Moving to a new city or state can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. Just getting ready to move can be overwhelming with selling your home and packing up your belongings. On the other end, you must find a new place to live, get the kids enrolled in new schools, meet new people and find new service providers like banks, hair stylists, doctors, and dentists.
If one or more of your family members has braces or Invisalign, you’ll need to add a couple more items to your already long to-do list, but they shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish, especially with the help of your current orthodontist.
Visit Your Orthodontist Before You Move
It’s important to notify your orthodontist that you are moving. Seeing your current orthodontist one more time for a final check-up will be important. At this time, an overview of how far you have come and what treatment is remaining can be recorded for the new orthodontist. This will be very helpful when visiting your new doctor. You can also collect a copy of your records, including any x-rays and images taken during your treatment. Some orthodontists will also forward your records to the new office if you prefer.
In addition to your patient file, your orthodontist may also complete what is called a transfer form, which gives additional information to your new orthodontist that isn’t in your regular records. The version of this form provided by the American Association of Orthodontists includes your original diagnosis, treatment history (including any phase I treatment or appliances), and an approximation of how much treatment time is left.
Take Care of the Finances
Another important factor that is often overlooked by patients who are moving is the financial part of having orthodontic treatment. If you paid for your treatment in full at the beginning, your orthodontists should refund part of this amount because they will not be completing your treatment. If you had automatic payments scheduled, these will need to be cancelled at the appropriate time. It’s best to handle all of these financial issues while you are still local.
Ask for Recommendations
There are over 10,000 orthodontists in the U.S., so finding one in your new location should not be a problem. However, finding the right one for you can be more challenging. Orthodontists often attend conferences, seminars, and continuing education classes across the country, where they meet other orthodontists. Before you pick a random name out of the phone book or online, ask your current orthodontist if they know anyone in your new location. Even if they don’t, they have access to the American Association of Orthodontics database of members, which lists education, experience, and other information that can help you make a more informed decision.
After You Move
After you relocate, if you haven’t found a new orthodontist, ask your new neighbors or co-workers if they have any recommendations. Be sure to contact the new orthodontic office as soon as possible to avoid a delay in treatment, and bring your records and transfer form. Remember, not every orthodontist is a good fit for every patient, so if you don’t care for your new orthodontist once you go for an appointment, ask for more recommendations and try another one. Having an orthodontist that you are comfortable with, no matter where you live, is very important.
If you are moving to the Charleston, South Carolina area and need an orthodontist, the team at Charleston Orthodontic Specialists does everything they can to make the transfer process as painless as possible. Call us today at (843) 4-BRACES.