The Top 5 Reasons Why People Avoid Seeing the Orthodontist

Dr. James M. Crouse is a native of Salisbury. He graduated from Wicomico High School in 1978 and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland at College Park. Dr. Crouse attended dental school at the University of Maryland at Baltimore, graduating magna cum laude in 1985.

He joined the United States Air Force after dental school and completed a one-year general practice residency at Barksdale AFB hospital in 1986. Dr. Crouse practiced general dentistry at RAF Bentwaters in the United Kingdom for three years and then left for orthodontic training. The Air Force sponsored Dr. Crouse’s orthodontic training at Emory University in Atlanta, from which he graduated in 1991. He spent the next three years as the orthodontic consultant at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.

In 1994, Dr. Crouse left the Air Force to return home to practice with Dr. Alfred Beattie. Dr. Beattie retired in 1995.

1  Patients are afraid it’s going to hurt.

Pain is the number-one reason most people avoid going to the orthodontist. However, modern technology—and choosing the right orthodontist—can ensure that you or your child enjoys a pain-complimentary orthodontic experience.

2 Patients are afraid it’s going to cost too much.

Not only are most orthodontic procedures more affordable than ever, but insurance, payment plans and a variety of other financing options make this all but a moot point for most patients. Remember, orthodontists aren’t in this to get rich, they’re here to make sure your child’s teeth, smile, and jaw are aligned to make his or her life better—period!

We’re not going to let something like price get in the way of creating a better, safer, healthier smile for you or your child.

3  Patients are afraid it’s going to take too long / miss too much school or work.

Regardless of the type of orthodontic procedure you or your child needs, time is of the essence. Modern technology and ease of access allows us to work around your work or your child’s school schedule with minimal absences. After initial visits, and barring the actual procedure itself, most visits and/or adjustments are routine and can take anywhere from fifteen to forty-five minutes.

4 Patients do not see the need to take action.

Eroding, crooked or unaligned smiles can take time to happen, but the time to act is now. Orthodontic irregularities don’t just heal on their own or disappear if you ignore them. Your or your child’s smile and overall dental health are too important to ignore out of questions of pain, convenience, or even price.

5 Patients have been treated in the past with an attitude of indifference.

Let’s face it, not all doctors are created equal. Every profession has its “bad apples,” and to say dentistry is the exception would be to write fiction instead of fact. There is no room for indifference when it comes to your or your child’s healthcare. Find an orthodontic specialist that offers not only state of the art technology but state of the art service as well. Orthodontic specialists know what it’s like to sit in the chair, and should provide every opportunity for patients, especially our younger patients, to feel comfortable, safe, and secure in our care.