Time to find a new orthodontist? Braces for a year (pics)

[Cadet]

Hey all.
I'm so glad a friend of mine linked me to this forum. There's plenty of advice and other experiences that we all can benefit from.

To give you guys my long story short, it's been a full year since I got my braces on, and my teeth are still not straight at all. And I'm not sure if I should be worried.
The ortho has a good reputation but he doesn't seem to look very closely and examine my teeth on my monthly check ups.
I'm literally out in almost 10 mins. Is this normal??
He asks me to take a few bites, looks at my teeth a bit, proceeds with tightening, and changing of wires, etc. and I'm out in a maximum of 15 minutes..

Day 1 of braces.
http://i.imgur.com/T9xa6oy.jpg

Today. Exactly 12 months later.
http://i.imgur.com/rFQZdya.png

What do you guys think? I'd really appreciate feedback..
Thank you guys in advance.

[Bikerchick85]

From what I can tell, it looks as though they've straightened up a lot! I don't know how bad your bite is. But the adjustment times when you see the ortho seem awfully short to me. Mine are scheduled for 30 mins at least depending on what we're doing. But I'm usually there for longer because I ask a million questions. Have you paid up front? If so, I'd say stick it out with your current ortho. I'd have a sit down first and let him know your concerns and tell him you feel your progress isn't what you anticipated for how far along in treatment you are. Give him a chance to make it right. If you haven't paid up front and he doesn't start making things right for you, I'd have a consult with someone else. better pics would help us help you! Good luck!

[Ciara]

There certainly has been a lot of movement. I'd be pretty happy about that but I wouldn't be very happy with 15 minute appointments. I'd go with a series of questions next time and insist on getting an answer. If you do change orthos at this stage, you could lose a lot of money so I'd probably stick with this one but insist on more time and some answers about what is happening, how much longer etc.

[sirwired]

As a layman, I don't see any problems with your treatment at all. You appear to have a lot of progress, and it looks reasonable to me... but only your ortho can answer if it's what he expected.

And I'd kill to be seeing an office so efficient that I was out the door in 15. It's rare for me to get out of there in less than 45 minutes... the ortho is busy scurrying around like a madman between patients. I think my actual active chair time is no more than 10 minutes; an adjustment simply isn't a very involved procedure. What were you expecting?

[EbonyQ]

As a layman, I don't see any problems with your treatment at all. You appear to have a lot of progress, and it looks reasonable to me... but only your ortho can answer if it's what he expected.

And I'd kill to be seeing an office so efficient that I was out the door in 15. It's rare for me to get out of there in less than 45 minutes... the ortho is busy scurrying around like a madman between patients. I think my actual active chair time is no more than 10 minutes; an adjustment simply isn't a very involved procedure. What were you expecting?

I second this

[emoticon1234]

I don't know, I think an experienced orthodontist should be able to quickly get you on your way, but at the same time explain what's happening. I always ask what they're doing and what it's going to do for me treatment wise when I go in. That way, I know what's getting fixed and it gives me an approximation of how much longer I'll be treated.

For a while I was only having apprx. 10 minute appointments to activate the chain connected to my cuspid so they could draw it down from the gum. Usually it's just the assistants who do my appointments and my ortho will come over, look at my bite and tell the assistant what to do.

[isthistaken]

Most doctors I've gone to recently are like that, almost drive-thru medicine. I find it disconcerting.

[Tobilei]

I think there's been quite a bit of movement too, don't be afraid to ask questions though!

My active chair time (I like that term ) is probably 10-15 minutes also. I'm usually in and out within 25 minutes and my orthos' office actually has a policy that they refund you money if they're running late (they never are). Generally he does the same as your ortho, gets me to open and close my bite a few times, new archwire, new ligs on the bottom and sometimes some extra stuff. I've had plenty of fast appointments though even with my questions. I have complete confidence that he knows what he's doing and he happily answers all and any questions I have.

[SunshineRay]

I see lots of movement too. If you have questions then ask as soon as he walks in the room.

[MrsCharisma]

Your teeth are much straighter now. For some people the "work" happens quickly and they see teeth fall in line; then wait for everything to stabilize. For some, things move slow...slow...slow and then toward the end, BAM! there's a ton of change.

But your teeth are much straighter now

I spend about 2.5 minutes with my ortho! Ok, maybe it's a few minutes longer than that...but really, it's not a long drawn out thing. I am never at my ortho's office for longer than 15 minutes.

[bmueller]

There is definitely improvement.

I think short appointments are common. If you do have questions, ask them first, otherwise its difficult when they're in your mouth to voice any concerns. Often the orthodontist does a quick check and provides a plan for the assistant to do.

For me, the assistant always changes the o-rings and applies the wire ties or powerchains and puts the new archwire in.

Stick with it!