Elite Orthodontics helped me to correct my bite 4/25-7/26, this was actually my 4th ortho…read moretreatment, so I came into the process with a lot of previous experience and a pretty good idea of what to expect. The total cost was somewhere around $8,500, not more than $9k...making it the most expensive treatment I've personally had.
For context, my first tx was a surgical case involving crowding - cost around 5k. 2nd - minor correction completed in under six months and cost less than $2K. 3rd- Invisalign and cost $6,800 and the most time spent in tx. Looking back, I still don't feel I ever received a clear explanation as to why this treatment was significantly more expensive than any of my previous. At the time, I was frustrated with my Invisalign results and eager to get my bite corrected, so I trusted the process that had been proven to give me positive outcomes and moved forward.
To be fair, there were a lot of things I liked about this office. The front office staff was always friendly, scheduling was easy, appoints ran on time, and the techs were fantastic.... they were very knowledgeable, and honestly carried most of my experience throughout treatment. The office is incredibly efficient, and it's clear they have a strong team.
Where I struggled was with the amount of provider interaction. Compared to my previous orthodontic experiences, I spent very little time with doctor. Most of my appt. time were with techs and because I saw multiple providers throughout treatment, there were times when I felt disconnected from my treatment plan. Since I was progressing, I tried to trust the process, but I often left appoints without fully understanding what the next steps were or why certain decisions were being made.
My biggest disappointment came at the end of treatment during my debonding appointment.
I have a history of dental anxiety, although I've worked really hard over the years to overcome it, I still deal with it. I've had braces removed before, Invisalign attachments removed, fillings, and plenty of other dental work. Because of those experiences, I honestly wasn't expecting this appointment to be difficult for me.
The tech handled the majority of the debonding process, including removing the brackets (ceramics), cleaning off the adhesive, taking photos, delivering retainers, and scheduling my follow-up. She did a great job and communicated well throughout the appointment.
What caught me off guard was how different this experience was from my previous treatments. In my prior cases, the orthodontist personally handled the final stages of treatment, including my permanent retainer placement, brace removal, adhesive cleanup, and any procedures involving powered dental instruments (drills).
Because that had always been my experience, I was surprised when nearly the entire process was completed by an assistant. Hearing and feeling a high powered drill being used in my mouth by someone other than the orthodontist made me extremely nervous and uncomfortable. Whether that is standard practice or not, it was not something I had experienced in any of my previous treatments, and I was not prepared for it.
The adhesive removal process was also much more uncomfortable than I expected (ceramic) . I spent most of the appointment just trying to get through it. My teeth were extremely sensitive during, afterward and still are now . In my previous treatments--including previous debondings and Invisalign attachment removal--I experienced little to no discomfort, so this was a very different experience for me.
Although I had become accustomed to the bare minimum time with the actual provider, I was still caught off guard with my removal appt. I didn't see the orthodontist until the very end of the process, he checked my retainers, made a small adjustment, did a little reshaping, and that was essentially it, probably took less than 5 mins. They delivered on the outcome one, but after investing so much money, I expected more from my experience.
Looking back, I think my overall experience comes down to one thing: efficiency. This office is extremely efficient, and for many patients that may be exactly what they're looking for. For me, I would have liked more communication, more provider involvement, and more discussion throughout treatment, especially at the end.
Do I think Elite Orthodontics has a skilled team? Absolutely. Do I think my teeth look better than when I started? Yes- thank you!! But for the cost of treatment, I expected more direct interaction with the orthodontist and a more personalized experience than I received.
If convenience, quick appts, and an efficient process are your top priorities, you'll probably have a great experience here. If you're someone who values one-on-one time with your orthodontist, detailed discussions about your treatment, and significant doctor involvement during the final stages of care, that was not my experience.
