We split our time between New Jersey and Florida - approx 6 months each. This summer my son got braces. DW swore she explained our situation to the orthodontist prior to signing the contract... but when we told them we were leaving for 6 months in FL they seemed shocked and told us it just couldn't work -- they must adjust the braces every 6 weeks.
We had planned a Thanksgiving trip back to NJ so that takes care of the next adjustment. After that we have some trouble until May. We had hoped the adjustments could be spread out more or conversely that we could pay another orthodontist to check/adjust a few times here. We are learning that just isn't done and apparently orthodontists are all highly customized? and cannot adjust each others appliances...
Anyone else face and solve this problem?
Dave Lindemulder
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Seems like you could find someone in FLA to perform the adjustments. How custom can the appliances be? I would think that there a few companies that make the brand of braces that were installed, seems like the doctor could give you the name of that company and maybe they could work with you in finding someone in the bikini state that could do the adjustments. Don't think about putting the adjustments off, they are part of the treatment, plus there will likely be times when something will come loose/pop off that will require an unscheduled visit
Speaking from current experience, this whole braces thing seems to be a bit of a racket, locking you into contracts etc. With as much as you are likely paying the ortho group, they should be more helpful in working with you solve your problem.....oh, I forgot, it's a doctors office LOL LOL good luck with getting any help from the minions at the front desk (again personal experience)!
All kidding aside, I hope you work things out.
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I would not take the original Orthodontist word for it. They want you to come back to them so they can make some more money on you. They know if you go to someone else they will be loosing money. It is awful but they only care about padding their own pockets. I would do as SoyBoy says. Find out who makes the braces, call the company and find out who they sell to in Florida close to where you will be staying and then go to them. Forget that jerk Orthodontist up north, he is obviously looking out for his practice and you have to look out after your son. Don't let him run over you, take charge and do what you need to do.
Jim
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jetenbu wrote: I would not take the original Orthodontist word for it. They want you to come back to them so they can make some more money on you.
My daughter's orthodontist wanted payment in full, up front. They had a payment plan, but basically it was you got financed through a 3rd party, so the orthodontist got paid up front while you made payments to the finance company.
I do find it odd that you can't find an orthodontist in FL to see your son. What if you had permanently moved there?
wrt to Doctors and front desk... yes - we thought the doctor said this could be worked out and the front desk is saying "no".
wrt to payment... the NJ doctor is getting payments from us I assume no matter what they will get the full amount. We figured that paying someone else here (I mean HEY, the adjustments are 10 minutes) would be cheaper than airfare.
The one office we contacted here said they would do an emergency appointment to attach anything that came loose, but they would not do adjustments...
I am hoping we can figure out exactly what to ask for and how to ask (eg do these systems have names? are they really all different?)
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