When you are faced with the need for an orthodontist, finding a good one among the vast choices can seem impossible. One good way to narrow your search is through reading reviews of the practice.
Online Reviews
Google Places allows users to leave anonymous reviews for all types of businesses, including orthodontists. One thing to be aware of is that the business owners could possibly leave positive reviews for themselves, but Google discourages this. If a business does leave “spam” type of reviews, it will hurt their page rank with Google, so it is not to their advantage to do this, but it can happen. Regardless, Google reviews are generally reliable. It can help to read negative reviews, and how the orthodontist replies to them. If they seem to have a reasonable response that makes every attempt to solve the problems, that is a positive indicator for your ultimate satisfaction with the service. Many orthodontists also provide reviews on their websites.
Social media can also be a good source of reviews. Look for the orthodontists’ Facebook page to see if you can find any reviews about them.
When you are at the orthodontists office, you should ask for reviews or letters of recommendation. Most offices can at least offer before and after photos for you to look at before you make your mind up.
Angie’s List
Angie’s list is a member’s only service. Members have access to hundreds of reviews from other members. The reviews are not anonymous, unlike Google reviews. Although this is not a free site, it is quite affordable, with monthly dues less than $4. An Angie’s list search for Orthodontist Phoenix gives 304 total results, 58 of which are top rated.
Look for Accreditations
The American Dental Association (ADA) requires all orthodontists to be certified through their association, and you can check their website for orthodontists in your area. You can also check the website of the American Board of Orthodontist (ABO) for doctors that are accredited through their organization. The ABO accreditation is optional for orthodontists, so any orthodontist that chooses to get this additional accreditation has gone through additional testing and proven their skills in additional ways. A search on the ABO site for Orthodontist Phoenix yields several pages of results within driving distance.
Word Of Mouth Reviews
It’s always a good idea to put the word out to all of your family and friends that you are looking for a good orthodontist. This is another good place to insert social media. Make a post on your Facebook page asking for reviews on local orthodontists. You are sure to get some responses that will steer you in the right direction.
