mistake

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zander
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:58 am

mistake

#1 Post by zander »

So I have had a bad experience with getting braces, and I think I have picked an ortho that I cannot work with. I was told when I booked my appointment that another ortho in the practice would put my braces on. However, the day of the appointment, it was a tech who did all of the work. Someone, who may be an ortho - but I can't confirm it because they didn't even bother to introduce themselves to me, rushed in for one minute at one point, said to the tech "It's a disaster' and then hurriedly rearranged some brackets and told the tech to cure them. They then left as abruptly as she appeared. The tech was working franticly and managed to shine the blue curing light right into my eyes. I am unpleased about that. Then she rigged the archwires and set the tension. The other woman did not come back to check the final results. That evening I started to get extreme pain on a healthy tooth where the gum-line had pulled away a little. When I went back I was told this was just a coincidence and that it would heal. Then she told me that "the doctor hadn't indicated that I had any periodontal issues so...", which may be, but my gums are far from perfect and that is obvious to anyone with even a small amount of training I would think. What was she trying to say to me, that the brackets are strung more tightly than they should be but she is just following orders? I'm really not sure what to make of it. The next day a bracket separated itself from its tooth all on its own. I have eaten nothing but soup and water since the braces went on. I still haven't seen the ortho I thought I was working with and I am done with these guys. I called today and made an appointment to have the brackets removed. They can't do it for a couple of weeks because they are too booked.

So my question is, I have a floating bracket on one side of my lower jaw and the top is still tensioned. Will this cause me any problems long term? Should I fight to get them removed sooner? I may start again with someone else in the future, but for now I need to be done with this, and have a lot of distrust of their work so far. Should I call around and find someone else to remove them?

Thanks

rhomboid
Posts: 226
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:22 am

Re: mistake

#2 Post by rhomboid »

It all sounds awful, but don't panic. How do you not know who the Orthodonist is? Can you call, make an appointment to express your concerns and if not go to another Orthodontist for a second opinion and perhaps treatment. What ever you do continue with treatment somewhere, it is a great gift to yourself. Best of luck and persevere.

zander
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:58 am

Re: mistake

#3 Post by zander »

They mislead me I think. When I was done I asked her, 'so your an orthodontist and she said she was not. I am not going to continue the treatment. Right now I am more concerned about my eye to be honest. I better not end up losing vision from this. My understanding is that the light from those curing guns is extremely damaging to the eye.

rhomboid
Posts: 226
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:22 am

Re: mistake

#4 Post by rhomboid »

Regardless of all that, your braces may be very effectively installed on your teeth. Other than your eye exposed to the light inadvertantly, what makes you think that your vision could be impaired?

zander
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:58 am

Re: mistake

#5 Post by zander »

I think it may be impaired because I am having trouble focusing on 12 pt text which has never been an issue for me, and I have a burning sensation in that eye.

poppy123
Posts: 142
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:57 pm
Location: Manchester, UK

Re: mistake

#6 Post by poppy123 »

I'd go to another ortho for a second opinion whilst still wearing the brace

drrick
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Re: mistake

#7 Post by drrick »

I have more or less stared at that light every day for over a decade and no eye problems.
One little burst shouldnt do anything.

Gum recession can be painful -- especially to cold temperature items.
You arent going to have long term issues with one bracket off and starting wires are typically quite light (big ones just wont fit in teh brackets) some soreness/pain is normal for the first few weeks.

In many locales assistants place the brackets the doc checks them and repositions as needed before the asst cures them.
Personally I place them all but many places do it as described (esp in bigger offices or those that accept alot of insurance plans)
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sarz
Posts: 145
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:17 am

Re: mistake

#8 Post by sarz »

Did they not ask you to put sunglasses on?
Not sure about who you saw when she put your braces on but if she was a tech she should have had someone in the room observing her practise and definitely should have informed you as to what her postion was. I would advise you to get a second opinion but do continue with your treatment as your teeth may have already started to move and this would not necessarily be a good thing to have your brackets removed. You could always complain to the practice - they should have a complaints procedure in place. Good luck. :rose:
No Regrets Just Lessons Learned
"What can we do to prevent this from happening again"?

zander
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:58 am

Re: mistake

#9 Post by zander »

drrick,

I understand what you are saying, but in my consult they made a big deal about how they would be put on by another doctor, not an assistant, so the whole thing feels shady. Also the doctor did not recheck the work, after the assistant put in the archwire. Is that really normal? Especially when the doctor had just declared the assistants initial placement 'a disaster'?

Sarz,
No one was in the room observing her work and there were times when I was left alone with all kinds of crap in my mouth for minutes at a time. No eye protection was offered. I doubt that a couple weeks of movement will matter much when I discontinue. Most likely any movement will just revert to pre treatment I would assume.

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ashesgap
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Re: mistake

#10 Post by ashesgap »

I know someone already said it, but you need to sit down and talk with them before you waste all your money and just have everything removed.
29 years old
2-18-10 baby canine pulled
3-15-10 got braces
12-22-11 Moving-SO EXCITED!!
1-2-12 Meet new Ortho
1-5-12 Begin finishing treatment
3-5-12 Canine Implants...dun dun dunnnnn
4-9-12 Deband!
I had braces for Two Years and TwentyFive Days
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sarz
Posts: 145
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:17 am

Re: mistake

#11 Post by sarz »

Zander, I definitely agree that you should never have been left alone in the room - that is just not professional and as for the protective eye gear that should be a must in all orthodontic treatment. She really should have been observed by a qualified specialist so that part is out of order too.
Really, please get a second opinion before you are put off from having any further treatment - just because one orthodontic practice gave you a bad time doesn't mean that another will.
Good luck with it.
Hope you get things sorted out soon. :rose:
No Regrets Just Lessons Learned
"What can we do to prevent this from happening again"?

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TumbleDryLow
Posts: 999
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Location: Michigan

Re: mistake

#12 Post by TumbleDryLow »

It sounds like you've already made up your mind, but I'll say it anyway...I think you should give them one more chance. It may have just been a bad day at the office. Everyone has bad days. There were days when I walked into my orthos office and could feel "tension". As for the bracket popping off--this just happens sometimes. It's no one's fault. I had one bracket come off three times. As for the light, I never wore any eye protection when my brackets were first applied or when they were repositioned. My eyesight is fine. Having pain enough to only allow you to eat soup and water is very, very common when you first get braces. And it's true that the issue with your gum will very likely heal and may have nothing to do with the braces. I didn't have perfect gums either, and was fine all though treatment.

At my initial banding appointment, the assistant put on all my molar bands. The doctor positioned the brackets. The assistant cured them. I saw very little of the doctor. At my adjustments, the ortho came over very briefly to look at me, she then told the assistant what to do and did not check the work once it was completed. This is pretty common practice in the US at least at bigger, busier practices. (In Europe or in the UK the doctor does a lot more of the work.) I thought the assistants did a fine job doing the work and I thought the doctor did a good job directing the work. After 33 months in braces, I'm very pleased with my results.
It is unfortunate that you did not get proper introductions. That was rude. But I hope I've (somewhat) reassured you on the rest. If your mind is set that you just can't stand this ortho, I really hope you go forward with treatment somewhere else. Best wishes.

zander
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:58 am

Re: mistake

#13 Post by zander »

My mind is pretty much made up, and I'll state it clearly so that emotion doesn't come into it. When you are a professional like a Doctor or an assistant in the employ of a doctor, you should hold yourself to a standard of professional conduct, even on bad days. Its not a nicety, its a job requirement. If I showed the same disregard for one of clients I would be ashamed.

As far as giving them another chance, that just gets me in deeper with them. What if they continue to provide poor patient care? Seems like it would be harder to stop treatment a month or two in vs a week or two in. And I think it is not so easy to just pick up with another ortho in mid treatment.

thmmom
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:16 pm

Re: mistake

#14 Post by thmmom »

Zander -

I understand you being upset. It sounds to me like there were some bad attitudes going on at your appt. But, I did want to point out a couple of things that you are upset about that to me are common practice. At my Ortho you do not wear any protective eyewear. Granted, they don't shine the light in your eyes - that was obviously a mistake. The tech places the brackets on your teeth and then the ortho checks the placement and that's it. The ortho does not double check the brackets or the archwire. It is not uncommon for a bracket to come off in the days following your first appt. Your tooth may not have been dry enough. I think you have a valid complaint about the attitudes, but I think you should give this another chance. Go in and talk to your ortho.
Ceramic braces top & bottom on 6/24/10

sarz
Posts: 145
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:17 am

Re: mistake

#15 Post by sarz »

zander wrote:My mind is pretty much made up, and I'll state it clearly so that emotion doesn't come into it. When you are a professional like a Doctor or an assistant in the employ of a doctor, you should hold yourself to a standard of professional conduct, even on bad days. Its not a nicety, its a job requirement. If I showed the same disregard for one of clients I would be ashamed.

As far as giving them another chance, that just gets me in deeper with them. What if they continue to provide poor patient care? Seems like it would be harder to stop treatment a month or two in vs a week or two in. And I think it is not so easy to just pick up with another ortho in mid treatment.
I have to agree with you on this one. Whilst I think you should still continue your treatment elsewhere, it is best to leave this place now and not in two and a half years time like I had to.
You are BANG ON and have hit the nail on the head about the standards of professional conduct - there is absolutely no excuse for disgusting treatment and making you feel bad.
Best Wishes to you. :rose:
No Regrets Just Lessons Learned
"What can we do to prevent this from happening again"?

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