Choosing the Right Orthodontist for Your Smile
It’s often speculated that your SMILE is the first thing people notice and the feature that leaves the most lasting impact. A beautiful smile is more than just a lasting impression on others though. Smiling boosts confidence, improves your mood and has even been proven to have a huge impact on your health!
Your smile is a lifelong investment and choosing the right orthodontist to help you achieve your perfect grin is imperative. Picking the perfect orthodontist can be an overwhelming task. When it comes to choosing an orthodontist for yourself or your child, there are a lot of things to consider. One thing you need to be sure of is that you are choosing a doctor with the highest level of training and experience to create the best results possible. That is why we always recommend choosing a board certified orthodontist.
What is a Board Certified Orthodontist?
Board certification signifies that an orthodontist is committed to the highest level of care possible. This achievement is only reached by one in three orthodontists in America. Orthodontists who are board certified have not only graduated from an accredited orthodontic training program, but also undergone extensive training to demonstrate their excellence and commitment to orthodontic care. Board certification is a rigorous process that takes into account an orthodontist’s treatment planning skills, judgement, technique and finished smiles.
Not everyone can become board certified
To become a board certified orthodontist, a doctor must demonstrate the highest quality of orthodontic care. Orthodontics is about much more than just straightening crooked teeth. While straight smiles is an important part of what they do, a good orthodontist also understands the complex relationship between facial growth, development and form. A board certified orthodontist is able to mold a patient’s teeth, jaw and bite to create a beautiful smile that is unique to the structure of their face.
Board certification illustrates an orthodontist’s commitment to excellence. It not only demonstrates what they have accomplished in the classroom, but uses real treatment cases to show that an orthodontist understands what was learned and can translate that to real life in order to deliver excellent results.
Requirements for certification by the ABO are:
- Graduation from an ADA accredited orthodontic program
- Passing of a written examination – this is a comprehensive exam that requires extensive knowledge in all phases of orthodontic care and treatment.
- Clinical examination and case presentation – this requires the orthodontist to exhibit excellence in treatment standards in a variety of diagnostic areas. It includes detailed case reports that include every phase of treatment, from initial consultation to finished results. The orthodontist is not only asked to present on his or her own cases, the board will also provide records for which the orthodontist must diagnose and develop a treatment plan.
- Recertification – every 10 years, the orthodontist must be re-examined to ensure certification can be maintained.
At Gray Orthodontics, we believe that orthodontics is an involved field that requires dedication, knowledge and skill. By being board certified, Dr. Gray demonstrates his commitment to providing the highest level of care possible to each patient. At Gray Orthodontics, you can rest easy and smile knowing that you are in capable hands.