Difference in treatment UK and USA

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#1 Post by **joney** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:29 am

Having read this board for a while something puzzles me the differences in treatment in the UK and the USA.

In the USA consultations seem free whereas in the UK they cost about Â£50. I wonder how the orthos in the USA can afford to give their time for free.

Also in the USA it seems that the assistants do a lot of the work with the ortho overseeing the work, here the orthos seem to do all the work and the assistants just hand them stuff. Assistants seem to have more responsibility in the USA I wonder if they have more training.

This is not really as question, more of an observation really and I wonder how people feel about the differences.

Regards
Joney

#2 Post by **manglemouth** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:38 am

I was wondering the same thing, considering how many people back out of treatment or get several opinions, how can they afford to give all these people their free time? 3 orthos gave me opinions without getting any money from me. However; I have to say they were also really quick opinions...which is actually the biggest reason why I chose #3. They gave me a whole 2 hours including xrays completely unpaid! But then again all 4 orthos charged for records separately and that charge wasn't really that cheap, and it wasn't included in the price for the entire treatment. Maybe they just absorb all the free consultations with that cost? I don't know. Everyone but my current ortho also would have charged for xrays separately. I am sure they pad that a little bit to make up for all the free time they spend on patients.

I do feel a little odd knowing that the assistants will do most of my work. Not that I know for sure yet because I don't have my braces on yet, but there sure are alot of assistants there so I can only assume that they do the adjustments. I would like the brackets places by the ortho but even if that's not the case, I won't complain. I have to just trust that the orthos and their assistants are a great working team and the ortho's won't give their assistants any jobs they can't handle.

#3 Post by **Lisa65** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:02 pm

I wonder if perhaps there are more orthodontists per head of population in the US, so they need to offer free consults in order to get patients?

In my town there are only 2 specialist orthodontists. In the whole of South Hampshire (home to probably half a million people) there are only 10 orthodontists of which 5 see the general public. The others are hospital based consultants and do not have practices open to the public.

Also because of the different way the treatment is done here, I guess they can't treat as many patients. All the clinical work is done by the ortho. The assistants do X rays but they don't do any hands-on treatment, so an ortho can only see one patient at a time.

Perhaps this also explains what seems to be a higher average treatment cost in the UK as opposed to the US.

#4 Post by **victory1** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:38 pm

I live in Snellville, GA and when I decided to get braces, I put my zip code on my insurance website search engine for close orthos, and it pulled 27 within a 15 mile radius (which was my search criteria). I'm sure there is more but it will only give me practices that are in network for Metlife insurance.

#5 Post by **onedayperfect** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:52 pm

victory1 wrote:I live in Snellville, GA and when I decided to get braces, I put my zip code on my insurance website search engine for close orthos, and it pulled 27 within a 15 mile radius (which was my search criteria). I'm sure there is more but it will only give me practices that are in network for Metlife insurance.

I have to drive 40mins to mine, being the only one in the area

#6 Post by **jennandtonic** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:32 pm

My ortho charged me $30 for my consultation. However, she did extensive studying of my teeth, took pictures, x-rays, et cetera. She had most of a plan set out by the time I went in a second time for impressions, then tweaked it of course after she finished my models. So I didn't mind the 30 dollar fee.

Now, with the ortho assistant thing. My ortho has two assistants, and one of them does more, such as putting in powerchains and other things, such as cleats, et cetera, from what I get she has more training than the second assistant, who basically takes out my powerchains and other such appliances but doesn't put them in. And neither of them do ANYTHING without my ortho's stamp of approval before, during, and after.

So I don't know, maybe some of them do have more training.

#7 Post by **Boolajoojoo** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:00 pm

I think it's pretty typical in the US for anyone trying to get your business to give free estimates, free consultations, etc. Maybe it has something to do with the dynamics of our economy...offering a free consult is very competitive... I dunno... but also a lot of the time this results in high pressure sales and jacked up prices... (sometimes you can haggle) If you take your car in to get looked at for a specific problem, you get a free estimate and they inevitably find 10 other things wrong with it, and they try to secure your business right then...

Maybe the orthodontists realize you're not just in their office for fun, and maybe most people don't even bother to go to more than one consult. I usually go with the first mechanic to look at my car cause I can't drive my broke car all around town and "Hey... all mechanics are the same..." Somehow, I don't have the same attitude about doctors...

My first consult was free, and we were talking about financing within fifteen minutes... but I didn't feel right about choosing the first one without any other opinions. My next consult is costing me $145 which makes me very reluctant when other's offer free consults, but they specialize in TMJ and do the records during the consult. Meh...

Sorry, sometimes I ramble.

#8 Post by **onedayperfect** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:58 am

Is it purely just a verbal consultation in the USA? I paid Â£100 roughly $200 which included, x rays, models etc and about a 30minute discussion. This was spread over 2 appointments.