthodontic treatment is not just for children any longer! Many of our adult patients are finding out how a healthy, attractive smile can enhance their careers, as well as their self-esteem and happiness. Even though you didn’t have braces when you were young, why should you deprive yourself any longer of the many benefits of expert orthodontic treatment?
8.
Orthodontics is a long-term commitment with a possibility of two to two and half years of active treatment and several years of retention to follow up. Orthodontic associates in a general dentist’s practice may change their location before your orthodontic treatment is completed. This may result in an increase in treatment time, an undesirable orthodontic result, and or the need to find another orthodontist to finish treatment.
