Anyone Can Straighten Teeth, Right?

If you make a decision to invest in your smile then wouldn’t you want someone super qualified rather than just anyone? Or worse yet, no one? With more and more DIY options and more general dentists posing as orthodontists (believe me, there are quite a few pretenders out there) it has become increasingly difficult to work out who is actually a Specialist Orthodontist.

A Specialist Orthodontist has not only completed a Dentistry degree, but has then gone on to complete an additional three years (with over 5000 hours of clinical training) gaining a Doctorate in Orthodontics. The competition is tough with only 3-4 Dentists in New Zealand making the cut to be selected into the Doctoral training programme to become a Specialist Orthodontist, each year.

For some of my fellow colleagues, those three years can be a ride or die for personal relationships - so doing an online course or a two day seminar has its appeal - but the achievement of gaining a skill set from high quality training at selective tertiary institutions has value.

Despite the intense training, straightening teeth and correcting bites not only becomes a craft but it becomes a passion. And you know when you’ve caught the orthodontic bug when you watch a show and a person comes across your screen and the first thing you look at is teeth, and then do a quick assessment and treatment plan in your head. I won’t ever be able to watch Top Gun again without focusing on Maverick’s midline deviation and his rotated lateral incisor. The perfect man with the not-so-perfect teeth. But hey, how many people can fly inverted above a MIG? He gets a free pass.

Be particular about who you choose, just like you would be particular about who you choose to cut your hair. A smile is for LIFE.

How orthodontics is regulated in New Zealand

The post above makes the case for choosing carefully. It helps to know that New Zealand actually has a formal system behind that choice, so you are not left guessing.

The specialist pathway, and why the title is protected

In New Zealand, "orthodontist" is a protected specialist title. A practitioner cannot simply adopt it. After the years of university training the post describes, an orthodontist must be registered in the orthodontics scope of practice with the Dental Council of New Zealand, the body that regulates dental professionals here. That registration is public. Anyone can look up a practitioner and confirm whether they are registered as a specialist orthodontist or as a general dentist, which is a genuinely useful thing to do before you commit. The Dental Council register is at dcnz.org.nz, and the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists at orthodontists.org.nz lists specialists too.

The risks of unsupervised, remote aligner treatment

The DIY options the post mentions have grown, and the one that concerns specialists most is mail order aligners with no in-person supervision. Moving teeth is a medical procedure, not a mail order product. Without X-rays and a hands-on examination, no one can see the length and health of your roots, the condition of your gums and bone, or how your bite truly fits together. Teeth can be pushed in directions the supporting bone cannot safely follow, and because no one is watching along the way, problems are often noticed only once they are difficult to reverse. A small saving at the start can turn into a much larger cost later. If an online offer is tempting you, a second opinion first costs you nothing.

Questions worth asking any provider

• Are you a registered specialist orthodontist, or a general dentist offering orthodontics?
• Will you take X-rays and examine me in person before moving any teeth?
• Who will I actually see at each appointment, and how often?
• What does the fee include, and does it cover retainers and aftercare?
• What is the plan if something does not go as expected?

A good provider will welcome every one of these questions and answer them plainly, without making you feel awkward for asking. If any of them are brushed aside, or you sense the pressure is on to sign quickly, treat that as useful information in itself.

Choosing well really does matter, because a smile is for life. If you would like that hands-on assessment from a registered specialist, you are welcome to book a complimentary Smile Assessment, no referral needed, or explore your options with clear aligners and braces. You can reach us on (09) 520 1880.