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How can I make a same-day appointment with an Orthodontist in Orlando?
On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for an Orthodontist in Orlando, book an appointment, and see the Orthodontist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Orthodontists in Orlando who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
How can I find an Orlando Orthodontist who takes my insurance?
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for an Orlando Orthodontist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
How can I book an appointment online with an Orthodontist in Orlando?
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Orthodontists in Orlando and book appointments instantly. You can search for Orlando Orthodontists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
How can I find a female Orthodontist in Orlando?
When you search for Orlando Orthodontists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Orthodontists in Orlando who match your preferences.
How can I find an Orlando Orthodontist who sees patients after hours?
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Orlando Orthodontists with availability after 5 p.m.
How can I find a top-rated Orthodontist in Orlando?
You can use Zocdoc to find Orthodontists in Orlando who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
How can I find a video visit with an Orthodontist online in Orlando?
Orthodontists in Orlando on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Orthodontists who offer video visits.
Are video visits with an Orthodontist online covered by my insurance?
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Orthodontists in Orlando who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
How can I find an Orthodontist in Orlando who sees patients in the morning or evening?
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for an Orthodontist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
How can I find an Orthodontist in Orlando who sees patients during the weekend?
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Orthodontists in Orlando. Many Orthodontists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
What is orthodontics, and who are orthodontists?
Orthodontics is a Greek word. It comprises two words: ortho (straight or correct) and dont (tooth), which means straight teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, Edward H. Angle founded orthodontics in 1900. It was the first dental specialty to diagnose, prevent, and treat misaligned bite patterns, teeth, and jaws.
Orthodontists are dental specialists who are also known as doctors of oral health. They specialize in orthodontic treatment and aim to ensure that people of all ages, from children to adults, have a smile that looks great, feels good, and functions properly. They also diagnose, prevent, detect, and treat facial irregularities.
What does an orthodontist do?
Orthodontists are trained to diagnose and treat all sorts of oral health conditions related to teeth, gums, and mouth.
An orthodontist's list of roles consists of the following:
- Detection and treatment of misaligned jaws and teeth referred to as malocclusion
- Supervision of facial growth (jawline) in children
- Designing a treatment plan that includes braces and retainers
- Performing teeth straightening surgery
- Installation of dental devices, such as braces, orthodontic headgear, palatal expanders, or Herbst appliances
Education and training of orthodontists
Orthodontists attend college as well as dental and orthodontic schools. They spend two to three years in an orthodontic residency program after graduation. Because most dental schools only provide limited orthodontic training, this additional training is critical. Orthodontic residency programs offer dental practitioners extensive and specialized training.
They specialize in two areas of dentistry: orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. Dentofacial orthopedics effectively directs the growth of the teeth, jaw, and face, whereas orthodontics deals with moving teeth safely and correctly. After completing their training, an orthodontist can pursue board certification.
What to expect during an orthodontist's visit?
Usually, a dentist is the first one to notice misaligned teeth during a routine examination. However, your dentist could advise that you visit an orthodontist near you if your back teeth do not line up evenly. During your first orthodontic consultation, you are likely to undergo the following:
- an oral evaluation
- photos of your face and smile
- dental X-rays
- panoramic or 360-degree X-rays of your face and head
- impressions to make molds of your teeth
These tests help your orthodontist assess your condition and provide the best treatment and orthodontic interventions.
What does an orthodontist mean by malocclusion, and what causes it?
Orthodontists frequently use the word "malocclusion," indicating that the teeth lack proper alignment. When a person bites their teeth together, the upper teeth should rest slightly above the lower ones. Each molar should adequately fit into the grooves of its opposite molar. Malocclusion is characterized by several common symptoms, including difficulty chewing or biting food, abnormal wear on the chewing surfaces of the teeth, and jaw or mouth pain. Class 1 malocclusion, overbite, overcrowding, overjet, crossbite, spacing, and open bite are some types of malocclusion.
The majority of orthodontic issues (malocclusions) are hereditary. A protrusion, crowding, spacing, jaw growth difficulties, and missing or extra teeth are examples of genetic disorders. Dental disease, the early or late loss of baby (primary) teeth, thumb- or finger-sucking, accidents, and other factors can lead to malocclusions. It might result from an oral birth deformity, like a cleft palate or lip.
Common orthodontic problems
As mentioned earlier, dentists may recommend you to an orthodontist if you need specialized care. Some of such issues orthodontists handle include the following:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth: Normally, children should begin losing their baby teeth between the ages of five and seven. However, if they haven't lost it by age seven, you should take your child to an orthodontist. That's because losing baby teeth too late or early can disrupt the proper development of permanent teeth waiting to grow. In this case, orthodontists can help detect early signs to help prevent severe orthodontic issues.
- Difficulty biting or chewing: Pain from chewing or biting can indicate different issues, such as oral cancer, tooth loss, dry mouth, tooth decay, and gum disease. Orthodontists will find out the root cause of the problem and recommend appropriate treatment.
- Misplaced, crowded, or blocked-out teeth: These are the most common orthodontic problems requiring customized treatment plans. Although most issues are visible to the naked eye, some people may be unaware of unerupted teeth that cannot push through their gums. Orthodontists can identify these issues and use various treatment options, like expanders, aligners, or braces to correct the problem.
- Protruding teeth: It occurs when your teeth stick out further than what looks aesthetically pleasing, and it can happen in just the top arch or both arches. Some of its causes include genetics, missing or damaged teeth, periodontal disease, and tongue-thrusting. Moreover, protruding teeth can also cause the lips to push forward or become forced apart. Orthodontists can help treat the issue by using aligners or braces.
- Bad bite: People can experience bad bites when their teeth meet abnormally or not due to overcrowding, crossbite, overbite, underbite, or open bite. Left untreated, it can also cause other dental problems, such as gum disease, difficulty chewing, tooth decay, and abnormal tooth enamel wear.
Types of orthodontic treatments
In orthodontic treatments, many options are available today, ranging from retainers and clear aligners to metal and ceramic braces. Each option serves a specific purpose. Orthodontists, equipped with specialized knowledge, meticulously consider factors such as age, potential jaw imbalances, disparities in tooth size, and more. With this expertise, they determine the most suitable treatment and timing, collaborating with you to craft a personalized smile.
- Braces
Over time, braces work systematically to shift your teeth into their intended positions by combining brackets, bands, and wires. The type of braces recommended, whether traditional metal or clear (ceramic), depends on your specific needs.
- Aligners
Clear orthodontic aligners have become a widely embraced alternative to traditional braces. Instead of using brackets and wires to align your teeth, these systems employ a succession of tailor-made, transparent aligner trays. Worn for one to two weeks per set, you progress through the series by switching to the next set. Gradually, the clear aligners guide your teeth into their correct positions.
- Retainers
If you've had braces or clear aligners, a retainer is essential once your orthodontic treatment concludes. This custom oral device prevents teeth from shifting out of their corrected positions. Your orthodontist will guide the recommended frequency for wearing your retainer to preserve the treatment outcomes.
- Archwires
Apart from brackets and elastics, braces consist of archwires, a crucial component. These wires fit into the slots of the brackets and are responsible for actively repositioning your teeth. Without an archwire, wearing brackets alone wouldn't contribute to moving or aligning your teeth.
The term "archwire" stems from the top teeth forming the upper arch and the bottom teeth forming the lower arch. Archwires vary in size, so it's advisable to consult your orthodontic specialist for a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs.
- Elastics
Elastics, commonly known as rubber bands, are petite, stretchy latex loops employed in orthodontic treatment to facilitate the proper alignment of teeth. They play a crucial role in applying additional force to move teeth into their correct positions, which might be more challenging with braces alone.
- Mouthguard
A mouthguard is a flexible orthodontic device designed to fit over the teeth securely, preventing teeth grinding and protecting against injuries during sports or other recreational activities.
- Orthodontic surgery
Orthodontic surgery is a corrective jaw procedure to address skeletal issues that impact the ability to bite, chew, and speak.
When should your child see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends consulting an orthodontic specialist by age seven because most children lose a few baby teeth but have not developed many adult teeth. Some issues, such as an overbite, underbite, crossbite, and misaligned teeth, are apparent, while others are not. You may notice that your child's teeth do not fit together, have difficulty eating, biting, breathing through their mouth, or have other issues. Your child may have impacted canines, which prevent adult teeth from properly developing.
When you notice something isn't right, it's time to check it. The check-up may find that your child's bite is normal. Alternatively, the orthodontist may detect a problem but advise monitoring the child's growth and development first. Then, if necessary, treatment will begin at the appropriate time for the child. In other cases, the orthodontist may discover an issue that would benefit from early intervention. Early treatment may help prevent more severe problems and make later treatment less complicated and shorter.
When should you consult a dentist or an orthodontist?
The best way to resolve this confusion is to understand that a dentist is a general practitioner and an orthodontist is a specialist in oral health. A trip to the dentist can fix most standard and routine dental issues.
For instance, a dentist can diagnose and treat issues like tooth pain, tooth repair, tooth extraction, tooth decay, gum diseases, oral inflammations, and oral infections. A dentist may ask you to visit an orthodontist in specific cases, such as jaw malocclusion, tooth crowding, and palate expansion.
Additionally, it is advisable that before the age of 7, all kids should have their teeth examined by an orthodontist to see if braces are required. If you are an adult with a crooked jaw line or teeth that require alignment, it is best to skip a trip to the dentist and visit an orthodontist directly.
Remember that even with dental coverage, not all orthodontic care will be covered by insurance as they are technically considered specialists.
How to find the best orthodontist near you in Orlando?
Your orthodontist has the tools to create a customized treatment plan most suitable for you. However, finding an orthodontist who can help you navigate the difficulties can be difficult. Furthermore, establishing a relationship of mutual understanding with your provider is critical to ensuring recovery. Zocdoc understands that you want to recognize all essential variables regarding your health. So when it's time to schedule an appointment for yourself or your family, know that you'll be seeing the appropriate orthodontist on Zocdoc.
With Zocdoc, you can quickly locate the top orthodontist in Orlando. Create a free account on Zocdoc. Choose the condition or specialization, location, time, and insurance plan. Depending on your search criteria, a complete list will show up. If you need clarification on your insurance plan, use the Zocdoc insurance detector. Alternatively, you can update your Zocdoc account's insurance information to get filtered results. You can also upload a picture of your health plan card on the Zocdoc app to find providers within your insurance network. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related FAQs.
Every orthodontist has a profile on Zocdoc. The profile presents a brief introduction, educational background, practice location, visit reasons, and, most importantly, patient reviews.
Zocdoc asks patients to provide reviews after completing their appointments. The most accessible approach to locating the top orthodontists in Orlando is to read these reviews. If you're looking for female orthodontists in Orlando, you can narrow your search results by gender. You can also book video appointments on Zocdoc before an in-person visit to better understand your orthodontist. Look for a purple video icon on orthodontists' profiles, or filter the video appointment selection.
Book appointments with orthodontists near you who accept your insurance plan in real-time. All Zocdoc bookings are simple, secure, and completely free.
Orthodontist and oral health in Orlando, Florida
According to the American Association of Orthodontists 2017 orthodontic workforce report, Florida has one of the highest percentages of professionally active orthodontists. In 2017, Florida had approximately 2.71% professionally active orthodontists per 100,000 population.
In 2018, the condition of children's teeth in Florida varied considerably by race/ethnicity.
Compared to their non-Hispanic black (61.8%) and Hispanic counterparts, non-Hispanic white children (80.9%) had a higher prevalence of parents reporting their teeth as excellent. Cleft palate was Florida's most common orofacial cleft from 2008 to 2012, occurring in 5.5 per 10,000 live births. According to a Pubmed article, orthodontic treatment helps manage cleft lip and palate.
In 2018, there were approximately 21,241 dental-related emergency room visits by children aged 0 to 20 in Florida, according to the Florida Health Report. In 2016-17, nearly 40.5% of third-grade children received dental sealants. According to America's Health Rankings, approximately 75.5% of Florida's children aged 1 to 17 received a preventive dental visit in 2018-2019, which fell to 72.4% in 2019-2020. According to the most recent 2021 report, adults aged 18 to 34 had the lowest percentage of dental visits (62%), while adults aged 65 and older had the highest rate (71.5%).
Sources
American Association of Orthodontists [1]
American Association of Orthodontists [2]
American Association of Orthodontists [3]
American Association of Orthodontists [4]
American Association of Orthodontists [5]
American Association of Orthodontists [6]
Florida Institute for Health Innovation
American Association of Orthodontists [7]
American Association of Orthodontists [8]
American Association of Orthodontists [9]
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.