Stouffville Orthodontist FAQ- How do I choose an orthodontist?

Your Stouffville braces orthodontist at MCO has the experience of thousands of orthodontic patients.  In fact, we see nearly 1000 new patients every year.  One of the biggest questions we get asked is how to choose an orthodontist.

We understand that there are a number of factors that lead to you choosing your orthodontist including:

-location

-convenience

-cost

-treatment plan

-comfort level with doctor and office

-experience and results

Location

You want to make sure the office is convenient to your home/work place with ample parking or public transit.  As you visit your orthodontist every 8 weeks, it is ok to travel to find the right doctor.

Convenience

Make sure the office offers hours that are convenient to you, including after school or work visits.  Almost as important is the amount of time you have to wait at each visit.  Offices that see their patients on time show that they value and respect their patient's time.  In this day and age, offices can be extremely popular but still see their patients without delay.  Make sure there is someone in the office during regular business hours in case you need to speak to someone or stop in at the office.

Cost

The overall cost for treatment must compare equal things.  There are certain aspects that are easily quantifiable such as retainers, x-rays, photos, mouthguards, etc included in your treatment.  Most offices will offer some sort of payment plan to divide up the cost of treatment over part of the duration of treatment.  Check for hidden costs that may be incurred.

However, it is not possible to compare the actual treatment.   Unlike purchasing things like TVs or appliances,  orthodontic treatment is not the same everywhere, whether it is Invisalign or braces.  Rather than looking for overall cost, it is better to look at the value that you receive in your treatment.  Paying a little bit more for your treatment may be worthwhile when looking at the overall experience and results.

Treatment Plan
Ask the doctor to explain the rationale for your treatment plan.  There should be reasons why certain appliances are required and it should be very clear why certain movements of the teeth are required.  While it is sometimes a good idea to seek more than one opinion, it is also not prudent to seek out a number of opinions to find the one you agree with, if it is so different from all of the others.

Comfort Level
As you will be under a couple of years of care, you want to make sure you feel comfortable with the doctor and the rest of the orthodontic team.  Doctors and teams that have had orthodontic treatment themselves are often more empathetic to the needs of their patients, as they have been patients themselves!

Does the office treat primarily children or is there also a good mix of adults?  Is the environment one that welcomes families into the office to follow along with treatment?

Experience and Results
This is a tricky one because there are a lot of results that you will see online that are not actual patients treated by the doctor.  Make sure you ask to see patients that have been treated in that particular practice, and even better if the before and after are similar to your situation.

In terms of experience, it is important to make sure that it is the right kind of experience and staying up to date.  Doctors that have treated thousands of patients may not stay up to date on the newest technologies and treatment techniques, while newer doctors do not have the experience to make guarantees about their treatment.

It's a great idea to read reviews on different offices, but be wary about which ones you are able to trust, as many offices will have a number of reviews in a short period of time.  This commonly happens when offices provide some sort of incentive for reviews to be written.  This skews the reviews in a positive way and provides a biased report.

Another great idea is to find a recommendation from local dentists or those in the dental industry.  Where do those dentists send their own family members for treatment?  Who do the hygienists and staff choose?

Finally, don't be afraid to ask some of the patients who are in the reception area while you are waiting to be seen at your consultation.  Make sure that the exam is thorough and you feel that you have all the required information before beginning treatment.

Good luck with your search for an orthodontist!

Toronto Invisalign Experience at MCO Orthodontics

Ever wondered what it would be like to go through the Invisalign process?  Take a look at one of our hygienist's blog about her Toronto Invisalign journey!

At MCO we feel that it is important for our team members to understand exactly how our patients feel during treatment.  Since most of us have had treatment by Dr. Tam, we truly know what our patients want and are going through on their path towards and MCO smile :).

Annual Meeting of Some of the Best Orthodontists in Toronto and North America

The end of March is an exciting time.  We have a lot of new patients from the rush during March Break and it also means the time for our annual study club meeting of orthodontists that work with Hummingbird Associates.  This year's meeting was in Chicago at the Wit Hotel, a nice downtown location a few steps from N. Michigan Avenue.

Dr. Jason Tam spent the first afternoon with Dr. Bob Hatheway and his potential associate before getting down to a nice dinner with 8 other doctors at Sixteen, the famous restaurant at the Trump Tower Chicago.  Our business is very much like the restaurant business.  We must be on time with appointments as they do with reservations, we must explain treatment options as they describe menu options, and there is often a premium to be paid for fantastic service.  It was a wonderful dining experience with fantastic conversation.

Meeting for two full days in a hotel for a weekend shows the amazing dedication of this group of elite orthodontists.  We discussed topics from Invisalign to marketing to patient flow to associates, with an openness and collegiality second to none.  Here is a picture of Dr. Tam with the Dr. Anil Idiculla and founder of Hummingbird, Karen Moawad.

With many ideas and advice for ways to improve our patient outcomes and service, it will be another exciting few months as we continue to make MCO Orthodontics your choice for orthodontics!

Invisalign Before and After - Toronto Invisalign Orthodontist

Check out this video of before and after Invisalign treatment from some of our patients at MCO Orthodontics.  Let us know what you think!

Cavities and Invisalign in Toronto... How to Avoid Them!

One of the biggest concerns of patients with Invisalign is whether using aligners will increase the number of cavities during treatment.  The truth is that with proper care, many patients actually see an improvement in their oral hygiene, resulting in healthier, whiter teeth and strong gums.  

On the other hand, there are a select group of patients that may notice staining or develop cavities when they "cheat" and have food/drink without removing their aligners, or do not clean properly afterwards.

Keep in mind that prior to all orthodontic treatment, a visit to the dentist is required to make sure there are no cavities.  Many patients who seek Invisalign care have not been visiting a dentist regularly and begin treatment with cavities that preexist, only to discover them during treatment.  There may situations where teeth were overly rotated, whereby making it impossible to see the cavity before the tooth is aligned.

It is important to understand that normally, the teeth are exposed to a natural cleansing process with the saliva that bathes them.  With aligners on, there is less exposure to the saliva and actually an aligner that can trap undesired sugars against the teeth.  Simply brushing after a meal may not be good enough.  Proper and thorough brushing, flossing, and rinsing will be required.  The best way to think about it is that food may still be stuck between the teeth that cannot be reached by a brush and sometimes when you have a drink, your saliva is still coloured like that drink for several minutes after you've had it.

At MCO Orthodontics, we have a lot of patients spanning the teens through young professionals and adults that use Invisalign.  We emphasize proper care and provide them with everything they need to take care of their teeth in treatment.  It would be a shame to invest in straightening teeth without taking care of them to avoid cavities.  This is a consideration when looking at fixed braces or Invisalign.

Markham Orthodontist Expansion of Existing Office Facility

Your Markham Orthodontist opened a 2000 square foot facility beginning construction in 2005.  Thanks to the confidence of local dentists and thousands of very happy patients, Dr. Tam decided it was time for the office to expand just 6 short years later.

New reception area

Our renovated and expanded office now spans about 3100 square feet with the most advanced technologies available.  We feature digital x-rays for more accurate images and less radiation, as well as 3-D digital camera teeth scanners for Invisalign and retainers.  There is a spacious reception area, private financial payment station, 2 comfortable consultation rooms, 2 fully stocked toothbrushing areas, and 8 semi-private treatment stations, with seating for parents or siblings.

New Clinical Area

The goals of this renovation were to improve the experience for our patients by allowing parents and friends to follow treatment as it is going on in the clinic, provide a modern and comfortable office environment, and to help position ourselves as the best orthodontist in Markham.  Check our more pics here:  http://www.mcosmiles.com/office-tour.php

New Consultation Room

MCO Markham Orthodontist Discusses Orthodontic Emergency Care

Your Markham and Stouffville Orthodontist knows that on occasion, there can be some orthodontic emergencies that occur.  However, as a general rule, there are few true emergencies that cannot wait until the clinic has an appointment available for you.  Common issues include broken appliances, poking or sharpness from brackets and wires, and general soreness.

If something occurs, you should call the office or email us to let us know about your issue.  After hours, in an extreme emergency, you can contact Dr. Tam directly.

The following solutions may help you relieve discomfort:

• General soreness: When you get your braces on, it is very common for you to feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take over the counter aspirin or other headache/pain relief medication.  The use of Tylenol is advised over Advil/Ibuprofen.
• Poking wire: Placing wax on the poking edge of the wire is a great way to alleviate the discomfort.  You can also use the wire cutter provided to you in your care kit.
• Loose bracket or band: If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket in a tissue, and call our office immediately. Remember, after alleviating your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem.
• Broken or lost retainers:  It is important to let the office know as soon as possible so that you can have your retainer repaired or replaced.  Teeth will shift very rapidly out of alignment without retainers in as little as a few days.

As per our office policies, comfort visits will be booked whenever we have an opening.  It may not always be possible to book you a visit after work/school/Saturday since most visits are booked up 8 weeks in advance.