Our Top 7 Tips on Explaining the Need for Orthodontics to Patients

Explaining the need for orthodontics

How To Effectively Communicate Why Orthodontics May Be Necessary

Most teens and adults today tend to think mainly of the aesthetic benefits of orthodontics. However, the health benefits are significant. One of the many important tasks that dentists have is explaining the need for orthodontics to their patients to ensure they get the proper care. While pursuing orthodontic treatments like braces and retainers may not be fun for most patients, it can be crucial for achieving and maintaining good dental health. Without timely orthodontic intervention, some patients may experience long-term, painful tooth damage.

As a dental health care provider, you already know that explaining the need for orthodontics is of the utmost importance, but it can be difficult to effectively communicate with patients who are not thrilled with the news that they need braces or other orthodontic treatment.

The following paragraphs go over a few strategies we have seen success with when explaining the need for orthodontics to your patients.

1. Start with their concerns.

As you have likely seen in your practice, each patient will come to you with different concerns. Some may be primarily concerned with aesthetic improvements, such as whitening; others may be primarily concerned with treating pain or sensitivity. Whatever their focus, if you see a need for orthodontics, it is usually best to begin the conversation with their primary concern. For example, if the patient in question has previously been primarily concerned with pain, it may be worthwhile to explain the benefits of using orthodontic treatment to improve their bite, which could help reduce their discomfort and prevent additional sources of pain over time.

2. Discuss oral health impacts.

After explaining how orthodontic treatment can help with their primary concern, it can be productive to show the patient how it can benefit oral health. In addition to treating any more immediate concerns, successful orthodontia can help to prevent gum disease and cavities when combined with healthy brushing and flossing habits. For patients with bite problems such as underbites or crossbites, orthodontic interventions can also help them chew better. While these orthodontic benefits may seem abstract to patients who are not well educated in this area, images can help clarify the severity of these issues and the value of preventing them. Before and after photos can also help show how orthodontia can change things like their alignment so they can get an idea of their treatment goals.

3. Answer their questions.

While answering patient questions is valuable throughout the discussion, some patients may only feel comfortable asking questions once you invite them. It is often a good idea to invite questions from the patient at some point in the conversation. Framing this invitation as “What questions do you have for me?” instead of “Do you have any questions?” may help patients open up, as this framing sets the expectation that there will be questions of some sort. Some common questions from patients about the need for orthodontics include an estimated treatment timeline, what sort of orthodontics may be necessary, and what issues the orthodontics will treat.  

4. Discuss the time frame.

Whether you’re working with a young patient who could benefit from early intervention or an adult who could have a better bite, it’s a good idea to share a complete vision of the treatment timeline. For example, give your best estimate of when orthodontic treatment should start for the best possible outcome and how long that treatment will likely need to continue for the best results. If there isn’t a definite timeline, consider providing a range or erring on the longer end of your estimate. This will help set realistic expectations for the patient and let you pleasantly surprise them if things go faster than expected.

5. Empower your team to discuss orthodontics.

Most patients won’t go into a routine checkup or cleaning with the expectation that they need orthodontics, so empowering your team to discuss orthodontics with patients can help them start the conversation early and give each patient time to adjust to the idea. This process can include educating your team on common issues that benefit from orthodontic treatment and training them on bringing these issues up without causing patient distress. For example, if they see signs of a crossbite during a prophy, they may say something along the lines of “I think I see some signs of ____, but I’m sure the dentist will also want to take a look. We’ll see what Dr. _____ says.” This way of phrasing the information can help the patient adjust to the idea that there may be an issue requiring further treatment without causing unnecessary stress or making them think it’s a definitive diagnosis.

6. Be ready with payment options.

While not ideal, many patients will immediately be dealing with concerns about how to afford any new treatment you recommend. Some may have dental insurance, whereas others don’t. Orthodontia can be expensive even with insurance, depending on the patient’s coverage. Even if they know all the benefits of orthodontic treatment and the severity of their need, some patients may say no because they do not think they can afford it. Therefore, it is ideal to train your front-office staff on how to educate patients on their insurance benefits, any payment plans your office offers, and other options to make orthodontic treatment more affordable.

7. Meet all the needs of your patients.

While your practice may or may not currently offer orthodontic treatment, expanding your offerings can be a beneficial decision for you and your patients. By adding orthodontia to your practice, you can appeal to more patients. Adding orthodontic care options to your practice can also improve the odds that your patients who need orthodontia will pursue it, as they won’t need to find an entirely new dental health care provider to get that type of treatment.

The Training You Need To Get Started

It is necessary that dentists who wish to add orthodontics to their practice take professional ortho courses first. At Synergy Orthodontic Seminars, our goal is to help you grow and expand your offerings to serve each of your patients better. That’s why we’ve created a wide range of comprehensive orthodontic courses to help you get the information you need. Browse our upcoming courses today.

Synergy Orthodontic Seminars

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