Any time you find yourself in a spot where you need a new doctor or medical specialist, it can be a bit nerve-wracking. But if it’s orthodontic treatment you’re looking for in Southeastern Michigan, we have some great news: You’ve probably already found your office; you just don’t know it yet! Straight Smiles Orthodontics is going to tell you all about how to choose an orthodontist.
Bad News Bears
Before we get into what makes our team so amazing, let’s talk about some of the things you should absolutely avoid when searching for an orthodontist! It’s important to be aware of these factors since many patients aren’t warned ahead of time.
- Corporate Offices/National Chains: These types of places can seem convenient at first—but the consequence is your quality of care and your resulting smile. Quality of care should always be your top priority when selecting a practice. These offices treat you more like a number than a patient.
- Skipping Reviews and Recommendations: Do not choose the first practice you hear about without doing your own research! Take feedback from previous patients into account before you visit.
- Ignoring Credentials: make sure you are going to an Orthodontist, not a dentist doing orthodontics; more experience as a practicing Orthodontist means the best possible outcome making patients the happiest.
- Ignoring Office Condition and Atmosphere: The kids might call this a “vibe check.” If you go into an office feeling your experience is rushed or vague, the office is in poor condition or unhygienic, or you see any other red flags, we suggest you walk out the door.
- Inadequate Technology: If an office is not using 3D imaging and digital scanning, you are sorely missing out on treatment precision and quality.
- Sketchy Finances/Planning: A good orthodontic practice should work with you closely and offer flexible financing options that work with your insurance. A big alarm should sound for you if you aren’t provided with cost estimates or financing options or are presented with a treatment plan that seems overly aggressive.
Your Straight Smiles Solution
Now that we’ve explained some of the nightmarish qualities of a bad orthodontic practice let’s clear the air and correct the course.
Dr. Nicholas Rafaill’s father served as an orthodontist for forty years in the community, which impacted himself and his son so much that they became orthodontists too! At Straight Smiles Orthodontics, you’ll find all the qualities of an exceptional practice. We’re going to dive into these qualifications so that you can be confident in our quality of care.
- Family-Owned: One quality that we are extremely proud of is that we are a third-generation, family-owned practice. Our doctors, Dr. Tom and Dr. Nicholas Rafaill provide a highly bespoke experience for every patient that they see.
- Highly Qualified: Some of our doctors’ shared professional memberships include the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Michigan Association of Orthodontists, as well as being Premier Invisalign® Certified Providers. They are very good at what they do.
- Time-Tested: We are the longest-running family-owned practice in the state of Michigan—which means we’re certainly doing something right. We’ve treated multiple generations of the same families and have maintained the same high standard of service for decades.
- High Tech: Our office uses cutting edge technology in the diagnosis and execution of every custom treatment plan. This ensures that you are getting the most precise orthodontic assessment on the market—and our results speak for themselves.
- Glowing Reviews: We take pride in the fact that our practice feels like one big happy family. This has resulted in many amazing testimonials from patients over the years, which you can read for yourself on our website.
- Financial Accommodation: Our incredible office team works with every individual patient and their family to ensure that they have a comprehensive payment plan for orthodontic treatment that matches their quality of care. We also accept many major insurance carriers.
- A Community Staple: We adore our community. Having been a pillar of it for so long, we know all of the best local professionals and practices for referrals if needed. We’ve also put a lot of effort into ensuring our offices are visually enriching to the community. You can view digital tours of each one here.
A League of Our Own
So, as you can see, we exemplify all of the best qualities of an orthodontic practice. This contributes to service and results that you will be thrilled with from your very first visit. If you have any other questions for us, we’re all ears. Come see us soon in Shelby Township, Novi, or Rochester Hill.